Stories to come off the page as author couple talk in Ballan

BETWEEN them, husband and wife writers Graeme Simsion and Professor Anne Buist have literally millions of fans, and quite a few of them will likely be looking forward to a special event coming up at Ballan Library.

Buist, author of the Natalie King series, and Simsion, author of The Rosie Project series, are headed to the local library where they will feature in a guest talk on 1 August.

Professor Buist is a psychiatrist specialising in perinatal mental health, as well as the author of crime thrillers published in Australia and internationally.

Simsion is a former IT consultant and CEO who made a late-career transition to writing.

It was clearly a good move as his internationally bestselling books, including The Rosie Project, The Rosie Effect, and The Rosie Result, have sold over seven million copies and have been translated into 40 languages.

Together, the Melbourne-based couple – who also have a have weekender at Lancefield – have co-authored five books, including the Two Steps series set on long-distance walks, and the Menzies Mental Health series.

Hosted by local bestselling author Holly Brunnbauer, the Ballan event will see the couple unpack their work and creative partnership.

“Anne and I will be talking about our latest book in the Menzies Mental Health series, The General Hospital,” Simsion said.

“We’ll talk about what inspired the series, how we worked together to write it, and how it’s been received, especially by insiders – mental health workers and people with lived experience.”

Simsion said he and Buist will also discuss anything the audience wants to ask them, including what the latest news is with The Rosie Project movie.

“We’ve just taken a break after three Menzies Mental Health books in three years,” he said.

“Next up could be a fourth book in the series, perhaps taking our trainee psychiatrist, Hannah Wright, into the challenging and controversial world of child and adolescent psychiatry.”

The Ballan Library event will take place from 10am to noon and, while free to attend, bookings are required and can be made through moorabool.vic.gov.au/Events