Debut novelist says there’s more to tell

The first student to graduate from Edith Cowan University South West with a PhD in writing will launch his debut novel at Maker + Co on August 2 – a feat made more impressive due to the author’s year-long battle with a severe mystery illness.

Gus Henderson penned the first draft of his work The Wounded Sinner over two years as part of his PhD and has worked alongside editor Bruce Sims, publisher Magabala Books and the team at Edith Cowan University South West to get the novel ready for the launch.

“What it means to me, that Donna (Mazza) and the whole team at ECU have put in an enormous amount of work and money to get this book to come to fruition,” Dr Henderson said.

“I want to get better so I can write the sequel – there is so much left unexplored.”

University senior lecturer Dr Donna Mazza said she “spotted straight away that Gus was a very talented writer” after he joined the undergraduate course in 2006, graduating with First Class Honours which led to a scholarship to complete his PhD.

Dr Mazza said the novel was a family saga which dealt with ageing parents and relationships, while exploring the issue of the stolen generation.

“It’s about hope,” she said.

Previous to his writing career, Dr Henderson worked with Mission Australia in the Goldfields, where he worked with aboriginal youth as an employment officer.

This experience helped form the content of the story, which is set partly in Leonora.

Many of Dr Henderson’s poems are available on his Facebook page GS Henderson Poetry and Writing and the novel can be bought at Collins Booksellers in Bunbury or from the publisher.