Luke Corbett, a young man who spent most of his life in Canberra, has recently returned to his hometown of Gamarra, a small rural community in the heart of New South Wales. Struggling to find his footing in a place that feels both familiar and alien, Luke is confronted with long-buried emotions when a childhood friend reappears. His deep feelings for this man, however, clash with the conservative values of the town. As whispers and judgement threaten to overshadow his life, Luke must choose: will he suppress his true self to conform or confront the prejudice around him and embrace the life he was meant to live?
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
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Inspiration and Writing Journey. Aspen’s personal experiences and how the isolation of COVID sparked the story.
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Identity and Belonging. Luke’s struggle to live authentically in a small rural town.
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Family Legacy. The pressure of living up to his grandfather’s achievements and values.
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Community Acceptance vs. Rejection. The tension between tradition and embracing change.
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What’s Next. Plans for the sequel and trilogy: This Is Us and This Is Where We Belong.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aspen Thomas grew up in the small western Riverina town of Goolgowi, where the vast landscapes and vibrant community life shaped his early imagination. After moving to Canberra for high school, Aspen continued to nurture his passion for storytelling, drawing inspiration from the world around him. As a child, he loved weaving tales about farm machinery that came to life, setting the stage for a lifetime of creative exploration. A passionate tennis player, Aspen has played since childhood and competes in his tennis club's championships every year. Inspired by tennis greats like Ashleigh Barty, his love for the sport parallels his dedication to education. Aspen has been teaching science and mathematics since 2016, bringing his curiosity and enthusiasm to the classroom. Aspen's debut novel, This Is Me!, was born during the isolating days of the Covid years, while he was locked down in his two-bedroom apartment. Deeply personal yet fictionalised, the story reflects his experiences growing up gay and autistic with ADHD in a small rural community. With an overactive imagination and a determination to share his unique perspective, Aspen creates heartfelt, relatable narratives that resonate with readers. When not writing or teaching, Aspen can be found on the tennis court, exploring new ideas, or championing authenticity and representation in storytelling.
CONNECT WITH ASPEN THOMAS!
Website: https://aspenthomas-writes.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aspenthomaswrites/
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