Where The Trees Were

Book excerpt: SHORTLISTED FOR THE INDIE AWARD FOR FICTION 2017 LONGLISTED FOR THE MILES FRANKLIN LITERARY AWARD 2017 A beautiful new novel about the innocence of childhood and the scars that stay with you for life, from the award winning author of Mr Wigg and Nest. 'All in?' Kieran pulled me up, and the others followed. We gathered around the bigger tree. No one asked Matty - he just reached up and put his right hand on the trunk with ours. Kieran cleared his throat. 'We swear, on these trees, to always be friends. To protect each other - and this place.' Finding those carved trees forged a bond between Jay and her four childhood friends and opened their eyes to a wider world. But their attempt to protect the grove ends in disaster, and that one day on the river changes their lives forever. Seventeen years later, Jay finally has her chance to make amends. But at what cost? Not every wrong can be put right, but sometimes looking the other way is no longer an option. Praise for Where The Trees Were: 'an entrancing novel from a powerful new voice in Australian literature' - Australian Women's Weekly - APRIL 2016 AWW GREAT READ Praise for Nest: '(a) truly rich novel' - Sydney Morning Herald 'a thoroughly enjoyable, uplifting read from one of the most creative nature writers of our time' - MiNDFOOD Praise for Mr Wigg: 'beautiful and absorbing' - Sydney Morning Herald 'Simpson is a beautiful writer' - The Big Issue **Includes an extract from Simpson's next transporting novel, The Last Woman in the World**