Author Talk: Migrating through Countries & an Imaginary World

Join author Catherine Cole as she talks about her 2 books Slipstream and her new release A French House.

Slipstream is a beautifully-woven memoir that captures the essence of growing up as the child of ‘Ten Pound Poms’ in Australia. Born to migrant parents who left their close-knit Yorkshire community to start afresh in Australia, Catherine's childhood was filled with the contrasting worlds of a small mining village in northern England and the Australian heat, beaches and cicadas. In Slipstream, she explores the humourous and poignant mix of these two worlds.The book delves into the experiences of the British who migrated to Australia under the 'Ten Pound Pom' scheme and have since been referred to as 'Australia's forgotten migrants'.

Catherine examines the appeal of the scheme, and documents the journey of these migrants as they left their homes, were sponsored, settled and built new lives in a very different terrain.Slipstream is not just a memoir, but also a reflection on migration and its impact on individuals and communities. It offers insightful perspectives on post-war opportunity, freedom of movement and kindness to strangers. With a mix of personal stories, cultural observations and historical insights, Slipstream is a heartfelt exploration of the sacrifices made by migrants to build a better future for their children in a new land.

In A French House, Catherine Cole writes about her childhood dream of owning a weathered French village house; shutters faded by the sun, rooms steeped in memory, a feeling 'as if a grandmother had just left'.

In 2010, she found it, and her dreams turned into bricks and mortar.

In this compelling account, blending classic travel writing with reflections on lterature,film and French culture, Cole explores the enduring allure of France and the dreams we project on to its landscapes. At the heart of the story is the house itself - its garden, room and ancient stones quietly telling their own tale of place and time.

For anyone who's ever imagined a life elsewhere, this is a book about turning dreams into bricks and mortar.

Catherine Cole is an Australian-British author and academic who has taught creative writing in Australian and UK universities. She is currently an Honorary Professor at UTS and University of Wollongong in Australia and Liverpool John Moores University in the UK. She has been the recipient of writers' residencies in Australia, France, Vietnam, China and the UK. She has judged leading Australian literary awards and mentored writers and students. She has published 11 books including novels, short stories, memoir, non-fiction and academic texts.

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