The celebrated debut novel of late Castlemaine resident and beloved local GP Dr Kath O’Connor Inheritance is being officially launched by Affirm Press worldwide today.
Inheritance is a profoundly moving and eloquent novel about two women in very different worlds, whose lives are shaped by a single fatal gene – a gene that the author herself inherited.
Kath, a writer, and general practitioner at Castlemaine’s Lyttleton Street Clinic was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015. After her diagnosis, she discovered that she shared a BrCa1 gene mutation with her grandmother Eileen, who died from the same disease in 1950.
Kath wrote Inheritance while living with cancer and through many treatments and their side effects; the resulting novel is a breathtaking and deeply poignant exploration of love, care, death, and the dignified beauty of a quiet life.
The launch of the book represents a bittersweet dream realised for Kath’s parents, Kevin and Ann O’Connor, and her partner, Rachael Findlay.
Her family told the Express they are thrilled to be able to share her highly anticipated novel with the rest of the world but at the same time they are sad she is not here to celebrate the milestone.
Ann recalls that Kath always wanted to be a writer.
“I have a vivid memory of her as a 10 year old declaring that she was going to be a writer. She actually won an award for her poetry in Grade 8 which was published as part of a collection,” Ann said.
Kath also won the Affirm Press Mentorship Award in partnership with Varuna, the National Writers’ House in the Blue Mountains. It was at Varuna that Kath completed the first draft of her novel.
“Kath loved it so much there that she took herself back privately a second time to work on the second draft,” Rachael said.
In 2019, at the age of 45, Kath died from ovarian cancer while working on the final draft of Inheritance. Her family and her partner Rachael, together with Kath’s writing mentor, Inga Simpson, completed the manuscript so that Kath’s dream of publication could be realised and this beautiful novel could be shared with the world.
“We reached out to Affirm Press and reconnected with her editor Ruby and learned that they had first option to publish and they were keen to help us make her dream a reality,” Kevin said.
“No doubt the team at Affirm Press is working on numerous projects at any given time, but to us, it felt like this was the only book they had in the works and they put so much care and effort into every aspect, including the gorgeous cover design,” Kevin said.
Rachael said Kath was working on the book right up to the time she passed.
“She was sitting up in her hospital bed and gave us all jobs to follow up and fact check aspects of the book. She wanted it to be perfect,” Rachael said.
Rachel said holding the completed book in her hands was “the happiest, saddest moment of her life”.
“Many of Kath’s friends and acquaintances have told us they can hear her voice coming through as they read it which is lovely,” Rachael said.
The book has been timed to be published in February, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and in honour of Kath all royalties will be donated to WomenCan: Funding Gynaecological Cancer Research.
The book is set to be launched locally as part of the Northern Books ‘Books at the Brewery’ series at Shedshaker Brewing at The Mill on Friday February 9. Tickets for the launch have already sold out and there is a waiting list for the event. This is a testament to the impact Kath had on the community here in Castlemaine.
“The community rallied around Kath when she fell ill offering around the clock support and food. She was surrounded by love,” Rachael said.
While book sales will help raise important funds for gynaecological cancer research, Kath’s family also hope it will raise awareness about the seven gynaecological cancers and the importance of knowing your family history and risk.
“The symptoms of many of these cancers are so vague, such as bloating and bowel issues. Kath’s diagnosis came after a mistaken case of Bali Belly. Twenty five percent of women will not survive past five years. Kath fell just short of this milestone. Early diagnosis is key,” Rachael said.
Our readers can pick up a copy of Inheritance at all good book stores or online.
