Shimmer 

Basia Bonkowski

Hear Basia talk about her new book, Shimmer.

This is the remarkable account of the last days of one woman’s life.

As author Basia Bonkowski gathers with her brothers to watch over their mother as she lies in hospital, she gradually unravels the threads that have formed the rich tapestry of her mother’s life — and her own. As a girl her mother fled the Russians as they advanced through Poland during World War II. As a young wife she came to Australia with her husband and infant son to forge a new life. Hers is a story of heartache and loss, of secrets and dreams. Her legacy is one of survival, of embracing the migrant experience. Now, as she reaches the end of her journey, the family is forced to face the hardest question of all: when the time comes, will they be able to let her go?

Basia’s lyrical prose and sharp eye for detail create an unforgettable account of her family over three generations. Shimmer is a moving tribute to the healing strength of the human spirit and the ties that bind.

About the author:

Basia Bonkowski is one of three children born to Polish immigrants. She grew up in Adelaide and studied Law at the University of Adelaide before transferring to Flinders University where she majored in English Literature and Drama. She moved to Sydney and joined SBS Television as a subtitler. Soon invited to be an on-air presenter, Basia enjoyed a highly successful career both on-air and behind-the-scenes as a writer and producer. She later worked for Channel Ten and the Seven Network as a presenter and journalist. Basia released Jesse’s World, a book about overseas adoption, in 2005 and completed a Master of Letters at the University of Sydney in 2006. She is currently working as a television producer and lives in Sydney with her husband and two children.

234 x 153mm | paperback with flaps | 208pp

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