Paper Sparrow: A Novel of Fragility, Resilience, and The Silenced Generation.

We are all part paper, part sparrow—fragile and layered, yearning to break the bonds of the past and soar above the origins of personal or family secrets that sentence us to silence. There is a profound duality in a paper sparrow: an exquisite form folded from a page that conceals a painful truth. It is vulnerable to the crush of a cruel hand, yet in its creation lies a testament to faith—the belief that a form so delicate can take flight.

My novel, Paper Sparrow, is an exploration of this fragile duality. It unearths the shameful, long-buried truths of a government-sanctioned program of identity theft and systemic abuse inflicted upon thousands of women and children in post-war Australia (1945-1948). This is a story of resilience and self-discovery, celebrating the indomitable triumph of the human spirit. It is a narrative that compels readers to reflect, to feel deeply, and to embrace radical empathy.

At its heart is Peggy. Cast out by her abusive adoptive mother at just thirteen, she finds work as a nursing aide, only to endure a horrific assault that leaves her pregnant and utterly alone. With no resources or family, she embarks on a journey from Sydney to Melbourne. In her darkest hours, she finds unexpected allies: a compassionate clergyman named Peter; Bineham, a sage guided by Chinese philosophy; and the kindred spirits of Una and Lily.

If your voice has ever been silenced, if you have felt suppressed by a toxic environment, or if your light has been dimmed, I invite you to join this community. Here, you are encouraged to share snippets of your story and begin to reclaim your voice.

Paper Sparrow is available now: [Link]……………………………………………)

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