A book launch for The Long Way Home - by Jo Bailey with Ronnie Sabin will be held in these locations tomorrow Friday 12 March: Meet the authors at the front of Jayes Gallery and Cafe from 10am - 12 noon, 31 - 33 Gidley Street, Molong or Boomers' Bookshop, City Centre, Orange 2pm - 4pm. The book is promoted as the story of Fairbridge Farm School that needs to be told. "At last a balanced account of life at Fairbridge through the eyes of Ronnie Sabin, who for six years in the 1950s called Fairbridge Farm School at Molong home. Often hilarious, sometimes heart-wrenching, The Long Way Home adds a positive perspective to the Child Migrant Scheme debate. It pays tribute to Fairbridge and details Ronnie's delight as finally being reunited with his family in England after 55 years." It retails for $29.95

Join in talks by author Libby Gleeson and local illustrator Freya Blackwood when they tell school children about their latest book Clancy & Millie and the Very Fine House. The book is published by Little Hare Books and was launched just this month. It is about a little boy called Clancy who has moved to a new house that is huge and unfamiliar. He is missing his old house terribly - the new house is much too big and much too lonely. How will he ever make it his home? As despair takes hold Clancy hears a small voice. Soon, Clancy with the help of his new friend Millie is building towers to the sky and trains to the street outside, and together they build the home that Clancy thought he had lost forever. Libby Gleeson and Freya Blackwood will be speaking at Orange City Library on Friday 30 October at these times: 9.30am – 10.30am; 11.30am – 12.30pm; 1.30pm – 2.30pm. Come along and sit in on one of the talks by this award-winning team. The event is supported by Boomers Bookshop & ABC Centre. They will also be siging books on Saturday morning (1st Nov) at the bookstore from 11am.

Unfortunately we have had to postpone two events planned for History Week 2009 featuring author Pam McGlinn. The events were planned for Blayney Library on Thursday 10 September at 11.30am and Orange City Library at 6pm. Pam is not able to travel to the region at this time. It is hoped we can host Pam's visit next year. Thank you for your understanding.

One warm and windy day, Charlie and his friends decide to fly a kite. It takes off and soars and swoops and plunges straight into a tree. The kite is stuck. One by one, Charlie's friends each try to free the kite with their toys all of which end up stuck in the tree along with the kite. Just when it looks as though everything is stuck forever, the cat loses its footing on a branch and sets off a chain reaction, sending their toys to the ground. But guess who is stuck now?"

Orange City Library together with Book City and Children's Medical Research Institute present Charlotte Calder reading her new children's book Stuck! beautifully illustrated by Mark Jackson, published by Walker Books at Storytime 11am on Tuesday 25 August at Orange City Library.

You can also meet Charlotte and help this local author launch the book during Children's Book Week at the Charlotte Calder Author Talk Tuesday 25 August, 5.30pm for 6pm, refreshments served at Orange City Library, Byng Street, Orange. Your $5 donation supports the Children's Medical Research Institute. Please RSVP to 6393 8132

More than 50 enjoyed the author talk by experienced writer Catherine Jinks when she spoke at our Family History Fact or Fiction event held as part of Frost Fest and National Family History Week. Catherine spoke about how the idea for her book The Dark Mountain, came about, how she planned the novel, undertook research and structured the book. It was an insightful talk by a writer with a keen interest in family history. Her research uncovered the fascinating lives of Charlotte Atkinson (later McNeilly) and her sister Louisa, brother James and of course, her mother – a talented literary and artistic pioneering family that found themselves coping with difficult circumstances. Thank you to everyone for coming along and making it such an enjoyable event. Catherine is pictured here with a painting by Charlotte McNeilly, the main character in her book.

Meet Don Tate, author of The War Within – regarded as one of the most extraordinary memoirs ever published in Australia. You will also see colour film of his infantry experiences in Vietnam during 1969 now valued at $100,000.

Don was permanently disabled when his platoon was ambushed by a Viet Cong company entrenched in bunkers in July 1969. He subsequently spent more than two years in military and repatriation hospitals. Don recounts his remarkable life story in The War Within.

He has appeared on: RPA, A Current Affair, Today, Susie and the 7.30 Report. Meet Don at: Orange City Library, Byng Street, Orange on Wednesday 3 June 12 noon – 1.30pm, please RSVP by calling 6393 8132 or

Come to Cowra Visitor Information Centre Olympic Park, Mid Western Highway, Cowra on Wednesday 3 June 5.30pm – 7pm, please RSVP by calling 6342 4333.

The Henry Lawson Festival of Arts presents "Poetry on the Boards" June 6, 2009 Long Weekend. Writers of poetry and poetry enthusiasts alike come together at Grenfell NSW to celebrate being the birthplace of Henry Lawson, "One of our greatest literary figures". Poetry on the Boards invites you to participate in live readings that will be shared and enjoyed in an inimitable fashion at this relaxed and idyllic venue. It should not to be missed. Come and atop the Boards or simply listen and enjoy this most authentically "Henry" experience.

Date: 6th June 2009

Venue: The Grenfell Railway Station

Start: 9am Grenfell Town Band Performance

9.30am Registration for Poetry on the Boards

10 am Poetry Recitations

Tea, coffee, biscuits and hot soup will be available for purchase. The Henry Lawson Festival of Arts is also proud to announce Poetry on the Boards meets Grenfell Rail History, an exhibition. Presented by Rail Historian Lawrence Ryan, author of Lines to the Lachlan, and supported by rail enthusiast and last guard Max Duffey. For more information contact Poetry on the Boards Coordinator Carly Brown 02 6343 1248 or go to www.grenfell.org.au/henrylawsonfestival

Author Peter Trickett will give an illustrated talk on the research underpinning his controversial book Beyond Capricorn describing how the Portuguese fleet discovered and secretly mapped the entire east coast of Australia in 1522. This was some 250 years before Captain Cook. Drawing from primary and secondary historical sources, archaeological evidence and stories handed down through Aboriginal oral tradition, Peter Trickett tells a story of espionage, revenge and secret voyages made by the Portuguese to corner the fabulously rich spice trade in the east and find the islands of gold alluded to by Marco Polo. On Saturday 14 March join author Peter Trickett at La Vita Restaurant, Kendal Street, Cowra at 7.30pm. Learn more about the author, his research and why this topic is so controversial. For bookings contact Cowra Shire Council on 6340 2000. Cost is $5 (payable on the night) which includes a light supper. The event is part of Cowra's Festival of International Understanding running from 12 – 15 March. Guest nation this year is Portugal and Cowra Library also has a fantastic display of information and books on Portugal which are available for loan. Come in and check it out.

Come along and meet popular children's author Michael Panckridge - author of the acclaimed Legends and Anniversary Legends series with Black Dog Books and mad keen sports fanatic when he visits libraries in the Central West. With more than 100,000 copies sold, the entire Legends first series has been re-issued. Both series are a culmination of many years of dedicated sports mania combined with an enthusiastic exploration of what boys and girls really want to read. He also writes adventure and mystery stories. Michael will be visiting the following venues: Orange City Library, Byng Street, Wednesday 21 January from 10.30am to 11.30am Cost $10 Ph: 6393 8132 to reserve your place. Molong Library, Bank Street, Wednesday 21 January, 2.30pm to 3.30pm, Cost $10 Ph: 6366 8404 to book. Cowra Library, Darling Street, Thursday 22 January 2.30pm – 3.30pm, Cost $10, Ph: 6340 2180 to RSVP. And Parkes Library ph 6861 2309 for details.

Hear author Banafsheh Serov talk about her memoir Under a Starless Sky about her family's escape from Iran on Wednesday 5 November at 5.30pm for a 6pm start at Orange City Library. At first her family was filled with hope as the Shah's rule collapsed and the Ayatollah Khomeini made his triumphant return. But they quickly came to realise that Iran had traded one dictator for another, more ruthless ruler. From the streets and bazaars of Tehran to the moonlit Turkish mountains, Under a Starless Sky is a detailed memoir about her family's extraordinary journey. The event is presented by Angus & Robertson, Central West Libraries and the Central West Writers' Centre and bookings are essential by calling the Library on 6393 8132. Everyone welcome.