Authors to speak at literary dinner

Two Australian authors will visit the Peninsula as part of their national tour this month.

Autobiographer Ms Esther McKay and young West Australian writer Mr Craig Silvey will speak at a literary dinner at The Boathouse Waterfront Restaurant in Koolewong on Wednesday, August 12.

"This dinner is the chance to hear both a fiction and a non-fiction author speak about their published books and to meet other people who also love great books," said Ms Mandi McIntosh, owner of Umina bookstore Book Bazaar, who is arranging the visit.

"Esther McKay served 17 years in the NSW Police Force, attaining the rank of detective senior constable.

"She worked in the area of forensic services for 15 years, attaining expert status in crime-scene examination and vehicle identification.

"She was discharged from the force in 2001 with post-traumatic stress disorder as a direct result of her forensic work.

"Her best-selling autobiography Crime Scene: True Stories from the Life of a Forensic Investigator was published by Penguin in 2005.

"With a new book due out this month, we are very lucky to have Esther come to the Central Coast to speak."

Ms McIntosh said Peninsula readers would also enjoy the talent of young writer Craig Silvey.

"Craig Silvey is a young West Australian writer who is winning more and more fans with his fabulous novels," Ms McIntosh said.

"He has recently appeared at the Sydney Writers' Festival and is also speaking at the Byron Bay Writers' Festival before coming down to the Central Coast.

"His new book Jasper Jones is brilliant, funny, heartbreaking and incredibly wise."

The literary dinner will cost $40 per head and bookings can be made by visiting Book Bazaar at Umina or over the phone with your credit card on 4342 2482."

Press release, 23 Jul 2009 Mandi McIntosh, Book Bazaar