The Wheeler Centre

Jana Wendt unveils her debut work of fiction – a keenly drawn collection of short stories that go to the heart of the human condition.

After decades away from the spotlight, beloved Gold Logie-winning journalist Jana Wendt – who ruled Australian television for nearly three decades – makes a remarkable return. In her debut collection of short stories, The Far Side of the Moon, Wendt turns her sharp eye and storytelling prowess to the complexities of human nature.

Through these revealing character studies, she writes of eccentric yet endearing couples who dream, bicker, love and suffer, deftly capturing the wicked humour of friendships and rivalries and the connections forged by people from different backgrounds as they grapple with the business of living. From unexpected acts of kindness to poignant portraits of human tragedy and enduring love, Wendt brings the same curiosity, rigour, intelligence and generosity to each one of her stories that she brought to her journalism.

This polished writer and natural storyteller sits down to discuss her luminous foray into the world of fiction.