A first novel, written in a ‘gothic’ style while the author was undertaking a creative writing course, published in 2000 to critical praise before becoming a best seller, translated into several languages, made into a feature film with an international cast; now that sounds more like a fairy story but it is the story so far of Rosalie Ham’s book The Dressmaker. The book is described as exploring love, hate and haute couture. Set in a remote country town in Victoria in the 1950s to which Tilly, a glamorous young woman returns, having left as a child under something of a cloud. With Parisian training Tilly is now able to make herself and any woman desirable. She is out for revenge.

The film of The Dressmaker opens around Australia on 29 October. Its stars are Kate Winslet in the title role, the wonderful Judy Davis, Liam Hemsworth and Hugo Weaving together with an outstanding supporting cast including Sarah Snook (on the crest of a wave), Rebecca Gibney, Sacha Horler, Shane Jacobson, Barry Otto and others; truly de luxe casting. Direction and screenplay are by Jocelyn Moorhouse with Don McAlpine Director of Photography to ensure it all looks wonderful. The producer is Sue Maslin. The film is described as a ‘revenge comedy drama’ to which might be added ‘sexy’ and ‘glamorous’; it may yet be described as a ‘hit’.Ham’s personal fairy story of unprecedented debut novel success is starting a new chapter.