Rochelle
Siemienowicz
Writer

Author. Journalist. Editor.

Double Happiness

One woman, two men. What if she doesn’t have to choose?
Overcome with guilt about a love affair she can’t give up, Anna confesses to her husband, Brendan. He is shocked and devastated but makes the unusual decision to try to accept the lover, Jeremy, as part of their family.

Told from three perspectives, Double Happiness is a story about sex, honesty and jealousy – and the challenges of forging a new kind of romance.
Set in Melbourne over seven years, this lyrical contemporary love story explores the complexities of non-monogamy with humour and heart, asking what it’s like to love two, or more, people equally but differently. What is the effect of time on erotic love? And what happens when your new lover wants someone else too?

NewSouth Books

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Double Happiness

ISBN: 9781922858474
Adult fiction | Also available as ebook
MidnightSun Publishing | 1 October 2024
Distributed by NewSouth Books

‘Fascinating, fearless and frank. One woman’s attempt to rewrite the rules of romance in the face of love’s Olympian hurdles and the conundrum of knowing herself. A challenge to Tolstoy’s maxim that all happy families are alike.’

Paul Dalgarno, author of A Country of Eternal Light

‘A morally complex, moving, passionate and often bitingly funny work of autofiction, Double Happiness evokes the everyday and the erotic with equal finesse. This authentic, questing, sometimes savagely reflective midlife crisis novel is Helen Garner meets Miranda July.’

Jo Case, author and critic

‘Rochelle Siemienowicz dissects with surgical precision the murky territory of the ‘happily ever after’, and does so with wisdom, humour and grace. Her lyrical and oh-so-sexy novel does what best novels do – makes you think deeper about how to live your own life. Double Happiness is a sophisticated, mature debut and Siemienowicz is a dazzling writer.’

Lee Kofman, author of The Writer Laid Bare and The Dangerous Bride

‘Wise, affecting and damned sexy.’

Dmetri Kakmi, author of The Door and Other Uncanny Tales

Fallen

A Memoir about Sex, Religion and Marrying too Young

In this frank, compelling and beautifully written memoir, Rochelle Siemienowicz provides an intimate portrait of the last days of an open marriage.

Raised as devout Seventh - day Adventists, who believe that the end of the world is near and that premarital sex is a terrible sin, Eve and her husband marry young. Rebelling against their upbringing, and in an attempt to overcome problems in their relationship, they enter an agreement that has its own strict rules. But when Eve holidays alone in her hometown of Perth during a hot West Australian summer, she finds her body and heart floating free. Fallen is a true tale of sex, love, religion and getting married too young - and about what it feels like when you can't keep the promises you once sincerely made.

Hares & Hyenas


Paperback

Amazon


e-book
Fallen

ISBN: 1459685091
Adult fiction | Also available as ebook
Affirm Press | 4 May 2015

about me

Rochelle Siemienowicz is a writer, editor and arts journalist. Her first book was Fallen (Affirm Press, 2015), a memoir about sex, religion and marrying too young. Her debut novel, Double Happiness (MidnightSun, 2024) is a polyamorous love story.

Rochelle’s work has been published widely, including in The Age, SBS, Kill Your Darlings, The Big Issue, Metro, ArtsHub and Kalliope X. She has a PhD in Australian cinema and was for many years a film and TV critic and columnist. She lives in Melbourne with her two partners, her son, and a beloved but incontinent rescue dog.

email

rochellesiemienowicz@gmail.com

Rochelle Siemienowicz

Events

MELBOURNE

First look at Double Happiness and Westside celebrations
When: Thursday 3 October, from 6.30pm
Where: Littlefoot Bar and Kitchen, 223 Barkly St, Footscray, Vic
What: Launched by author Lee Kofman and MidnightSun publisher, Anna Solding. Books will be on sale thanks to The Sun Bookshop. Stay around for dinner and drinks afterwards as Littlefoot has an excellent chef.

Readings Book Launch for Double Happiness
When: Thursday 24 October, 6pm
Where: Readings Emporium, Shop 1-016/287 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
What: Rochelle Siemienowicz in conversation with author Paul Dalgarno (Prudish Nation, A Country of Eternal Light). Please join us for celebrations and book signing.
Bookings: All welcome and this event is free but please book here.


ADELAIDE

Adelaide launch of Double Happiness
When: Saturday 19 October, 7pm
Where: Base64, 64 North Terrace, Kent Town, Adelaide
What: Launch party hosted by Anna Solding of South Australian publisher MidnightSun, and Rochelle Siemienowicz in conversation with author, editor and critic, Jo Case. There will be dancing afterwards.


BRISBANE

Brisbane launch of Double Happiness
When: Thursday 10 October, 6.30pm
Where: Books@Stones, 360 Logan Rd, Stones Corner, QLD.
What: Brisbane launch of Double Happiness. Rochelle Siemienowicz in conversation with author Susan Johnston.

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Rochelle Siemienowicz

Author

email

rochellesiemienowicz@gmail.com

Rochelle's agent is Martin Shaw of Shaw Literary. Please contact Martin if you have any queries relating to rights for Rochelle's work and or big tasty publishing deals you’d like to put on the table.

For all other offers, invites and queries, including teaching, public speaking and festivals, contact Rochelle directly.