A life of prose

A Reader’s Guide I never read a great deal, back in my high school days. So, you can imagine my dismay when my English teacher landed War and Peace on my desk and said: read this. I almost cried, thinking, great, another boring old book to sludge through. Fast forward to the present day and it’s quite normal to find me, nose deep, locked inside some classic Russian literature—especially if it’s Dostoyevsky, or even Bulgakov’s: Master and the Margherita. These books

And Why This Brutal Novel Still Haunts Us in 2025 So, the question is: Why Céline’s Journey to the End of the Night Still Matters? Have you ever read a novel which left you feeling disturbed while also rolling with laughter? I have … And I seem to be attracted to novels of that assortment. So, when I finally picked up Louis-Ferdinand Céline’s: Journey to the End of the Night, that’s exactly what I experienced. Nearly a century after its

Breaking Free from Colonial Storytelling Australian historical fiction has a unique twang to it, which seem quite confusing to other nationalities, but to a local—even though we acknowledge its weirdness—it often takes up a special place in our hearts. Yet, while some of these stories are more than endearing, others can seem, well… off. And it took me several years to understand what was missing: authentic voices… as opposed to quirky Aussie-ness. That’s not a knife…anyone? When you think about

The Hidden Power of Reader Communities The very first time I made a trip to a local book club, I had absolutely no idea there was book clubs shaping bestsellers lists; however, that visit completely changed my perspective on several types of fiction reads—especially across the genres I wouldn’t normally read—if I hadn’t otherwise attended. Sure, I’d enjoyed attending writers’ groups, workshops in the past, but you wouldn’t normally see me at one of these events. I’m more about learning

What Historical Fiction Writers Need to Know Imagine this: it’s a stinking hot and sticky day in Sydney. The date’s January 26, 1808. The air is so thick with tension and the scent of gunpowder fills the streets. Then, 700 men of the New South Wales Corps begin their march up towards Government House. Their boots are kicking up dust from the unpaved streets. Drums beat with a call to arms. Bayonets are fixed and the harsh Australian sun reflects

The first time I held Kate Grenville’s: The Secret River in my hands, I could feel the shear weight of tome, the texture of the pages between my fingers and the smell of ink. It was not just a book—it was a deep, introspective look into our nation’s soul. Australian historical fiction does that to people. Every time. It seeps into your body—from the inside out. Now, I’ll be the first to admit it, I’m not that strong a reader,

Now, I’m going to put out a short caveat before digging into this article. I am self employed—so to speak—and this enables me to commit significant amounts of time to my writing. But, with that said, I did begin my journey while living the average 9-5. And, after years of abrupt scheduling, poor work/life balance, and life altering health issues, I’ve finally developed my own weekly writing routine. And it works. But it isn’t some unrealistic, crack-of-the-whip, Stephen King zeitgeist

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – August 28, 2025  Brisbane’s literary community is in for a treat this August as local author and veteran Brendon Patrick invites readers to join him for the launch of his debut novel: Afghani. This intimate gathering at Books@stones promises an evening of engaging conversation, cultural insights, and literary celebration. Event Details Date: Thurs, August 28, 2025,Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM AESTLocation: Books@stones, BrisbaneCo-host: Dylan from Brothers and BooksRSVP: brendon@alifeofprose.com.au About the Debut Novel This novel represents a stunning timeline, and a

The Beat Generation: Discovering Jack Kerouac It is only every so often you come across an author who challenges what you thought was possible. Richard Brautigan is one such author. I remember becoming fascinated with the life of Jack Kerouac. More so his lifestyle and influence on the literary world than anything. Inspired by Rimbaud, Celine and later, musicians like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker whose jazz beat, influenced Kerouac’s prose. This style later went on to be known as

I’ve not always been an avid reader. Nor have I always been an avid writer. However, there has always been one thing that captivated me, and that’s the power in understanding story structure. And whether it’s a book, or a movie the stories have remained with me for life. All while some have completely vanished from the recesses of my mind. I’m guessing you’ve had similar experiences, but have you ever stopped to wonder why? The fact is there’s a