After Before Time

A husband loses both his wives in one short day.
A young woman ignores her Elders and makes a terrible mistake.
A young girl disappears and may never be found.
A young man defies cultural taboos with shocking consequences to follow his heart.

These and other intertwining stories were written over seven-years. Yarning over cups of tea and bacon sandwiches these stories, inspired by real people and real events grew. These stories sing with vivid and simple life and truth. These are stories of shame, pain and sorrow, but also of joy, love and triumph. These stories are direct, intimate and powerful capturing warmth, humour and irrepressible joy.

After Before Time is profoundly moving.

I was sitting with the Old Girl, we were in my kitchen having tea and biscuits. She brushed the biscuit crumbs from her turquoise Islander dress with its bright orange flowers, put three sweeteners into her tea, took a cautious sip and said, “I am giving my story to you, Miintha Maampa, to tell others.” ….When she had finished she said what the Old Fella had said to me, “We want the world to know about our lives. Telling these stories keeps our hearts strong. ”

About the Author

Robbi Neal is an author and painter. Her first book ‘Sunday Best’ was selected for the Varuna HarperCollins manuscript award and was published by HarperCollins in 2004. She has been published in two anthologies by Allen & Unwin and many times in a major regional newspaper as a features writer despite having no background in journalism.

After Before Time is her second book.