Journey from saint to sinner

Journey from saint to sinner

Ashley Sievwright is a Melbourne author who’s eager to look at the patterns we see in the media surrounding high profile disappearances. His debut novel The Shallow End explores this theme.

The book centres on the disappearance of a swimmer and ambassador for gay men in Australia, while developing the story of the media backlash that ensues when the papers discover he has been visiting sex-on-premises venues.

It’s incredibly interesting to watch this in action right now in the media with the backpacker who has disappeared in Croatia, Sievwright said.

We’re seeing the saint to sinner thing play out in the papers in real life and the interesting thing about this is that we’re all implicated in that backlash in a way -” I mean, the media creates it, but we read it.

The novel started out as a basic mystery, but as the narrator, an unnamed observer watching at the pool, reads the media coverage about the missing swimmer the story becomes more real.

He’s just returned to Melbourne from Barcelona and some failed relationship over there. He has no job to come back to, no house, and he doesn’t let his friends and family know he’s back, Sievwright said.

He’s just lazing around at the Prah-ran Pool and trying not to think about it. There’s a very hazy -˜lost summer’ kind of feeling about the book that I love.

When tackling the gay subject matter, Sievwright found that his biggest difficulty was not allowing himself to be pigeonholed.

That others will think that the book is for a niche market and that it won’t get attention or circulation in the broader market is sad, but it’s true, he said.

I know that as a reader I love it when I find a good book with a good, authentic gay voice. There is something so wonderful about reading something that speaks a little more personally to you.

I guess it’s the flipside of that pigeonhole but, you know what, I tell a story that is a good story and while it’s very gay, it also talks about emotions that are generic and universal.

info: The Shallow End is available at Darlinghurst Bookshop and Gleebooks and online at www.cloudsofmagellan.net.

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2 responses to “Journey from saint to sinner”

  1. Ash,

    Walked into a bookshop and saw your book. Of course I bought it and can’t wait to read it. Am so proud of you.

    Would love to see you.

    Marn

  2. Dear Asher (ex-neighbour)

    Congratulations, job well done. Hope the book goes well.
    Look forward to the invitation to the launch. Your erstwhile neighbour in Victoria Road.

    Best wishes

    Gordon