Artists will tell you that inspiration often strikes at unexpected times. Inspiration for RA Spratt’s latest novel struck while she was reading an Indian graphic novel version of Hamlet, the famous Shakespeare play. “I was standing in the local bookshop in the main street of Bowral, and I’m trying to get my kid to read, so I suggested a graphic novel,” Spratt told The Bugle. “I picked up an illustrated Hamlet and started reading through it and it was really interesting because when you see Hamlet performed as a play, it’s usually someone in their 30s or 40s playing Hamlet because it’s a difficult part so they need an experienced actor. “The character is supposed to be around 23, and you don’t think about him being so young. But in the graphic novel, because it’s just a cartoon, he looked that young. I thought, Oh, the character makes so much more sense, he’s like a university arts student who has studied a semester of philosophy and thinks they know everything!” “All of a sudden, the character became very clear to me as to who he really is. He’s this really articulate guy that’s full of ideas but has no worldly wisdom.” The revelation of Hamlet’s true character inspired Hamlet’s Not OK, Spratt’s latest novel for young adults. Spratt is already an accomplished author of such series as Shockingly Good Stories, Friday Barnes, The Peski Kids and Nanny Piggins, and hosts the Bedtime Stories with R.A. Spratt podcast. Spratt had always enjoyed taking her kids to see local Shakespeare performances and wanted to write about it for years, but acknowledged a lot of the stories aren’t entirely appropriate for children in 2023.  “We saw a modern production of Richard II which was kind of baffling because it’s not the most accessible play. “I was thinking about how to make Shakespeare more accessible and fun for kids and explain the ideas that seem really dated. Some of these themes feel old fashioned, but then some of the things in Hamlet seem like just as big an issue now as it ever was even though it’s hundreds of years old.” At first, Spratt thought of writing a novelisation of the play, but the project soon grew to a much larger scale. Instead, the book became about a modern 15-year-old drawn into the world of Hamlet meeting the titular character and working with him to find better solutions to his problems. Spratt tends to put aspects from her own personality into her characters and it’s no different with Hamlet’s Not OK’s heroine, Selby. This time though, Spratt also drew from her own children’s personalities as well, especially when it comes to social issues. “They’re very woke-aware. They see issues and call you out on issues, definitely not in a way they did when I was 15,” says Spratt. “It’s very front-of-mind for them, things like racism, sexism, bullying, those sorts of things. When Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery, they see that and think Hamlet is being a bully, whereas I don’t think people would have seen it the same way in the past.” Hamlet’s Not OK was only recently published, but Spratt is already thinking about the next instalment. While she initially envisioned exploring Shakespeare’s entire works through Selby’s eyes, Spratt has caught on to a different trend. “I would love to be able to help people unpick whatever the Shakespeare syllabus is for that year.“If you read the book, there’s a point where Pride and Prejudice gets involved as well, so there’s some discussion as to whether there is another book, whether it’s a Shakespeare play, probably Macbeth or King Lear, or it will be something totally different. I am tempted to work out what all the year 12 students are studying and just do those books.” To find a copy of the book, Spratt suggests you contact your local bookshops or library. Or buy it online at amazon.com.au

Sonia Henry has released a new memoir which recounts her journey from a medical intern in the city to a solo GP in the outback and it’s all thanks to her Jamberoo roots. “Growing up in the country has shaped me, even subconsciously, in my connection to being in a place that’s not the city,” says Sonia, who has a long family history in the town. “I grew up in Jamberoo and was the school captain at Jamberoo Public School. My grandfather was the local vet in Kiama for many years and started the Kiama Alpine Club,” says Sonia, whose parents still live in the area  “I am really proud to be from the South Coast.” Sonia is the bestselling author of Going Under, her debut autobiographical novel which tells the tale of the stresses, failures and triumphs of a young doctor. She says her dual worlds, as a doctor and writer, go hand in hand. “Being a doctor has provided me with fantastic material to write about, while writing has helped me cope with being a doctor,” she says.Put Your Feet In The Dirt, Girl, her new memoir, explores her connection to the land, the concept of home and identity and recounts the challenges she faced in the tiny mining town in the middle of the Western Australia desert. “One of the most challenging things was the lack of access. “When you’re out there, you’re on your own. There are no hospitals within 400 or so kilometres and the flying doctor service is understaffed, so you’re really relying on your wit,” she says.“It’s about knowing oneself, and to truly know yourself you have to understand the context in which you exist; and there’s city Australia and remote Australia.” Sonia, who is passionate about improving health equity for people who live in regional and remote parts of the country, now spends part of every year working as a GP in remote Australia. She heads off again next month.  Put Your Feet In The Dirt, Girl is out now, available at all major retailers. RRP $34.99 Have a story you’d like to share? Tell us about it [email protected]   

It’s been over 2 ½ years since 19-year-old Libby Ruge’s life was cut short by an out of control car, but her legacy is ongoing [Libby's legacy of smiles].Libby’s older sister, Stevie Shanahan, is sending her legacy around the globe while helping others battle the pain of grief, with a guided grief journal.“After I lost Libby, I was desperate for anything that might help me,” Stevie says.“I started a TikTok page as an outlet which gained a lot of followers very quickly and I had people messaging me daily saying ‘your page helps me so much’ and ‘thank you, I feel less alone’.“So, I started thinking of more ways I could help these people.”Stevie has self-published Life After Losing You which guides people through the seven stages of grief – including shock, anger, denial and depression – with writing prompts and activities.“Grief isn’t linear, so the idea is to use the chapters as you need them,” Stevie says.Libby and Stevie The journal provides different coping strategies, grounding exercises and distractions while offering a safe space for people to express their intimate emotions and thoughts around grief.Within the first four days of publishing the book, it was sent across the globe to six countries.“Libby’s photo is in the first few pages, so I feel like she still gets to travel the world.“She’s gone to so many different countries already including America, Canada, the UK, Belgium and Germany,” Stevie says.It’s a bittersweet feeling for her, using a tragic moment in her life to help others.“If I can help just one other person, then I know I’m making my sister proud.”It adds to the long list of people that Libby’s legacy has already helped.As an aspiring dentist who wanted to change people’s lives through their smile, Libby’s parents Jules and Julie set up the Libby Ruge Smile Fund on her passing to do it for her.The Fund provides young adults access to orthodontic treatment that they or their families cannot afford. The charity is currently helping five recipients with another three coming on board this year.Jorja, Libby’s best friend, was the first recipient and has finished her treatment with a brand-new smile.It’s fundraised by the Bee Kind Like Libby movement, which was inspired by Libby’s “Bee Kind” tattoo and her kindness to everyone.The movement encourages people to do random acts of kindness while raising awareness for the Smile Fund.The annual Spring Black Tie Ball is returning in October at Novotel, Wollongong, after its inaugural event last year which pulled in just shy of $40,000 for the Smile Fund.Buy tickets to the Ball via trybooking.com.Buy Life After Losing You via Lifeafterlosingyou.myshopify.com.Have a story you’d like to share? Tell us about it [email protected]