Song of the Crocodile is one of the six books shortlisted for this year’s Readings New Australian Fiction Prize. Atmospheric and lyrical, this multi-generational family saga follows the lives of the Billymil family in the town of Darnmoor (a fictional town in which the Yuwaalaraay people live).

Our 2021 judges commended the work saying, ‘skilfully written, interweaving systemic racism, fear and violence with determination, endurance and community, this uplifting song of a book is both essential and inspiring.’ Staff reviewer Clare Millar also said of the novel, ‘Simpson skilfully weaves in Dreaming and demonstrates the connection between the present and past through ancestral stories and care for nature.’ You can read her full review here.

We asked author Nardi Simpson about writing inspiration, advice and what she hopes readers may take away from her book.

What was the initial inspiration for this story?

My father’s family lived on the outskirts of an outback town. They speak about that time as being their golden years and as a consequence the stories they tell of that time have become the richest gifts they have passed on to us. I wanted to make the feeling of that time real for me so I wrote a place inspired by my family’s memories. I hope it brings me closer to them.

What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope readers enjoy the characters and the story and become part of the landscape and lives of Aboriginal Australia – even if it’s only for a short moment. I hope First Nations readers see a bit of themselves on the page and non-Indigenous people feel the strength and courage of our communities.

What has been the best writing advice you’ve received?

‘Do the work.’ You just have to get stuck in and have a go. That and ‘write now, fix later.’ I have to keep reminding myself this all the time.

You can read more about the 2021 Readings New Fiction Prize shortlist here. We’ll be announcing the winner during the month of November.