Water should never be a life and death issue but in THE MALLEE it is.
Former MP auctions off character names to raise funds for MND.
Creative advocacy provokes fiction readers to ask ‘does this actually happen? Is this true?’
14 November 2022
Today former federal member of parliament, Richard Evans, announces the release of his seventh crime thriller THE MALLEE – a story of water rights’ speculators in regional Victoria and the travails of the fictional local federal member.
‘THE MALLEE, in a fictional world, highlights the socio-economic challenges of water allocation, the impact and responsibility of water rights’ license holders, and the role of politics and politicians in addressing these and other community issues’ says Evans.
‘The story keeps alive the critical issue of water rights in public debate, as well as exposing the political dark arts, the ruthless nature of the politics we never see.’
THE MALLEE is from Evans’ Referendum Series where each episode explores contemporary issues confounding the Australian public.
‘Through my writing, I aim to challenge thinking about government and, in a fictional world, provide the reader much to reflect upon.’
‘My books are a form of creative advocacy on contemporary issues. I use political fiction to pose different perspectives on issues important to the community,’ says Evans.
Evans’ books have explored parliament integrity, equity and inclusion, Aboriginal sovereignty, euthanasia, capital punishment, and the manipulation of election campaigns.
As Federal Member for Cowan during the 1990s Keating-Howard era, and then national leader advocating for the franchise and retail industries, Evans brings authentic insider knowledge to his writing. He has a balanced view on contemporary issues, and an understanding of how the political system operates beyond the headlines.
‘Being a former federal member gives you freedom to speak honestly about the dark arts of politics, the tribalism, bullying, manipulation of power, backstabbing, and egos,’ says Evans.
In 2022, Evans donated the naming rights for two characters from THE MALLEE – the Prime Minister and the Member for Mallee’s Chief of Staff – at a Motor Neurone Disease (MND) fundraising event and auction which began 15 years ago to support a former resident of the Mallee region.
Evans’ titles are available from major retailers online, local bookstores, and libraries.
Visit 852 Press website for more information on THE MALLEE and download the media kit
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About the author
Drawing on his insider experiences as a federal member for Cowan (Western Australia) during the 1990s Keating-Howard era and since as a national industry leader, Richard Evans has created explosive believable stories using compelling characters and page-turning plots. He specialises in writing crime thrillers with political themes and supports independent Australian writers in publishing their work. He lives in the Whitsunday village of Airlie Beach, Australia.