Castlemaine author Sally Abbott has had her debut novel published by Hachette Australia.
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Closing Down is a fictional story that looks at rural towns and communities that are shutting down.
Town matriarch Granna Adams and her grandson Roberto work to hold on to their sense of self as the world they know fractures around them.
Abbott is a former journalist and PR dierctor. She won the inaugural Richell Prize for emerging, unpublished writers in 2015.
While speaking at last year’s Richell Prize ceremony, Abbott said winning the award had been a game-changer.
“The prize has given me the gift of becoming a published writer, and of course that's something that is fine-tuning and reshaping my life,” she said.
The prize has given me the gift of becoming a published writer.
- Sally Abbott
“(The Richell Prize) is given in such good faith to an unfinished piece of work. That is very kind indeed, and a very brave thing to do.
“Just a few weeks after the award I was offered a publishing contract.
“I still marvel at it and I'm still very grateful to Hannah Richell and the Richell family.”
Sally Abbott’s debut novel – Closing Down – was released on April 24.
