By Peter Douglas
Upwey author Lia Hills officially launched her latest novel at Burrinja Cultural Centre over the weekend.
Following her critically acclaimed debut novel, ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Living’, Hills has unveiled ‘The Crying Place’ to local audiences, which is set in iconic Australian locations and aims to take readers “to the truths that lie in the heart of Australia”.
The story follows the journey of Saul, who seeks to find answers over news about the death of his oldest friend, Jed.
Saul takes off on a journey into the heart of the Australian desert to find truth, setting in motion a powerful story.
Hills said the core of the story had been with her for a long time, ever since she arrived as a teenager in Tasmania from New Zealand in the early ’80s and heard the words ‘We got rid of them’.
“I’ve remained haunted by the implied brutality of that phrase and the absence of an Indigenous presence,” she said.
“I knew one day that haunting would find its voice.”
‘The Crying Place’ was a recipient of a Creative Victoria grant in 2012 and Hills visited Alice Springs and surrounds on numerous occasions to research the novel.
This included volunteering in remote communities.
She also began learning Pitjantjatjara and has written poetry in the language.
Interestingly, Hills recorded her first draft using Dragon software rather than writing it in order to get closer to traditional methods of storytelling.
Bird noises and the wind rustling through trees were translated directly into words, each species with its own voice.
Hills honoured these disruptions in her later drafts.
Literary luminary Christos Tsiolkas is one who has heaped high praise on the novel.
“The Crying Place is a brave and devastating novel of grief, place and belonging,” he said.
“I was swept up in Hills’ voice and by her storytelling skills right from the opening pages and I wasn’t released back into the world until I reached the end.
“Even then, the novel doesn’t let you go.
“Its grace, compassion and deep humanity make you see our country anew.”
For more details on the novel, visit www.allenandunwin.com.
* The author will be available for book signings at the Belgrave Book Barn on 11 March, between 11am and 1pm.
