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Australian Book Review
Francesca Rendle-Short
When it was first published in Australia in 2012 “The House of Fiction” attracted many reviews and a host of radio interviews – it was the shock of the revelations about an Australian literary icon that provided the hook. This review by academic and author, Francesca Rendle-Short in a literary magazine was one of the…
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A book plate inspired by The House of Fiction
designed by Carmel O'Connor
This book plate was designed and printed by Carmel O’Connor, an Australian artist from Melbourne, Australia. She kindly gave me an original print of her design plus copies of the image that now tell borrowers of any book of mine who they’ve borrowed it from! The book plate was part of a fundraiser for the Firestation Print Studio and shown…
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I took part in the Appledore Book Festival in Devon on September 2014. What a lovely experience! An exciting programme, beautiful place and great atmosphere. About the Appledore Book Festival The Appledore Book Festival was founded in October 2006 by a local committee led by local children’s author Nick Arnold who became Festival Director. The picturesque fishing village of…
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The ‘Spectator’ reviews The House of Fiction
an intriguing story of an Australian literary icon’s bizarre hoax, and her stepdaughter’s attempt to comprehend it.
There aren’t many places you can get shouty about Proust without losing your job. The Lane Bookshop in Perth, Western Australia, is one of them. As an undergraduate, I’d pitch up there for work on Saturday mornings with as much song in the heart as a hangover allowed. Because for me the Lane wasn’t just…
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Writer and radio producer Sara Davies’ adaptation of House of Fiction for BBC Radio was aired in June. Here Sara interviews Sue Swingler about the process of researching and writing her memoir.
The secret sister my father kept hidden
The Guardian Family Section 24 May 2014
It was 1967, the summer of love, and I was going to get married. But I needed my father, Leonard, to give permission because I was under 21. I hadn’t seen him since I was four, when he left my mother, Joyce, and disappeared from my life. I knew he was living in Australia with his…
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Susan Swingler on Midweek with Libby Purves
BBC Radio Four
Susan Swingler joined British Museum curator Dr Daniel Antoine, translator and editor Brendan King and artist Hetain Patel on Midweek with Libby Purves. The group discussed everything from mummies, history and identity to art, expression and loss. Libby Purves presented some poignant questions to Sue Swingler about her book and the process of resolving a…
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Caroline Baum in conversation with Susan Swingler
Sydney Writers Festival
Susan Swingler talks to Caroline Baum during the Sydney Writers Festival. Caroline is one of Australia’s leading journalists and broadcasters and runs the Bookshots websites.
House of Fiction a “moving and captivating memoir”
Sunday Herald (Glasgow) Review
A short but very nice review of the UK edition of House of Fiction from Glasgow’s Sunday Herald on Sunday, 3rd May 2014: Perhaps fiction writers are best placed to create fictions out of their own worlds, but as Susan Swingler’s moving and captivating memoir shows, the damage wreaked can be huge. When her father,…
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We are delighted to announce that Sue Swingler’s The House of Fiction has been dramatised by Sara Davies for BBC Radio. The play was aired on June 4 at 2:15pm and starred a wonderful cast: Miriam Margolyes as Elizabeth Jolley Juliet Aubrey as Joyce Jolley Nicholas Farrell as Leonard Jolley Isabella D’Alessandro as the Young Susan Jacqueline…
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