“I wanted to tell stories that the teenage me wishes she could have read back then—stories about the huge feelings and personal struggles I was going through at the time that now might help another teenager going through the same things.”
Miranda Luby is an author, journalist, copywriter and animal-lover living on Victoria’s Surf Coast.
“The Surf Coast is such a special part of the world. It’s the proximity to such incredible nature, for me. I love the powerful autumn swells, the golden sandstone cliffs, the sunrise over the water—all in my own backyard! So lucky.”
She has won several awards for her short stories, and her journalism features in publications such as National Geographic, BBC Travel and the New York Post. Miranda was shortlisted for the Text Prize for her debut novel, Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over. While written for a Young Adult (YA) audience, Miranda’s first novel also proved touching to those young of heart.
“I received an email from a 70-year-old woman who found one of my books in a campsite in Spain! She sent this beautiful message saying how much she identified with the main character, Sadie, and how it helped her feel seen. She didn’t even realise it was a YA book!
The Young Adult space offers an incredible opportunity to tell deeply honest, moving and relatable stories that really resonate with both teenagers and adults (we’ve all been 16, right?).”
Her recently released second YA novel The Edge of Everything draws from Miranda’s personal experience of grief and loss as a teen, and “explores the taboo and rarely spoken about existential side of losing a loved one.”
“My novels aim to shine a light on taboo or less talked about topics that can affect teenagers (and, often, adults) like perfectionism, eating disorders, and grief—while still being funny and romantic! I hope that readers see themselves reflected in my characters and their stories offer them the words to talk about these issues in their own lives.”
It’s always wonderful to support local talent, so seek out Miranda Luby’s books whether you’re a young (or not so young) adult, next time you’re looking for a good read!
HuG 