Brooke Forbes

A single iridescent drop of seawater suspended in midair above a calm, endless ocean, every tiny bubble and ripple rendered in crisp photographic realism. The drop reflects a miniature universe of swirling clouds and deep blue waves, its surface tension perfectly smooth and glasslike. Below, the ocean stretches to the horizon under a soft overcast sky, the water a gradient of teal and indigo. Diffused natural light wraps gently around the droplet, casting a faint, circular shadow on the water’s surface. Shot at eye level with a shallow depth of field, the background sea blurs into creamy bokeh, creating a contemplative, poetic mood that evokes the idea of one voice within a vast collective.

About

A Tranquil Escape

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Brooke Forbes explores the music of language, where fiction and poetry swirl like tides, inviting readers to become co-authors in thier own fictional escape.

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Linger a little longer.

“It’s here. The air is soft. The sun is somehow light with the morning, not yet belting down. The waves are mostly flat with a few rolling into shore. They meet the sand like an old friend shaking hands, with a familiar sigh. We can tell, it’s here.” – You Can Rest Here.

An old, weathered typewriter resting on a driftwood plank near the edge of a tranquil shoreline, the metal keys lightly dusted with sea salt crystals and fine grains of sand. Crumpled pages and clean sheets of creamy paper are scattered around, each corner slightly curled by the ocean breeze. In the background, gentle waves roll in beneath a pale, cloud-streaked sky, softly out of focus. Late afternoon light filters through thin clouds, creating a muted, silvery glow that reflects on both the typewriter and the water. Photographic realism, shot from a slightly elevated angle with the typewriter in sharp focus and a shallow depth of field, evoking a contemplative, literary atmosphere of fiction and poetry born by the sea.

“The disconnection feels a little like looking over your shoulder, and a little like being submerged, suddenly, in a body of water. What you will find is that they are fragments void of time and space, that the frame created by your 120-degree eye span has the ability to simultaneously capture and then erase any narrative.” – Camera Eyes

Reviews

WGG Australia

WGG Australia is proud to recognise and support Survival is an Instinct by Brooke Forbes, a courageous and deeply moving work that gives voice to the realities of sexual violence, mental illness, and recovery.
 
This book captures what many survivors know too well: that justice is not always found in courtrooms, but in the ongoing act of surviving, creating, and reclaiming one’s story. Through a blend of memoir and fiction, Brooke’s writing invites readers into the complex and often misunderstood intersections of trauma, psychosis, and healing.
 
As an organisation dedicated to preventing sexual violence and supporting those affected by it, WGG Australia acknowledges the bravery it takes to write and share such personal experiences. Survival is an Instinct is not only an act of art, it is an act of resistance. It challenges stigma, amplifies survivor voices, and reminds us that creative expression can be a pathway to justice and recovery.
 
We recognise the sensitivity of the topics explored in this work, including sexual assault, mental illness, and suicidality. Brooke approaches these subjects with authenticity and emotional honesty, refusing to sanitise the lived experiences of survivors. We encourage readers to engage with the book safely and with care, and we urge publishers, educators, and community leaders to use this work to foster understanding, compassion, and change.
 
WGG Australia stands in support of Brooke Forbes and the message at the heart of her book, that survival itself is a radical act of hope, and that through storytelling, we move closer to collective healing and accountability.

Kate Johnson

Brooke’s powerful book is a fearless testament to the truth: the raw, visceral truth of trauma, the reality of living with overwhelming challenge, and the hidden ways pain manifests within us. Yet, at its core, this is a story of survival. It is about the human capacity to fight back, turning suffering into enduring power. Through stunningly honest narrative, Brooke charts her path forward, illuminating the complex process of healing and the ultimate freedom of sharing one’s authentic self with the world. For too long, she fought her battle against sexual assault and trauma in silence. Now, her refusal to be silent is her greatest strength—her power to rise and speak her truth. Interspersed with short stories that sing of the deep humanness in the world, her writing flows like a beautiful, melodic song—rhythmic, deep, and soulful. This book is a powerful testimony to the vital necessity of creativity and writing as tools for survival, offering hope that we can all transform our darkest moments into our most profound sources of connection and purpose.

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Share your thoughts, orders, or stories. Brooke Forbes welcomes conversations from readers and collaborators who believe in the power of voice.

brooke.anne.forbes@gmail.com