Casey Nott is one of my favourite humans, not to mention one of my favourite authors. Her writing is sublime and so I couldn’t wait to read her answers to The Proust Questionnaire, Holly’s Version.
What’s your idea of perfect happiness?
I don’t think there is a ‘perfect happiness’. Happiness is not an end game for me, nor is it a permanent state. No one feeling exists in isolation so I try to accept emotions as they roll over me and find the ever present pockets of joy where I can. Happiness pops up in little moments all the time, like when one of my kids tells me a joke or I meet a friend for a coffee. I am most content when my family is healthy, safe and we’re sitting on the couch together with books in our hands.
What is your most treasured possession and why?
I have a box of keepsakes for each of my kids which are filled with letters they’ve written, cards they made in kindergarten, artworks and little momentos. I add to them all the time to remember all the little things about them that can be lost as they grow up. Most stuff is replaceable but those memories are priceless.
What is your most marked characteristic?
My dry humour. (For better or worse!)
Who is your hero of fiction?
One of my literary heroes is Jane Austen because she wasn’t afraid to write about love and relationships in a time when that sort of story wasn’t celebrated, and when women were certainly not encouraged to write fiction.
She was a strong woman who wrote about strong women. The fact that her books are still in circulation today are testament to her talent and determination to break the mould.
Who are your heroes in real life?
I love strong, bold women who inspire me and I am privileged to know many!
My Mum is my original hero, who led by example and raised me to be the kind of woman who isn’t afraid to be herself.
A bonus non-Proust question: What is your story? aka your name, bio and book details including the best place to find you.
My name is Casey Nott and I am an accountant turned contemporary fiction author. I write women-centric fiction that celebrates friendship, love and the glorious messiness of life. My debut novel, Forgotten, was longlisted in the 2023 Hawkeye Manuscript Development Prize and was released in 2024. My second novel, Five Stages of Grace was shortlisted for the same competition in 2025 and will be published on 1st May 2026. I live in Melbourne with my husband, three children and a very needy cavoodle. When I’m not writing I enjoy playing pickleball and keeping far too many indoor plants alive.
You can follow my shenanigans on Instagram or check out my website www.caseynott.com