Cassie McCullough

One carried a bone, high and proud, like an heirloom.

There was no fury in them, not like the dog at the beach.

If we had come this far, we must be here by consent.

So, you know, it's just a sort of random description of these dogs that the party encounter, but it gives you a sense of the language, the richness, the ideas behind each phrase.

It's really great writing.

Well, let's meet today's guests on the bookshelf.

Aoife Clifford is a novelist, a bookseller and a bookshelf regular.

Her books include All These Perfect Strangers and Second Sight.

Hi, Aoife.

Aoife, the last time we spoke to you, you were in Melbourne's first lockdown.

How are you going this time around?

Yeah, I'm sure it's tough as.

And you've got a fairly, well, rambunctious household all working from home and all kinds of things.

So, yeah.

Hello.

Yeah, hi.

Good to have you along.

You were recently one of the writers in residence at the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney.

Now, we've heard about this in the past.

That's where science and health researchers team up with novelists.