When Mim Squires and Mathias Vander are stranded together on a disrupted flight home to Perth, they are surprised to find that they have much in common. Mim owns a bookshop, Mathias is a writer, and both are at turning points in their lives. Mim's childhood polio is taking a toll on her life. Mathias is contemplating a cross-continent move to be nearer his daughter.
But life back in Perth is not smooth sailing, with their respective family members going through their own upheavals. As Mim and Mathias both struggle to adjust to the challenges of being in their late seventies, secrets from the past that neither wishes to face rise to the surface, challenging their long-held beliefs in their independence and singularity.
At the end of the day can they muster the wisdom and the courage they need to change?
Praise for At The End of the Day
'The strength of Liz Byrski's novels lies in their inherent relatability, from her well-developed characters, the lives they lead and the gentle but thought-provoking stories of everyday life she tells . . . an engaging exploration of love, friendship, independence, family and identity' - Courier Mail
'A truly heartwarming tale' - Australian Women's Weekly
'Much loved WA author Liz Byrski returns . . . bringing her characteristic warmth to a story centred on bookshop owner Mim and writer Mathias . . . the two quickly form a bond that will help to see them through the travails of family, friendships, ageing and coming to terms with the past.' - West Australian
Praise for Liz Byrski
'[Byrski] writes with warmth, insight and gentle humour' - Courier-mail
'Byrski's forte is getting inside women's heads and hearts' - Australian Women's Weekly
'Thought provoking characters . . . an intelligent, engaging read' - Sydney Morning Herald
Author Information
Liz Byrski is a novelist, non-fiction writer, former journalist and ABC broadcaster, with more that fifty years experience in the British and Australian media. She is the author of ten bestselling novels, including Gang of Four, Family Secrets, The Woman Next Door, and her most recent release, A Month of Sundays. She is also the author of a dozen non-fiction books including the popular memoir, Remember Me; Getting On: Some Thoughts on Women and Ageing and In Love and War: Nursing Heroes.
Liz's books have been published in the UK, France and Germany and her articles and essays have appeared in national and international publications. She has won several awards for her work as a print and radio journalist. She is an Associate Professor in the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry at Curtin University.
Liz was born in London in 1944 and lived in England until 1981, when she moved to Western Australia with her family. She now lives close to Fremantle and enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, writing, movies, swimming and walking her dog.
Liz Byrski publications
Novels
A Month of Sundays, Pan Macmillan Australia, 2018
The Woman Next Door, Pan Macmillan Australia 2016
Family Secrets, Pan Macmillan Australia, 2014
In the Company of Strangers, Pan Macmillan Australia, 2012
Last Chance Café, Pan Macmillan Australia, 2011
Bad Behaviour, Pan Macmillan Australia, 2009
Trip of a Lifetime, Pan Macmillan Australia, 2007
Belly Dancing for Beginners, Pan Macmillan Australia, 2006
Food, Sex and Money, Pan Macmillan Australia, 2005
Gang of Four, Pan Macmillan Australia, 2004
Nonfiction
In Love and War: Nursing Heroes, Fremantle Press, 2015
Getting On: Some Thoughts on Women and Ageing, Momentum Books, 2012
Remember Me, Fremantle Press, 2001
Speaking Out: Australian Women Talk About Success, New Holland, 1999.
Western Australia: Land of Contrasts, New Holland, 1998
The Way Ahead: Prominent Australians talk about the future of our nation, New Holland, 1998
Spectacular Australian Sea Rescues, New Holland, 1997
Facing Cancer: Searching for solutions, Collins, 1989
Under the Influence: Growing up in alcoholic families, Collins Dove,1988
Pills, Potions, People: Understanding the drug problem, Collins Dove,1986
Workwise: Getting a job and starting out, Nelson,1985
Behind the Bedroom Door, Veritas, 1985
Anthologies
'Everyday Sadness', Women of a Certain Age. Eds. Skoda, M. Mofatt, J. Sullivan, S. Freemantle Press, 2018.
'The Maiden Aunts', Purple Prose: Australian women writers talk about the colour purple. Eds. Byrski, L. & Robertson, R. Fremantle Press, 2016.
'Friendship - In Several Painful Lessons', Just Between Us: Australian writers tell the truth about female friendship, Eds: Linden M, Sved M, Neiman C, Scott M, Kon-yu N, Pan Macmillan Australia, 2013.
'Introduction', Summer Lovin', Fremantle Press, 2013
'Introduction', Sunscreen and Lipstick, Fremantle Press, 2012.
'The Man Who Wasn't There', Lines in the Sand, Eds: Van Loon J & Phillips G, Fellowship of Australian Writers, WA, 2008
'Remember Me?', Single Woman of a Certain Age, Ed: Ganahl J,
Indian Ocean Publishing, San Francisco, 2005
Book chapters
'Feminism, Fiction and the Phoney War on Ageing', Ageing, Popular Culture and Contemporary Feminism, Eds: Whelehan I & Gwynne J, Palgrave Macmillan, 2014
'Co-Dependent: Is That What I Am?', Perspectives on Addiction, Eds. Celia Wilkinson & Bill Saunders. William Montgomery Pty. Ltd. 1996
Refereed journal articles
'Emotional labour as war work: women up close and personal with McIndoe's guinea pigs', Women's History Review, 21:3, July, Routledge, 2012
'Getting noticed: representing older women in Australian popular fiction', Australian Studies Journal, Vol. I, 2010