This Place Is Cactus by Patrick Liptak

This Place Is Cactus

Patrick Liptak

Paperback, 220 pages, $29.95
Published by The Publisher's Apprentice, fiction that captures the heart of Australia.

ISBN 9781923568853

August 2026 release

In 1991, young surfer James Roberts leaves Melbourne behind and heads west to the remote South Australian town of Ceduna, drawn by rumours of legendary waves breaking along the wild edge of the Great Australian Bight. What begins as a surf trip soon becomes something far more profound. 

Haunted by family turmoil and searching for meaning beyond the routines of ordinary life, James finds himself captivated by stories of Cactus Beach, a place where surfers, drifters, fishermen and dreamers once built a world of their own among the dunes. At the centre of the mystery stands Oakley, a near-mythical figure whose legend lingers in whispers, photographs and half-remembered tales. 

As James ventures deeper into the isolated surf culture of South Australia’s far west, he encounters colourful characters, unexpected friendships, and the possibility of love. Yet beneath the beauty of the ocean and the freedom of the open road lies a deeper journey: a search for identity, belonging and peace. 

Richly evocative and steeped in the spirit of Australian surf culture, This Place Is Cactus is an unforgettable coming-of-age novel about adventure, self-discovery and the enduring power of the sea.  Written by Patrick Liptak, a lawyer with a lifelong passion for surfing, it captures both the thrill of chasing waves and the universal quest to find where we truly belong. 

Patrick Liptak is a lawyer based in Adelaide, South Australia. He lives with his wife and their two beautiful children. His passions for art and sports, including athletics, surfboat rowing, fishing, and surfing, have led him on numerous adventures with lifelong friends to remote and wild locations where the line between what happened and what was imagined is not always easy to find. This novel is his first.