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In Partnership with Canberra Writers Festival, join Y.M. Abdel-Magied as she discusses her book, At Sea.

Being one of the boys was one thing. Being the boss of the boys was something else altogether.

Expert driller Zainab is called to take charge of a high-stakes oil rig operation. Unable to resist the opportunity, she leaves behind her pregnant sister and heads offshore for the job of her life. But there's a catch. The rig is teetering on the edge of disaster - and Zainab is the only woman amongst a crew of hardened men who want absolutely nothing to do with her.

At the helm but forced to prove herself at every turn, Zainab labours to investigate the rig's imminent collapse. She quickly grasps that the real danger lies in the cold calculations and base desires of the men she is forced to spend every waking moment with.

As tensions rise and secrets unravel, Zainab races to uncover the truth bubbling below and fend off the looming catastrophe. Explosive and thought-provoking, At Sea is an exhilarating story about the clash of ambition, principle and prejudice, and the unexpected consequences of our choices.

About the author

Born in Sudan and raised in Australia, Y.M. Abdel-Magied's first job as a teenager was in a coal mine in rural Australia. After graduating with first class honours in Mechanical Engineering, Y.M. trained and worked as a MWD (Measurement While Drilling) contractor and drilling engineer across Europe, Australia, Asia and the US.

Shifting to a career in writing and the media, Y.M. has presented TV and podcasts in Australia, Britain and the US, including ABC current affairs show Australia Wide and Hijabistas, a series on the modest fashion scene in Australia, and ground-breaking SBS documentary The Truth About Racism.