Where does a writer begin writing their novel? Is the first sentence they put on the page the first sentence the reader will read? Where do novels come from? And what does first inspiration look like?

In Westgarth Books first emerging writers’ event, Steven Amsterdam, Chris Womersley, Matt Hooper and Maryrose Cuskelly will join Sydney Smith to discuss ‘Beginnings’.

Steven, Chris, Maryrose and Matt will read from their novels and you will be able to ask questions as well as talk about your own experiences in beginning a novel. Authors will also be available for book signings.

So come along and meet some of Australia’s most exciting new authors and network with other emerging writers while enjoying cheese and wine and the charm and character of Westgarth Book.

When: Friday 15 October at 6:30pm
Where: 77 High Street, Northcote
Cost: Free, but bookings essential
RSVP: Email info@westgarthbooks.com.au or call 9482 7117 by Wednesday 13 October

Wine by the glass will be available for purchase, with cheese and biscuits on the house.

Bios

Steven Amsterdam was born in New York and educated at the University of Chicago and University of Melbourne. His writing has appeared in Five Chapters, Heat, Overland, Meanjin, The Sleepers Almanac and Torpedo. His first book, Things We Didn’t See Coming, was named The Age 2009 Book of the Year, has been nominated for the Guardian First Book Award and will be on the VCE list in 2011.

Maryrose Cuskelly is the author of Original Skin: Exploring the remarkable human hide recently published by Scribe. She has had essays and articles published in a range of magazines, journals and newspapers. In 2006 she co-wrote, with Nic Frances, the winning proposal for the Iremonger Award for writing on public issues and the ensuing book The End of Charity, published by Allen & Unwin in 2008. She is currently writing her first novel, with the working title, Quench.

Matt Hooper is a writer and a painter, currently finishing a masters degree in creative writing at RMIT. His novel manuscript, My Father’s Notebook, was short-listed in the 2008 Overland novel prize.

Sydney Smith is the founder and co-ordinator of the Victorian Mentoring Service for Writers and was a manuscript assessor for ten years.

Chris Womersley is a Melbourne-based author. He won the 2007 Josephine Ulrick Prize for Literature with his short story ‘The Possibility of Water’ and the 2008 Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction for his first novel The Low Road (Scribe). His second novel Bereft (Scribe) is available now.