First novel packed with political intrigue, science and love

Creative Writing lecturer Lucy Neave has published her first novel, Who We Were.

The book tells the story of two newly married scientists who move from Melbourne to New York during the 1950s when the Cold War is in full swing. In New York, they become fast friends with an ex-Communist and his wife. They also find themselves working on weapons projects and experimenting with lethal infectious diseases.

Bringing together elements of science, political intrigue and history, Lucy has worked on the book between other projects over the last ten years. Lucy, who has a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree with first class honours, said with this novel she wanted to use her science background and find a way to write about science in a literary way.

“I also wanted to explore how engaging in something that’s ethically questionable might affect people internally, and how this plays out in their relationships.”

She is well-versed in New York City life, after completing her Masters in Fine Arts in Writing there at Sarah Lawrence College, and residing in the city on and off for the past fifteen years.

Lucy, who works in the School of Cultural Inquiry, first started teaching creative writing at ANU part-time in 2003.

While Lucy is already well into her second novel, she won’t reveal much, except that it will be different from her last and will look at “the creaturely aspects of human existence.”

Who We Were is published by Text Publishing