Broken Hill is rapidly becoming a regular feature for authors on tours around the country to promote their books.
The latest will be bestselling writer Fleur McDonald, to talk about her new novel Broad River Station which is her twentieth and adds to an impressive catalogue of work.
Having sold over 700,000 books, Ms McDonald is considered one of Australia’s greatest story tellers and she releases two books every year.
Today – Wednesday – the Broken Hill City Library will host Ms McDonald and she will be interviewed by well known Broken Hill identity Annette Heard.
Jessica Picken, Programs Officer at the Library, said it was very exciting to get a couple of big names into the library.
“We had Tricia Stringer and now we have Fleur McDonald. It’s good that they are authors that are really well received.
“People absolutely love these books, so it’s great to be able to offer our customers something that they are really interested in.
“Most of these are set in rural and remote areas and people can relate to that, and I think it’s always interesting to meet the person that has written it.
“It feels good that someone is interested in a life similar to your own perhaps, that an author has decided to write a story on remote areas and people go great that’s like my life,” Ms Picken said
The night will be catered with arancini balls and sliders with copies of the book available for sale, and Ms McDonald will be signing books.
In this latest novel she tells the story of Mia, a newly graduated police constable on her first post, assigned to Broad River, a small country town.
And as certain as she is about her ability to do the job, on day one she’s already in conflict with colleagues who believe that women shouldn’t be coppers.
It takes the shine off coming home, where her grandmother, Clara, is in the early stages of dementia.
Clara is in a nursing home, living between her present and the mist-covered past of her life as dementia slowly steals her memories.
Mia is accustomed to their conversations often not quite making sense but when Clara hints of veiled family secrets, Mia isn’t sure what she should believe.
In the midst of all this, a local child goes missing and Mia is confined to barracks.
When Detective Dave Burrows realises she has skills that could be put to use, Mia’s career takes a new turn, and she must decide down which road she should walk.
Fleur McDonald has lived and worked on farms for much of her life.
She grew up in the small town of Orroroo in rural South Australia, and worked as a jillaroo, eventually co-owning an 8000-acre property in regional Western Australia.
Her passion, she says, is to write about strong women overcoming adversity, drawing inspiration from her own experiences in rural Australia.
Anyone wanting to book a spot and have the opportunity to listen to Ms McDonald can go online and secure their place at www.eventbrite.com.au/e/author-talk-fleur-mcdonald-tickets-438752740257 but turning up on the night is also fine.
