AU Author. Kate Grenville recalls her innermost thoughts in discovering the historical material for her best-selling novel, The Secret River. Thomas Keneally writes about his extraordinary discovery of the Schindler diaries in California which are the basis for his world best-seller, Schindler's Ark. Peter Corris, the celebrated writer of the Cliff Hardy detective fiction series, recalls working with a star-studded cast for The National Times in the 70s and 80s. Morris Lurie vividly recalls his mates Barry Oakley and Peter Carey in the Melbourne advertising firm of their misspent youth. V.G. Armanno writes vividly of his domestic bliss and domestic farce, burglary and his unique dog with personality plus, Gaius (Gay? Us?) Peter Coleman recalls his confusing days as an MP in the Age of Aquarius, as the Administrator of Norfolk Island and as Editor of Quadrant. Michael Wilding recalls learning to write on a slate in a country school, back in the disUnited Kingdom, class-ridden and cold. Ashley Hay presents Edward Eyre looking back in interior monologue on his death trek with Wylie and his suppression of the Jamaican mutiny. Susan Sellars brews a highly unorthodox early morning coffee for Buddha in his shrine in Kathmandu. David Myers recalls a daring battle between a Confucian husband and a young wife which results in a bucket of dead dandelions in the garburettor and the winter of our discontent. Ian Callinan dramatizes a brilliant cross-examination by the wily defence in a case of fraud. Laurie Clancy contributes a hilarious Melbourne email exchange which gets down to the basics of friendship and differences of opinion. Carmel Bird writes about the menace of an intrusive journalist and Tasmania's first fox appears. A love story and a rural idyll in Tasmania are under threat. Jan Lowing recalls coping with male prejudice in the wool sheds and nervously classing fleeces for the powerful pastoralists including the legendary Henry Bolte, Premier of Victoria.