BooksPlus are bringing former child soldier, Niromi de Soyza, to Bathurst to speak about her experiences as part of the Tamil Tigers on Wednesday 21st September at Bathurst Library.

Niromi has written of her experiences in her new book, 'Tamil Tigress', which has been chosen as one of the '50 Great Reads' in this year's National 'Get Reading' Campaign.

Leaving behind a shocked middle-class Sri Lankan family, Niromi& her lifelong friend Ajanthi, joined the Tamil Tigers as 17 year olds in 1987. Equipped only with a rifle and a cyanide capsule, they became part of the Tamil Tigers' first female contingent. They managed to survive on their wits in the jungle, facing not only the perils of war but starvation, illness and growing internal tensions among the militant Tigers.

Niromi's book explores how a well-educated, mixed-race, middle-class girl came to fight with the Tamil Tigers. Today she lives in Sydney with her husband and children. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to hear this extraordinary woman talk about her compelling story.

BooksPlus & Bathurst Library have organised for Niromi to speak at Bathurst Library on Wednesday 21st September at 6.15pm. Tickets are free & bookings can be made by contacting BooksPlus on 6331 5994 or orders@booksplus.com.au, or by contacting Bathurst Library in Keppel Street on 6333 6281. Its part of the Get Reading campaign!

Finch Publishing will accept entries for the 2012 Finch Memoir Prize between 1 September and 14 October. The prize is for an unpublished non-fiction manuscript in the form of a memoir. The winning manuscript will be published by Finch and the author will receive prize money of $10,000.

The judges for this year's competition are: Jacqui Kent, author of The Making of Julia Gillard; Susan Duncan, author of Salvation Creek; and Richard Glover, author of Why Men Are Necessary and broadcaster with ABC 702 Sydney.

The winner of the 2010 prize was Elizabeth Lancaster for her memoir Marzipan and Magnolias. No prize was awarded in 2011.

For terms and conditions of entry, please visit the Finch Publishing website, www.finch.com.au

Macquarie Regional Library is calling on all budding authors and poets to submit entries in the annual Rolf Boldrewood Literary Awards which aim to foster the writing of prose and poetry with an Australian content.

The Awards - which began in 2006 - are named in honour of the Dubbo-based author of the famous 19th century Australian novel Robbery Under Arms, and is a collaboration between Macquarie Regional Library and the Outback Writers' Centre.

Rolf Boldrewood was the pen name of Thomas Alexander Browne who wrote Robbery Under Arms during his term as Police Magistrate in Dubbo between 1881 and 1884. Browne's term as the Magistrate provided the facts to write the fictional account of Captain Starlight, the hero of the story.

Robbery Under Arms was first published in 1888 and is considered one of Australia's three great colonial novels. It has never been out of print, has been translated into 13 languages and made into five films.

The competition categories include: •Prose - fiction or family history memoir; and •Poetry - in any form or style.

Both must have an Australian theme.

A cash prize of $500 will be awarded to the first place winners in both competition categories. Entries close Friday, 16 September 2011 with the presentation of the Awards to be held at the Dubbo Branch Library on 5 November 2011.

For more information contact Council's Director Macquarie Regional Library John Bayliss on 6801 4501.

Sharyn Killens is better known as Sharyn Crystal, a successful Australian singer and entertainer. But her life wasn't always glamorous and her childhood was at times a living hell. The Inconvenient Child is the true account of her extraordinary journey to success and her quest to discover her African-American heritage. Sharyn and Lindsay have been friends for twenty years and met during their time as entertainers. Their close relationship and music background makes for a lively yet emotional author talk, keeping their audience enthralled as they recount Sharyn's extraordinary story and her often difficult journey through life. This story is not all heartbreak - it's a story of triumph, faith, success and joy.

Come along and hear the story of The Inconvenient Child at one of these locations:

Orange City Library, Monday 7 June at 1pm

Forbes Library Wednesday 9 June at 2pm

Cowra Library Thursday 10 June at 10.30am

Please RSVP by calling the Library you wish to attend.

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