Returning: Australian Story

Caroline Jones introduces Monday’s season return of Australian Story, a profile on Australian author, Matthew Reilly.

He first featured on Australian Story in 1998 not long after signing with Pan MacMillan, having self published his first novel.

Since then he has written a string of blockbuster books which have sold in their millions at home and overseas.

Throughout it all he relied on Natalie Freer, the woman who had been at his side since they were student sweethearts. She convinced him to self publish his first book when the big publishers rejected it. Natalie was a psychologist and he credits her with insights that helped him develop the characters in his books.

Reilly’s books feature action packed journeys in which heroes overcome impossible odds to defeat the enemy.

But real life served up a baffling and elusive adversary.

When he eventually lost Natalie, Matthew Reilly’s world collapsed. He says he thought he would never write again.

As he reveals this week, the loss drove him to the brink of disaster.

But now he’s back with new hope, and a new life.

8pm Monday February 3, 8pm on ABC1,