A joyously unruly collection of essays about civil dissent, saving the planet and losing your hearing. Scared Angry Laughing is a book for imperfect protesters and eternal optimists, young and old.

Order a copy at https://www.pinkshortspress.com.au/books/p/scared-angry-laughing

REVIEWS/INTERVIEWS

Review by Heather Taylor-Johnson in InReview: https://www.indailysa.com.au/inreview/books-poetry/2026/03/26/book-review-scared-angry-laughing-or-how-to-fix-the-world?

Talking to David Marr on Late Night Live: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/latenightlive/margaret-merrilees-scared-angry-laughing/106461838 David describes the book as ‘a slim shrewd funny unique history … a beautiful memoir of her political life and other life’.

Readings Feb 2026 (NB I was proud of the Armpits – but I never played a soccer game!): https://www.readings.com.au/reviews/scared-angry-laughing-or-how-to-fix-the-world-by-margaret-merrilees

Talking to Emily Sutherland at 5MBS Adelaide Wednesday 25 March ’26: https://omny.fm/shows/kaleidoscope-5mbs/playlists/podcast/embed?style=

Queer View Mirror (Triple R) https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/programs/queer-view-mirror/episodes/37109-queer-view-mirror-18-february-2026

EXCERPTS

‘Mortality’ in Archer magazine: https://archermagazine.com.au/2026/02/mortality-ageing-death/