The Ormiston author has already had considerable success with writing cyberpunk (the Nylon Angel series), galactic soap opera (the Sentients of Orion series) and detective fiction (the Tara Sharp series); now she's taken a break from the fast, sharp plots and turned her talents to writing something approaching poetry.

The Glitter Rose collection features five short stories set against the background of Carmine Island ? a mesmerising, magical place.

A decade ago spores from deep down in the ocean blew on to the island, bringing strange changes to those who get infected by them ? sometimes for the good, sometimes with more sinister results.

As we follow the progress of a woman called Tinashi, who moves to the island, we get a clearer picture of what is really happening on mysterious Carmine Island.

Glitter Rose is named after the glitter rose dusks that occur at certain tides, when the spores produce a strange phosphorescence across the island beaches.

"I lived for two-and-a-half years on Stradbroke Island and the stories were inspired by the incredible spirituality and sense of place I experienced there," Marianne said.

"Being a speculative fiction writer, I translated that into exotic fantasy stories.

"One story in particular, The Butterfly Game, was written as a direct result of having walked through a swirling cloud of butterflies at Point Lookout one day.

"The final story, Mama Ailon, was set at Myora Springs, and Glimmer-by-Dark centred along Main Beach and Black Swamp."

Glitter Rose is a short (121-page) but captivating book that effortlessly carries readers along like the best poetry on a strange lyrical journey.

Each copy of the limited edition print run is signed and presented in a beautiful hardbound cover, with moodful black and white illustrations.

The book is published by Twelfth Planet Press and retails for $35 - you can order it through twelfth planetpress.com