Coast

From the winner of the ACT Book of the year Award for his first book, The River, comes this celebration of the Australian seascape, from its natural grandeur to the quirky individualism of those who live beside it. It is also the heartfelt and pertinent story of the issues facing our coast today and the resilience of communities at a turning point. Chris Hammer travels the length of the east coast of Australia on a journey of discovery and reflection, from the Torres Strait to Tasmania; from an island whose beach has been lost forever to the humbling optimism of the survivors of Cyclone yasi; from the showy beaches of Sydney to a beautiful village that endures despite the loss of its fishing fleet. This is a relevant, satisfying and highly readable book, imbued with a sense of optimism and humour. Even as new economic imperatives emerge and the shift in our climate becomes apparent, we can revel in the heritage and character of our shores, reminding us why the coast is so important to all of us.

Chris Hammer is a leading Australian author of non-fiction and fiction, including the bestselling crime fiction Martin Scarsden crime series: Scrublands, Silver and Trust, and the Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchanan series Treasure & Dirt, The Tilt, The Seven and The Valley. Before turning to fiction, Chris was a journalist for over thirty years. He reported from more than 30 countries on six continents for SBS TV. In Canberra, his roles included chief political correspondent for The Bulletin, senior writer for The Age and online political editor for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. The River, his first book, was released by MUP in 2010 to critical acclaim. It won the ACT Book of the Year Award and was shortlisted for the Walkley Book Award and the Manning Clark House National Cultural Award. His second book, The Coast, was also published by MUP in 2012. Hammer has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Charles Sturt University and a master's degree in international relations from the Australian National University. He lives in Canberra.