“I guess I was sick of reading novels that all felt a little bit the same. I wanted to try to see if I could create something different.” Melbourne-based writer Michael Winkler and I are talking about his cult-hit Grimmish – a glorious, form-buster of a book that has earned praise from the likes of JM Coetzee and Helen Garner. Firmly rejected by Australian publishing houses, Winkler’s “exploded nonfiction novel” has been longlisted for the Miles Franklin literary award – the first self-published entry to make the list in the prize’s 65-year history.
“I was told it was wearisome, an acquired taste. One publisher called it repellent,” Winkler recalls some of the more pointed rebuffs. “Everyone said there was no way they could sell it.” But Grimmish found its way to readers: indie bookshops pressed it into hands, critics were exultant, and the joyful bibliophiles on #booktwitter spread the word.
