They did you wrong. They stole
your song, the rhythm of youth
they took from you
I know it hurts.
That taste of dirt,
was bitter.
As a child, Luro became a soldier.
And as a child, he committed atrocities defeating the pursuit of peace.
Now, as a young man, Luro battles with his memories and attempts to redeem himself through Sen.
Sen is an orphaned child wishing to find his sisters and simply attend school again.
Together, the boys navigate their experiences and build a sense of hope.
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Atoc has been working with Story Factory for years, from her first workshops in the Shalvey Bread project where she made a short film exploring the secret wonders of the suburb of Shalvey to her most recent work in the Year of Novella program where she produced the incredible novella - Sons of Ash.
In her writing you'll find a young author who is always deeply thoughtful and intent on exploring the complexities of life as a young person in this day and age.
Her work, which is clearly aware of the immediacies of life in the suburbs of Sydney and the daily challenges of school, is also unafraid to look further afield exploring larger issues of identity, the consequences of war and the hope for belonging.
In her characteristically modest way here's how Atoc describes herself:
"I am often motivated by food. In fact, that’s how I discovered a love for reading. I participated in the Premier’s Reading Challenge because at the end, there was a pizza party. After reading countless books and ticking them off my list, I was rewarded with pizza and a newfound hobby.
My other hobbies include watching Netflix, napping, and going on walks. I also enjoy creative writing and taking on new challenges.
Writing allows me to express complex thoughts, ideas, and topics in engaging and creative ways."
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Year of the Novella is one of Story Factory’s most intensive programs. Throughout 2021, a committed group of young writers came to workshops every week – first at Story Factory in Parramatta; then, when the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit, over Discord. Through these and many other disruptions, the young people in this program continued to write and support each other. This novella was written as part of that project.
Year of the Novella 2021 was made possible thanks to the support of the McLean Foundation, Nelson Meers Foundation, Key Foundation and Pantera Press Foundation.