Hi, I’m Holly Ringland.
The international bestselling author of two novels, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, and The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding, one work of non-fiction – The House That Joy Built – and my forthcoming novel,
The World Beneath Her Feet.
I write stories about beauty, grief, courage and belonging — and the mysterious ways we find our way home to ourselves, each other, and the natural world. Welcome.
Start here:
Or scroll on, and I’ll show you around.
Coming this September:
Dear reader, meet Maggie Byrd.
‘It will never be like this again.’
She looked up. He met her eye.
‘You’ll never love anyone the way you do when you’re sixteen.’
In her late thirties, Maggie Byrd lives a charmed life in London. She works with fossils and gems at the Natural History Museum, and shares a home with the two people she loves most: her best friend, Harriet, and her partner, Joe. However, beneath this carefully constructed facade lies a past Maggie buried deep inside herself and resolved never to unearth: the story of a guilt-ridden, heartbroken girl who left Australia in her early twenties and swore never to return.
Bordering a town famous for its rare opalised fossil discoveries, the land lies near a volcanic lake rumoured to be cursed, and a sacred, ephemeral tea-tree swamp. It is land rich with living culture, and home to an abundance of native flora and fauna. And it’s long been sought after by developers, willing to pay any price. In the nineties, this wild, vivid place also shaped Maggie when she was an angry, lost teenager. It was her home and sanctuary, where she experienced the intoxicating powers and limitations of friendship, first love, desire and loyalty - until she betrayed everyone she loved there and fled. When the same land that Maggie turned her back on comes into her care, she is forced to face what we all cannot bury, abandon or forget.
The World Beneath Her Feet is a luminous novel about belonging, memory, time, first love, and what it takes to come home to ourselves and each other.
All of my books at a glance:
THE LOST FLOWERS OF ALICE HART – 2018 – my debut novel, set in Australia between the sea, a flower farm, and the western desert. Now a 7-episode series on Prime Video.
THE SEVEN SKINS OF ESTHER WILDING – 2022 – my second novel, set in Tasmania, Copenhagen and the Faroe Islands. Booktopia's Book of the Year.
THE HOUSE THAT JOY BUILT – 2023 – my bestselling non-fiction on managing fear. An openhearted clarion call to experience the joy and freedom of creating.
THE WORLD BENEATH HER FEET – 2026 – my new novel, set between London and southeast Queensland, coming September, 2026.
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My books have been published in 30+ territories, sold over 600,000 copies, and been adapted for screen by Prime Video. Mindblown.
✷ My books have been published in 30+ territories, sold over 600,000 copies, and been adapted for screen by Prime Video. Mindblown.
Words about my books*
*that still make me well up
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Ringland's storytelling is driven by an undimmed sense of wonder at the darkness and light, the damage and love in people.
— SYDNEY MORNING HERALD on THE LOST FLOWERS OF ALICE HART
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This intercontinental journey into joy, grief, nature and magic confirms Holly Ringland as one of Australia’s most precious, life-changing storytellers.
— BOOKTOPIA review of THE SEVEN SKINS OF ESTHER WILDING
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A non-fiction masterpiece… encourages readers to reflect on their fears and grant themselves permission to create and feel joy… you’ll find sanctuary in this book.
— APPLE BOOK REVIEWS on THE HOUSE THAT JOY BUILT
In my own words…
As a writer, I’m drawn to the ways joy, beauty and connection help us survive, remember, create, mend and begin again. My work often explores nature, longing, the things we can’t bear to say, and the invisible threads that bind us to landscapes, and each other.
Despite knowing I wanted to be a writer at three years old – when my amazing mum taught me to read – I spent years of my life too afraid to write, for many reasons. This didn’t change until I reached a point in my thirties when not writing became more painful than the fear of writing.
I’ve been a full-time writer for over a decade now. Everything I write – novels, non-fiction, poetry, essays – is for anyone trying or wanting to find more wonder, joy, creativity, grace, courage and connection.
My work on screen:
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
The award-winning, 7-episode series adaptation of my debut novel, streaming on Prime Video, starring Sigourney Weaver.
Back to Nature
The critically-acclaimed 8-episode nature and story series I co-hosted with Aaron Pedersen, streaming on the ABC.
Welcome to The Joy Rise:
Letters for creative courage and connection from my desk to you.
The Joy Rise is my online community, where I write to you about creativity, courage, beauty, fear, and the messy work of making a joyous, resilient life. It’s where I connect with my readers, share first-to-know news, and answer questions about my books and creative process.
Events & Speaking
Australian readers, save the date!
I’m going on national book tour in September 2026 to celebrate The World Beneath Her Feet – I so hope you can join me!
I also speak at festivals, conferences, bookshops and literary events about fiction, creativity, nature, place, adaptation, transformation, courage, and connection.
Thank you for supporting my work.
I don’t get to be the author I am without my readers. I’m deeply grateful for your engagement with my writing.
With a light left on,
