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 AgeThe 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.