A Memoir

‘Somewhere in that softened space
between day and night
between shade and light
she’s there, she’s always there’

Not a lot happened while growing up during the Sixties and Seventies. Or did it?

A country town, an ordinary house, two parents and three children. A family like any other, until a series of events alters the course of their lives forever.

After Peta’s father disappears, her mother is forced to take a job in an era when women were expected to stay home. As her parents’ marriage disintegrates, Peta discovers the shocking truth about her father - a secret she cannot discuss with anyone, not even her own sister.

When their mother packs the two girls and their younger brother into the car and heads north into unknown territory, the children must adjust to a different town and schools, gradually shedding the upheaval of the past.
But just as they are adapting to the big changes in their lives, an unexpected tragedy occurs, and Peta is thrust into a role she never imagined possible.

Nicci Was Here is a powerful memoir of Australian childhood, told with humour and heart, and will especially resonate with those who grew up in the same era. It is a testament to sisterly love and the fractured yet enduring bonds that hold families together.

About the Author

Peta West lives and works on her family property in the wheatbelt of Western Australia.
She has a diploma in Creative Writing and writes prose and poetry, often about life in the country. Peta also writes anecdotes and rhymes for light entertainment at rural forums and women’s events. She has just completed a memoir and is currently working on several short stories.