Workshop – Pat Simmons: Never Say Never
Time: 10:15 am to 12:00 pm
Place: Dixson Room, State Library of NSW
Cost: Members $40, non-members $55
Pat lives at Scarborough on the south coast of New South Wales with her cats, Mr. Meowgi and Oscar.
Prior to devoting her time to writing, Pat worked in children’s services for over 20 years, in Early Childhood, Out of School Hours Care, the National Maritime Museum as Kids’ Deck Coordinator, and as a TAFE teacher.
Pat is a writer of poetry, short stories, flash fiction and children’s picture books.
Her poetry has been published in children’s literary magazines including School Magazine and has won awards in the UK and Australia.
Pat’s first children’s picture book, Ziggy’s Zoo, illustrated by Vicky Pratt, was published in 2018 by Little Pink Dog Books Publishing who also subsequently published The Cat Thief, illustrated by Liz Duthie.
Pat’s other picture books, Little Spiral, illustrated by Patrick Shirvington, George and Cicada Sing Song, both illustrated by Katrin Dreiling were published by Little Steps Publishing.
Literary Event
Time: 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Place: Dixson Room, State Library of NSW
Cost: Members $25, non-members $40
Member Spotlight – Cindy Davies: Strong Women, Eunuchs and the Sultan
Cindy has lived, worked and travelled in Turkey and speaks some Turkish. A resident of Sydney, Australia, she’s a graduate of Sydney University.
In addition to freelance and fiction writing, Cindy has worked as a teacher and tour guide. She visited Iran to research her novels: The Afghan Wife and The Revolutionary’s Cousin.
Her third novel The Favourite of the Harem, (November 2023), is set in the sixteenth-century imperial harem of Topkapı Palace, Istanbul.
In 2023 she was awarded the Professor Di Yerbury writer’s residency in the UK where she began writing her next novel.
Her presentation is about life in the imperial Turkish harem: The Favourite of the Harem: a sixteenth century story of love, danger and intrigue
Rescued from drowning, Rusalka, a Russian slave, is taken into the harem of Prince Orhan, son of the Turkish sultan. Rusalka has a secret that could cost her life, and she has to negotiate the rivalry and intrigues of the harem. Renamed Süreyya, she is determined to escape, until she spends some intimate time with the prince.
Guest Speaker – 2023 Miles Franklin award-winner Shankari Chandran in conversation with Richard Neville
Shankari Chandran was raised in Canberra, Australia. She spent a decade in London, working as a lawyer in the social justice field. She eventually returned home to Australia, where she now lives with her husband and four children. She is the author of Song of the Sun God, The Barrier and Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens, which won the 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award. Her most recent novel Safe Haven was released in May 2024.
Richard Neville is Mitchell Librarian and Director, Engagement, at the State Library of NSW.
Book and pay:
Members, you can book for yourself and a friend at member pricing, if purchased at the same time.
Workshop: Members $40, non-members $55
Literary event: Members $25, non-members $40
Discount for full program (Workshop and Literary Event) when booked together:
Members $60, non-members $85
By Credit card: https://www.trybooking.com/COAPI
or by Direct debit:
The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc
BSB: 062 018
Account: 00950433
Code: VM
Email Amanda and include
your name, receipt number and date of event
Zoom ($10) will be available for this function – please click here to book: TBA