Magabala Books acquires Cusack new adult debut

Magabala Books has acquired world rights to The Dangers of Just One Person, a ‘funny, queer, regional’ novel by Skye Cusack.

The novel ‘follows the intertwined stories of two young, lost Launceston women’, said the publisher. ‘Lacey and Mattel meet in a Tasmanian therapy clinic waiting room. Mattel thinks this is a love story. Lacey doesn’t. This misunderstanding has devastating consequences.’

Cusack is a Dulgubarra-Yidinji, Indonesian and Chinese writer, journalist and accidental comedian living in Rubibi (Broome). Her most recent work Checked Out received a 2025 Elevate Grant, 2025 Copyright Agency Varuna Fellowship and is shortlisted for the 2025 Penguin Write It! prize. Cusack was also shortlisted for the 2024 black&write! Writing Fellowship.

Cusack said, ‘I wrote this book for the girls, gays and theys who have ever struggled with OCD, disordered eating or a classic identity crisis. The fact that my weird little book is getting published is just insane, actually.’

Magabala editor and project manager Arlie Alizzi said, ‘It’s deeply funny, strange, clever and subtle. A regional romantic comedy/tragedy that speaks to what a lot of people in our generation go through as they search for identity and experience the absurd struggle for mental health care and true “wellness”.’

Magabala plans to publish The Dangers of Just One Person in 2027.

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions