The Clarence Valley’s own eagerly awaited annual fiction collection has been launched in time for Christmas.

‘Stories from the Clarence Valley 2021 – Look Up,’ a collection of stories by 60 local writers, has been nearly a year in the making, according to Long Way Home co-founder Claire Aman.

‘This is the fourth year of the Long Way Home’s writing competition for Clarence Valley people of all ages. We’ve picked the best stories and published them as a book.

Written, edited, designed and printed in the Clarence, it’s as local as you can get.

‘We picked ‘Look Up’ as a theme because it felt uplifting – and that seemed necessary after our collective experience of fires, floods and the ever-present pandemic. These stories have answered the call with heart. We love it that primary school students, high school students and adults are all part of this book, each holding their own, each with a high standard.

The Long Way Home is a small Clarence Valley collective who encourages local people to find their voice through creative writing. Growing more popular each year, it has set people of all ages on a writing path. The project makes no profit and has been generously assisted this year by South Grafton Community Bank, Big River Timbers and Grafton Book Warehouse.

The book is available at Grafton Book Warehouse, South Grafton News and Gifts, and The Nook, Yamba, at a cost of $20.

‘It’s the ultimate Christmas present if you’re looking for a very unique, locally sourced gift,’ said Claire. ‘With exquisite illustrations by Yohanna Dent, it’s a book that celebrates our connections with each other across our beloved Clarence Valley landscapes.’

Find out more about the Long Way Home on www.thelongwayhomestories.com

This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 22 December 2021.