Survival, desire, disaster; misadventure, murder and magic combine in this unique collection of tales set in locations including old rural Australia, present-day cities and the distant mystical past. Twenty-seven short stories from renowned Australian fiction writer and poet Julie Thorndyke will take you on tantalising journeys in the company of artists and musicians, mothers and daughters, writers and lovers. as they make brave, desperate and audacious life choices. Earthquake, flood, fire; stolen babies and lost children; homelessness and betrayal; ghosts, mysteries and dreams - each story follows the journey of a richly imagined character as they act out their unique answer to the question 'What if?' Divertimento offers a chance to step briefly into the shoes of each protagonist and discover how it feels to love, steal, murder...and live to tell the tale.