General News
14 September, 2023
‘Hopeless Kingdom’ author speaks
MERCY Regional College (MRC) welcomed author Kgshak Akec to the school last Wednesday.
MERCY Regional College (MRC) welcomed author Kgshak Akec to the school last Wednesday.
Kgshak’s first novel Hopeless Kingdom was recently shortlisted for the 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award, the most significant fiction-writing prize in Australia.
Kgshak said her novel was inspired by her personal journey of migration from Sudan to Cairo, Egypt and then Australia, first to Auburn in Sydney and finally to Geelong.
The story touches on trauma, racism, interculturality and family love.
Kgshak worked with year nine and 10 students as part of their English curriculum, and then Year 11 students as an integral part of their Retreat.
Kgshak finished her day in the south west speaking at the MRC Book Club event in Terang.
Library Resource Centre coordinator Jean Christie said she was thrilled to welcome such a special guest.
“Kgshak gave such a wonderful insight into her engaging novel to our students, and then our Book Club attendees that evening,” she said.
“We thank her very much for sharing her fascinating story with us.”