A 17-year-old song inspires Robert Forster's first novel

ABC Arts

Topic: Books

Robert Forster's novel is based on his song of the same name.

Mick and Drew are the main characters in the novel.

They are musicians who get into trouble after a gig.

Some men say they are police and arrest Mick and Drew.

Things get worse for them.

Mick and Drew have money problems and their car is stolen.

Then, they find out their car is not theirs.

Mick and Drew go to jail, but they try to escape.

'The song never left my head'

Robert Forster thought about this story for a long time.

He wrote a song with the same name in 2009.

Forster's novel was in his head for years before he wrote it.

Forster didn't plan to write a novel at first, but the song stayed with him.

Forster says the song didn't leave his head.

He thought about the song for six or seven years.

Forster had more ideas about the characters two years later.

Forster wrote the novel over nine years.

He's excited that the novel is finally out.

The novel shows a romantic view of life on the run.

The song only gives a few details, but the novel tells the whole story.

Mick and Drew think the drug bust was a set-up.

They want to find their missing manager, Bingo.

Mick and Drew are not bitter, despite their problems.

Forster co-founded The Go-Betweens in 1978.

Mick and Drew play music, buy old suits, and find a getaway car.

Their story is poetic and fun to read.

Forster says their life on the run is like being a musician on tour.

Forster thinks the two lifestyles are similar.

Musicians travel, perform at night, and don't know what's happening outside.

Where dreams come true

A woman named Ruth likes Mick and Drew's music.

Ruth wants to put their song in a film and make them famous.

Forster has always liked Hollywood and its glamour.

Hollywood is a place where dreams can come true.

Forster thinks Hollywood is still a special place for young artists.

Musicians as an enigma

The novel is set in a time before social media.

Mick and Drew must rely on people they meet to find Bingo.

In the past, musicians were more mysterious.

Forster likes the mystery of musicians from the past.

He prefers not to know too much about his favorite artists.

Forster likes to imagine what musicians are doing when they're not performing.

The novel's setting allows for surprises and mystery.

Songwriters on the Run is published by Penguin Random House.

Robert Forster will be at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

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A 17-year-old song inspires Robert Forster's first novel

ABC Arts

Topic: Books

Robert Forster's novel is based on his song of the same name.

Mick and Drew are the main characters in the novel.

They are musicians who get into trouble after a gig.

Some men say they are police and arrest Mick and Drew.

Things get worse for them.

Mick and Drew have money problems and their car is stolen.

Then, they find out their car is not theirs.

Mick and Drew go to jail, but they try to escape.

'The song never left my head'

Robert Forster thought about this story for a long time.

He wrote a song with the same name in 2009.

Forster's novel was in his head for years before he wrote it.

Forster didn't plan to write a novel at first, but the song stayed with him.

Forster says the song didn't leave his head.

He thought about the song for six or seven years.

Forster had more ideas about the characters two years later.

Forster wrote the novel over nine years.

He's excited that the novel is finally out.

The novel shows a romantic view of life on the run.

The song only gives a few details, but the novel tells the whole story.

Mick and Drew think the drug bust was a set-up.

They want to find their missing manager, Bingo.

Mick and Drew are not bitter, despite their problems.

Forster co-founded The Go-Betweens in 1978.

Mick and Drew play music, buy old suits, and find a getaway car.

Their story is poetic and fun to read.

Forster says their life on the run is like being a musician on tour.

Forster thinks the two lifestyles are similar.

Musicians travel, perform at night, and don't know what's happening outside.

Where dreams come true

A woman named Ruth likes Mick and Drew's music.

Ruth wants to put their song in a film and make them famous.

Forster has always liked Hollywood and its glamour.

Hollywood is a place where dreams can come true.

Forster thinks Hollywood is still a special place for young artists.

Musicians as an enigma

The novel is set in a time before social media.

Mick and Drew must rely on people they meet to find Bingo.

In the past, musicians were more mysterious.

Forster likes the mystery of musicians from the past.

He prefers not to know too much about his favorite artists.

Forster likes to imagine what musicians are doing when they're not performing.

The novel's setting allows for surprises and mystery.

Songwriters on the Run is published by Penguin Random House.

Robert Forster will be at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

Promotion

Top Stories

Topic: Homicide

Topic: Indigenous Policy

Topic: Crime

Analysis by Clare Armstrong

Top Stories

Topic: Homicide

Topic: Indigenous Policy

Topic: Crime

Analysis by Clare Armstrong

Just In

Topic: Perspective

Topic: History

Topic: Soccer