Liezl Shnookal
Australian author & storyteller
Welcome to Bush Telegraph XPress, the online publishing home of Liezl Shnookal.
Here she shares her stories with you.
Unconventional coming-of-age novels for the young-at-heart. Contemporary short fiction and true stories for thoughtful readers. Visual narratives for those who love wildlife and the natural environment.
Discover Coming-of-Age Novels by Liezl Shnookal
Off Track: An Award-Winning Story of Love, Rebellion, and Losing Your Way in 1970s Australia
Off Track takes you to a sun-soaked beach where carefree summer holidays of laughter and friendship unravel into a turbulent and unpredictable journey. Follow Lucy as she navigates the complexities of life, love, and heartbreak in this poignant and unconventional coming-of-age novel.
A story that traces an uncertain path through an equally uncertain time.
Praise for Off Track
"This story really moved me – sometimes to laughter, sometimes to tears. A brilliantly written book that draws you in right from the start." – Julie Gillespie, Seaford.
"An Australian version of Catcher in the Rye. Everybody should read this book." – Ros Addison, St Andrews.
Available as a paperback and ebook.
Nikki vs Jess: An Award-Winning Story of Two Young Women Who Refuse to Conform
In 1980s Australia, two young women fight to break free from the gender roles that define and confine them. Nikki vs Jess is a feminist coming-of-age novel about carving your own path, defying expectations, and the personal cost of challenging the status quo.
A compelling story of friendship, courage, and the search for identity in a world that demands conformity.
Praise for Nikki vs Jess
“This book challenges the binary views of the world: what it is to be a girl, or in a 'happy normal family' or most importantly, a friend. Fantastic.” – Vanessa Hutchinson, Greensborough.
"Gripping – would Nikki finally beat Jess at pool, or was she doomed to be a loser forever? I especially loved this book's ending!” – John Simpson, Brunswick.
Available as a paperback and ebook.
Explore Contemporary Short Fiction and True Stories by Liezl Shnookal
Fiddling While Rome Burns: A Brutal Short Story about the Climate Crisis and the Cost of Looking Away
From rising sea levels in the Pacific Islands to a grieving widow after an Australian bushfire, Fiddling While Rome Burns draws on real-world events to tell a fictional account of the lived experience of climate change. These individual vignettes reflect the growing emergency, set against a backdrop of political and corporate indifference.
A powerful and unflinching condemnation of political inaction in the face of global catastrophe.
Sitting Beside Bushfire Survivors: A Personal Story of Black Saturday's Aftermath
In the wake of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, Liezl Shnookal sits with survivors from St Andrews, listening as they speak through grief, shock, and the raw edges of all they've endured. This deeply personal story captures what remains after fire tears through homes, lives, and landscapes — a quiet reckoning with destruction, gratitude, and the strength found in community.
Liezl Shnookal's own story after Black Saturday.
Step Inside the Visual Photojournals of Liezl Shnookal
The Galapagos Islands and the Amazon Rainforest
Travel with Liezl Shnookal around the spectacular Galapagos Islands and meet up with a frigatebird looking for "love" and other extraordinary wildlife.
Or journey through the Amazon Rainforest to encounter some very unusual wildlife.
The Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef
Visit the Whitsundays with Liezl Shnookal and soar over the Great Barrier Reef through her stunning aerial images.
Discover how Adani’s coal mine and port expansion threaten one of Earth’s most precious and fragile ecosystems — and find out how you can help protect it.
Wander Through Liezl Shnookal’s Blog on Writing, Life, and the Stories in Between
Stories From the Everyday
Small moments. Big thoughts. Personal reflections and ordinary adventures, all told with warmth, insight, and a touch of storytelling magic. These are the quieter stories — thoughtful, sometimes funny, always real.
A Writer’s Path
Step into the world behind the words — from creative sparks and writing challenges to the joys (and detours) of bringing a story to life. A candid look at the writer’s journey, told with honesty, humour, and heart.
Contact Liezl Shnookal
Have a question, collaboration idea, or just want to say hello?