NEWS DESK
Life experience behind author’s fiction Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au MERRICKS author Megan Rogers is not wasting time when it comes to telling stories, having signed a twobook deal for her novel The Anatomy of Tears. Rogers’ book is about Simone Wells, a psychologist who specialises in the language of pain, and whose own life falls apart due to her own pain. Wells escapes by taking a job in a country town needing a pain specialist, where she learns the stories of the locals, and realises there is more than one mystery to be solved. At the same time Wells questions herself and fears she is far from the woman for the job. Like much of Rogers’ other writing, the book has its roots in feminine empowerment as it explores the ways in which pain makes us human and how beautiful life can be even when it seems broken. Life is too beautiful to waste time. The Anatomy of Tears is a timely exploration of the relationship between loneliness and pain, and about how joy can be found in the most unlikely of places. As a woman in her 40s who has straddled work life and parenthood, and having been confronted by pain and grief, Rogers draws on lived experience to give her characters emotional depth. “My dad became unwell with dementia and passed away not long ago, and it really made me realise that we
Real life fiction: Megan Rogers writes about pain and loneliness, strong women and personal triumph. Picture: Gary Sissons
need to follow our dreams and look at how we use our time,” she said. “I wanted to take the advice I give me daughter: life is short.” Rogers’ other recent book The Heart is a Star was number four in
Australian fiction in the week of its release and has sold more than 10,000 copies to date. The book won her a raft of fans and is one of the bestselling Australian debut novels in 2023. Its protagonist is also a strong but
exhausted female, Layla Byrnes, who is juggling a demanding job as an anaesthetist, a disintegrating marriage, her young children, and a needy lover. Most particularly, she's managing her histrionically unstable
mother, who repeatedly threatens to kill herself. Rogers says her latest book The Anatomy of Tears was an idea that took hold of her heart a long time ago . “I'm incredibly excited to bring it to life, especially at a time when pain and loneliness are such important and relevant issues in so many people's lives,” she said. “I'm also looking forward to exploring the ways in which community, connection and long-held wisdom can be a kind of medicine.” The Anatomy of Tears will be published under the Fourth Estate imprint by HarperCollins in late 2025. Rogers began her working life as an editorial assistant at Allen & Unwin, before moving to the State Library of Victoria, in marketing. In 2014 she finished a PhD in creative writing at RMIT, which resulted in the book, Finding the Plot, A Maternal Approach to Madness in Literature published by feminist publisher Demeter Press. She also has a Bachelor of Arts/Science (Monash), a Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing (RMIT), a Graduate Diploma in Professional Communication (Deakin), and a Masters of Marketing (Monash).
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Food, glorious food IT was heaven for lovers of good food in Main St Mornington on Saturday morning, especially if you love great quality meat and even more so if you are coeliac or gluten intolerant. The occasion was the Grand Opening of the newest butcher in Mt Eliza, Brian’s Gourmet Meats. Building on the heritage of Kevin and Jackie, who ran Eliza Meats in the same location for over 30 years, Brian and Angela Rollason are bringing their passion for supplying great meats and supporting local suppliers, to Mt Eliza. The morning was very well attended with face
painting for the kids, free balloons, a free raffle as well as tasty samples from the famous Uncle Rick and the awesome cooking of Paul and Rachel from @beersnbutsbbq. All of the produce at Brian’s Gourmet Meats is gluten free, a real boon for locals who until now have had to travel to secure these products. Mayor Steve Holland and local MP Chris Crewther officially welcomed Brian’s Gourmet Meats to the area and congratulated them on their expression of confidence in the Peninsula through investing in Mt Eliza.
Bank opens grant programme COMMUNITY Bank Mt Martha will launch Mt Martha Stronger Community Grant Program – Round 2 on 26th October 2023, via its website: www.mmcel.com.au The Board of Community Bank Mt Martha has allocated $200,000 to this Grant round for up to 30 eligible groups, which are Not-forProfit entities located in the 3934 Postcode (Mt Martha) or who currently bank with Community Bank Mt Martha will be eligible to apply. The timetable for the programme is: Opening Date: 10 am AEDT on 26 October 2023 Closing date and time: 5.00pm AEDT on 19 January 2024 (Please take account of time zone difference when submitting your application) Operating policy entity: Mount Martha Community Enterprises Ltd (MMCE) Administering entity: Mount Martha Community Enterprises Ltd Enquiries: If you have any questions, contact Gary Sanford, Branch Manager, Community
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Bank Mt Martha at gary.sanford2@bendigoadelaide.com.au Date guidelines released: 9 October 2023 Type of grant opportunity: Closed noncompetitive. Grant Guidelines, Facts Sheet and FAQ will be released on 9th October 2023. Up to 30 applicants will be considered in this Grant round and will be recommended by a local “Consultation Committee”, which will be formed around the time the applications close on 19th January 2024. Nick Roberts, Chairman of the Board said” It’s very satisfying, that after all the hard work by past and present members of the Board, over the last 12 years, that the company is now in a position to offer Grants like this. This is on top of our annual sponsorship budget, which will see us fund almost $400,000 this financial year. Thank you to our local community who support our branch and are making funding likes these possible”.
