Madeleine Cleary

Madeleine Cleary is a writer who lives at the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges on Wurundjeri country in outer Melbourne. Her debut novel of historical fiction, The Butterfly Women, will be published in May 2025 with Affirm Press. You can read the Books+Publishing announcement here.

 

Set in Melbourne in 1863, the novel tells a story of Australia that the newspapers and history books ignored, one where women take centre stage. It is a tale of brothel madams, mouthy streetwalkers, elegant ‘dressed girls’ and other residents of a fledgling city. It is also inspired by Madeleine’s recently discovered connection to the thieves and prostitutes of the early colony of Melbourne, and it was this research that was the novel’s genesis.

 

Prior to signing with Affirm Press, Madeleine wrote and shelved three novels for practice. In 2022, she dabbled in short stories, and was honoured to find some success in several esteemed local competitions, including Stringybark Stories, the E.M Fletcher Writing Award, and the Ethel Webb Bundell Literary Short Story Competition. Madeleine holds a Master of Arts (International Relations) degree from the University of Melbourne.

 

While she has established a wonderful career in the Australian Public Service, including stints working in Canberra and overseas, writing was always her (secret) passion. A former bookseller, Madeleine enjoys being part of the wider reading and writing community in Australia. She is a co-host of The Book Deal Podcast with fellow podcaster, Tina Strachan, a podcast that helps to inspire and motivate aspiring writers.

 

When not working, podcasting or writing, Madeleine is generally plucking weeds in a cathartic trance on her steep ‘hills’ block, reading, eating, chatting or bush walking.