> Skip to content
Read an extract
Play sample
  • Published: 5 November 2024
  • ISBN: 9781761349454
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 288
  • RRP: $34.99

Stories from the Otto Bin Empire




A collection of inspirational and heartwarming stories about friendship, community and finding family in the unlikeliest of places...

FAMILIES COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.

In these six captivating short stories, meet some members of the Otto Bin Empire - the homeless men and women who gather down by the docks.

Adam, the teenage runaway, who has just one goal: to stay lost. Until life offers him a second chance.

Oskar, the elderly Polish immigrant, who to outsiders cuts a lonely figure. But every afternoon, at the giant chessboard in the park, Oskar becomes a star.

The poet Reginald, who claims he just wants to observe. Then he meets young Sally - and the scruffy kelpie who hangs around the bins – and is inspired in ways he’d never imagined.

Johnny, the generous, charismatic, habitual criminal, who is finally determined to turn his life around – if only he can stay out of jail.

Benny, the Big Issue vendor with a heart of gold, who loves nothing more than helping others.

And finally Madge, the much-loved Otto Bin matriarch. Her past has always been shrouded in secrecy, but now she’s ready to share her story . . .

Tragedy and betrayal, sacrifice and salvation, redemption and hope are all on display in this inspiring collection from master storyteller Judy Nunn.

  • Published: 5 November 2024
  • ISBN: 9781761349454
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 288
  • RRP: $34.99

About the author

Judy Nunn

Judy Nunn’s career has been long, illustrious and multifaceted. After combining her internationally successful acting career with scriptwriting for television and radio, Judy decided in the 90s to turn her hand to prose.

Her first three novels, The Glitter Game, Centre Stage and Araluen, set respectively in the worlds of television, theatre and film, became instant bestsellers, and the rest is history, quite literally in fact. She has since developed a love of writing Australian historically-based fiction and her fame as a novelist has spread rapidly throughout Europe where she has been published in English, German, French, Dutch, Czech and Spanish.

Her subsequent bestsellers, Kal, Beneath the Southern Cross, Territory, Pacific, Heritage, Floodtide, Maralinga, Tiger Men, Elianne, Spirits of the Ghan, Sanctuary, Khaki Town and Showtime! confirmed Judy’s position as one of Australia’s leading fiction writers. She has now sold over one million books in Australia alone.

In 2015 Judy was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her "significant service to the performing arts as a scriptwriter and actor of stage and screen, and to literature as an author".

Also by Judy Nunn

See all

Discover more

Article
The Judy Nunn Short Story Competition

Share your story and you could win!

Article
Stories from the Otto Bin Empire book club questions

A collection of stories from Judy Nunn about friendship, community and finding family in the unlikeliest of places.

penguin pop image
penguin pop image