Nicole’s Books
A multi-published author across multiple genres, Nicole’s books feature strong characters overcoming obstacles in settings where women are traditionally underrepresented.
Stories that connect passion with representation
YA Novels
A Shadow’s Breath
SHORTLISTED, NSW Premier’s Book Awards – Young Adult
NOTABLE, Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year – Older Readers
A compelling story of heartbreak, courage and forgiveness from the award-winning author of The Whole of My World and One True Thing.
Then, things were looking up for Tessa. Her mum was finally getting back on track. Tessa had started seeing Nick. She was making new friends. She’d even begun to paint again.
Now, Tessa and Nick are trapped in the car after a corner taken too fast. Injured, stranded in the wilderness, at the mercy of the elements, the question becomes one of survival. But Tessa isn’t sure if she wants to be found. Not after what she saw. Not after what she remembered.
One True Thing
WINNER, Children’s Peace Literature Award
SHORTLISTED, Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards – Young Adult
NOTABLE, Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year – Older Readers
When is a secret not a secret? When your whole life is public.
Most sixteen-year-olds get woken up by their parents because they’re late for school, or the dog needs walking. Ordinary reasons both boring and predictable, but also, well, safe. My mum drags me out of bed with reminders that she has to fight for international peace, or solve world hunger.
Frankie is used to being the daughter of a politician, but with her mum taking over as the Victorian Premier and an election coming up, life’s been crazier than usual. Add to that a brother with asthma to keep an eye on, a best friend who’s been weirdly distant lately, and the fact that Frankie’s just humiliated herself in front of a hot guy – who it turns out is a budding journalist wanting to interview her about her band. Frankie has a tough decision to make. Jake seems interested in her – but is it all for show, or does he really like her?
Then everything crumbles. Photos appear of Frankie’s mum having secret meetings with a younger man – and she refuses to tell the public why.
No one’s talking but someone knows the truth. With her family falling apart around her, Frankie is determined to find out – even if it means losing Jake.
The Whole of My World
An unputdownable novel for anyone who’s ever loved or lost, drawn a line between then and now, or kept a secret that wouldn’t stay hidden . . .
'Today I am free. No guilt for who’s missing, what’s been left behind. My face aches from smiling in the wind and my voice rasps from all the screaming, and I know that it’s been forever since I’ve felt so completely alive.'
Desperate to escape her grieving father and harbouring her own terrible secret, Shelley disappears into the intoxicating world of AFL. Joining a motley crew of footy tragics – and, best of all, making friends with one of the star players – Shelley finds somewhere to belong. Finally she’s winning.
So why don’t her friends get it? Josh, who she’s known all her life, but who she can barely look at anymore because of the memories of that fateful day. Tara, whose cold silences Shelley can’t understand. Everyone thinks there’s something more going on between Shelley and Mick. But there isn’t – is there?
When the whole of your world is football, sometimes life gets lost between goals.
Little Legends Series
Little Legends is the only AFL-licensed Junior fiction series available right now. They’re a fun, inclusive, and rollicking footy adventure featuring the little legends themselves, Ellie, Oz, and Sanjay Little.
Co-written with Adrian Beck, the series was launched in 2020, with the latest edition, Little Legends: Big Book of Footy OUT NOW!
Book #1
Book #2
Book #3
Book #4
Special Edition
4 Books In 1
Box Set - All 5 Books
Non-Fiction
From the Outer
A celebration of our great game, From the Outer brings together 30 personal stories about Aussie Rules from unexpected voices: those who are female, Indigenous or gay; those with a disability, a foreign accent or even – perhaps most dubious of all – literary leanings.
Some are closet fans, some are out and proud. Many are ground-breaking and revolutionary, shaking up the institution that has dominated cultural life in Melbourne, and much of Australia, for generations. Some are actively involved in the game, such as Leila Gurruwiwi, panellist on Australia's first all-Indigenous footy show; Angela Pippos, one of Australia's first female sports commentators; and Jason Tuazon-McCheyne, founder of the LGBTI supporter group the Purple Bombers. Others, like Christos Tsiolkas, Sophie Cunningham, Tony Birch and Alice Pung, share their poignant, passionate experiences as spectators and supporters.
Engaging and surprising, From the Outer shows how footy can both thrill and devastate, exclude and unite, by shining a light on the diversity and splendour of the game.
A Footy Girl’s Guide to the Stars of 2017
To celebrate the first-ever elite women’s competition, A Footy Girl’s Guide to the Stars of 2017 showcases some of the key players to look out for, and reveals how they made it to the top of the women’s game.
Players profiled include: DAISY PEARCE, EMMA KING, KATIE BRENNAN, DARCY VESCIO, MADDY COLLIER, KARA DONNELLAN, SABRINA FREDERICK- TRAUB and ERIN PHILLIPS. What age did they start playing footy? What do they love about the game? Who are their role models? What are their greatest talents as players? Find out the answers to these questions and more.
Filled with inspirational stories and fun facts, A Footy Girl’s Guide is an essential read for aspiring footy stars of the future – and all kids who love their AFL.
#MeToo: Stories From the Australian Movement
In October 2017, the hashtag MeToo went viral.
Since then we've watched controversy erupt around Geoffrey Rush, Germaine Greer and Junot Díaz. We've talked about tracking the movement back via Helen Garner, Rosie Batty and Hannah Gadsby. We've discussed #NotAllMen, toxic masculinity and trolls. We've seen the #MeToo movement evolve and start to accuse itself - has it gone too far? Is it enough? What does it mean in this country?
And still, women are not safe from daily, casual sexual harassment and violence.
In this collection thirty-five contributors share their own #MeToo stories, analysis and commentary to survey the movement in an Australian context.
This collection resists victimhood. It resists silence. It insists on change.
Balancing Acts: Women in Sport
A collection of non-fiction pieces from more than 20 contributors that explores women’s range of experiences with sport and sporting culture in Australia.
Focusing on a critically under-represented part of Australian culture—specifically the myriad ways non-male participants negotiate the traditionally male spectacle of athleticism—this collection interrogates the way sporting bodies and achievements are portrayed in Australian media and culture.
Understanding the term ‘sport’ in the broadest possible sense, and applying the definition of ‘women’ in the same way (to include trans, gender diverse, non-binary, intersex and otherwise non-cis women, as well as from and/or about queer, lesbian, and bisexual women), these essays examine the way women athletes’ experience are marginalised and under-reported, and attempt to de-centre the status quo of sports writing and commentary as dominated by male perspectives and expertise.