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Media kit

MEDIA RELEASE

**20 YEARS AGO THIS YEAR, BY CHANCE THE FUTURE ...**

LONDON. 2001. It’s the new millennium, with a minute more of pre-mobile phone, pre-terrorism hysteria, pre-social media life to live. Jackie Chance escapes Sydney suburbia. She’s an outsider with a bad haircut. Wild mood swings. She knows everything. She knows nothing.

Why was Sef kicked out of the hostel?

Immigration detention, drum and bass, Berlusconi’s boys’ club. Spearmint Rhinos, capital cash flows, Stephen Lawrence’s murder ... By Chance the Future is a story that shows how reflecting on where we were 20 years ago can tell us where we are today—at a distance, with hindsight—if only we look.

Set in 2001, the first, crushing year of this new millennium—which, while still in its infancy, has already propelled us into crises climate, viral, existential—By Chance the Future asks: what have we learnt? Well, as Jackie learns, like the existentialists, the absurdists before her, the first criteria is clear: live.

In By Chance the Future, Amy Rudder tells a story of stepping out into the world and trusting you’ll know what to do when you get there. Inspired by Sarah in cult movie, The Crow and Roberto Bolaño’s anti-hero, Auxilio Lacoutre (Amulet), our protagonist, Jackie Chance, thrives despite.

And now, despite the challenges of writing and self-publishing, and of ‘pitching oneself into the drift’ of criticism, it’s time to celebrate the early readers, no less cover artist, Mazen Kerbaj, who was among the first to believe in this book. The Berlin-based, Lebanese illustrator and free jazz musician created the striking cover artwork during the long Covid-19 lockdown. Producing his Corona Diaries at the time, and dealing with the aftermath of the explosion that shook Beirut, he felt a strong resonance with the manuscript, and was compelled to bring it to life.

Long term collaborator, curator and DJ, Louise Klerks, hosted the Melbourne book launch at her multi-arts gallery, Missing Persons, and in Sydney, new independent book and object space, BTWNLNS, did the honours. Both venues share an ethos of creative community connection; supporting multi-disciplinary artists and contributing to the cultural energy of their respective cities.

Zenobia Ahmed ushered the project through its final stages of text design and typesetting with professionalism and the aesthete’s eye. And Maddison Kitching, who Louise invited years earlier to exhibit at Chapter House Lane (the art space she and Amy co-founded in 2011), designed The Disputandum imprint for the new independent press.

Available now at bychancethefuture.com, or at a range of independent stockists, By Chance the Future blends travel writing, philosophy, comedy and politics; the author highlighting both our very human hypocrisy and genuine attempts to connect, and the singularity and the sameness of our youthful adventures as we attempt to individuate from our families and countries of origin.

By Chance the Future was launched on Friday, 23 April, 6–8pm at MISSING PERSONS in the Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston St, Melbourne.

And following the drive north to Sydney, a follow-up event was held at BTWNLNS, 105 Wilson St, Newtown, on Sunday, 25 April, from 3–5pm.

Alex Landragin, a great friend of Amy’s and author of the novel, Crossings, officially launched the book with a beautiful speech...

“There’s a London Review of Books writer, Jenny Diski, who’s unfortunately passed away, but Amy’s writing has always reminded me of hers. Like Jenny Diski, Amy’s writing is heavily autobiographical, but also universalist and voracious in its reach. As restless as it is, it’s still grounded, and grounded in recognisable traditions. I think one of the interesting things about this book is that it’s kind of like a classic Australian in London book, but it’s not at all an Australian in London book at the same time …

“When we think of punk, we think of a certain number of characteristics, like self-deprecation, irreverence, iconoclasm, a kind of political engagement that’s very class conscious, and a certain DIY attitude or philosophy. And those characteristics are very apt to describe Amy Rudder and her book, By Chance the Future ... Amy’s writing can be unsparing at times, and then at other times it can be really tender and compassionate. I love the way that her writing can be unapologetically libidinous, but not just for sex or men, but for life itself. If you read the book, you’ll see that she’s interested in exploring the limits of libido and hunger for life. And she has an occasionally profane turn of phrase as well, which I love …”

View a photo gallery of the Melbourne and Sydney book parties. High res images available on request.

“As I stepped inside that iconic red box I tried to divert my eyes from the usual smattering of soft porn that lined its interior. Then I took pause to look around at the flesh, the breasts, the bottoms, the barely-there Lycra and thought ladies I’m with you, solicit we must. I picked up the phone, bolstered by their brazenness.”

Review copies available on request.

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