TURTLE

Set in gloomy Glasgow, this is the story of wee Donald, who kisses and then loses the love of his life when he's only 13 years old; and nothing much goes right for him after that.

Featuring his gloriously eccentric family Trixie, his mad-as-a-hatter psychic mother, his mafioso father and a malevolent younger sister young Donald tries to find the secret of life (and the secret of surviving his family) by going in search of his inner turtle. Years later, it takes Trixie's death to bring a reluctant middle-aged Donald back to Glasgow to attend her funeral, remember his childhood and come to terms with his life. Written in a gloriously loopy and enchanting style, TURTLE is a bittersweet, defiant and charming tale. Gary Bryson is a Glaswegian who has lived in Sydney for 20 years. He is a radio journalist with Australia's national broadcaster, the ABC, producing and presenting features and documentaries.