I’m interested in stories that take on the complexity of human character and behaviour in ways that are compassionate, wise and ultimately hopeful. That’s why I read, that’s why I write.

 

About Maryrose

Maryrose Cuskelly is a writer of fiction and non-fiction.

She is the author of The Campers (Allen & Unwin 2025) and of The Cane (Allen & Uwin 2022), which was a bestseller and shortlisted for best debut in the 2023 Davitt Awards.

In 2019, her book Wedderburn: A True Tale of Blood and Dust (Allen & Unwin, 2018), was longlisted for Best Debut and Best True Crime in the 2019 Davitt Awards.

In 2016, she was awarded the New England Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Writing (non-fiction) for her essay on the 1972 abduction and murder of Marilyn Wallman.

She is the author of Original Skin: Exploring the Marvels of the Human Hide (Scribe 2010) and The End of Charity: Time for Social Enterprise (Allen & Unwin 2008) co-written with Nic Frances, and winner of the Iremonger Award for Writing on Public Issues.

Her essays and articles have been published in a range of magazines, journals, and newspapers, including Crikey, The Age, The Australian and The Melbourne Magazine.

She has twice been awarded fellowships at Varuna, the National Writers’ House, most recently in for her novel The Campers.

 
 
I’ll be at my local library discussing The Campers with another local, @trishboltonwriter, author of Whenever You’re Ready on 31 May at 6:30. We’ll cover privilege, hypocrisy and so much more. Link in bio to book tickets.
Had a fantastic conversation with Kevin Hillier about The Campers on his podcast Authorised. Love how he frames it as more a ‘How Dare They’ rather than a ‘Whodunnit’. Link to audio in bio.
Thanks to Lydia for reviewing The Campers for @greatescapebooks favourite Easter reads. Any comparison to Liane Moriarty I’m very happy to take! And as a side note, look out for an event at Great Escapes Book over the King’s birthday week
I’m appearing at the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Writer’s Festival. Join me for the Neighbourhood Noir Author Panel, on Sunday, May 4 at the Maleny Showgrounds. Along with S R White, Tess Merlin and host Jack Roney I’ll be discussing