Claire Nicholls

And none of this is clear at the start of Grief Dog, I should say.

When it opens, we know we have this narrator.

We're not sure who the narrator is.

They're preparing what seems like a eulogy for Geoffrey.

We're yet to find out exactly what has made Geoffrey so interesting in his life.

Can you read to me from the start of the book?

That's Michael Winkler reading from his novel Grief Dog.

Michael, can you talk to me a little bit about your writing style?

Because as we've heard there, it's very funny.

It's disjointed.

It's distinctive.

How do you categorise your style?

Absolutely.

I had to keep reading to the end to find out what happened to Hubert or Geoffrey.

You do have a reputation, Michael, for doing things your own way.

Famously, Grimish, the first ever self-published novel to be long-listed and then shortlisted for the Miles Franklin.

I'm keen to learn a little bit more about that because we've not talked before.

What was the situation there?

Was it a case of not being able to find a publisher for Grimish?

Be honest, though, does having a publisher and an editor cramp your style in any way?