By Phil Jarratt
Annie Grossman of Annie’s Books is always busy organising literary soirees but for November she’s outdone herself.
Let’s call it NovLit.
A-Gro is presenting a trio of excellent celebrations of books and writers over the month and they’re all happening in Peregian Village, which is fast becoming a surfside Greenwich Village.
First up on 13 November is Gourmet Farmer Matthew Evans, owner of Tassie’s Fat Pig Farm and author of a string of bestselling cookbooks, who is returning to Peregian Beach Veggie Village where on previous visits he presented his Gourmet Farmer Deli book and his fascinating Soil.
Matthew will chat about all things farming, and also the revised edition of his classic Real Food Companion. Wine and nibbles served for a small ticket price of $15, with $10 being donated to the Veggie Village.
As soon as Annie has recovered from that, on 16 November she’ll be welcoming award-winning Australian author Heather Rose, whose most recent novel, Bruny, won the book industry’s Fiction Book of the Year, while her previous novel, The Museum of Modern Love, won the prestigious Stella Prize.
In Peregian, Heather will be presenting her latest work, a memoir called Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here over a literary lunch at Pitchfork Restaurant.
Another uber-creative Tasmanian, Heather has published eight novels and a fable ahead of turning her attention to her own adventurous life of almost six decades, which includes studying at a monastery in Laos, meeting the late Queen and having dinner with a drunk Hunter S Thompson at Woody Creek Tavern. (Can’t wait to swap notes on that!)
With The Museum of Modern Love heading for the big screen and Bruny a TV series, both in production next year, versatile Heather is now working on a historical novel set, of course, in colonial Tasmania.
Concluding NovLit is an event that will be a magnet for all cricket tragics with a literary bent, including this writer. Inga Simpson, a former Sunny Coaster who now lives on the NSW South Coast, is a fascinating writer whose latest novel, Willowman, is described as “a love letter to the art and beauty of cricket”.
A one-time political writer and researcher, now a nature writer and novelist, Inga is the author of a beautiful memoir and three novels, all of which have been top sellers recognized by the literary prize panels.
Her first novel, Mr Wigg (2013), was shortlisted for the Debut Fiction Indie Award. Nest (2014) was longlisted for the Miles Franklin, the Stella Prize, and shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal. And Where the Trees Were (Hachette 2016) was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award, an ABIA Award, The Green Carnation Prize, and shortlisted for an Indie award.
Last year’s The Last Woman in the World (2021), was shortlisted for the Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award and the Fiction Indie Book Award.
Perhaps more importantly, Malcolm Knox, who’s as bat-poo crazy as me about surfing and cricket, says you can’t put Willowman down. That’s recommendation enough for this tragic.
Matthew Evans author talk with wine and cheese, 3.30pm Sunday 13 November at Peregian Beach Veggie Village, Rufous Street. Tickets $15, booking essential.
Heather Rose Literary Lunch, 12 noon 16 November at Pitchfork, Peregian Beach Village. Tickets $70 for two courses and welcome wine, bookings essential.
Footpath Soiree with Inga Simpson, outside Annie’s Books, from 6pm 24 November. Free event.
For tickets or information about all these events phone: 5448 2053.
