Meet Star Girl author Louise Park on Saturday January 14th 2012@11am at Great Escape Books

The Star Girl Universe has arrived! Meet author Louise Park for an hour of fun, activities and readings from her hit series Star Girl.

When Addie Banks joins the space agent training program at SEAS, a space station boarding school in outer space, her ideas about school and school life are changed forever. Packed with adrenalin-rush missions, awesomely terrifying aliens, extraordinary planets, hi-tech gadgets, spacecraft and
more—Star Girl is where real life and space fantasy combine to make a truly outer-school experience for 7-10 year old readers.

 

Easiest Christmas Ever @ greatescapebooks

Easiest Christmas Ever @ greatescapebooks
Each year we select Xmas gift books for several corporate clients, this year we would like to extend the offer to all our wonderful Great Escape Books Loyalty Customers.

 

 

 

 

 

Tell us via return email who you have to buy for. Examples:

• Man, aged 70, interested in bios, history / politics/ architecture. Would like a coffee table hardcover book.  (Amount I wish to spend:  up to $70.00)
• Female, likes literary Australian Fiction. (Amount I wish to spend:  up to $32.95.)
• Teen, boy aged 14 only likes realistic books. (Amount I wish to spend:  up to $20.00)
• Teen girl aged 12, reluctant reader (Amount I wish to spend:  up to $20.00)
• Toddler aged 4, mad about dinosaurs (Amount I wish to spend:  up to $25.00)
• Toddler aged 1: Mum keen to read each night. (Amount I wish to spend:  up to $20.00)

2. Nicole will suggest great titles that they will love.
3. Once approved by you, pay by credit card over the phone to Great Escape Books Ph.(03)5289 7052.
4. We will post them to you.

Every order 3 books or more gets free shipping and free gift wrapping.
Easiest Xmas Ever Loyalty Points!

• You are also supporting an independent book store, everything goes towards your loyalty points.
  

• For every $200.00 spent you receive an $10.00 Gift Voucher which NEVER EXPIRES & that’s our Xmas present from you.
  

Xmas cheers all round!

Have a very Merry and relaxing Christmas from all the team, at Great Escape Books,
Nicole, Sue, Heather, Kaylene, Andi, Erin, Jo and Mel.

 

An Evening of Enchantment with Isobelle Carmody, Nan McNab and Amanda Smith, Saturday November 12th 2011

Join us in a glittering evening for a glass of champagne to celebrate

The Coastal Launch of Tales from the Tower, Volume 1 – The Wilful Eye & Volume 2 – The Wicked Wood.

Authors & Editors Isobelle Carmody and Nan McNab will be in conversation with Amanda Smith from ABC Radio National.

This tantalising collection features dark, magical retellings of fairytales written by 12 of the world’s most exciting and best-loved writers (including Isobelle Carmody and Nan McNab) all inspired by age-old themes of abandonment, desire and entrapment.
When: Saturday 12th November from 7pm.
Where:  Great Escape Books, Aireys Inlet.
Bookings: Free event, however please book on (03) 5289 7052.

Our thanks to Allen & Unwin Publishing for their support of this event.

About…

Isobelle Carmody: Author and Editor

Isobelle Carmody has had over 30 books and many short stories published. She is now working on the last book of her award-winning fantasy series, The Obernewtyn Chronicles, and on a second collection of her own short stories, titled Metro Winds. On October 30th,  the much anticipated book The Sending: The Obernewtyn Chronicles Book 6 will be released. She lives between Prague in Central Europe and her home on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, with her partner and daughter.

Nan McNab: Author & Editor

Nan McNab is a writer and editor whose books include Body Bizarre Body Beautiful and Victoria’s Market. She lives in Aireys Inlet, Victoria.

Amanda Smith: Presenter of Artworks

Amanda Smith trained as a ballet dancer, but eventually realised she was more suited to being a professional talker than a professional fairy.

Before joining the ABC in 1991, Amanda spent 10 years working as an arts administrator. During this time, she served on the board of Chamber Made Opera, and the Victorian Council of the Arts.

At the ABC, Amanda produced various arts programs for Radio National and Radio Australia before initiating The Sports Factor on RN. She presented The Sports Factor from its inception in 1995 until 2002, forging a whole new approach to sports broadcasting.

In 2003, she produced and presented the feature series Great Lovers and in 2006, presented Radio National’s Daily arts and culture program, the Deep End.

Praise for The Tales from the Tower:

‘If you like your fairy stories sunny-side up, this may not be the book for you. Six writers of modern fantasy each give a personal spin to a fairy tale, explaining separately their motivation and the reasons for their choice of story.

From Margo Lanagan’s visceral and unsettling prose to the deft and assured narrative of Isobelle Carmody’s Moth’s Tale, and the gripping story of Soldier in Martine Murray’s One Window, these stories offer varying perspectives of magic at work.

Their tones vary from ironic and gently humorous to tragic and horrific but for me the most powerful are the ones that leave you questioning your own responses.

Editors Isobelle Carmody and Nan McNab offer a collection that touches on the dark and archetypal origins of fairy tales, stories designed to keep you awake at nights or at least make you thankful for a safe, warm bed.

Review by Andrea Mayes@greatescapebooks

‘The writers in The Wilful Eye imbue all of their characters, including the villains, with a deep sense of psychological realism, producing often tender, engaging, and insightful results. Unnamed soldiers and hideous beasts are given a voice, even if that voice is at times unsettling, and wolves are still wolves, however they disguise themselves.’

Australian Book Review
‘sublime, with each tale landing a punch squarely between the old and the new, bewitching and terrifying.’ Australian Bookseller & Publisher

Saturday October 8th from 7.30pm: The Launch of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with Robert Ingpen & Melaleuca Galleries@Great Escape Books

 We are truly excited about this stunning event with Robert Ingpen. Privileged in the past to be able to launch The Secret Garden and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, for the first time ever, we are transforming the bookshop into a magnificent art gallery with the original paintings from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, as well as the entire collection of Robert’s classic series of books.

EXCLUSIVE: On the evening of the launch only, the stunning original artwork from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Robert Ingpen will be for sale. All editions of classic collections of books will also be available for purchase.

WHERE: Great Escape Books on Saturday October 8th 2011 (Last weekend of School holidays).
BOOKINGS: This is a free event, but bookings are essential for catering purposes. Our thanks to Walker Books for their sponsorship of this event.

Orginal Art Images from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz courtesy of Melaleuca Galleries

Response to the Launch from Western Australia...

Hi Nicole and friends,

I saw your promotion for the Wizard of OZ event in this week’s PIO online mag. I just wanted to congratulate you for putting on this grand event. To say this book is an inspirational classic would be selling it short. It’s a dream builder and a career starter for many of us children’s writers. I wish I could be there. I live in beautiful Perth and I’m unable to make it. However, I hope everybody there gets as much out of this occasion as I know I would.

Have fun and let your imagination soar.

Cheers
Bryan Evans

Quickly Booking Out:Sunday Sept 25th from 12-2pm: A Long Lunch @ a la grecque with Chrissie Keighery, author of Whisper.

Join us for a fabulous Long Lunch with Chrissie Keighery, speaking about her new young adult novel, Whisper. You may have heard her interviewed with Richard Stubbs last week. Her book has won the hearts of us all at Great Escape Books. Much more than just a tale of a teenager who battles with losing her hearing, this is a great novel for all teenagers struggling with the highs and lows of adolescence.

WHERE: a la grecque on Sunday Sept 25th (First weekend of the school holidays). Limited places of 25 persons, so bookings are essential. A signed edition of Whisper is included in the Lunch.

Bookings: Phone Great Escape Books for bookings and payment : $69.95 on (03)5289 7052. Credit Cards and Eftpos accepted over the phone.

Whisper reviews…

‘Hi Nicole,

l am a Yr 7 teacher at SHC in Geelong & always looking for books with strong messages for girls.
I pre – read it before giving it to my 13yo niece for her birthday, recently.
It made me cry in the early hours one morning…
Can’t wait to talk to my niece about it.
Our library staff tell me they are going to use ‘whisper’ in Literacy circles next year.’ – Courtesy of Trish Morgan Great Escape Books Client

Though focused on disability, alienation and difference,

there’s nothing heavy-handed or condescending here—

rather, Keighery’ s gift for characterisation is immediately

engaging and the tone is bright, warm and layered with

self-deprecating humour.

-      Bookseller and Publisher magazine

Whisper will provide insights into both worlds that are equally daunting and rewarding. This is a must read for teenagers and adults, both deaf and hearing’

-The Victorian College for the Deaf

National Bookshop Day Saturday August 20th & The Legend of the Golden Snail by Graeme Base, sculpture in-store by Bill Jackman

Support your community by joining with your local bookshop to celebrate National Bookshop Day on Saturday 20^th August, 2011.

  On Saturday 20^th August 2011, in hundreds of locations across Australia, bookshops will be holding their very first National Bookshop Day

To celebrate National Bookshop Day at Great Escape Books, every child will receive a free gift of a book, when anyone of their family buy a book in support of independent bookshops.

Also delight & enchant your children and come in and see & gently touch the miraculous golden snail from Graeme Base’s iconic book The Legend of the Golden Snail, sculptured by Bill Jackman. Graeme Base is a guest speaker at the years festival. See website http://www.aireysinlet.com.au/words/

Children’s Storytime Sessions: July 2011

We have just started Children’s Storytime & Craft sessions during school holidays.It has proven to be such a big hit and we have so much fun with the children, that we will continue to run sessions every Wednesday morning during holiday times.

So every Wednesday during the school break at 11am feel free to turn up with your children for a wonderful story and craft activity. Sessions are free and suitable for ages 3-8 years. We request that a parent stay present in store in case your child needs you.

Here is today’s snapshot of ‘Where is the Green Sheep?’by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek and craft mobile which of course included a “wave sheep” as we are by the beach.Last week was ‘Magic Beach‘ by Alison Lester read by Nicole

Images below of Storytime Session ‘Where is The Green Sheep?‘ read to the children by Heather of Great Escape Books. Please call Great Escape Books for more details of upcoming sessions: (03)5289 7052.

Great Escape Books News Flash Queen’s Birthday Weekend – Wintersong 2011

Over the Queen’s Birthday weekend on the Saturday evening we enjoyed four highly talented singer – songwriters entertain us with music, laughter and rare insight into their sometimes rocky musical journey. Playing to a standing ovation at the end of the night, these artists proved to be a rare combination of truly exceptional vocalists and songwriters.

Patron Feedback was strong from this event..

Hi  Nicole,

I just wanted to thank you and Marty for putting on such  a great line up of performers this weekend at the Wintersong 2011 event. We  thoroughly enjoyed the evening – I don’t think we will every forget it. Let’s  hope that you offer this event again next year – count us  in!

Best regards,

Moreen and Paul  Dainty

 

 

Hello Nicole,
My husband and I attended Wintersong 2011 and we just wanted to thank you for initiating and organising such an enjoyable night.
Cheers Janet and Lindsay Donahoo

The Coastal Launch of ‘The Taste of River Water: New and Selected Poems’ by Cate Kennedy: Sunday May 29th from 1pm at Great Escape Books.

Cate Kennedy, with her usual incredible generosity, disarmed the audience with her warmth and compassion while launching The Taste of River Water: New and Selected Poems at Great Escape Books.  I shed a quiet tear at ‘Eating Earth’, other  highlights were, ‘October 14th, 2010: The Chilean miners are lifted into the light’ ,  ’8 x 10 colour enlargements $16.50‘ and an older poem from ‘Joyflight’ which always moves me, ‘ Picasso’s portrait of a young woman‘.  However the list goes on… it’s a fabulous volume to have by your bedside or over a glass of red wine by the fire. Every poem is disarming and incredibly moving in it’s beauty.

Cate is the author of of the highly acclaimed novel The World Beneath, which won the People’s Choice Award in the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards in 2010. It was also shortlisted for The Age fiction prize 2010 and the ASA Barbara Jefferis Award 2010, among others. Cate is also an award-winning short-story writer whose work has been published widely. Her collection, Dark Roots, was shortlisted for the Steele Rudd Award in the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards and for the Australian Literature Society Gold Medal. Cate is also the author of the travel memoir Sing, and Don’t Cry, and the poetry collections Joyflight and Signs of Other Fires. Her latest book is The Taste of River Water: New and Selected Poems. 

A Taste of River Water Information: This was a free event. Please phone the bookshop on (03)5289 7052 for more information or for editions of The Taste of River Water, Sing and Don’t Cry, Dark Roots or The World Beneath.

‘Bell’s’ Reading by Michael Gordon, Easter Sunday 3-4pm, April 24 at Great Escape Books

Michael Gordon is a Walkley Award winner and former Australian Journalist of the Year who covered the Bells contest for many years from when it turned pro in 1973. A keen surfer, Michael is the national editor of The Age newspaper and spoke to a keen audience at Great Escape Books about his passion for surfing and some of the amazing surfers he has interviewed over the years. Our thanks to Michael for such an inspiring event.

Bells: The Beach, The Contest, The Surfers by Michael Gordon.

The story of Bells Beach is much more than a powerful narrative about the world’s longest running board riding event, a contest that began as a rally half a century ago and became the Rip Curl Pro.

It is the story of a collection of fearless pioneers who discovered this iconic bigwave beach and made it their own. It is the story of Australian surfing, from its amateur roots, through the rebellious 1960s and the country soul era of the early 1970s to the professionalism of today.

It is the story of how a tiny cottage industry became a global empire. Most of all, it is the stories of the people who surf at Bells, especially those who make the annual Easter pilgrimage and compete for the most coveted trophy on the world tour.

Bells celebrates the 50-year history of the world’s longest-running surfing contest and the story of one of Australia’s most iconic beaches, and draws on interviews with surfers including Wayne Lynch, Midget Farrelly, Nat Young, Terry Fitzgerald, Michael Petersen, Gail Couper, Mark Richards, Simon Anderson, Cheyne Horan, Tom Curren, Tom Carroll, Sunny Garcia, Mark Occhiluppo, Andy Irons, Layne Beachley, Mick Fanning, Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson, Stephanie Gilmore and Kelly Slater.

Peter Troy ‘To the Four Corner’s of the World’ Event:From 6pm Good Friday evening, 22nd April 2011, at Sunny’s Pizza Restaurant, Aireys Inlet

Peter Troy Event Information

Free Event but please book for catering purposes at the Bookshop on (03)5289 7052.

As Bells Beach celebrates 50 years of competitive surfing, Great Escape Books will celebrate the man who started it all – Peter Troy. Peter, who passed away in 2008, was an original and influential figure in the early days at Bells Beach (he organised the first contest there in 1962) before setting off in 1963 on a surf/travel adventure of epic proportions, from Europe to Hawaii, South America to Africa, introducing surfing to Brazil and discovering untold perfect waves, including Nias off the coast of Sumatra.

Peter’s remarkable life story is documented in To the Four Corners of the World, which was published earlier this year. The evening will begin with a slideshow of iconic images by pioneering surf photographer Barrie Sutherland, who documented the early days of surfing in Torquay during the 1950s and 60s and whose beautifully composed black and white images of empty line-ups, dirt car parks and campfires defined the era.

Discussion of Peter’s amazing story will be led by local filmmaker and author Brendan McAloon, who edited To the Four Corners of the World. Joining Brendan will be two of Peter’s contemporaries, Terry Wall and Rod Brooks, both significant figures in the history of Bells Beach.Terry was one of the winners of the inaugural contest at Bells, while Rod was a six-time Victorian champion. Peter, Terry and Rod were all named in the top 10 Victorian surfers of the modern era in 2006.

Women on the Road Writers Weekend – Feb 19 & 20, 2011

The first Women on the Road Writers weekend proved to be a fabulous event and was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. We had over 200 patrons each session with people traveling from as far away as Bendigo, Daylesford, Mansfield, the Mornington Peninsula and many from Melbourne as well as Aireys, Angelsea and surrounding townships .The feedback has been amazing, from both the attendees and the speakers and we thank everyone for their kind responses.

For those who missed it, the line up of speakers was truly superb and as hosts we really had to pinch ourselves at what was occurring in front of us. The brainchild of playwright Hannie Rayson, the first Women on the Road Guest Speakers were; MaryAnne Carroll -TV producer, Kate Holden- writer & columnist for The Age, Judy Horacek- cartoonist, Toni Jordan- novelist, Cate Kennedy – novelist & poet, Sue Maslin – Film and TV Producer, Alice Pung – writer, Hannie Rayson- playwright, screenwriter, Amanda Smith – broadcaster from ABC Radio National & Rachel Ward – actress, writer and director of film and TV.

Images and Patron Feedback from the Women on the Road Writers Weekend…

From Playwright Hannie Rayson: “This festival really did surpass all my expectations.”

From Author Kate Holden:”I had a total blast as both a guest of the festival and as an attendee, I thoroughly enjoyed every second.”

From Author Cate Kennedy: “Thank you, thank you, I loved being there, I loved participating, I loved hearing other people’s stories and perspectives.”

“It was truly entertaining, informative and very well organised. Well done, congratulations and a huge thanks.” Anonymous feedback from Fairhaven resident.

“What a line-up…priceless!!!Women are the bomb!’ Anonymous feedback from Bells Beach

“Loved the whole weekend and applaud the execution of the event” Anonymous feedback from Melbourne.

“I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was a great privilege to be part of such a great event. The women writers were intelligent, vibrant and very interseting. Your professional organisation was a credit to you.” Anonymous feedback from Aireys Inlet

Upcoming Booked Out Event: ‘Women on the Road’ Writers Weekend – Saturday February 19 & Sunday February 20, 2011

WOMEN ON THE ROAD WRITERS WEEKEND

Upcoming Events…Women on the Road Writers Weekend
Our multi media event The Women on the Road Writers Weekend coming up this Saturday Feb 19th and Sunday 20th was very quickly booked out. We are looking forward to a truly fabulous weekend.

There have been some event time changes for the Sunday Panel sessions, so please see attached program guides for the Sunday sessions only, or drop by Great Escape Books for a hard copy. It’s just a few time changes, all events are still running in the original format, just at a slightly different time to fit in with guest speaker’s commitments.

• Refreshments for the Women on the Road – Saturday Night Live Event: As we have a dedicated liquor licence for the event, there will be wine & champagne, tea & coffee and bottled water available for purchase at the event from 5.30-8.00pm.
• Refreshments for the Women on the Road – Sunday Panel Events: There will be tea, coffee, bottled water & a delicious brunch/ lunch courtesy of great local restaurant Sunny’s Gourmet Pizzas for sale.

Waiting Lists: We have a significant waiting list for all events that weekend, so if you find you cannot make an event, please call us and we will refund your money and reallocate your ticket.

More Exciting Events: The good news for all who missed out,  is that there are more fabulous literary events planned for this coming year, both large and small, and you will be the very first to hear about it via our loyalty newsletter. The next event is timetabled for this Easter.  More information to follow.

For further information and media contact Nicole at  Great Escape Books Ph. (03)5289 7052  or mobile: 0419110097

Women on The Road Guest Speaker Biographies

(In alphabetical order)

MaryAnne Carroll

MaryAnne began her producing career in live comedy stage shows and comedy festivals. After crossing over into television, she produced Foxtel’s The Comedy Channel’s entire local slate for two years then worked on a variety of children’s shows for Disney, Nickelodeon and the Seven Network.

In 2004 she took over Channel Seven’s medical drama All Saints for three years after it moved into the ED, before returning to Melbourne to launch and produce the first three series of the police drama City Homicide.

Currently MaryAnne is the Series Producer on the new series Winners&Losers which will air in 2011 on Channel Seven

Kate Holden

Kate Holden was born in 1972 and went to progressive community schools and the University of Melbourne, where she studied classics and literature. She had various jobs before turning to an unexpected career in heroin addiction and, a little later, as a professional sex worker. She quit both by the time  she turned thirty and after living in Rome for a year, and teaching English in Shanghai for several months, got a diploma in Professional Writing and Editing from RMIT, where she  started working on a draft of a memoir.

In My Skin: A memoir (Text Publishing), was first published in 2005 to critical acclaim and sold to ten countries. Kate has also written a popular column for The Age for several years as well as widely published essays, short stories, and literary criticism. Her second book The Romantic was released in 2010.

Judy Horacek

Judy Horacek is a cartoonist, writer and artist who believed humour is a fantastic way of trying to change the world.  Her cartoons can be found on fridges and toilet doors throughout the world, and she has had seven collections of her cartoon work published, the most recent of which is If You Can’t Stand the Heat (Scribe 2010).

With Mem Fox she co-created the instant children’s classic Where is the Green Sheep? (Penguin) and has since created four other picture books on her own, including The Story of Growl (Penguin 2007) and Yellow is My Favourite Colour (Penguin 2010)

Toni Jordan

Toni Jordan’s debut novel, the international best-seller Addition, was published in 2008 and shortlisted for both the Barbara Jefferis award and the ABIA best general fiction book, longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and won best debut fiction in the 2008 Indie awards. Addition was published in 16 countries.

Her second novel, Fall Girl, was published in November 2010 in Australia and will be published next year in the UK, Germany, France and Taiwan. Toni teaches Novel at RMIT University and writes a weekly column in The Age. Her work has appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, the Herald Sun and The Monthly.

Cate Kennedy

Cate Kennedy is the author of the short story collection Dark Roots and the novel The World Beneath, as well as two poetry collections and a memoir Sing and Don’t Cry; a Mexican journal.

Her fiction and non-fiction has appeared in many journals and anthologies, everywhere from the Big Issue to the New Yorker and this year she edited Black Inc’s Best Australian Stories collection.  The World Beneath was the winner of the People’s Choice Award in the 2010 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, and was shortlisted for the Australian Literature Society Gold Medal and The Age Book of the Year.

She is a popular tutor of writing workshops, especially in the short story form, and lives in north east Victoria.

Sue Maslin

Sue Maslin is an award winning screen producer working across many platforms – cinema, television, web and mobile phone.

She produced the feature films Road To Nhill (1995), Japanese Story (2003), winner of 26 international wards including the AFI Award for Best Feature Film and television documentaries, Hunt Angels (2006), winner of the AFI Award for Best Documentary Film and Michael Kirby – Don’t Forget The Justice Bit, nominated for Best Documentary Biography in the 2010 ATOM Awards.

Her latest project is Re-Enchantment, an interactive documentary about the hidden meanings of fairy tales, to be launched at the Adelaide Film Festival and on ABC On-Line and ABC TV in March 2011.See the trailer at http://www.abc.net.au/tv/re-enchantment/

Alice Pung

Alice is a Melbourne writer, editor and lawyer. Her first novel, Unpolished Gem (Black Inc. 2006) became the bestselling book at the Melbourne Writer’s Festival, won the Australian Book Industry Award’s Newcomer of the Year Award in 2007, and was short-listed for numerous other state and national awards. Alice is a frequent contributor to The Monthly, The Age and The Australian , The Good Weekend,  and has been published in Meanjin, Griffith Review, and The Best Australian Stories 2008.

Alice was the Asialink literature resident to Peking University in 2008, and the Australian representative at the Iowa International Writer’s Program in 2009. Alice has been the Writer in Residence at Ormond College and the Artist in Residence at Janet Clarke Hall (2011). She was also a Walkley Awards Book of the Year Judge in 2010.

Hannie Rayson

Hannie Rayson is the author of thirteen plays. She has an established reputation for topical, complex dramas, one of which was described warmly by columnist, Andrew Bolt as “a smug vomit of hate”. She is also quite funny. Her plays include Hotel Sorrento, Falling From Grace, Life After George, Scenes From A Separation (co-written with Andrew Bovell), Inheritance, Two Brothers, The Glass Soldier and The Swimming Club.

She has been performed throughout Australia at all the major theatre companies. Internationally her plays have been staged in London’s West End, The New National Theatre of Tokyo, The New Kobe Oriental Hall, Japan. Helsinki City Theatre, The Centaur in Montreal, The National Theatre of Slovenia and many theatres in the UK, Europe and New Zealand.

Over her extensive career she has been awarded two Australian Writers’ Guild Awards, four Helpmann Awards, two NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and a Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, as well as The Age Performing Arts Award and The Sidney Myer Award. She has been short-listed twice for the prestigious Melbourne Prize for Literature and she is the only playwright to be short-listed for The Miles Franklin Award for a play.

Hannie has also written for newspapers, radio, TV and film. She lives in Melbourne with her husband, historian and broadcaster, Michael Cathcart.

Amanda Smith

Amanda Smith is the presenter of Artworks on ABC Radio National. She trained as a ballet dancer, but eventually realised she was more suited to being a professional talker than a professional fairy.

Before joining the ABC in 1991, Amanda spent 10 years working as an arts administrator. During this time, she served on the board of Chamber Made Opera, and the Victorian Council of the Arts.

Amanda is a graduate of the Dance School of the Victorian College of the Arts. She has a degree in Classics and a graduate diploma in Australian Studies from the University of Melbourne.

At the ABC, Amanda produced various arts programs for Radio National and Radio Australia before initiating The Sports Factor on RN. She presented The Sports Factor from its inception in 1995 until 2002, forging a whole new approach to sports broadcasting.

In 2003, she produced and presented the feature series Great Lovers, and since then has produced and presented various feature and arts programs.

Rachel Ward

Rachel adapted and directed the feature film,  Beautiful Kate, which premiered at the Sydney International Film Festival and was nominated for 10 AFI Awards including Best Direction.

Rachel’s short films The Big House and Martha’s New Coat both won the Film Critics Circle of Australia Award.

Her other directing credits include  Blindman’s Bluff , Heart Attack as part of Channel 9’s Twisted Tales and episodes of the ABC’s My Place & Rake.

 

Saturday October 23rd 2010: The Robert Ingpen Book Launch of The Secret Garden at Great Escape Books.

An inspiring evening was had in a booked out event with Robert Ingpen in conversation about the art of illustration. Recipient of the Hans Christian Award for Illustration, all of the audience was familiar with Robert’s work, with many people avid followers and collectors of his both his art and his books.

What was so unique about the event was the insight into preparation of the illustration from storyboards to the final pieces.  Robert’s books are prized for the fine detail that goes into every piece. If you own one of his books you will be sure to know that they are scientifically accurate right down to the clothes, tools and plants that would have appeared in the time period he is illustrating.

It was a magical evening and if you ahve not yet seen Roberts books or art, drop Great Escape Books as we are priviledged to have several pieces hanging on the walls of the bookshop and all of Roberts books are personally signed at Great Escape Books.

‘I totally enjoyed listing to Robert Ingpen with my friend Barbara I have attended many author talks but not illustrators.‘ Debra

This much loved 1911 classic, the unabridged version of The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett has been vividly bought to life by the magnificent hand-drawn illustrations of Robert Ingpen. Robert will appear in conversation discussing The Secret Garden at Great Escape Books from 6.00pm-7.30pm on Saturday October 23rd, 2010.  Join us for a special insight into the imagination of one of Australia’s most celebrated illustrators and storytellers.
Free event, but please book on (03) 5289 7052  or by email: nicole@greatescapebooks.com.au

Sean Doherty in conversation with Jon Frank and Brendan McAloon on Good Friday April 2nd 2010

Great Escape Books was delighted to have one of Australia’s most well regarded surf writers, Sean Doherty, speak about his latest awesome surf biography Parko + Friends, highlighting the love of surf and life of Australian surf legend Joel Parkinson over the Easter weekend.

In an informal evening with lots of beers and a packed crowd, Sean Doherty and surf photographer Jon Frank were interviewed by writer Brendan McAloon about some of their more memorable adventures over the years while writing about and photographing great surf contests.

“Dear Nicole, I wanted to thankyou for organizing a very enjoyable evening on the 2nd April. I talked my 16 years old son and husband into coming along with me and although my son as yet is not into surfing he is a reader and enjoyed Parko and friends which we purchased on the night.Keep up the good work and will look forward to another interested author presentation.”
Cheers,Janet Brady (Eastern View)

Sean’s surf books, MP the Life of Michael Peterson and My Brothers Keeper, The Official Bra Boys Story became national bestsellers, while his inspirational surf books,  The Moment and The Pilgrimage,  50 Places to Surf before You Die where great surfing photos and the classic surf story meet. Writing freelance today, he is a senior writer at both Tracks and Surfer magazine in the USA, contributes to several titles around the world, and has also written for the Sydney Morning Herald. He also moonlights as a pro surfing commentator, commentating recently for the Quiksilver Pro in Queensland and recently the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach ASP World Tour.  A keen surfer himself, between writing and commentating spreads his year largely between the tropical climes of Hawaii, Indonesia, Fiji and Tahiti.

Limited signed copies are currently available of all Sean Doherty’s great surf  books at Great Escape Books.

Call us to reserve a copy now. Ph. (03) 5289 7052

Hannie Rayson and Michael Cathcart in conversation: 13th February 2010

Great Escape Books was delighted to host Hannie Rayson and Michael Cathcart in conversationon the evening of Saturday February 13th 2010 at the bookshop.

Multi-award winning playwright Hannie Rayson and her husband, the historian and ABC broadcaster Michael Cathcart, were in conversation at Great Escape Books, discussing life and literature while living and writing under the same roof.

This was a very special event,  with the January 2010 opening of Hannie’s fabulous new play, The Swimming Club being performed by The Melbourne Theatre Company and the release of Michael’s latest book, The Water Dreamers, which has been met with great critical acclaim.

With a packed out crowd,  Hannie and Michael regaled the crowd with both humorous and in depth analysis of the very different ways in which they write and source their inspiration. It was a truly wonderful and illuminating evening.

One comment from the audience afterwards which summed up the vibe of evening perfectly was ‘ what a fab couple!’ Cath Peake.



Great Escape Books Summer Newsletter: Christmas 09 Edition

Our coast is the very best place to celebrate Christmas, the kids are happy playing on the beach or surfing, and you can lay down and unwind with a great read, and later maybe a wine or two at the surfclub. We have handpicked our favourite current reads. We hope you enjoy our selection, see you on the beach!

Great Escape Books Special Event: Feb 2010

Great Escape Books is delighted to be hosting Hannie Rayson and Michael Cathcart in conversation on Saturday February 13th 2010.
We anticipate this will quickly be a booked-out evening, so rsvp is essential.  Hardcopy invitations and further information is available at bookshop or on our events page at this website.

Top 10 Xmas Reads in a Nutshell…Nicole’s recommendations for all-time awesome Christmas reads.

1. Lovesong by Alex Miller...a breathtakingly beautiful novel of the bottomless depths of love.

2. Truth by Peter Temple...set in Melbourne, this is tough, gritty crime at it’s very best.

3. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery … you will fall in love with this most wondrous collection of eclectic French characters.

4. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel...brilliant Booker prize-winning fiction that breathes new life into the brutal regime of King Henry VIII.

5. The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Steig Larsson...an utterly compulsive series with the most twisted heroine you will ever find in literature today.

6. Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson...gutsy, modern day hero teams up with the Mujahadeen, to change the face of the lives of children in Taliban’s afflicted Afghanistan and Pakistan.

7. Nine Lives by William Dalrymple...travel writing at it’s very best, this time turning a fine eye on nine different lives in India.

8. Stoked by Bob McTavish...ripping memoir of a legend, for all surf fanatics like my husband!

9. Rain Gods by James Lee Burke…quality American crime fiction, from one of the masters of the genre.

10. A la grecque by Pam Talimanidis …a little bit of Aireys thrown in with a lot of Greece, produces a most enticing cookbook. Signed copies available.

Christmas Book Gift Vouchers

Our gift vouchers are great if you are truly stumped, pushed for time, or need a last minute gift. We have a beautiful range of vouchers and the best thing is you can nominate any amount and they never, ever expire.

Great New Christmas Releases

Lovesong by Alex Miller
You know when you open a book and it just envelops you in its beauty, that you have found a magical read. Set alternatively in contemporary Carlton and the Parisian café Chez Dom, this is a most beautiful ‘song’ of desire, desperation and bottomless love between the enigmatic exotic beauty Sabitha and her warmly faithful love Australian John Patterner.  Utterly enticing and tender, this is a truly glorious read. RRP: $39.95 Hardcover Edition

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
By the author of The Poisonwood Bible, you know The Lacuna is going to be a book of enormous scope and power. Based initially in Mexico and later in the U.S, a young Harrison Shepherd escapes his ‘social-climbing mother’ and through a series of misadventures winds up in the household of Diego Rivera and artist Frida Kahlo, who will become his life-long friend. Thrown into the circle of exiled Bolshevik leader Leon Trotsky,  Shepherd is caught inextricably up in the upcoming whirlwind of American and Mexican social change and revolution. Vividly written, this is a compelling read of the power of art and politics. ‘Only a writer of exceptional skill and daring can hold together such an ambitious undertaking’. Dorothy Johnston, The Sydney Morning Herald. RRP: $35.00

Rain Gods by James Lee Burke
James Lee Burke is a master at creating broken, desperate characters and this fine novel is no exception. Sheriff Hackberry Holland – former attorney and Korean prisoner of war is evading a blistering past to become sheriff of a border town in southern Texas. He soon find himself dealing with more than just his own personal ghosts after nine dead prostitutes are dug up in the desert. The search for justice – and revenge – pits Hack against criminals for hire, unsavoury ‘skin’ bar owners, drug dealers on both sides of the border and a psychopathic killer known as ‘The Preacher’. A rough, wild and compelling read. RRP: $32.99

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Julia and Valentina Poole are not-quite ‘normal’ American teenagers – for a start they are identical ‘mirror’ twins who have little little interest in things normal teens do- boys, college or socialising.   But when a mysterious aunt dies – oddly enough also their mothers twin,  and leaves them an apartment overlooking Highgate Cemetery in London, their life begins to take strange turns. As they quickly become involved in the eccentric lives of their aunt’s neighbours, they start to discover that there is much still alive in Highgate, including possibly their aunt, who while dead, can’t seem to leave her old apartment and life behind. A deliciously quirky ghost story, with all the mysterious twists that Niffenegger, author of The Time Travellers wife is famous for. RRP: $32.95

Meltdown by Ben Elton
I recently heard Ben Elton talking with Kerrie-Anne on one of those ghastly Good Morning shows and to his credit, he overcame the banal questions, and managed to convey with his trademark humour the biting satire of his newest novel.  After years of irresponsible spending, city trader Jimmy and his family are forced to their own version of the global confront financial meltdown and this results in this hilarious domestic drama that reverberates throughout their household. While this is a very English read, it is a lot of fun with a uncomfortable, yet darkly humorous twists. RRP: $32.95

Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson
Following his first book, Three Cups of Tea, many people assumed that the schools that Greg Mortenson and his heroic team of ‘fixers’ – a motley group of fearless local Pakistani men who would lay down their life for ‘Dr Greg’,  in Pakistan had been bombed into oblivion by the Taliban. But Mortenson’s philosophies about quietly building relationships, empowering communities, and educating girls continued to  strike a powerful chord with the Mujahadeen leaders. All of his now 130 schools he and his team have built have survived and flourished in Pakistan and the most impassable and wildest areas of Afghanistan. The Mujahadeen refused to let their schools be destroyed, and while the costs have been high- girls have had acid thrown in their faces and elders threatened with death— the glory of this book is the triumphs of the young women who are now graduating from the schools and of the wild men who have helped them. An overwhelmingly positive book of immense power. RRP: $32.95

Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls
An extraordinary debut novel based on the remarkable life of Jeannette Walls’ maternal grandmother – born in 1901 she is a ‘sassy, straight-talking heroine’ for whom taming wild horses and beating ranch hands at poker are all in a day’s work. Leaving home at the age of 15 to find work on her beloved horse Patch, she goes on to run a 180,000 acre ranch in Arizona and to raise a family. A remarkable adventurous woman in an age, who through her own courage and determination breaks all preconceived ideas of what women were capable of in that age and time. RRP: $32.95

The Heart of The Great Alone Scott, Shackleton and Antarctic Photography by David Hempleman-Adams, Sophie Gordon and Emma Stuart
This is the stuff of legends. The photographers—Herbert George Ponting and Frank Hurley—transported bulky cameras and glass plate negatives across the forbidding polar landscape to record some of the earliest images of this dramatic environment. That the photographs survived to be presented on their return to King George V is miraculous. The Heart of the Great Alone reproduces the best of these marvellous images, some of which have never appeared in book form before—ships encased in ice floes, ice cliffs and ravines, campsites and dog sleds, and the incomparable beauty of Antarctic flora and fauna. I’ve grabbed a copy for myself, this is a magnificent book. RRP: $70.00 Hardcover Edition.

Great Christmas Ideas for Kids and Teens

Birdie’s Big Girl Shoes by Sujean Rim
She felt beautiful. She felt glamorous. She felt like a movie star…Birdie likes to cartwheel. She likes to dance. And she especially likes playing with her dog, Monster. But more than anything, Birdie loves her mother’s high-heeled shoes. Glorious for girls who love a bit of fun. (This is N0. 1 on my daughters Christmas wish list this year). Great ages 3-4 plus. RRP: 24.99 Hardcover

Running With The Horses by Alison Lester
Celebrating the turbulent history of the famous Spanish Riding School, Running With The Horses is a picture book for all ages. When the city is under attack, Nina and father are in charge of fleeing with the horses to a safe place across the border, but can they pass enemy soldiers, bombed out bridges and the fearsome cold of the Alps to get there? And can Nina save her beloved Zelda too? RRP: $29.95 This is a superb book for older Alison Lester fans – ages 8 plus.

Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge 25th Edition by Mem Fox.
Wilfred is a small boy who lives next door to an old people’s home. He likes all the people who live there, but his favourite person of all is Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper, because she has four names just as he does. So when Wilfrid discovers that Miss Nancy has lost her memory, it is only natural that he should set off to help her find it. Lovely for ages 6 plus.

Snow White by Jane Ray
One of my favourite kids illustrators, the classic story of Snow White is retold and illustrated in six exquisite three-dimensional scenes by Jane Ray, returning to the original Grimm fairy tale for elements of the story.  Each scene is three layers deep so you can peer through the woods to the house of the seven dwarfs. Swathes of red curtain and a wooden stage complete the theatrical effect. Lovely for children with a great imagination. Suitable for children aged 6 plus.

Limited editions of Robert Ingpen Books
We are privileged to have signed editions of all of Roberts current works, as well as several rare, out of print editions. Drop by the bookshop to view his original artwork from Alice, as well as these extraordinary books.
A great keepsake for someone you hold very special this Christmas.

The Spook’s Stories: Witches by Joseph Delaney
A great new read based on many of the witches from Joseph Delaney’s Spooks books. Ever wondered why the Spook doesn’t trust girls who wear pointy shoes? Or why Grimalkin became the Assassin for the Malkin Witch clan? Find out all this and more in this a dark and eerie collection. RRP: 22.95 Hardcover. Good for ages 10 plus.

Crocodile Tears: Alex Rider: Book Eight by Anthony Horowitz
This series hardly needs explanation. A rip-roaring super spy series that must be read in order staring from Stormbreaker. Perfect for ages 10 plus.

Ink Exchange, Fragile Eternity and  Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Want to move your girls away from vampires, but they just love fantasy..this is the series for you! Rule #3: Don’t stare at invisible faeries. Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous‚ they walk hidden in the mortal world‚ and would blind her if they knew of her Sight. Rule #2: Don’t speak to invisible faeries. Now faeries are stalking her. One of them‚ Keenan‚ who is equal parts terrifying and alluring‚ is trying to talk to her‚ asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer. Rule #1: Don’t ever attract their attention. Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working any more‚ and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend‚ Seth; her life; everything. Great for ages: 12+

The Hunger Games Edition 1 & 2 by  Suzanne Collins
Winner of the 2009 Silver Inky Award for international teenage fiction.
I have had great feedback from teens who have read this book, their main comment is ‘it’s so realistic, the whole time I  I kept thinking: what would I do is this was me? Would I choke, or would I go on the attack? The story takes place in United States in the near future, where the nation Panem is divided into twelve districts. Each year a boy & girl from each district is picked by lottery to enter the Hunger Games – a reality TV fight to the death. Once the 24 contestants are in the games arena, anything goes. Fires, plagues, floods, scrambles for weapons and food, specially engineered predators…the entire nation watches and listens as the teenagers fight it out with every skill, weapon and trick they can summon. Sixteen-year-old Katniss volunteers to be a contestant when her little sister Primrose is picked in the lottery. But Katniss has been close to death before – and survival, for her, is second nature. Your teens will love this! Great for boys or girls ages 12 plus.

Wishing you and your family a very wonderful and joyous Christmas.
We look forward to seeing you on the beach at Fairhaven or in the bookshop over Summer. Merry Christmas!

Xmas Opening Hours: Xmas Eve: 9-5pm, Xmas Day: Closed, Boxing Day 12-5pm
New Years Eve: 9-5pm, New Years Day: Closed. All other days normal opening: 9-5pm
–
Nicole Maher
greatescapebooks
p: (03)5289 7052
f: (03) 5220 0011
m: 0419 110 097
Website: http://www.greatescapebooks.com.au

Launch by Robert Ingpen of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Saturday October 31st 2009 at Great Escape Books.

A dazzling celebration of the Australian launch of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with Robert Ingpen was held at Great Escape Books on a warm Melbourne Cup weekend, on Saturday October 31st. With the bookshop transformed with orginal artworks from Alice, the classic characters of Alice, the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the Dormouse and the Mad Hatter and the Queen’s tea-party was bought so gloriously to life, you can almost sense the characters jumping off the page.

Wine and champagne flowed as everyone enjoyed meeting Robert and viewing his stunning books.

We are privileged to have many personally signed copies of all Robert’s books in print, including several new rare editions of books coming into store this week…see Nicole for details!

2009 Aireys Festival of Words

Aireys Festival of Words 2009

The third Aireys Festival of Words was a dynamic weekend of great literature, poetry, art, sculpture and music.

We feel enormously privileged to live in such a beautiful township, and we were extremely proud to have attracted more than 30 of Australia’s best known and emerging authors and poets to our small coastal village. All authors gave incredibly generously of their time with special readings, addresses, conversations and workshops.

Chrissie Keighery & Hilary Rogers in-conversation

Over the weekend of 14 – 16 August 2009, we had over 3000 people attending the festival, which is a stunning testament to not only how much we love literature here in Aireys, but what a wonderful township it truly is.

To view the 2009 Festival Program Guide : http://www.aireysinlet.com.au/words/

VENUES

This year the Festival expanded on the venues used to include larger spaces. The venues used were  the Aireys Inlet Community Centre for literary events, the Fairhaven Surf Club, Eagles Nest Art Gallery and Kiss Me 2 for arts events, and the Aireys Inlet Hotel for music.

Great Escape Books was relocated in spirit up to the Community Centre and operated as the hub of book sales and signings. A sculptural trail by Darren Matthews linked all events and venues throughout the townships of Aireys Inlet and Fairhaven.

FRIDAY EVENING

Festival Launch: The official launch was by great Australian poet and novelist Cate Kennedy, who read from her new novel, The World Beneath. Local troupe Anglesea Performing Arts also appeared with the stunning and confronting play on words, ‘Self Accusations’.

With the Community Centre transformed into an epicentre of literature and over 250 people in attendance, it was an inspiring literary evening. Great local music at the Aireys Inlet Hotel with Aireys Live extended the opening festivities far into the night.

SATURDAY LITERARY SESSIONS

Children’s Hub: We were delighted to have two of Australia’s most beloved author-artists, Alison Lester and Robert Ingpen appear in our Children’s Hub. Youngsters were held spellbound by the details and images behind Alison’s well-known stories such as The Quicksand Pony and Are We there Yet?

Hairy Peruvians' reading The Voyage of the Poppykettle by Robert Ingpen

While Robert delighted young and older members of the audience as he read from his classic edition of the Wind in the Willows. Local school children appearing as ‘Hairy Peruvians’ were enchanting as characters from his beloved story The Voyage of the Poppykettle. With over 250 children and their parents in attendance, both authors had the audience completely captivated.

Teen Space: Chrissie Keighery and Hardie Grant editor Hilary Rogers entertained young adult readers and parents with genuine tales of what it is like to be a teen today with Outside In, while Maureen McCarthy held sway with her reading of the great teen thriller Somebody’s Crying.

Our thanks to Surf Coast Shire Councillor Libby Mears who acted as MC for the Children’s Hub and Teen Space and is always so giving of her time and expertise.

Literary Lounge: The two afternoons of the Literary Lounge featured both extremely well known authors alongside emerging talents.

Opening ‘Great Australian Authors: the Journey Within’ on Saturday was Jacinta Halloran who spoke about her heart-rending debut novel Dissection.

Nick Gadd, author of the thriller, Ghostlines, and winner of the Ned Kelly Award for Crime Fiction, spoke about the writing process.

Sonia Orchard read from her lyrically beautiful novel, The Virtuoso and the Sophie Cunningham, author of Geography and more recently, Bird, and long-time editor of the iconic literary journal Meanjin, spoke of her love of writing.

Keynote Literary Evening: The Festival highlight, the Keynote Literary Evening, was packed to the rafters. Our first Keynote speaker, writer and comedian Denise Scott, regaled the audience with not only tales from her latest book, the hilarious All that Happened at No 26, but also with amusing anecdotes from other writers festivals.

Denise Scott entertaining the crowd with MC Simon Northeast

Great crime writer Shane Maloney held the crowd in the palm of his hand as he spoke about his character Murray Whelan and political and literary life in Melbourne.

Shane Maloney, our marvellous Keynote Speaker

Our thanks to local Surf Coast Councillor Simon Northeast, who nearly stole the show with his hidden comic talent as MC.

Poetry Readings: The ambience of Diamond Heights was the perfect venue for our poetry readings. This session featured work from the Deputy Chair of the Australian Poetry Centre, Robyn Rowland, to Chris Wallace Crabbe, the Professor Emeritus for the Australian Centre, University of Melbourne.

With guest poet John Jenkins and local poets Christos Raskatos, Trudy White and David Campbell, we had a huge breadth of talent reading their wonderful works of poetry.

SUNDAY LITERARY SESSIONS

Surf and Adventure Panel: A favourite with all grommet and surf nuts, this was a terrific session chaired by Marty Maher and featuring great travel and adventure writers Patrick O’Neil, author of Sideways and local Brendan McAloon, author of Deepwater. Both writers spoke of what it was like to come to the edge of physical and mental endurance and then to find the strength to go beyond the barriers.

Surf and Adventure Panel: Marty Maher speaking with Patrick O'Neil and Brendan McAloon

Foodies Luncheon at a la grecque: Lovers of fine food were in for a double treat with a gourmet lunch at a la grecque enjoyed with guest speaker and chef Allan Campion, author of In the Kitchen, the yearly Foodies Diaries, The Foodies Guide to Melbourne and many other cookbooks. Fine food, great wine and a fascinating event with Allan Campion.

Allan Campion speaking at A la grecque

Literary Lounge: With the theme ‘Great Australian Authors: Dark Family Secrets’, Kate Legge opened the Sunday session with the spellbinding, The Marriage Club.

Deborah Forster read from the bleakly beautiful The Book of Emmett, and Rosalie Ham, author of Summer at Mount Hope discussed the darkly quirky novel The Dressmaker, a gripping tale of small town life, love and revenge.

Kate Legge at the Literary Lounge inspiring us all

Mighty Minds Changing the World: Holding court in our political arena were Dr Ian Freckelton and Spencer Zifcak.

A spellbinding forum that ranged from the intrigues of Australian politics, to the machinations behind decisions taken by countries within the United Nations. It was a truly inspiring and enlightening session.

Our thanks to screenwriter and long time friend, Andrew Knight for his generosity and superb oratory skills in acting as MC for these sessions.

Literary Workshops: Over 65 people attended the various literary workshops, a new event for the festival. These two-hour literary workshops were lead by a range of writers, directors and poets.  Cate Kennedy, Karen Martin, Robyn Rowland and John Bartlett all ran literary workshops, while artistic workshops were held at the surfclub by author Meredith Thomas, artists Caroline Hawkins, Linda Waters and John McSweeny, and musician Demir Aliu.

With Special Thanks: Festivals such as the Aireys Festival of Words are truly community events and could not be held without the enthusiasm and support of the people of Aireys Inlet. A special thanks to the Festival committee, the small army of volunteers who gave their time over the Festival weekend, all our wonderful accommodation providers,  and local and government businesses who sponsored the many Festival events.

2009 Writers in alphabetical order

John Bartlett

Allan Campion

Sophie Cunningham

Alison Lester

Deborah Forster

Dr. Ian Freckelton

Nick Gadd

Tim Gibson

Jacinta Halloran

Rosalie Ham

Robert Ingpen

Chrissie Keighery

Cate Kennedy

Kate Legge

Robert Ingpen

Alison Lester

Shane Maloney

Karen Martin

Brendan McAloon

Maureen McCarthy

Patrick O’Neil

Sonia Orchard

Denise Scott

Spencer Zifcak

2009 Poets in alphabetical order

David Campbell

John Jenkins

Patrick O'Neil reading from Sideways

Christos Raskatos

Dr. Robyn Rowland

Chris Wallace-Crabbe

Trudy White

2009 Artists & Musicians in alphabetical order

Demir Aliu

Anglesea Performing Arts Group

Matt Baird

Sally Cleary

Craig Fraser

Ghostmutt

Caroline Hawkins

Rodney Hyett

Darren Matthews

John McSweeney

Matt Novacewski

Red Whyte

Relatively Speaking

Susan Romyn

Sarlac

The Siren and the Sailor

Meredith Thomas

Linda Waters

Tim and Luke Wood

& many more talented local musicians and artists…

An Evening with Peter Temple at Great Escape Books.

Peter Temple has won five Ned Kelly Awards for his novels, and won the world’s most prestigious crime writing prize, the Duncan Lawrie Dagger.  Formerly a journalist and teacher of journalism and editing, he turned to fiction writing in the 1990’s.

His four Jack Irish novels (Bad Debts, Black Tide, Dead Point and White Dog) are set in inner Melbourne, around Fitzroy and the CBD. They feature the marvelously dry-witted former criminal lawyer Jack Irish, who has all manner of friends both crooked and straight.In order to help them, as any good friend would, he tends to bends the law to his own advantage.  It all makes for a fantastic read.

Peter has also written three stand alone novels, An Iron Rose, Shooting Star and In the Evil Day.

The Broken Shore won the world’s richest prize for crime fiction, the UK Crime Writers’ Association Duncan Lawrie Gold Dagger, the first Australian to win the prize.

Previous winners include John le Carre, Ian Rankin and James Lee Burke.

His books are published in more than twenty countries.

Peter spoke with local author Gregory Day ( Author of The Patron Saint of Eels and Ron McCoy’s Sea of Diamonds),  about a peaks and pitfalls of writers life amongst a booked out crowd at Great Escape Books.

As with his books, he was a spellbinding speaker. Peter’s latest book is Truth, which leads on from The Broken Shore.

Compulsive, searing and utterly convincing, Truth is fast paced and brutal in intensity and comes highly recommended as easily the best new crime novel of 2009.

Disappearing Australian Culture with Andrew Knight

In Conversation with Andrew Knight at Great Escape Books Saturday August 13th 2007.

Seated laconically on a bar stool at Great Escape Books writer Andrew Knight had the audience absolutely spellbound. With his own special brand of self deprecating humour he talked about the very serious topic of ‘disappearing australian culture’, the idea that small communities should celebrate their uniqueness in this safe, homogenised world of global culture.

Andrew has been at the centre of the Australian Film and television industry for over 25 years. He has been involved in writing (often with long time co-writer Deb Cox) with such numerous film projects including, Tripping Over (2006), Crashburn (2003), After the Deluge (2003), My Brother Jack (2001), Seachange (2000), Siam Sunset (1999), The Dead Letter Office (1998) and The Sound of One Hand Clapping (1998), Kangaroo Palace (1997) and comedy series with John Clarke The Fast Land, as well as Full Frontal, and with Steve Vizard, Fast Forward. He has been nominated for AFI Awards 6 times and won three awards: Australian Film Institute (AFI) and Australian Writer Guild Award for After the Deluge (2003) and The International Fantasy Award for Siam Sunset( 2000)

Along with other numerous projects, Andrew is currently working on Lowdown (2010) and is the co-author of the book Dying to Know.

Book Launch by David Corlett

Book Launch: Stormy Weather by David Corlett.
David was in conversation with Simon Northeast, criminal lawyer for the Launch of Stormy Weather: The Challenge of Climate Change and Displacement. Held to a packed crowd on the evening of Friday December 5th 2008 at Great Escape Books, David’s discussion about the impact of climate change upon the world community resonated strongly with the audience.

David is also the author of Following Them Home: The Fate of the Returned Asylum Seekers (Black Inc 2005) and with Robert Manne, Sending Them Home: Refugees and the New Politics of Indifference (Quarterly Essay 13, Black Inc 2004).

David has been published widely, including in The Monthly, The Age, The Quarterly Essay, The Canberra Times, The University of New South Wales Law Journal and Dissent. He is currently an Adjunct Research Fellow at Swinburne University’s Institute for Social Research and Honorary Research Fellow at La Trobe University.

David is very well known in our community for his extensive work in heightening awareness of the plight of asylum seekers, including during Excised with Paddling for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (PRAS) last year. Check out David’s website: www.safecom.org.au/following-them-home.htm

David’s books are available now at Great Escape Books.

Nick Gadd wins Ned Kelly Award

We wanted to wish Nick Gadd who appeared at this years 2009 Aireys Festival of Words our warmest congratulations on winning the 2009 Ned Kelly Award, Best First Fiction. Nick discussed his award winning novel Ghostlines, which is a personal favorite of mine at the Festival.

The judges said when he orginally won the 2007 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for an unpublished manuscript…

Ghostlines ‘packs a very strong narrative punch as it tells the story of a one-time respected investigative journalist who has stepped on the wrong toes … Strong dialogue, a tight structure, and an exceptional narrative voice take the reader on a journey to a provocative conclusion.’ Judges, Victorian Premier’s Literary Award

About Ghostlines:

Philip Trudeau, a once-respected investigative journalist, has stepped on the wrong toes. With his personal life and health deteriorating around him, he is consigned to a suburban newspaper where he writes ‘filler’ local news articles to be slotted in among the real-estate and restaurant advertisements. Sent to cover what appears to be a tragic-yet-routine death at a level crossing, Philip is drawn into a multilayered mystery that involves art theft, political intrigue and business corruption … not to mention murder.

Ghostlines is a cleverly plotted and compelling story of betrayal that is part thriller and part psychological realism. Source: Scribe Publications

Launch of Dacelo the Laughing Kookaburra by Pauline Reilly

Great Escape Books was very privileged to host the launch of Pauline Reilly’s latest book in her Australian native animal collection Dacelo the Laughing Kookaburra. Introduced by the Hon. Barry Jones, Pauline has had a long and distinguished career in science and has been  awarded Medal of the Order of Australil;  Elected Fellow of RAOU,  the Australian Natural History Medallion, John Hobbs Medal, and Roy Wheeler Medallion, Whitley Book Awards and Wilderness Society Awards.

Pauline Reilly speaking at Great Escape Books

We regard Pauline as our own living treasure in Aireys Inlet and it was a great joy to host her latest book. All of Pauline’s extensive backlist of books are available at great Escape Books.

2008 Aireys Festival of Words

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Kicking Goals with Chrissie Perry

Chrissie Perry delighted her legion of young fans when she read from her latest book Kicking Goals, from the Go Girl! Angels series. The launch of her latest bestselling book was held at Great Escape Books on Friday June 8th with cupcakes and lemonade all round. Her fans were rapt to be asked how they felt about the characters and what new characters they would like to see in her new novels.  Chrissie’s books are a big hit with girls aged 6-10 years as they deal honestly, yet gently and with lots of humour, with real life issues that all young girls face at school, with friends and at home.

Chrissie’s books have sold in excess of 250,000 copies worldwide and are in printed in numerous countries including Spain,the UK, France and the US.

Chrissie is now writing for young adults aged 12-16years, her latest novel is Outside In (2009), under the name Chrissie Keighery and signed copies are available at great Escape Books.

We are lucky that Chrissie has made the seachange down to Fairhaven, she is now a local and can be spotted regularly around town.

2007 Aireys Festival of Words

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