Green Dot author Madeleine Gray: ‘Chosen family is big in the queer community’

January 25, 2026

TL;DR

Madeleine Gray's debut novel, "Green Dot," received a six-figure advance and critical acclaim, with praise from figures like Nigella Lawson and Gillian Anderson.
The novel "Green Dot" features a 24-year-old protagonist having an affair with a married man, exploring themes of desire and self-awareness.
Gray's second novel, "Chosen Family," is inspired by the idea of platonic co-parenting and intense friendships within the queer community, reflecting her personal experiences.
The book explores the complexities of chosen families and the shifting power dynamics within friendships, even in utopian-seeming arrangements.
Gray, who is bisexual, discusses her experiences in a private girls' school in Sydney where being openly queer was not safe.
She transitioned from academia to writing, completing a PhD at Manchester before the pandemic shifted her plans back to Sydney.
Becoming a stepmother has influenced her writing, encouraging multiple perspectives and a faster writing pace.
Gray's upcoming novel is described as "Germaine Greer meets Monty Python."

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