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The family by Chris Johnston and Rosie Jones: 2 March, 2017

Drawing on police files, diary entries, recordings of cult-leader Anne Hamilton-Byrn, and original interviews with survivors and investigators, The Family goes inside one of the most bizarre cults in modern history to expose its strange and shocking story.

Chris Johnston is a senior writer for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, based in Melbourne. He has been covering developments related to the Family for several years. Rosie Jones is an award-winning writer, director and editor. Her most recent feature documentary, The family, premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival in July 2016.

Chris Johnston and Rose Jones will join us for a Q&A on Thursday, 2 March between 8 and 9pm. Please leave any questions you have below. (And discuss the book at your leisure!)

Want to buy The family? Receive 10% off when purchasing it from Readings at State Library Victoria. To receive the discount online, enter the promo code BOOKCLUB in the promo code box during online checkout. To receive the discount at our State Library bookshop, simply mention the Thursday night book club at the counter.

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How do you choose what to focus on and what to ignore when you're trying to tell the best story in nonfiction? How can you decide what's the most important parts?

It's pretty difficult! I found all the interviews compelling so hard to edit. Ultimately this is the tip of a massive iceberg.

As Rosie kept on reminding me, it is all about propelling the story forward. Diversions are to be avoided. Find the events in people's lives that add to the story and use those, put the rest aside.

Sounds like there's material left for a sequel then, haha. Any interest in a follow up focusing on some of the parts or side-stories that didn't support the main arc (assuming there are any)?

It was very difficult. The story was huge but we had to focus on the wonderful first person testimony and build from there.

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