Impulsive, budding artist, Pearl, jumps on a bus headed for the driest place she knows, Australia’s Nullarbor Plain, to escape a terrifying undersea curse, only to find it waiting for her in a fish tank when she arrives. In her Aunty’s derelict roadhouse, she amuses and outrages the local misfits by seeing their hidden traumas in watery visions–which she paints. Eddie, a hot, young windmill repairer, shows interest, but soon must vie for this amazing artist’s attention with Italian cave diver, Massimo. Tempting as they may be, Pearl can’t go there, not while this family-seeing curse is ruining her life . . . unless it’s a gift? Just in case it is, Pearl risks her life to solve the mystery that has plagued all the women in her line, starting with her long-dead Great-Grandma Pearl.

An elliptical road movie of a book, blending magic realism and harsh Outback realities through the eyes of teenager-on-the-run Pearl, whose escapes into a fantastic undersea, ancestral realm bring clarity in a hostile world. Gritty dialogue and ethereal visions make Nullabor Pearl a must-read for young adults and adult readers alike.

–Tony Maniaty, author and Weekend Australian reviewer

One one level, Nullarbor Pearl keeps it real as a young woman’s quest to return to the nostalgic Outback of her birth, where she meets whimsical characters drawn with wry humour. This coming of age road trip soon transforms into a compelling magic realist fable for all ages that is very hard to put down . . . a MUST read.

–Malcolm Fiahlo, Leisure Activist