FEAST OF WORDS FOR FEBRUARY’S Literary Lunch

After making the sea change, Great Escape Books’ Nicole Maher knows what it’s like trying to find connections, that’s why she launched the Sunday Literary Lunch Series three years ago.

“When I first moved down the coast (Aireys Inlet) from Melbourne, I realised it can be very hard to meet new people when you’re new to the area,” Mrs Maher said.

“When I opened the bookshop, I wanted to establish a program or platform where people can engage and meet each other in a non-threatening place. It’s about community engagement and making people feel like they belong.”

From humble beginnings, the Sunday Literary Lunch Series (SLLS) presented by Lighthouse Literary Fest and Great Escape
Books is now marked on publishers’ calendars, attracting renowned authors to the Surf Coast five times a year.

“It’s getting easier to get the big authors, it’s very well-known amongst the publishing houses. The Surf Coast is so beautiful, so the authors make a weekend of it and bring their families,” she said.

“I do the lunches as part of a team with playwright Hannie Rayson and local editor Nan McNab. It’s not just me!

“Part of the package is that we arrange and organise getting them here and back and accommodation. Sometimes we’ve gone backwards with regards to the cost of the lunches but it’s so important to host an event where people feel they belong to the community.

“Sporting clubs do it well, my focus is literature and this year the Surf Coast Shire obviously believe the event is valuable as they’ve given us a grant.”

The Surf Coast Shire’s Ransce Salan said the Lighthouse Literary Fest received a $4,000 allocation in the Surf Coast Shire councils 2018-19 events program.

“Council supports a number of events through this program, in recognition of the important role events play in shaping the shire’s identity, prosperity and vitality.

“The Literary Fest’s Sunday Literary Lunch Series aligns perfectly with the arts and cultural brand for Aireys Inlet, complementing other events such as the Aireys Inlet Open Mic Music Festival and Love Winter in Aireys.”

The first long lunch of the year on February 3 sold out within a day and will feature screen, radio and literary couple Richard Glover and Debra Oswald; they’ll chat with playwright and author Hannie Rayson about their life, books and careers.

Richard Glover is one of Sydney’s most beloved media personalities and presents the top-rating drive show on ABC radio every weekday; he is also the former news editor and European correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald and author of 12 books.

Debra Oswald is the creator/head writer of the first five seasons of the ABC TV series Offspring.

Individually the respective authors will speak about their new novels, The Land Before Avocado and The Whole Bright Year.

“We sell the tickets through the bookshop as people like to come in and ask questions. A lot of people know about it, it’s built as an intimate lunch with only 60 places, in a beautiful setting with great food,” she said.

Attendees will once again enjoy an afternoon of entertainment, a threecourse gourmet lunch and a copy of one author’s novel included in the ticket price.

The long lunch takes place in the Little Feast function room, 85 Great Ocean Road Aireys Inlet. For more information, phone 5289 7052 or drop by Great Escape Books.