Fine Colour of Rust

'Funny and touching by turns' DAILY MAILSingle mother Loretta Boskovic may have fantasies about dumping her two kids in the orphanage and riding off on a Harley with her dream lover, but her reality is life in a dusty country town called Gunapan.A self-dubbed 'old scrag', Loretta's got a big heart and a strong sense of injustice. So, when Gunapan's primary school is threatened with closure, and there's a whiff of corruption wafting through the corridors of the local council, she stirs into action. She's short of money, influence and a fully functioning car, but she does have loyal friends who'll do whatever it takes to hold on to the scrap of world that is home...The Fine Colour of Rust is a wryly funny, beautifully observed, life-affirming novel about friendship, love and fighting for things that matter.'A delight ... I found it hard to put down' NEW BOOKS MAG'Warm, moving and funny' BIG ISSUE, AUSTRALIA'O'Reilly's novel ought to be one of the sought-after books of the year' SATURDAY AGE, Melbourne'Can anyone write the story of a whirligig single mother gamely and hilariously fighting development of her small town better than Paddy O'Reilly? No, and nor should they try' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN