In this episode, Priscilla interviews author Dr Sarah Sasson about the newly released Tidelines, a tender coming-of-age novel about growing up in the face of unimaginable loss. Tidelines examines the stories we subconsciously write for ourselves, and what remains later, when we have the courage to tear them apart. Discussion topics include substance use, ambiguous grief and loss, and burnout in the medical profession.
While we have you here…
A couple of announcements for our blog-only readers who might not follow us on social media: first, we’re taking a bit of a break for the first half of the year. That is, a break in terms of podcasting – we’re still going to be around on our website and social media keeping you updated on our reading and recommendations, and you will see the occasional interview or written review from us.
Why a break? Well, we have a lot going on – with theses, overseas travel, and multiple weddings (including our own). Hopefully the podcast book club will be back, in all its glory, in the second half of 2024. Stay tuned!
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Show Notes
About Tidelines
It’s Sydney in the early 2000s, and Grub is spending the summer with her universally-adored older brother, Elijah, and his magnetic but troubled best friend, Zed. Their days are filled with surfing, swimming and hanging out; life couldn’t be better.
But years later, Elijah disappears and Grub’s family unravels. At first, Grub blames Zed: he was the one who derailed Elijah from a bright future in the arts. But as Grub looks back at those dreamy summer days, the sanctuary of her certainty crumbles. Was Zed really responsible for her brother’s disappearance? Was anyone?
Thank you to Affirm Press for linking us together.
About the Author
Sarah Sasson is an Australian physician-writer living on Gadigal land in Sydney. She completed a B.Arts(English)/B.Science at the University of New South Wales, followed by a B.Medicine/B.Surgery at Sydney University and has spent time living overseas in Chicago, Singapore, Montreal, Hanoi and Oxford.
Her poetry, short stories and non-fiction have been published in Australia, the United Kingdom and USA appearing in Meanjin, Kill Your Darlings, Oncology Republic, Grieve Anthology, Medium, Grattan Street Press, Oxford Writers’ House, Unsweetened, Intersection Stories, Translating Pain and Orris Root.
Sarah’s debut literary fiction novel Tidelines was shortlisted for the Varuna House Publisher Introduction Program and longlisted for the Queensland Writers’ Centre Publishable Program. Tidelines was published by Affirm Press in 2024.
You can find Sarah on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Facebook.
Sarah’s book recommendations include:
- Anna Spargo Ryan’s A Kind of Magic
- Roz Bellamy’s Mood
- Yaa Gyasi’s Transcendent Kingdom
- Patricia Lockwood’s No One is Talking About This and Priestdaddy
Novel Feelings 