Diving, Falling

It’s never too late to rewrite your own story. For years, Leila Whittaker has been the mediator in her family. She smoothes ruffled feathers between her sons; endures the volatile moods of their father, the acclaimed Australian artist Ken Black; and even swallows the bitter pill of Ken’s endless affairs. All this, for the quiet hum of creative freedom her marriage provides. Or so she tells herself. When Ken dies, leaving his artist’s estate to their two sons, and the pointed amount of sixty-nine thousand dollars to his muse, Anita, Leila decides she’s had enough. It’s time to seek some peace (and pleasure) of her own … Diving, Falling is an elegant, exhilarating journey through grief, betrayal, and the intoxicating rediscovery of joy. Ripe with wickedly wry observations, unashamedly bold and sexy, it examines the calculations and sacrifices women make to keep the peace, escape their pasts, and find the agency to pursue their own passions. ‘There is a pleasingly frosty quality to this debut … Elegant, biting writing.’ -Sian Cain, The Guardian ‘A masterclass in rendering all the many dimensions of the human heart.’ -Porochista Khakpour, author of Tehrangeles ‘ Diving, Falling explores women’s autonomy and the standards they’re held to that men are not, while also diving into the complexities of imperfect relationships, questioning whether couples can have a true and accepting understanding of each other. This novel is for readers of Siri Hustvedt, Sigrid Nunez and Tessa Hadley, and for readers who love “”begin again”” stories, untangling the complexities of relationships, and seeing women rail against double standards.’ -Danielle Bagnato, Books+Publishing —- ISBN: 9781761380662 | ISBN10: 1761380664 | ISBN-13: 978-1761380662