DEBRA OSWALD SOLD OUT
Beaumaris Books
In association with Penguin Books Australia
Proudly presents an evening with
DEBRA OSWALD
The creator of ‘OFFSPRING’
Discussing her fabulous novel- Useful
When: Tuesday 16th June 2015, 7.30pm
Where: MALT CAFÉ, 23-25 South
Concourse, Beaumaris
Cost: Book & ticket together for just $50
Also includes admission & finger food.
Beverages at bar prices.
*Only at time of ticket purchase
* Only one specially priced book per ticket
**Phone credit card bookings accepted**
Ticket Only $35
Phone: 9589 4638
E-mail: read@beaumarisbooks.com.au
Bookings Essential
Useful
From the creator of the hit Australian TV series Offspring comes a smart, moving and wry contemporary novel about the search for meaning and self-worth. Useful is the much anticipated first adult novel from award-winning screen writer Debra Oswald.
Once a charming larrikin and perennial underachiever, Sullivan Moss is now in his late thirties and so hopeless he can’t even commit suicide properly. After he trips and hits his head when trying to jump from a building, he wakes up in hospital determined to become useful. If he can donate a kidney to a stranger he will feel he has done something.
As Sullivan pursues his mission to become a donor, he almost unintentionally begins to transform his life for the better. He is eating properly, giving up alcohol and gaining employment and also meeting new friends like Natalie, a radio producer who has left her failed marriage and cheating ex-husband behind in Kuala Lumpur to return home to Sydney with her son Louis. He also begins to reconnect with friends of old, like Tim, his ex-best mate who hasn’t spoken to him since their other friend Pete died of cancer.
Funny, warm, but with a sharp eye, Useful is an original novel featuring an ensemble of the compelling characters Debra Oswald is renowned for creating. Touching on the contemporary issues of both suicide and organ donation, Useful also reminds readers of the power of friendship, both existing and surprising.
DEBRA OSWALD Debra Oswald has written plays, novels and television scripts. She is co-creator and head writer of the successful TV series Offspring for which she won 2011 NSW Premier’s Literary Award and the 2014 AACTA for Best TV Screenplay. Her other television credits include Palace of Dreams, The Secret Life of Us, Sweet and Sour, Bananas in Pyjamas and award-winning episodes of Police Rescue.
Debra’s stage plays have been produced around Australia. Gary’s House, Sweet Road and The Peach Season were all shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Award. Gary’s House has been performed in translation in Denmark and Japan. Mr Bailey’s Minder was produced in Philadelphia in 2008. Debra has also written four plays for young audiences – Dags, Skate, Stories in the Dark (NSW Premier’s Play Award in 2008) and House on Fire. Eight of her plays are published by Currency Press. She is the author of three ‘Aussie Bite’ books and six novels for young readers. Debra lives in Sydney with her partner, radio presenter Richard Glover.