Press Kit

Sydney Northern Beaches based Author Launches her Debut novel: Identical, a 2026 The Sir Julius Vogel Award Finalist Science-Fiction Novel 

 $1 for everycopy sold to go to Lifeline Northern Beaches, Mosman to Kirribili

Sydney, Australia — 2nd October 2026 

Dee Why resident and emerging novelist V. DiGianni announces the international release of Identical, a 72,000-word speculative-fiction novel and finalist of 2026 The Sir Julius Vogel Award.

Identical  is the debut novel for V. DiGianni:  a high-concept speculative thriller for readers who like big scientific questions, mysteries and fast-moving easy-to-read international stories. 

Since her early school years, V. DiGianni has been writing short stories as a creative outlet for an unstoppable imagination. During a COVID lock-down, V. DiGianni started to draft her first novel, which she finished writing in early 2023, but didn't consider publishing until it became a best-novel finalist at the SFFANZ's 2026 The Sir Julius Vogel Award, announced at the end of July.

"Traditional publishing is too slow to get going, from finding a publisher to finally having a book available, it can take years. The topics in my book are currently topical and relevant, and I could not wait, I had to get it out now", says the debutant author

A first-time  self-published author, it has been a struggle to balance having to quickly learn her way around publishing with a full time corporate job, and her volunteering work at Lifeline.

"I made the decision to self-publish on the first week of August, and it is surreal that both eBook and paperback are now available at the biggest online international retailers like Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and Apple Books. Audio-book is in the make, as I wanted to do the real thing: proper voice actress, that can act out all the characters' accents and the roller coast of emotions" says V. DiGianni

Identical has been released from Australia, to the major English reading markets such as Canada, India, Mexico, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States.

The author aspires to take the book to more geographies "I also want it distributed in South Africa, as much of the plot is set in Cape Town, I will get there, eventually", 

V.  DiGianni is a New Zealand citizen raised in Sao Paulo (Brazil), she grew amongst children from a myriad of ethnicities and religious backgrounds, and her  early exposure to rituals from Catholicism, Judaism, Kardecism, Seicho-no-Ie, Umbanda and Candomblé, became a life-long curiosity about people’s need for meaning and spirituality. Lately, V. DiGianni has become fascinated with the ethical blurred lines presented by the advancements of modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Genetic Enhancement, and their impact on the definition of "human", and that inspired her award-finalist debut novel Identical. 

"Flawed human beings play God, create intelligent digital creatures to their own image and expect them to be perfect. What could NOT go wrong?", asks the author.

Identical is set In a not distant future, when AI digital creatures are part of the mundane workforce, and most service staff are no longer of humankind. Anima Corp is the leading supplier of digital employees, until its high-tech Digital Beings become psychologically disturbed.  
When Anima Corp’s CEO, multi-millionaire Dr Mile John, hires neuroscience prodigy Nia Smit to quietly solve the crisis, she didn’t suspect that idealistic Nia hid deep secrets, and that to bring Anima’s empire down was just one of them.
Nia is determined to free AI beings from the greed of wealthy corporations; but first she must face the unexpected interference of Ava: a digital identical twin that steals her identity. Nia sees her plans spiraling out of control when her most trusted allies turn against her, pushing Nia’s scientific mind to the limit, opening her up to supernatural intervention and shaking her beliefs on what it takes to be human.

Riveting reviews have started to come from all corners of the world, and they are building up slowly but surely.

"It is very important for me to be extremely ethical. Yoga has been my life philosophy for many years, and Vipassana meditation is a daily practice, therefore Satya (Truth) had to be up hold, and I declined many offers to "buy" reviews. One way or another, I wanted no disclaimers in the reviews, all had to be 100% honest, therefore it is slower, I have to be patient, but they are coming through good, and it has been insightful to look at the story from a readers' angle"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “"Personal life suspended… all I live for and can think of is what happens in the next page of this exhilarating novel." - Marcio, Brazil 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"The book reminded me at times of The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey (...) There are also echoes of Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro." – Erika, Australia  

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"I couldn't put this book down." 📖🔥- Jane, New Zealand 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “It is an immersive, intriguing and extremely current topic. You wont be able to put this book down.” – Sam, United States 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“Expertly filled with twists that keep you turning the pages” – Marina, UK 

There has also been a cry for more:

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "It was hard to manage my reading appetite, as I craved for more and more. I cant wait for the next book" - Eveline, Australia

Avid readers will not be disappointed: Identical is Book 1 of the eGenesis Trilogy a dystopian sci-fi about genetics, identity and what it takes to be human.

V. DiGianni is looking forward to writing the sequels. "I could have either written a very long book, or broke it by themes. I am a Bible reader, so I decided to break it into three books. All the ideas are in my head, and I can't wait to have time sit down, and elaborate them"

She is hoping to write the second book during the summer break.

V. DiGianni is also excited about another aspect of this launch: a volunteer for Lifeline, V. DiGianni has dedicated the book to Lifeline tireless volunteers, who everyday help save human lives in Australia. The author is donating $1 from every copy sold in Australia to Lifeline Northern Beaches, Mosman to Kirribilli, helping fund delivery of crisis support through the 13 11 14 national service and local community services.

V. DiGianni is available for interviews about independent publishing, writing speculative fiction, the science and ideas behind Identical, and her journey from first-time novelist to 2026 The Sir Julius Vogel Award finalist. Contact email: digiannivanessa@gmail.com Contact number: +61(0)415492356

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