Shazza Slays a Dragon

by 

Cadance Bell

An introduction from Cady

When I sat down and wrote this novel in April of 2024, I wasn't sure what I was writing - a novel or a suicide note. The cost of living, the hopelessness I feel about housing, violence against women, the state of politics and the death of the natural world was all weighing heavily upon my heart as a kind of... madness.

So, I gave myself 21 days to bottle it inside these words.

Welcome to Shazza Slays a Dragon.

Author’s note: 

The original lyrics and melody of “No Vacancy” are copyright Colin Bailey, and used with permission of the artist.

Dedication:

The following women were murdered in Australia in the time it took me to write the first draft of this novel:

Emma Bates

Yixuan Cheng

Pikria Darchia

Dr Ashlee Good

Erica Hay

Yolonda Mumbulla

Redacted (10)

Dawn Singleton

Molly Ticehurst

Jade Young

I wrote this novel in three weeks.

It is dedicated to them, others, and the hope of none.