Published March 2016
ISBN 978 1 74353 790 9
Available in stores, direct from , or
Watch the Wildlight book trailer here:
We all bow to the weather. It’s the light and dark of being at this place. You plant yourself on the edge of an ocean and you see how startling nature is, that it’s fierce and beautiful and totally indiscriminate.
Sixteen-year-old Stephanie West has been dragged from Sydney to remote Maatsuyker Island off the coast of Tasmania by her parents, hoping to recapture a childhood idyll and come to terms with their grief over the death of Steph’s twin brother. Cut off from friends and the comforts of home, exiled to a lonely fortress and a lighthouse that bears the brunt of savage storms, the months ahead look to be filled with ghosts of the past.
Steph’s saviour is Tom Forrest, a 19-year-old deckhand aboard a crayfishing boat. When the weather allows, Tom visits the island, and he and Steph soon form an attraction. But Tom must conceal at all costs the illegal fishing he takes part in, orchestrated by his tyrannical brother. And he dare not dwell on his fear of the sea or his deep-worn premonition that the ocean will one day take him.
Wildlight is an exquisite, vividly detailed exploration of the wayward journey of adolescence, and how the intense experience of a place can change the course of even the most well-planned life.
writing the wild
Hello Robyn! Buying books for Christmas gifts on Friday & my local book shop owner who knows me well says ‘Svalbard! Have you been there? ‘ ‘ I have to get there says She!’ Now Ron & I haven’t been to Svalbard but …. We have been to Wrangel Island so my interest was stirred! Annie then said ‘she’s an Aussie Author by the name of Robyn Mundy, who has led an interesting life , you’d like her work!’ It took but a moment before images from our trip on the Khlebnikov came flooding back! I wasn’t aware of your work before but I am NOW & I just LOVED ‘Cold Coast’! Headed back to the bookshop to get one or both of your earlier books to indulge myself & consider as Christmas gifts! Not in store so now on order!!! The wild Arctic is a very special place in our hearts as is the special Antarctic light at Flutter & Auster Rookery, along with so many memories of our Antarctic trips! Thank you so much I couldn’t put Cold Coast down but didn’t want it to end. It’s an absolute gem !!! 😀😀😀 please say hello to Gary for us, he taught us so much about penguins on the Kromov! R& R
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Hi Rochelle and Ron
Apologies for the slow reply to your lovely email; I just got home after working on a ship in the NZ subAntarctics. I’m so happy you enjoyed Cold Coast. Thanks for your praise-much appreciated. This last voyage we had passenger Corrie aboard who was on our KK voyage all those years ago. It was nice to relive the memories of those amazing emperor experiences. I’m envious of your adventures to Wrangel. I will most certainly pass on your greetings to Gary. He heads off in a few days for two long Antarctic semi circumnavigations. For each of us it’s our first season back aboard since Covid.
I’m wishing you both all good things for 2023.
Robyn xxx😎🐧⛴🦊🐻❄️
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Hello Robyn, What an exquisite book! I read Wildlight and was transported to Maatsuker Island through your vivid descriptions. I loved Stephanie and Tom, the wild land and seascapes and beautiful words. I was sad when I turned the final page. I loved it so much, I wrote a review (my first ever!) on my new blog. You can find it here:
I haven’t read The nature of ice but it’s now on my list to read. Thanks for a beautiful book!
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Hi Colleen,
Thank you for this wonderful message, and your truly impressive review. I think you have a career ahead of you, and it feels very rewarding to know that the story touched you as it did. You really made my day. I don’t know if you use Goodreads but if you feel inclined, it’s a free and popular readers’ website where you can star rate a book and share your reviews. Keep reading! Keep reviewing! 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻
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Hi Robyn,
I have just finished reading Wildlight and wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it. I really loved your way with words and I could picture myself right there on Maatsuyker Island with the characters. It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I posted a review on Goodreads, and Amazon.com and on my blog, here is the link
I look forward to reading your next book. 🙂
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Thank you for these lovely words of praise, for engaging so closely with Steph, Tom and Maatsuyker Island, and for your wonderful review. 😇
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Hi Robyn, last night I finished reading “Wildlight”… Congratulations on another captivating story. Your thorough research and comprehensive detail (how to make a craypot, the lighthouse glass, …) make the characters and setting rich and real. I was also impressed by how you were able to get into the heads of teenagers! I took a long time to read your book – I didn’t want it to end.. I re-read many sections because they vividly recalled some happy memories of Maatsuyker and the south coast and I was happy to be absorbed again and again. Thanks for sharing your wonderful story.
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Marg–so chuffed to read your review, especially that you know Maatsuyker and the South Coast firsthand. Were your ears burning this morning? Greg & Margaret flew down and stayed over; they were speaking fondly of you and M.
Happy Easter and thanks again for your kind praise! x
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Hi Robyn, Just spent the morning gripped to reading the end of Wildlight. I couldn’t put it down as I needed to know what happened!
What a lovely book! I felt very connected to the characters of Stephanie and Tom and the reality of their lives and the tough paths they both had to tread. It was beautifully writtent and very well researched – it felt very real and tangible.
Well done!!
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Ann, I’m so happy you liked WILDLIGHT, AND to hear you couldn’t put it down. I hope there weren’t patients waiting outside theatre for the good doctor to finish the book! 😷 😉 Have a happy Easter 🐰🐰
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