Magdalena McGuire was born in Poland, raised in tropical Darwin, and now lives in Melbourne. Her writing has won, and been nominated for, various awards including the Mslexia Short Fiction Competition, Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize, Commonwealth Short Story Prize, Bristol Prize, Alan Marshall Short Story Award, Furphy Literary Award, Impress Prize and Best Australian Yarn. Her fiction has been published in various places, including Mslexia, Overland, Island and The Big Issue.

Praise

‘These are no ordinary stories about mothering – because in McGuire’s deft hands, no form of mothering is ever ordinary: how can it be, when tiny humans emerge from bigger, broken humans who are never fully in control of their lives? It’s not the sanctity of the act of caring that she plumbs in this quietly brilliant collection of stories, though – but the strangeness of the love that still finds a way to bloom, in spite of it all.’ – Ceridwen Dovey

‘a dab hand at unexpected twists’ – Sydney Morning Herald

‘Magdalena McGuire’s prose is startling and immersive. I'm still trying to fill my lungs after being left breathless.’ – Kali Napier

‘McGuire hauls home her accomplished, complex and surreal story with tremendous confidence and flair.’ – Deborah Levy

'This collection is exquisite. McGuire crafts the best kind of short stories: entire worlds contained in condensed, rich narratives.' – Katherine Brabon