In Conversation with Rosalie Ham

We are delighted to be hosting the wonderful Rosalie Ham in Ballarat to celebrate the release of her latest novel Molly.

With the dark humour, richly detailed settings and vividly drawn characters we've come to expect from Rosalie Ham, this prequel to the international bestseller The Dressmaker is an unforgettable story of hopes lost, love found - and corsets loosened.

Rosalie will be in conversation with Renee Price.

About 'Molly'

It's 1914 and Molly Dunnage wants to see change: at home, at work and in underwear.
Her burgeoning corsetry business is starting to take off, thanks to some high-profile supporters. She's marching with Melbourne's suffragists for better conditions for women everywhere. And her family - her eccentric, confounding, adored father and aunt - are turning their minds to country retirement.
But as the clouds of war gather and an ominous figure starts skulking in the shadows of her life, Molly's dreams begin to falter. Then, when true love drops out of the sky and into her arms, her hopes for her life and the world are entirely upended.

About Rosalie

Rosalie Ham was born and raised in Jerilderie, New South Wales population 800. Returning to Australia after seeing the world, Rosalie ‘rushed to university because Gough Whitlam made it possible’, enrolling in Drama and Literature.

But it was the story that ignited her flame and, having moved on to creative writing, Rosalie ‘skewed a few accumulated secrets’ and wrote her first novel, (published in 2000). Further novels are (2005), (2011) and (2018).

, a sequel to The Dressmaker, followed (November 2020).

Described as a ‘gifted storyteller’ with ideas that are ‘fresh, unusual and entertaining,’ Rosalie’s stories are new, but recognisable beyond Australia. Using the stereotype to subvert the cliché, and always seeking to surprise the reader, she sheds new light on universal verities.

was brought to life on screen in 2015. The film, produced by Rosalie’s Jerilderie friend, Sue Maslin, won five AACTA awards including:

• Best Actress for Kate Winslet
• Best Supporting Actress for Judy Davis and;
• Best Costume for Marion Boyce and Margot Wilson.

It was adapted for the screen and directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse and also stars Liam Hemsworth and Hugo Weaving along with a many other fine Australian performers including Sarah Snook, Sacha Horler and Rebecca Gibney. It was also voted People’s Choice Award for Favourite Australian Film.

The Dressmaker is a long-standing popular presence on the VCE Literature List and the English Studies reading list, but when asked, Rosalie cites her third novel, , as her favourite.

Rosalie lives in Melbourne and, when she is not writing, addresses students and study groups on her books and writing in general. She holds a BA in Education and a Master of Arts in Creative Writing.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Old Colonists Club, 16 Lydiard St North, Ballarat (upstairs from Collins Booksellers on Lydiard), 16 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat Central, Australia