The chosen novel for One Book One Wagga 2026 is Shellybanks by Louise Milligan.
A novel of buried secrets, unimaginable trauma and how the love of family can pull you through to a brighter future, from Louise Milligan, bestselling author of Pheasants Nest.
On the sands of Shellybanks, where tides can quickly turn treacherous, journalist Kate Delaney once nearly drowned. Years later, reeling from a violent crime that has upended her life in Melbourne, she returns to Dublin to comfort her beloved aunt Dolores—only to discover Dolores has her own buried trauma.
As a teenager, Dolores was drawn into a disturbing religious movement that stole her youth, her freedom, and so much more. With Kate's help, she is determined to confront the powerful network that made her suffer years of silence and shame.
Shellybanks is a haunting tale of secrecy and survival, charting how two women find strength in each other as they reckon with Ireland's hidden histories and the scars that endure across generations.
Join us to celebrate One Book One Wagga 2026 with multi-award-winning investigative journalist and author Louise Milligan!
Louise, winner of the Walkley Book Award for Cardinal, and the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Witness, published her first novel, Pheasants Nest, in 2024.
Her latest novel, Shellybanks, is a deeply personal story set in her native Ireland, exploring trauma, family history, and the hidden lives of women shaped by church and culture.
Louise brings a rare blend of journalistic rigour, emotional insight, and narrative power to her writing. Don’t miss this conversation about truth‑telling, fiction, and the stories that shape us.
The event wraps up with canapés and drinks - we invite you to mingle with fellow book lovers, and meet Louise in person.
