Encore: The real life story behind 'Looking for Alibrandi'

Melina Marchetta grew up in Sydney in a close-knit Sicilian family, but she never wanted to be seen as 'that Italian girl'. Years later, she drew on her story to write an Australian classic (R).

Growing up, Melina lied about the fact she was forbidden to go out on the weekends, and instead told her friends she had to attend lots of weddings.

At 19 years old, she visited Italy for the first time and met her great aunts, still grieving the siblings who had left for Australia decades earlier.

Melina was working in the Commonwealth Bank when she began writing the novel inspired by her family's story.

Looking for Alibrandi was rejected five times before it was published some years later.

Then it became an Australian classic.

Originally broadcast in April 2019.

Melina's latest novel The Place on Dalhousie was published by Penguin in 2019.

And her latest children's book in the What Zola Did series, was published in 2022.

This Conversation was produced by Nicola Harrison. Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.

It explores Australian literature, writing, books, memoir, semi-autobiographical, novels, youth literature, teen literature, romance, coming of age, migrant stories, Italian-Australian stories, movie adaptation, Pia Miranda, Kick Gurry, Anthony LaPaglia.

To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.