About the Author

Kate Mildenhall is a writer and education project officer, who currently works at the State Library of Victoria. As a teacher, she has worked in schools, at RMIT University and has volunteered with Teachers Across Borders in Cambodia.

Skylarking is her debut novel. She discovered the story while on a camping trip and she wishes for more such fruitful adventures. She lives with her husband and two young daughters in Hurstbridge, Victoria.

Reviews

'[Mildenhall's] research of life on a remote cape in a young colony manifests in lovingly drawn descriptions of the natural landscape ... the novel's strength lies with following Kate's and Harriet's stumbles and skylarking from childhood to womanhood; and their close, sometimes stifling, friendship.' -- Thuy On Sydney Morning Herald 'It's testament to Kate Mildenhall's skill that you become so immersed in the lives of best friends Kate and Harriet you feel the dread, but hope it will not be so ... fans of Emily Bitto's The Strays and Favel Parrett's Past the Shallows will find much to admire here.' Herald Sun 'It is hard to believe that Skylarking is Kate Mildenhall's debut novel, as her ability to create both character and atmosphere is impressive.' -- Annie Condon Readings Monthly 'Skylarking is a strikingly real and deeply moving meditation on adolescent friendship in all its complexities-a heart-wrenching work.' -- Olga Lorenzo 'It's no surprise to learn that debut author Kate Mildenhall counts Geraldine Brooks and Hannah Kent among her favourite writers. Inspired by a true story, Skylarking recreates a particular time and place as evocatively as they do...this is a beautifully written book, with lyrical descriptions of the desolate yet beautiful landscape.' AFR Magazine 'Mildenhall is at her best when she is exploring the complex relationship between these two young women as their burgeoning sexuality begins to cause problems within their tiny community.' Books+Publishing 'Kate Mildenhall's impressive debut novel takes an historical case and re-imagines it with such sensitivity and insight that we feel this must be how it truly happened.' -- Emily Bitto 'The storm-lashed coastline of the Great Southern Land is the setting for this poetic, slow-moving tale of the friendship ... an evocative yarn.' Australian Women's Weekly 'A brave, beautiful and richly textured book that delicately explores the fault lines in love and friendship.' -- Lucy Treloar 'Author Kate Mildenhall evocatively brings to the mind's eye the lives of two young girls in Victorian-era Australia.' Better Reading