Host Ky Garvey interviews Mary Colussi, the 2025 Penguin Literary Prize winner, about her debut novel Touch Grass — a near‑future speculative story in which a woman wakes up as a cactus and consciousness‑swapping becomes an endemic phenomenon. They discuss the book's themes of derealisation, digital life versus material reality, and the strange, humane humour behind the premise. Mary describes her writing and editing process, the surprise of shortlisting and winning (including the Penguin publishing deal and $20,000 prize), early ARC reactions, influences like Octavia Butler and Ling Ma, and her background in scriptwriting. She also shares practical advice for emerging writers: finish a project, embrace rejection as part of the craft, and keep going. The book is published June 2 with a launch at Gleebooks in Sydney; Mary will tour around Australia and can be followed on Instagram @marycolussi for dates and updates.