Bega's own "superhero" Gary Lonesborough launched his debut novel to a warmly appreciative crowd on Wednesday evening.
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The Boy From the Mish has received considerable accolades already, despite only being on shelves for a week. And in Bega on Wednesday it was revealed Mr Lonesborough has already signed the rights to see it released in the US, Canada and Mexico, as well as an audio book on Audible.
In conversation with Gabbie Stroud, one of his former teachers and a best-selling author herself, he shared anecdotes of his time growing up in the Valley and his personal journey that has seen him rub shoulders with the greats of film and writing along the way.
One of those anecdotes involved his 21st birthday and how he missed it because "he had to hang out with some mates".
"And who were those mates son?" Mr Lonesborough's dad asked.
The reply - Samuel L Jackson, Kurt Russell and Quentin Tarantino!
Ms Stroud described the incredibly humble Mr Lonesborough as a "superhero" in keeping with one of the minor themes of his young adult fiction novel and for his meteoric debut.
"He is telling a story that has never been told before - this is so special," she said in front of a crowd of Mr Lonesborough's family, friends and many supporters in the Bega district.
"I can't impress on you all how big this is, to have world rights already!"
The Boy From the Mish is not a memoir, but certainly draws on Mr Lonesborough's own coming of age as it deals with Indigenous teenager Jackson discovering his sexual identity and first love over a summer spent with an intriguing visitor Tomas.
Mr Lonesborough, now 26 and living in Sydney, said it was the book he always wished he had been able to read when he was growing up.
"When I was a teen it was almost impossible to get hands on books like this [Indigenous characters written by Indigenous authors]," he said.
"Now I imagine a 17-year-old Aboriginal boy finding this in the library and knowing they are not alone.
"I hope they can find themselves in the pages."
When asked how he would recommend his debut novel to readers, Mr Lonesborough replied with his typical humility.
"Knowing how crap the first draft was, I'd say this book is pretty good."
The Boy From the Mish is available now from publisher Allen and Unwin, and as an audio book on Audible.com.au
READ ALSO: Former Bega man growing as a filmmaker
Ben Smyth
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
