THURSDAY BOOK CLUB - Fleur McDonald

Held weekly, Thursday Book Club is a relaxed place to talk books and writing on Zoom, share book recommendations and keep up to date with upcoming literary events. Drop in as you can – it doesn’t matter if you’re late or have to leave early. Once a month a guest author joins us to talk about they’ve been writing and reading.

Berry Writers Festival: Life in the Australian Landscape: Experiences, Exploration, History

Harsh and vastly beautiful, the Outback serves as the backdrop for three very different and compelling accounts of life and adventure -- Anna Broinowski’s “darkly funny and savage” memoir Datsun Angels; Sonia Henry’s Put Your Feet in the Dirt, Girl: A City Doctor Goes Bush; and Ryan Butta’s The Ballad of Abdul Wade: The Incredible True Story of the Afghan Cameleers. The authors discuss their books and their setting with Suzanne Leal.

THURSDAY BOOK CLUB - Paul Harmon

Held weekly, Thursday Book Club is a relaxed place to talk books and writing on Zoom, share book recommendations and keep up to date with upcoming literary events. Drop in as you can – it doesn’t matter if you’re late or have to leave early. Once a month a guest author joins us to talk about they’ve been writing and reading.

Woollahra Library - Chris Hammer in conversation with Suzanne Leal

Join Chris Hammer as he launches his new thriller 'The Valley'. In partnership with Gertrude & Alice Bookstore.

Event in partnership with Gertrude & Alice Bookstore

Wine & canapes included in ticket price

Join Chris Hammer in conversation with Suzanne Leal to discuss his new novel The Valley.

Nell Buchanan and Ivan Lucic are back – as Nell is thrown into her most emotionally fraught investigation yet. A controversial entrepreneur is murdered in a remote mountain valley, but this is no ordinary case. Ivan and Nell are soon contending with cowboy lawyers, conmen, bullion thieves and grave robbers. But it's when Nell discovers the victim is a close blood relative that the past begins to take on a looming significance. What did take place in The Valley all those years ago? What was Nell's mother doing there, and what was her connection to troubled young police officer Simmons Burnside? And why do the police hierarchy insist Ivan and Nell stay with the case despite an obvious conflict of interest?

The Valley features a page-turning plot, intriguing characters, and an evocative sense of place—where nothing is ever quite what it seems.

Chris Hammer, the acclaimed author of the international bestsellers Scrublands, Treasure & Dirt, The Tilt and The Seven, presents another immersive and emotionally rewarding thriller.

BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival: Fresh Talent - Danger Danger Everywhere

Are we most under threat by stranger-danger or by the threats that lie closer to home? What should we fear most – the danger that lurks without or the danger that lurks within? Three debut authors have written compelling novels about the perils which threaten us close to home. Hear Zahid Gamieldien, Mitch Jennings and Bruce Nash talk to Suzanne Leal about where the real dangers might lie. 

South Coast Writers Festival - Secrets & Justice

Both Sarah Clutton and Suzanne Leal were lawyers before becoming novelists.

They talk with novelist Meredith Jaffé about how secrets, lies and justice feature in their fiction.  

South Coast Writers Festival - Historical Fiction

Both Julie Janson’s Compassion and Michelle Cahill’s Daisy & Woolf give voice to some of the overlooked women in history.

They discuss these stories and the lessons, challenges and rewards of writing authentic historical voices with Suzanne Leal. 

Nedlands Library - When Crime Gets Tricky

Readers can’t get enough of crime fiction and true crime. Writers can’t either, it seems. But how far should a writer go when exploring crime and criminal law? Is there anything that might better be sidestepped or completely avoided?

Join authors Suzanne Leal, Katherine Johnson and Paddy O’Reilly in a spirited conversation about what to do when crime gets tricky.

THURSDAY BOOK CLUB - Karen Viggers

Held weekly, Thursday Book Club is a relaxed place to talk books and writing on Zoom, share book recommendations and keep up to date with upcoming literary events. Drop in as you can – it doesn’t matter if you’re late or have to leave early. Once a month a guest author joins us to talk about they’ve been writing and reading.

Limmud Oz - When there's a story to tell, how do you tell it?

The twentieth century saw the unfolding of extraordinary, shocking and inspiring world events. So many of the published accounts of those who lived through these events are truly compelling. But what of those stories still waiting to be told? What of the people whose stories are fascinating but who are yet to record them? Join author and interviewer Suzanne Leal to discover how to unearth those stories around you and how to make the interviewing and recording process enjoyable, efficient and rewarding.

WORKSHOP - Writing Historical Fiction with Suzanne Leal

Stepping back in time: writing historical fiction - For the reader, historical fiction is a magical portal into times past. For the author, it’s that thrilling - and sometimes tricky - mix of imagination and fact. In this workshop, prize-winning author Suzanne Leal will work with you to bring your fictional world to life through character and plot, while encouraging you to wear your research lightly.

Wordfest Toowoomba Author Expo

A feast of workshops covering a variety of literary topics that will get your creative juices flowing!

Romancing the Stars - Toowoomba

Discover the books our local authors and illustrators have been creating for children and young adults.
Each creator will give a short introduction to their latest publication in a small intimate circle, before rotating on to the next group.
You have a chance to get inside information about the creation of the books and make contact with potential presenters for your school or library. 

Starring:

• Picture Books Authors/Illustrators: Blithe Fielden, Clare McFadden, Irena Kobald, Kristen Willis, Lucia Masciullo, Rory Mather, Samantha Lloyd

• Authors Younger Readers, YA, A: Annaleise Byrd, Charlotte Barkla, Jane Smith, Nathan Taylor, Nette Hilton, Suzanne Leal, Tylissa Elisara

Wordfest Toowoomba Literary Lunch

Guest Speaker:  Susan Leal, author of The Watchful Wife

Tickets:  48pp which includes a delicious 2 course meal and a glass of wine

There will also be a lucky door prize, Fibbers competition and literary quiz

Toowoomba holds a special place for Suzanne as her father, Barry Leal, a French academic by training, was the inaugural Vice-Chancellor of USQ.

Suzanne Leal will be in conversation to discuss her new novel 'The Watchful Wife' and why she was inspired to write it.

Escaping a severe home, Ellen Well’s life of fear and isolation is transformed into one filled with connection, love and laughter. A knock on the door changes everything. When two police officers arrive to interrogate her husband about a shocking crime, Ellen’s perfect new life unravels.

In a world of swirling suspicion and accusations, Ellen is determined to fight for her husband. But what will that cost her? And what will she discover about him along the way?

Suzanne Leal will be at Byron Bay Library to talk about her new novel, The Watchful Wife

Suzanne Leal will talk about her new novel, The Watchful Wife, at the newly-refurbished Harry Bailey Memorial Library in Coffs Harbour.