Discover our exciting Author Talk Program with visiting authors inspiring your reading and writing:
Coming Up in 2025:
Make 2025 the year you step into your most CONFIDENT and MAGNETIC self!
Join us as we dive into:
Insights from Becoming Magnetic:
Get behind-the-scenes stories and hear Erika dive deep into how this book will guide you through each phase of magnetism with real, actionable tools and strategies.
Real-life applications:
Erika will show you how magnetism works across every area of your life, including love, parenting, business, money, and leadership. You’ll leave knowing exactly how to apply the principles to your own life and intentionally magnetise what you desire in 2025!
Connection & Celebration:
This event is your chance to celebrate with like-minded women who are ready to step into their power.
Be inspired by the Queen of Confidence Erika Cramer at Orange City Library on Thursday 30 January at 5.30pm – 7pm. Reserve your place here or call Orange City Library on 6393 8132.
More about Erika Cramer:
Erika Cramer, known as The Queen of Confidence, is a globally recognised confidence and mindset coach, TEDx speaker and bestselling author. From overcoming a life marked by trauma, foster care and early widowhood, Erika has dedicated her career to empowering women worldwide to step into their confidence and take ownership of their lives.
As the award-winning host of The Confidence Chronicles podcast, which has amassed millions of downloads, Erika continues to inspire and guide women to break through limitations and embrace their full potential.
Her no-nonsense, compassionate coaching approach equips women with the tools and mindset to stand tall in their authenticity, become magnetic in all areas of life, and lead with confidence. In addition to her coaching, Erika is pursuing a degree in psychotherapy, expanding her expertise to better serve her global audience of confident women ready to make their mark!!!
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Retired Barrister Bill Walsh Launches his book Big Bill Mackay at Orange City Library on 6 February
Join us when retired barrister Bill Walsh launches his book Big Bill Mackay – The story of William John Mackay, a controversial and innovative member of the New South Wales Police Force from 1910-1948 and its outstanding Commissioner from 1935-1948 at Orange City Library on Thursday 6 February at 5.30pm. The event will be supported by Collins Booksellers, Orange.
William ‘Big Bill’ Mackay, a Scotsman, served in the City of Glasgow Police (1905-1910) and in the New South Wales Police Force (1910-1948). He was the outstanding Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force from 1935 to 1948.
Mackay was a controversial and innovative figure, who featured in many of the major events in the history of New South Wales. He was a tough policeman on the streets and an able administrator. He was not afraid of criminals nor of politicians. It has been said of Mackay, “his like will not be seen again in today’s world…”
Author Bill Walsh is the son of a policeman and the father of a policeman. He was a member of the New South Wales Police Force from 1967 to 1986, where he attained the rank of Sergeant.
While in the Police Force, Bill undertook legal studies at Macquarie University and was admitted as a Barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1983. After leaving the Police Force, he obtained Masters degrees in Law and Criminology. In 1987, Bill commenced private practice at the Bar specialising in criminal defence. Over the next 35 years, he was Defence Counsel appearing in the Supreme, District and Local Courts of New South Wales. During his long career at the Bar, Bill appeared in hundreds of jury trials.
In 2016, Bill was appointed Barrister-in-Residence with the title of Adjunct Associate Professor at the Centre for Law and Justice, Charles Sturt University. He retired from practice at the Bar in 2022.
This non-fiction work is well researched and documents many changes and initiatives to policing and civic reform. The author is honoured by Retired Police Commissioner Ken Moroney’s foreword and acknowledgement of Mackay’s status in the NSW Police Force. Recent Australian history comes alive in the book alongside images and sources from Police, State and National archives and the author’s own collection, making this ‘first’ biography of Mackay a great read.
Please reserve your spot here or call Orange City Library on 6393 8132, to help Bill celebrate the launch of his book Big Bill Mackay – Police Commissioner 1935 – 1948. Copies of Big Bill Mackay will be available for sale and signing on the night and Collins Booksellers, Orange will be supporting the event.
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Retired Barrister Bill Walsh Launches his book Big Bill Mackay at Cowra Library on Fri 14 February at 10am
Join us when retired barrister Bill Walsh launches his book Big Bill Mackay – The story of William John Mackay, a controversial and innovative member of the New South Wales Police Force from 1910-1948 and its outstanding Commissioner from 1935-1948 at Cowra Library on Friday 14 February at 10am. Books will be available for sales and signings on the day.
Please book your spot here or call Cowra Library on 6340 2180.
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Poets, Painters and Pioneers: Banjo Paterson’s Remarkable Family With Heather Knight in February
Over the years much of the story of the Paterson brothers has been lost to time. Four young Scottish brothers and their sister arrived in Australia with ambition, money, vision and energy of youth. They were well-educated, interested in politics and their community; imbued with intelligence, good humour, a fierce intellect and kind and charitable hearts.
As Australian pioneers, they took up remote lands on the Lachlan and Edward Rivers and in outback Queensland, bringing with them centuries of family experience in breeding sheep and horses.
The harsh reality of farming in Australia took its toll both financially and physically and within fifteen years their dreams of a squatting empire had collapsed.
Broken by premature deaths and the burden of working for others, they still managed to raise remarkably talented children who excelled as sportspeople, artists, musicians and poets. Their stories and photographic portraits have been plucked from obscurity and are presented in the book Poets, Painters and Pioneers for the first time.
Rather than an enduring heritage of vast sheep stations, grand homesteads or pastoral empires, the family legacy is Australia’s legendary poet, “Banjo Paterson”.
Join us at Orange City Library on Saturday 15 February 2025 at 2pm when author Heather Knight gives an insight into the fascinating life of the Paterson family.
Please book your spot here or call Orange City Library on 6393 8132.
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Cowra Library Up Late with Nicole Alexander Wednesday 12 March 2025 6pm – 8pm
Meet author Nicole Alexander for a special Cowra Library Up Late event on Wednesday 12 March from 6pm – 8pm to celebrate the launch of her latest book The Limestone Road which “bears all the hallmarks of a modern Australia classic”.
Known for her captivating depictions of historical rural Australian life, bestselling author Nicole Alexander returns with her twelfth novel, The Limestone Road – a stirring narrative about one young soldier’s courageous journey ‘home’.
The Limestone Road is a poignant exploration of memory, trauma, and the quest for redemption. It is a story of resilience, love, and the enduring power of dreams. Alexander masterfully weaves together historical detail and emotional depth to create a novel that will resonate long after reading.
Nicole Alexander has a Master of Letters in Creative Writing and her novels, poetry, travel, writing and genealogy articles have been published in Australia, America, Singapore, New Zealand, Germany, Russia, Ukraine and Canada.
She is the author of eleven other novels: The Bark Cutters, A Changing Land, Absolution Creek, Sunset Ridge, The Great Plains, Wild Lands, River Run, An Uncommon Woman, Stone Country, The Cedar Tree and The Last Station. Please join us at Cowra Library for what promises to be a wonderful Library Up Late event. Book your spot here. Collins Booksellers will also be supporting this event in Cowra with books sales and signings.
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Nicole Alexander launches The Limestone Road at Orange City Library Thursday 13 March 12.30pm
Meet author Nicole Alexander at Orange City Library on Thursday 13 March at 12.30pm to celebrate the launch of her latest book The Limestone Road which “bears all the hallmarks of a modern Australia classic”.
Known for her captivating depictions of historical rural Australian life, bestselling author Nicole Alexander returns with her twelfth novel, The Limestone Road – a stirring narrative about one young soldier’s courageous journey ‘home’.
The Limestone Road is a poignant exploration of memory, trauma, and the quest for redemption. It is a story of resilience, love, and the enduring power of dreams. Alexander masterfully weaves together historical detail and emotional depth to create a novel that will resonate long after reading.
Nicole Alexander has a Master of Letters in Creative Writing and her novels, poetry, travel, writing and genealogy articles have been published in Australia, America, Singapore, New Zealand, Germany, Russia, Ukraine and Canada.
She is the author of eleven other novels: The Bark Cutters, A Changing Land, Absolution Creek, Sunset Ridge, The Great Plains, Wild Lands, River Run, An Uncommon Woman, Stone Country, The Cedar Tree and The Last Station. Please reserve your spot here to meet author Nicole Alexander at Orange City Library launching her latest book The Limestone Road. This event will be supported by Collins Booksellers, Orange.
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Thank you to our incredible authors who visited during 2024:
Craig Semple – The Cop Who Fell to Earth
Alicia Thompson – Writing Workshop: Exercise Your Writing Muscles
Dr Anne Ring – Engaging with Ageing
DT West – A Step Towards Freedom
Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist: The Glass House
Scott Honeysett – Shattered Branches
Local author Brendan Lamerton – Bonded
Ruth and Don Pollack – “In conversation” Suggy’s Men, and Clouds and Sunshine
Andrew Skeoch – Deep Listening to Nature
Local author Seana Smith – going under
Eila Jameson-Avey – Wellworth
Local author Beckie Plant – Children’s book – Bob, Anxiety and Me
Benjamin Stevenson – Everyone this Christmas Has A Secret
Local historian Robert Bartlett – Early Inns, Hotels and Pubs of Orange (now on sale at Gladstone Hotel, Orange Visitor Information Centre, Orange Camera House)
Stella Day Out Orange – Poet and essayist Fiona Wright read from her book The World Was Whole which was shortlisted for the prestigious Stella Prize. Fiona is also the author of Small Acts of Disappearance and poetry collection Knuckled. in conversation with Stella CEO Fiona Sweet.
Hugh Mackay – The Way We Are
Local author Leesa Ronald – Special Delivery (a fun rom-com set in Orange!)
Lyn Brown/Ash Brown – True Confessions from the Hardback Cafe (includes anecdotes about Angus & Roberston Bookshop, Orange)
Special 2024 author events
Seniors Week Author Tour with Dr Anne Ring – Engaging With Ageing
Live-streaming Live & Local annual Sydney Writers Festival in May (3rd Year)
Orange Readers and Writers Festival on the first weekend in August with guest authors – ABC TV Compass presenter Indira Naidoo – Space Between the Stars (in conversation with freelance journalist Marianna Saran), Rhys Gard – Four Dogs Missing, Gabbie Stroud – the things that matter most, Ian W. Shaw – The Golden Gang: Bushranger Frank Gardiner and the biggest gold robbery in Australian History (Eugowra Gold Escort), and Rachael Mogan McIntosh – Mothering Heights. Friday Writing/Editing Workshop with local author Kim Kelly: Making Your Writing Shine.
Thank you to all our wonderful authors who visited during 2023:
Nat Amoore – The Right Way to Rock
Lisa Ireland – The One and Only Dolly Jamieson
Christine Stewart – Collits’ Inn: Uncovering the Past
Local author Seana Smith – The Australian Autism Handbook
Inga Simpson – Willowman
Rachael Mogan McIntosh – Pardon My French – Library UpLate event
Maggie Mackellar – graft
Dianne Yarwood – The Wakes
Cowra author Harold Treasure – King’s Spur – “in conversation” with Reading and Writing Coordinator Jasmine Vidler
Claudia Harrison – Dinner First
Kate Gadsby – Convicts, Capitalists and Corruption – Research and Maps Talk to celebrate Orange Family History Group’s 40th anniversary
Colin Bower and Richard Medd – Orchids of Central Western NSW
Local author Beckie Plant – children’s art book Amazing Like You
Sallyanne Pisk – Eating For You
Greg Mutton – 12th Realm – Sci-Fi series
Kamille Roach – former Banjo Paterson Writing Awards winner launched crime novel Pine Creek set in the Central West
Dirty Janes duo Athol Salter and Jane Crowley – launched Beeswax and Tall Tales
Judy Nunn – Black Sheep
Penelope Janu and Pamela Cook – A Country Vet Christmas
Amanda Hampson – The Tea Ladies and The Cryptic Clue
Local author Dr Gregory Smith – Better Than Happiness: The True Antidote to Discontent
Hannah Diviney – I’ll Let Myself In
Hayley Rawsthorne shared her debut children’s book – These Little Feet – at Storytime
Local author Stuart Lloyd – Started Out Drinking Beer – The Mental As Anything Story – “in conversation” with drummer David ‘Bird’ Twohill
David Marr – Killing For Country: A Family Story – “in conversation” with Orange City Librarian Sean Brady
Local author Kim Kelly – Ladies Rest and Writing Room co-winner of the Finlay Lloyd 20/40 Novella Publishing Prize
Special 2023 Author Events:
Touring Kids One Library One Book author Nat Amoore with The Right Way to Rock
Touring Adults One Library One Book community read – Dianne Yarwood with The Wakes
Live-streaming Live & Local annual Sydney Writers Festival in May (2nd Year)
Orange Readers and Writers Festival on the first weekend in August with guest authors – Grantlee Kieza – The Remarkable Mrs Reiby, and Knockout, Yvonne Weldon- Sixty-Seven Days, Adam Courtenay – Mr Todd’s Marvel, Michael Thompson – How to be Remembered and Kim Kelly – The Rat Catcher. Sunday Podcast Workshop with Michael Thompson.