Discover our exciting Author Talk Program with visiting authors inspiring your reading and writing:
Writing and Author Events in 2025:
2025 Annual Banjo Paterson Writing Awards Entries now closed
Entries in the 2025 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards have now closed. Winners have been notified by phone and will be publicly announced at the Orange Readers and Writers Festival to be held on Saturday 2 August at The Hotel Canobolas, Orange.
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Orange Readers and Writers Festival 1 & 2 August 2025
Snuggling up beside the fire with a good book is one of winter’s pleasures. We aim to inspire your reading with incredible guest authors at this year’s Orange Readers and Writers Festival, part of the Winter Fire Festival.
Main Festival Day
Saturday 2 August | 10am – 4pm | includes morning tea and lunch |
Hotel Canobolas 248 Summer Street, Orange | Cost $75pp Prior to 15 July| Cost $95pp After 15 July |
Enjoy a lively program of non-fiction and fiction authors with:
- Debra Oswald who has written One Hundred Years of Betty
- Kyra Geddes reveals The Story Thief described by the SMH as ‘a family saga that doubles as a feminist reimagining of Australian history and literature’
- Mark Dapin author of Lest: Australian War Myths separates fact from fiction
- Dr Stephen Gapps – Uprising: War in the colony of New South Wales, 1838-1844 will present and
- Jane Caro – Lyrebird
The Festival is supported by Collins Booksellers, Orange. Books by the guest authors will be available for sale and signing at the Festival. Book your ticket here.
Writing Workshop with Kelly Rimmer
Friday 1 August | 10am – 1pm | Cost $50 pp | Hotel Canobolas
Commercial fiction – what, why, and how?
‘Commercial fiction’ is a publishing industry umbrella term that encompasses today’s most popular genres—plot-driven, highly readable stories in the crime, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, historical and contemporary fiction categories.
In this workshop, Kelly Rimmer will help participants understand the unique joys and challenges of writing and seeking publication for commercial fiction works.
What is commercial fiction? How does it differ from literary fiction? Kelly will discuss how the publishing industry uses these terms and explain how a broad understanding of this can help participants both in writing their stories, and in seeking publication for them.
Why write commercial fiction? Learn why readers and publishers love these stories, and why it’s an exciting form of storytelling to embrace!
How on earth do I write a commercial fiction novel? The final part of this workshop will cover the nitty-gritty of writing these kinds of stories. Kelly will give participants deep insight into her own writing process but will also explain the importance of and various techniques to help each writer find their own voice.
About Kelly Rimmer
Kelly Rimmer is the author of historical and contemporary fiction, including The Warsaw Orphan, The Things We Cannot Say and The Secret Daughter, with 3 million books sold. Her stories have been translated into dozens of languages and have appeared on bestseller lists around the world, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. Since 2022, Kelly has owned and operated Collins Booksellers Orange. Her fourteenth novel, The Midnight Estate, will be published in late July 2025.
Book your spot for the Writing Workshop here.
How to be a Good Enough Kid by Alice Peel
How to be a good enough kid is the book children, parents and teachers have been waiting for….
Author Alice Peel is the co-founder of Grow Your Mind – a ground breaking wellbeing program in over 500 Australian schools that helps children develop resilience, emotional regulation, and friendship skills.
With humour, research and quirky comics and pop-out illustrations by Beck Feiner, Peel presents fascinating brain facts, inspiring stories and ‘non-painful’ tips on practising a plethora of wellbeing strategies. These include gratitude, moving your body, replacing screen time for green time, and extending kindness outside your immediate circle.
The book encourages readers to embrace imperfections, celebrate kindness, and go forth into the world ready to be a proud glimmer-seeking, awe-hunting and totally good-enough kid.
According to Beyond Blue, half of all serious mental health issues begin before a child reaches 14 years of age. Alice Peel and her Grow Your Mind co-founder Kristina Freeman, believe that teaching young children about mental wellbeing early is one key way we can play a proactive role in setting up a life of enduring good mental health.
Meet author Alice Peel at Orange City Library on Tuesday 12 August at 4.30pm for a fun children’s activity and chat about this mental health and wellbeing book.
The afternoon is being supported by Collins Booksellers, Orange and copies of How to be a good enough kid will be available for sales and signings on the day.
Please book your spot here
Save the Date for these fantastic author events coming up:
- The Midnight Estate by Kelly Rimmer at Cowra Library on Thursday 28 August at 10am
- Friendships by Beckie Plant, children’s book, Saturday 20 September at 2pm, Orange City Library
- Fiona McIntosh launches The Soldier’s Daughter with Collins Booksellers at Orange City Library on Wednesday 15 October at 5.30pm – 7pm
- Bestselling author Hugh Mackay launch Just Saying with Collins Booksellers at Orange City Library on Tuesday 25 November at 5.30pm – 7pm, then Cowra Library on Friday 28 November at 10am.
- State Library of NSW Big Book Club Chat with Collins Booksellers & Cental West Libraries on favourite books and what makes a good Book Club book, followed by a Livestream conversation with three hosts of the State Library’s Friends Book Club – Roanna Gonsalves, Jonty Claypole and Sophie Gee at Orange City Library on Friday 28 November at 5.30pm – 7pm.
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Thank you to our amazing authors who visited during 2025:
Erika Cramer – Becoming Magnetic
Bill Walsh – Big Bill Mackay
Heather Knight – Poets, Painters and Pioneers: Banjo Paterson’s Remarkable Family
Nicole Alexander – The Limestone Road
Local author Leanne Wood – Under the Cover of Closeness
Matt Murphy – Gold
Ana Scarf – Last of the Cavalrymen: Memoirs of Major General Robert Harley Wordsworth
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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 – True Confessions from the Hardback Cafe (includes anecdotes about former 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.