I was thrilled to talk recently with Weekend Australian Financial Review editor, Shelley Gare, about Ghost Girls.
Our conversation flowed easily and covered wide ranging subjects - from writing, to Chinese language, exploitation of international students and foreign workers, food, Sydney's changing inner-city landscape and creative influences.
Given the length and breadth of our conversation, I was curious as to how Gare would turn the interview into a succinct piece for a newspaper. Of course, her life's work is writing and her experience and skill at her craft - journalism - was on display to me during our two conversations and, also, when I read the finished piece.
Everything is education when you're a writer. Reading Gare's article, while recalling the discussions that contributed to it, taught me a little more about the importance of detail, the significance of a well placed quote and how to decide which information to include over the details left out.
Posting the article here:
Ghost Girls author Cath Ferla and the Chinese Connection, AFR, 14/05/16