I am thrilled that my fourth book, The Ghost Walk, has been selected as the Champions of Literature book for 2025. The Champions of Literature have been supporting local authors for over ten years and this recognition gives me a little extra boost of confidence that my writing is making a contribution to Western Australian stories.
Last month, I had the pleasure of discussing The Ghost Walk with Fremantle Press Board Member and Champion of Literature, Deborah Leavitt, and meeting with some of the Champions. We talked about the pleasure of reading and writing stories set in familiar places and the feelings those places evoke. We also discussed how disability and chronic illness can be an integral part of a fictional sleuth’s unique insights when solving a crime. Ruby Rose Gillespie – the main character in The Ghost Walk – has had a lung transplant after a lifetime of living with cystic fibrosis and her new lungs both restrict and enable her search for her surgeon’s killer. I was delighted that Ruby resonated with many people in the audience with her vulnerability, agency, and deep empathy for her fellow humans.
You can become a Champion of Literature and support local authors here: https://fremantlepress.com.au/donate/champions-of-literature/.
Copies of The Ghost Walk are available from your favourite bookstore or online here: https://fremantlepress.com.au/contributor/karen-herbert/.
Karen Herbert 