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Katherine Collette is a novelist, podcaster and sewage engineer living in Melbourne with her husband and two children. Her debut novel, The Helpline, was published in the US, UK, Germany and Italy. She also co-host books podcast, The First Time.
'A book centred around a collection of endearing but socially challenged misfits who need to let go of their less-than-perfect pasts in order to take control of their lives. Inspired by the author's real-life experiences in Toastmasters, The Competition tells an amusing tale of ambition, friendship and redemption, with just a touch of romance. It will appeal to fans of heartfelt easy-reading books with quirky characters such as those by Graeme Simsion and Toni Jordan.' * Books+Publishing * 'A fun read, full of unique characters.' * Daily Mail on The Helpline * 'The character of Germaine, endearing but far from cutesy, is the great triumph of this accomplished debut.' * Sydney Morning Herald on The Helpline * 'The Helpline is populated with prickly women who are often terse or unkind to the people around them. And it's wonderful.' * Broadsheet on The Helpline * 'Colette's writing is funny, propulsive and smart. She continues the compelling comedic flair of her debut, The Helpline, which also saw a complicated, oddball heroine portrayed in a nuanced, sensitive manner. She has been involved heavily in Toastmasters in the past - this real-life experience comes through in her storytelling - and as a reader, her evocative depictions of the cut-throat world of competitive speech-making is delightfully welcome at a time when indoor gatherings still seem like a fantasy.' * Jessie Tu, Sydney Morning Herald * 'Katherine Collette is back in fine form with The Competition, proving (in case anyone was in any doubt) that she is a skilled master of the light-hearted comedy - drawing you in, keeping you laughing, compelling you to feel emotionally invested in this quirky cast of characters...This is one I'd happily press into the hands of everyone who came into the shop, so go grab your towel, head down to the beach, and settle in with a new favourite book.' * Readings * 'I definitely recommend it as a perfect balm for these weird times. It was a lot of fun to get drawn into the world of SpeechMakers. As with Collette's first novel The Helpline, this has a cast of eccentric oddballs and insight into the inner workings of an organisation I hadn't previously given much thought.' * Kay Kerr, Overshare * 'Warm, very funny...A lovely read.' * Fairfieldbooks * 'It's rare to discover a book that is hilarious, well-written AND contains a compelling message, but Katherine Collette has done it again in her second novel The Competition (Text Publishing 2022), a funny, tender, vulnerable and thoughtful story about a young woman who must voice her thoughts to others in order to speak to herself.' * Cass Moriarty *
