Author Kate Mildenhall is presented with a tray of Grandma's Lemon Slice from a recipe in her childrens' book To Stir with Love By Julie Statkus
WILL they turn up? Will they get lost? Will the punters come? Will they enjoy the talk? Will the author sell lots of books?
I’m a bit of a worrier at the best of times and it's always a bit scary when you organise an author talk.
Many, many years ago I declared that if I ever went on another committee it would be the Friends of the Inverloch Library (FOIL) committee. It took a while but I’ve now been a member for a couple of years and I reckon I’ve found the perfect job!
WILL they turn up? Will they get lost? Will the punters come? Will they enjoy the talk? Will the author sell lots of books?
I’m a bit of a worrier at the best of times and it's always a bit scary when you organise an author talk.
Many, many years ago I declared that if I ever went on another committee it would be the Friends of the Inverloch Library (FOIL) committee. It took a while but I’ve now been a member for a couple of years and I reckon I’ve found the perfect job!
Of course we’re all volunteers. Our purpose is to raise funds to support the Inverloch Library by arranging author talks and a bi-annual book sale. The author events usually make a profit after we pay the authors and put on refreshments for our guests, which is an important part of the evening.
FOIL has also funded organisations outside the area committed to supporting literacy as well as providing support to other local libraries.
Committee members share the role of finding guest speakers. I regularly go to writers’ festivals around Victoria so I was given a letter of invitation to hand out to speakers who impressed or inspired me. I started off nervously but, with one exception, all writers have expressed delight in being invited.
Helen Garner knocked us back but so graciously. “Thank you for inviting me to Inverloch Library. If I was 20 years younger I would have accepted with pleasure. But I am finding I am too old and tired ... I just don't have the energy any more.” Helen has always been one of my favourite writers and now she is one of my favourite humans.
FOIL has also funded organisations outside the area committed to supporting literacy as well as providing support to other local libraries.
Committee members share the role of finding guest speakers. I regularly go to writers’ festivals around Victoria so I was given a letter of invitation to hand out to speakers who impressed or inspired me. I started off nervously but, with one exception, all writers have expressed delight in being invited.
Helen Garner knocked us back but so graciously. “Thank you for inviting me to Inverloch Library. If I was 20 years younger I would have accepted with pleasure. But I am finding I am too old and tired ... I just don't have the energy any more.” Helen has always been one of my favourite writers and now she is one of my favourite humans.
The Inverloch Library was transformed into a Moroccan courtyard for the visit of Hana Assafiri.
Each author has been memorable in their own way but my favourite guest must be Hana Assafiri, the owner of the Moroccan Soup Bar restaurant in Melbourne. She is the author of two books, her memoir The Audacity to be Free and a beautiful recipe book dedicated “to all those who find themselves peculiar misfits, who negotiate their dislocation in the most inspirational way”.
Hana felt the same way about her visit to Inverloch. “Thank you to the beautiful community of Inverloch,” she said. “Thank you for the warmth and generosity.”
We went out for dinner afterwards and we have stayed in contact with her. She’s keen to come back to Inverloch to talk about a new project she is developing to put together a team with various skills, disciplines and expertise to mentor young people at risk.
I was also inspired by Kate Mildenhall whose adult novels include The Hummingbird Effect and The Hiding Place. When a committee member presented Kate with a tray of Grandma's Lemon Slice from a recipe in her childrens' book To Stir with Love, the look on her face was a joy to behold. Kate now encourages her writer friends to speak at Inverloch.
Lia Hills also had a big impact. She spoke of her research for two of her novels: The Desert Knows Her Name, set around Little Desert National Park, and The Crying Place, which was set in Pitjantatjara country. As part of the process, Lia stayed in Aboriginal communities and began learning the Pitjantatjara language. We were among the first to hear that The Desert Knows Her Name is to be adapted into a film to be directed by playwright, filmmaker and Wotjobaluk woman Tracey Rigney, with whom Lia formed a friendship while researching and writing this novel.
The Post asked me if I could invite any author in the world, living or dead, who it would be. Trent Dalton would have to be up there. I heard him speak at the Adelaide Festival not long after Boy Swallows Universe came out. Trent’s joy and enthusiasm for life are just so contagious, and I love his writing.
I would love the opportunity to hear Archie Roach one more time. Again I heard him speak at Adelaide Writers Festival and was so moved that I could hardly breathe or speak when we heard him respond to a question from the floor by two First Nation kids in school uniform.
Those are memories that stay with me and warm my heart.
We have many more speakers lined up for 2026. To be first to find out it is best to be a member of FOIL which is $5 a year. A regular newsletter will keep you up to date. FOIL is about to celebrate its 30 years anniversary. A small sub group is putting together a ... but no ... it will have to be a surprise!
Hana felt the same way about her visit to Inverloch. “Thank you to the beautiful community of Inverloch,” she said. “Thank you for the warmth and generosity.”
We went out for dinner afterwards and we have stayed in contact with her. She’s keen to come back to Inverloch to talk about a new project she is developing to put together a team with various skills, disciplines and expertise to mentor young people at risk.
I was also inspired by Kate Mildenhall whose adult novels include The Hummingbird Effect and The Hiding Place. When a committee member presented Kate with a tray of Grandma's Lemon Slice from a recipe in her childrens' book To Stir with Love, the look on her face was a joy to behold. Kate now encourages her writer friends to speak at Inverloch.
Lia Hills also had a big impact. She spoke of her research for two of her novels: The Desert Knows Her Name, set around Little Desert National Park, and The Crying Place, which was set in Pitjantatjara country. As part of the process, Lia stayed in Aboriginal communities and began learning the Pitjantatjara language. We were among the first to hear that The Desert Knows Her Name is to be adapted into a film to be directed by playwright, filmmaker and Wotjobaluk woman Tracey Rigney, with whom Lia formed a friendship while researching and writing this novel.
The Post asked me if I could invite any author in the world, living or dead, who it would be. Trent Dalton would have to be up there. I heard him speak at the Adelaide Festival not long after Boy Swallows Universe came out. Trent’s joy and enthusiasm for life are just so contagious, and I love his writing.
I would love the opportunity to hear Archie Roach one more time. Again I heard him speak at Adelaide Writers Festival and was so moved that I could hardly breathe or speak when we heard him respond to a question from the floor by two First Nation kids in school uniform.
Those are memories that stay with me and warm my heart.
We have many more speakers lined up for 2026. To be first to find out it is best to be a member of FOIL which is $5 a year. A regular newsletter will keep you up to date. FOIL is about to celebrate its 30 years anniversary. A small sub group is putting together a ... but no ... it will have to be a surprise!