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The Charming and Talented Judy Nunn Meets Hawkesbury Readers

A packed room of eager fans and readers attended a witty, entertaining talk by the bestselling author Judy Nunn at the Hawkesbury Central Library at Windsor on 14 November. An accomplished author, Judy has published 14 novels that have been translated into German, French, Czech, Dutch and Spanish, racking up more than a million book sales worldwide.

Judy is a familiar face having appeared on Australian television screens in long running series such as The Box, Sons and Daughters and Home and Away. In 2015, Judy was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her “significant service to the performing arts as a scriptwriter and actor of stage and screen, and to literature as an author”.

Her latest book, Sanctuary, deals with the topical issue of refugees arriving by boat on an island off the Australian coastline. A professional recording made by Judy’s actorwriter- composer husband, Bruce Venables introduced Sanctuary’s plot. Sound effects and atmospheric music composed by Bruce enhanced the experience for the audience. Acknowledging the audience’s enthusiastic applause for the recording, Judy joked she only marries “very clever men with very attractive voices”.

Judy explained the inspiration for her latest novel was a visit to the Houtman Abrolhos Islands off Geraldton in Western Australia, the location of the historic Batavia shipwreck. After Judy and Bruce spent a night on these desolate Islands, Bruce suggested writing a novel about a boatload of refugees who were washed up there and set up a home, but were later discovered by people from the local township on the mainland. Judy initially rejected the idea, concerned that it was a “bit political” but found the idea too compelling to abandon. The idea has become an uplifting novel that examines the human spirit, with the story encompassing compassion and bigotry, despair and hope, hatred and love.

Author talks at the Hawkesbury Library provide an opportunity for readers to meet authors and hear their stories, gain insight into the writing process and buy signed copies of books. The next author talk will be Dor Slinkard, an experienced storyteller, who will be talking about her new romantic novel For the Love of Patrick. Dor will be at the Windsor Library on Thursday 7 December at 10:30am. To make a booking to attend this free talk go to www.hawkesburylibrary.eventbrite.com or call 4560 4460. The talk will be held at Hawkesbury Central Library, 300 George Street, Windsor.

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