Get along to some of these great author events coming up:

* Bestselling author Tony Park launches his last novel The Delta at Orange City Library on Monday 30 August at 12 noon for a 12.30pm start. Please book your place by calling 6393 8132. His visit to Orange is supported by Boomers Bookshop and ABC Centre.

* Mark Beretta, yes Beretts - from Channel Seven's Sunrise, will be speaking about and signing copies of his new book The Riders - Australia's Motorbike Champs at the Hotel Canobolas front bar, Summer Street, Orange on Tuesday 31 August at 12 noon. It is a free event organised by Simon John events.

* Peter FitzSimons is a journalist, entertaining speaker and author of twenty books and brings to you his latest book - a memoir of laughter, loss and billycarts called A Simpler Time. Peter describes a childhood of mischief, camaraderie, eccentric characters, drama - and constant love and generosity. Where: Orange City Library When: Wednesday 1 September Time: 5.30pm for 6pm start. Free Please RSVP to 6393 8132. The visit is supported by Angus & Robertson Bookstore.

* Meet Pamela J McGlinn, author of A Distant Dream - A Pioneering Saga when she talks about writing her family history, pioneers of Spring Hill, and events that shaped a family's destiny. Pam is a direct descendant of the Warburton and Seaton families, well known faces from the past in the Blayney, Spring Hill and Orange communities. The event is part of History Week celebrations supported by the History Council of NSW and Central West Libraries. Meet author and family historian Pam McGlinn at: Blayney Library, Adelaide Street, Blayney on Thursday 9 September from 11.30am %u213 12.30pm RSVP 6368 2581 or Orange City Library, Byng Street, Orange on Thursday 9 September at 5.30pm for 6pm RSVP 6393 8132.

* When it Rains by Maggie Mackellar - the heart-wrenching but triumphant story of rebuilding a life and a family Written by a brilliant new talent, When It Rains is a meditation on grief and the vagaries of the human condition, and a stunning memoir about piecing back together a life, and moving forward, one step at a time. Maggie MacKellar%u219s book launch is on Friday 10 September, 6.00pm at Cargo Wine Winery, Cargo Road, Orange. To be launched by Drusilla Modjeska. Please RSVP to Collins Books Orange before 8 September by calling 6369 1333.

* Mudgee Readers' Festival program is now available and it all happens Friday 10, Saturday 11 September and Sunday 12 September. Go to: http://www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au/j/index.php/Mudgee-Readers-Festival.html

The CAL Scribe Fiction Prize is now open and is searching for the best unpublished manuscript by a writer aged 35 or over. Read all the requirements and Download an entry form from the Scribe website: www.scribepublications.com.au/prize. They are pleased to announce that the prize money in 2011 has been increased to $15,000. The winning novel will also be published by Scribe. Entries close on 15 September. Good Luck!

Set yourself the challenge or if you suit the age group enter the competition at the website for people to tell a micro-story in 12 words or less: www.12wordscom.au Whether you are a published writer or have never written any fiction before, you can give this a go and enjoy it. If you are aged between 15 and 25, you can be in the running for a Random House writing mentorship and check out 12 words on twitter, facebook and youtube.

Here's my story: He stared into flames wishing that he had not lit the match.

The Walkley Foundation will be hosting a week long conference focussing on narrative called: "What's the story? Powerful narrative and other tales from the future". It will run from August 9 – 12 and they've booked some big international names to join a great line-up of Australian journalists, authors and other media creators. This is an important event, generating discussion and debate on the way our industry is changing. Prices start from $180 per day and there are many intensive training sessions including non-fiction narrative, video and photography. There are also panels and masterclasses on the future of journalism and the power of narrative. Speakers include David Marr, Malcolm Knox, Sophie Cunningham, Mark Dapin, Ben Naparstek, Malcolm Turnbull, David Leser plus many more. Read all about it online, by clicking here: http://www.walkleyconference.com.au/ For inquiries about the program call Clare Fletcher on (02) 9333 021 or email clare.fletcher@alliance.org.au.

Congratulatons to local Poet Diana Brooks who has been accepted into the National Cafe Poet Program along with cafe hosts Aaron and Emma Wright of Cafe Latte located at 173 Summer Street, Orange. Aaron is pictured with Diana Brooks. Diana has taken up residence in the coffee shop as part of the Australian Poetry Centre's Café Poet Program. She will be a regular sight at Orange's Café Latte on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am – 12 noon. The National Café Poet Program aims to raise awareness of poetry and encourage people to try writing their own poetry, talk about poetry and read poetry. There will be a feedback box for people to leave their poetry for the café poet and to give their comments about the Café Poet Program. Stay tuned to this blog for updates.

Here's a chance to learn from someone who knows the business of writing for children. Author Paul Stafford will host a second workshop, titled "Writing Children's Books",Saturday 31 July, 10am - 4pm at WPCC, Kurrajong Room, Community Arts Centre, in Dubbo. Paul's workshop covers all aspects of creating children's books, including brainstorming, developing ideas, collaboration, shortcuts, pathways to publication and overcoming obstacles to creativity. Paul is the author of 13 novels including the Pants On Fire series for Crawford Publishing and is also a literacy consultant with a focus on developing literacy in reluctant boy readers. This workshop will give direct access to a published author and allow participants to discuss and overcome any particular problems they are experiencing with their own work. New ideas generated in the previous workshop can be refined. This session will follow on from the first and look at works in progress. If you did not attend the first workshop, you will still find this one highly informative. Cost is $35 including lunch. Contact Peter Dargin on 02 6882 8880.

The Central West Writers' Centre Winter Newsletter is now available with details about the upcoming Lachlan Macquarie Talks, Poetry Slam and the Mudgee Readers' Festival and of course literary mags to submit to and competitions to enter. To update your email or to subscribe to the newsletter, please enter your details on the Words Out West home page - it is all there for you: www.wordsoutwest.com.au You can also subscribe to this blog too (enter your email on this page, look on the right).

Imagine it's just you and your words for two minutes with a mic in the spotlight. Orange City Library is calling all poets, hip-hop artists and other outspoken wordsmiths to polish their rhymes and lyrics for the Australian Poetry Slam.

On Thursday 22 July - at 6pm for poets to sign up and from 6.30pm to perform - Orange will host one of 8 slam heats planned across the state. Winners from the Orange heat will go on to perform at the regional final and a chance to perform in the State final.

Host Tug Dumbly (pictured) is one of Australia's greatest spoken-word artists and he will host this electric live event.

An initiative of the non-profit literary arts association, Word Travels and State Libraries, the Australian Poetry Slam is the nation's largest and richest poetry slam with cash and a gig at Ubud Writers & Readers Festival in Bali up for grabs.

The Orange heat offers a $100 prize for the winner. And four heat finalists will go on to perform at the regional heat to be held in Bathurst on Saturday 7 August at 8pm as part of Cabaret Kite at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre.

All contestants have just two minutes to impress the judges (selected at random at each heat) with their spoken word, poetry, hip hop, monologues and stories. We need people to get up and have a go and for others to be in the audience - so come along for a fun night out.

Progress is well underway for a book on Orange's medical history. The Committee behind the book were pleased local author Lis Edwards was able to visit the current Orange Base Hospital construction site as part of her extensive research for the project. Hansen Yuncken Project Manager Wayne Harris showed Lis (pictured) through the main hospital building which is just one of the seven buildings to comprise the new hospital precinct. He said the work totalled $250 million worth of construction with more than 450 people working to complete the project in 2011. The new facility will include the hospital, acute mental health building, forensic mental health, administration and computer sections as well as Mental Health Clinical Services. Lis said it was a worthwhile tour to understand the evolution of medical practices in the city and the full complement of services the new hospital will provide as well as important background for one of the chapters in the medical history book. Lis has been compiling the history of the city's medical services for many months and aims to complete the project in time for the opening of the new hospital.

Thank you for everyone to entered the 2010 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. We are pleased to announce the following winners: Prose: Jacqueline Winn, of Possum Brush NSW, for The Dangers of Swimming, Greg McFarland, of Orange NSW, for Roadside Memorial and Kate Rotherham, of Allans Flat VIC, for Shelter.

Open Poetry: Brenda Saunders, of Randwick NSW, for Wonderland. Bush Poetry: Ron Stevens, of Dubbo NSW, for Behind the Flag and Ellis Campbell, of Dubbo NSW, for The Toll and Ellis Campbell, of Dubbo NSW, for A Dynasty's Demise.

Children's Writing Awards supported by ABC Local Radio: Chris Frith, of Baradine NSW for The Downpour, Eleanor Delaney, of Orange NSW for The Last Dee Why Day - A True Story and Chester Fitzhardinge, of Balgowlah NSW, for The Dream Protectors.

The Yvonne Zola Encouragement Award goes to Elise Sinclair, of Orange NSW, for her story, Tommy in Trouble. Congratulations!