Twilight Author Series - Author Profiles

Neil Everitt - Friday 1st
Neil says he's always been interested in local history and his association with the Foster and District Historical Society goes back to the very early days in the 1970s when a few dedicated people were keen to preserve the local history of South Gippsland. Neil's first book was written with co-author Jane Vale ('Mud on Your Boots' 1988), which was about the history of Toora, then followed two more books about other aspects of that area. After many years in recess and having a passion for wooden fishing boats and the local fishing industry Neil decided, in 2009, to start researching the history of Port Franklin and the fishing families who lived there over a period of 140 years. This is the book, 'They Fished in Wooden Boats', that was launched on March 13 this year. Neil will talk about researching and writing this book.

Patrick Morgan - Friday 8th

Writer and academic, Patrick has recently published a book on Gippsland literature called 'Foothill Farmers'. Patrick is the author of a number of books including 'The Settling of Gippsland' which won the inaugural Victorian Community and Local History Award, 1998. He writes regularly for Quadrant, Tintean and other journals. Patrick will talk on writing on Gippsland, why writers (and artists) were attracted to the region from the mid 19th Century, which areas they favoured and how their perceptions changed over the decade.

Liz Rushen - Friday 15th

Historian Liz Rushen is well-know in the Corner Inlet District as she and her husband Peter ran Waratah Hills Vineyard for seven years. Whilst at the vineyard, Liz 'brewed' two books on immigrant women to colonial Australia and will be speaking to us about her new book 'Fair Game: Australian's First Immigrant Women'. 'Fair Game' tells the story of the first two ships to bring free women to Australia: the Princess Royal to Hobart and the Red Rover to Sydney. This book analyses how this migration was allowed to happen while telling the women's stories, describing who netted them in the hiring scramble and how they ultimately spread their wings, some landing in Victoria. We also hope Liz will talk about her latest project.

Arabella Forge - Friday 22nd

Arabella Forge is a Melbourne-based nutritionist, food writer and proud home-cook. She works part-time as a Dietitian in Moonee Ponds and writes on the topics of food and nutrition for a variety of magazines including 'Clean Food Organic'. She has appeared on Channel 10's the 7pm Project and The Circle. Arabella released 'Frugavore' in August 2010, the book provides a hands-on, practical guide to a new way of living, proving that frugal eating can also be flavoursome and fun. Learn how to access quality produce straight from the source, rediscover forgotten cooking techniques and create your own kitchen garden complete with compost heap and chicken coop. The book is packed with recipes, resources, tips and tricks.

Ruth Carson - Friday 29th

Ruth launched her first novel 'An Unquiet State' in March 2011. This book was the culmination of her experiences in human services, plus mental illness in general and social dysfunction at State and National level. When Ruth retired from the above areas this led to a resurgence of interest in the arts and more recently creative writing, hence a debut novel was born. This has been an interesting journey for Ruth, who had no interest in publishing, only in the use of words and the images and feelings they touched. Her talk will concentrate on this journey and the development of the story which was subsequently translated into a novel.