<p>A rich woman, confined to a wheelchair, commissions a portraitist to create for her an ideal mate.&nbsp;A successful doctor confronts his past life in a deserted cottage.&nbsp;A young idealistic teacher is caught in a web of power in a decaying country town.&nbsp;In these gripping gothic tales, individuals&rsquo; fears and fantasies come startlingly to life to confront them. A disturbing and original new voice in Australian writing.</p><p>&lsquo;[Swinbourne] demonstrates a rare confidence with language that makes for compelling reading.&rsquo; &ndash; <em>Weekend Australian</em></p><p>&lsquo;Even the shorter stories quickly create an atmosphere of foreboding and menace.&rsquo; &ndash; <em>Sydney Morning Herald</em></p><p>&lsquo;This is good meaty material &ndash; a springboard for good fiction.&rsquo; &ndash; <em>Sunday Tasmanian</em></p>