Stephen Downes

Dr Stephen Downes, writer, journalist. My uncanny novel 'The Hands of Pianists' out in March 2021. Liszt master Leslie Howard calls it 'rich and remarkable'.

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

I'm absolutely over the moon that my debut novel 'The Hands of Pianists' was among five shortlisted books in the fiction category of the PM's literary awards. Winner announced 13 December!

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

Hilary McPhee, who launched great writing careers at McPhee Gribble, has honoured my debut novel The Hands of Pianists. It's 'perfectly poised between silences and sounds ...'. She loved its 'utter lack of pretension'. #BookBoost #Literature #bookworms #uncanny #Sebald

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

Overwhelmed by Peter Craven's review of my debut novel The Hands of Pianists in The Weekend Aus. He called it 'absolutely compelling'. It breaks all art's rules but 'gets away with it'. It's 'virtuosic' and 'grand'. #booklovers #pianists #Sebald #literature #reads

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

@ClassicFM Hmmm. Funny.

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

My debut novel The Hands of Pianists is officially out tomorrow. Pic is interior of truly spooky Kafka Museum in Prague where my tale reaches a climax. Great pianist Leslie Howard calls HP rich and remarkable. #Literature #booktopia #uncanny #bookworms #piano

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

This is Annie Fischer's left hand, perfect for piano-playing. The photo was snapped decades ago by Jeno Szots for Josef Gat's book The Technique of Piano Playing. But elite playing is dangerous. Can kill. My debut novel The Hands of Pianists tells all. out 4 March.

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

Noticed my debut novel The Hands of Pianists is already listed on booktopia, Barnes & Noble and amazon. Out 4 March. An uncanny tale about violent death, obsession and musicians. #bookworm #Goodreads #suicide #uncanny #pianists #Literature #OBSESSION

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

In the front room of this house, the great Australian pianist Noel Mewton-Wood took his own life. Just turned 31, he drained a tumbler of prussic acid. The Hands of Pianists, my debut novel, out on 4 March. @closemdownes https://t.co/Uco3Xp2MQg #pianists #kapell #suicide #uncanny

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

Just posted a photo https://t.co/fZPifNoTjr

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

@RossAndRussel Schubert The Erl King

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

Just posted a photo https://t.co/gulOCDmbja

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

For almost 70 years wreckage from the plane crash that killed great American pianist Willy Kapell has lain undisturbed in a Californian forest. Qantas a disgrace. Read all in my novel The Hands of Pianists out 4 March. #pianist #Freud #CrimeFiction #uncanny #igreads #bookworm

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

In my debut novel a damaged man deflects his guilt. He aims to prove pianos kill elite pianists. Out on 4 March. #bookworm #igreads #bookcommunity #bookish #bookster #bookstagram #bookaholic #bookdragon @closemdownes https://t.co/2mdoQcKzeq

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

@goodreads Out on 4 March, The Hands of Pianists is an uncanny voyage aiming to prove that pianos kill. Great Australian Liszt pianist Leslie Howard calls it 'rich and remarkable'. #goodreads #Sebald #uncanny #bookworms

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

Eighty thousand words of high literary fiction, The Hands of Pianists is out on 4 March. Buy from #booktopia #Amazon #Literature #theuncanny #pianists #paperback

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

A damaged man admits his guilt. How did he cause a suicide? He doesn't know. He aims to prove that pianos kill elite pianists. He travels the world to do it.

My debut novel is out on 4 March.

#uncanny #elitemusicians #BookReview #BookBoost #fiction

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

Fifteen years old. Smooth and exquisite #winelover #rutherglen #redwine #wine #durif #handsofpianists #stephendownes https://t.co/4u4uTKGrt5

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

@dikkii Dickie, the Sunday Age actually pleaded with me to stay on. I was never fired by The Age. Say it again and I'll sue you. You've heard.

[Zoe Curtis @Zoe_Curtis_]

@donnademaio It’s the perfect winter day on the 90 Mile Beach in #lovegippsland

[Stephen Downes @closemdownes]

So Ezard is closing. I kickstarted his career, he says. He can tell you the Guernica review, the dishes I ate. Yet he barred me from Gingerboy. He and backers couldn't afford to let me review. Wouldn't take the risk. Gutless.