Steve Toltz

You and your twin sister are called to a family meeting where your parents tell you they're splitting up.

You and your twin sister are called to a family meeting where your parents tell you they're splitting up.

Now, they want to have a clean break, no shared custody.

Now, they want to have a clean break, no shared custody.

Instead, each child will live permanently with one of the parents.

Instead, each child will live permanently with one of the parents.

And the way to decide which kid will live with which adult?

And the way to decide which kid will live with which adult?

Well, how about rolling a dice?

Well, how about rolling a dice?

I'm Clare Nicholls, and this is The Book Show, where I bring you conversations with your favourite fiction authors.

I'm Clare Nicholls, and this is The Book Show, where I bring you conversations with your favourite fiction authors.

The Australian diplomat turned novelist Ian Chemish will join me soon.

The Australian diplomat turned novelist Ian Chemish will join me soon.

He's written a page-turner inspired by his experience in the Balkans in the 1990s.

He's written a page-turner inspired by his experience in the Balkans in the 1990s.

But first, let's get back to those parents deciding their children's future with a roll of the dice.

But first, let's get back to those parents deciding their children's future with a roll of the dice.

Now, this is the cruel and funny start to A Rising of the Lights, the new novel by Australian writer Steve Toltz.

Now, this is the cruel and funny start to A Rising of the Lights, the new novel by Australian writer Steve Toltz.