‘She is everywhere at once, watching and listening, a recording angel at life’s secular apocalypses…her unillusioned eye makes her clarity compulsive.’ James Wood, New Yorker

Helen Garner writes novels, stories, screenplays and works of non-fiction. In 2006 she received the inaugural Melbourne Prize for Literature, and in 2016 she won the prestigious Windham–Campbell Prize for non-fiction and the Western Australian Premier’s Book Award. 

She’s also turning seventy-five on 7 November and Text wants you to help us celebrate this incredible woman and her work.

We are thrilled to be publishing two beautiful books in November, designed by W. H. Chong, to celebrate Helen Garner’s writing life and her seventy-fifth birthday: True Stories  and Stories.

We’re so thrilled that we’re offering you, dear reader, the chance to win 1 of 10 author-signed sets.

Just follow the instructions below to go in the running, and join us in wishing Helen a very happy birthday, with love. Please share with your Garner-loving friends and relatives too. (It’s okay , there are 10 sets to give away, so sharing won’t significantly reduce your chances of winning - okay, just breathe.)

Here’s how to enter this marvellous competition:

1. Take a picture of yourself with your favourite Helen Garner book and a birthday message. (You can write it, or paint it, or sky-write it, or sing it or type it on paper like Alice, Nadja and Lucy above.)

2. From now until 7 November (yes, that is Helen’s actual birthday) post your picture on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and include the hashtag #HappyBirthdayHelen (exactly like that) and tag us @text_publishing (please do both these things or we won’t be able to find it!)

3. On 8 November, a discerning bunch of Garner fans from Text will select the winners and let them know on social media! 

Be creative, be funny, be serious, be sincere, be your wonderful selves.

We are looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Good luck!

The Texters