PEOPLE LIKE US as an audiobook

Sally Piper

17 August 2026

I’m absolutely thrilled to share that the audiobook for PEOPLE LIKE US is now available through Audible and that it has been narrated by Helen O’Leary. Helen is an incredibly talented voice artist and actor. She narrated my previous novel, BONE MEMORIES, and did a superb job in bringing that novel’s characters to listeners, so I was stoked that she was available to take the story of Tina from the page to your ears. Here she is at the mic with sound engineer Ben Vlad. I couldn’t be happier with the final results from these two. And I’m so happy that PEOPLE LIKE US is now available to readers unable to access books via text and to those who just prefer to consume stories through their ears rather than their eyes. I hope you enjoy the listen!

Sally Piper on Instagram

I know I’m not going to regret my shiny new subscription to literary journal Meanjin because of fabulous articles like this one by Miles Franklin short-listed author Steve MinOn. Steve always has a camera round his neck at literary events but I had no idea the photos he takes are such an integral part of his writing process. Through them he sees an “accidental narrative…a slight kink in a moment or a situation that I haven’t seen in my own words before.” Photos as a catalyst for words. Love it!♥️📸 I can’t wait for more articles like this one. You can subscribe to the once again Brisbane-based Meanjin, coming to you out of Queensland University of Technology, here: https://meanjin.com.au @meanjin_ @steveminon @qutrealworld #meanjin #literaryjournal

I’m absolutely thrilled to share that the audiobook for PEOPLE LIKE US is now available through @audible_au and that it has been narrated by Helen O’Leary. Helen is an incredibly talented voice artist and actor. She narrated my previous novel, BONE MEMORIES, and did a superb job in bringing that novel’s characters to listeners, so I was stoked that she was available to take the story of Tina from the page to your ears. Here she is at the mic with sound engineer @vlad_audio. I couldn’t be happier with the final results from these two. And I’m so happy that PEOPLE LIKE US is now available to readers unable to access books via text.🎧🗣️🎙️ @uqpbooks #peoplelikeusnovel #audiobook

I’m kind of literally off to Grandma’s house with baked goods in the morning. My mum’s aged care home has an EKKA stall for residents and I figured those lovely older folk, many of whom don’t have the memory they once had, might recall some of the flavours from when they were younger and just about every Australian household had an Australian Women’s Weekly cookbook (or ten) on the shelf. There’s no publication page in this one, but I reckon I’ve had it since the 1980s. I haven’t opened it for years.

We both look a bit stern with our arms crossed but I can assure you we’ll aim for a robust but also playful conversation. Come along if you can, I’d love to see you there. It’s a ticketed event to include food and wine and you can book your place at the link in my bio. @dranitaheiss @uqpbooks @scrumptiousreads

Huge thanks to @kaitlynhudsonofarrell_ and Saturday’s Sydney Weekend magazine for interviewing Susan and I about how we came to work together in our mission to address the issue of the 400,000 older single women in Australia who are at risk of homelessness - me by writing about the issue in my novel PEOPLE LIKE US and Susan by providing solutions through her work with @sharingwithfriends_foundation 🏘️ @uqpbooks @dmcprmedia @susandavies9232 #homelessnessweek2026 #affordablehousingforall #housingisahumanright #cohousing

When I talk to people about insecure housing experienced by older single women, these are some of the statistics I mention, along with some of the factors that contribute to the problem and some of the solutions that would help make a difference. Homelessness Australia’s slogan for Homelessness Week 2026 (3-9 August) is “Homelessness action NOW!” The statistics would agree. @uqpbooks @dmcprmedia #homelessnessweek2026 #securehousing #affordablehousingforall #endhomelessness #peoplelikeusnovel

Thanks to @bigissueaustralia for running my article about near homelessness experienced by older single women, a crisis which is often hidden. “These women are not invisible because they are unusual. They are invisible because their stories rarely become part of our national conversation.” Homelessness Week helps raise awareness and build that conversation. I wrote PEOPLE LIKE US to put a human face to what could be one of the 400,000 older single women experiencing insecure housing in Australia and to highlight the forces that put and keep her there. And organisations like @sharingwithfriends_foundation are providing solutions, with the First Five (pictured) set to move into the first gentle density co-housing project in Brisbane very soon. @uqpbooks @dmcprmedia #homelessnessweek #affordablehousingforall #housinginsecurity #cohousing

The Brisbane Writers Festival Program was officially launched at Brisbane Powerhouse this evening. It’s packed with a fantastic line-up of authors. Tickets can be booked at bwf.org.au @briswritersfest #brisbanewritersfestival #bwf2026 #literaryfestival

Everybody’s Home is a coalition of housing, homelessness and welfare organizations trying to bring about the change needed so everybody has a safe, secure and affordable home. They are currently conducting their Everybody’s Home Campaign 2026 Housing Survey and they are asking everyone to take part. Whether you’re a renter, homeowner, have a mortgage, are experiencing homelessness or looking to buy a home, they want to hear from you. The survey only takes 7-10 minutes. Please consider adding your voice. Link in my bio. 🏘️✍🏻 @everybodyshomecampaign @uqpbooks #affordablehousingforall #endhomelessness

It was a warm afternoon, but this brown tree snake seems to be out and about a bit early. Plus, I nearly stepped on it, but thankfully it’s only ‘mildly venomous’ and (fun fact) it has rear-facing fangs making it difficult for it to bite a human.