Author: Mark Rafidi is a teacher, author and surfer. He lives, works and plays on Murramarang Country. His wipe-outs are far more an entertaining spectacle than when he’s upright. Salt Runs Through is Mark’s fourth novel, with The Photographer coming 2025. Previous works are Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, The Library at the Edge of the World, and Ishmael Oud: A father/son journey into occupied Palestine. Mark has a Doctorate of Creative Arts (Creative Writing). Coming from mixed heritage, his stories explore identity, belonging, and the intricacies of Australian society. Illustrator: Paul OSullivan is a voracious artist, philosopher and collector of ideas. He is the illustrator for Gary Crews picture books, The Visions of Ichabod X, (Short Listed for The Australian Book Designers Award) Timing the Machine and The Eva Carmichael Story, The Wreck of the Loch Ard published by Harbour Publishing, in addition to collaborating on Rich and Rare published by Ford St Publishing which received a notable at The CBCA. The detailed illustrations contain Steampunk-style elements and reflect Pauls fascination with the silent films of the early years of cinema and a lifelong obsession with the 1930s which he attributes to being raised by older parents in the post-war city of Plymouth UK.
‘An extraordinary exploration of the futility of war. Brilliantly executed.’ Bruce Whatley, one of Australia’s most loved and respected author/illustrators 'Poignant, beautiful, brilliant, and triumphant.' Jackie French, Bestselling author of The Girl from Snowy River ‘Powerful — very powerful — text and imagery conveying the catastrophic outcomes of war.’ Gary Crew, Professor Emeritus (Creative Writing) at UniSC. Author of Strange Objects and The Watertower ‘A haunting account of a childhood devastated by war, accompanied by beautiful and intricate illustrations. I could pore over the pages of this book for hours, and I invite you to do so too.’ Rikki-Mae Stevens, Reviewer