Locals invited to join Ben’s Book Club

Members of Fraser Coast Libraries can join a new, free, online book club and watch live video chats between authors every month following the launch of Ben’s Book Club.

Brisbane author Ben Hobson will chat with authors whose books will be available to library members to read as an eBook, or listen to as an eAudiobook, for free via the Libby app.

Cr David Lewis said the launch event would feature Queensland-born writer Maryrose Cuskelly and her novel The Cane, a story about the disappearance of a 16-year-old girl in a north Queensland sugar town.

Maryrose Cuskelly

He said the real-life disappearance of Mackay girl Marilyn Wallman in 1972, while riding her bike to school, made a lasting impression on the author.

“Maryrose has already written about Marilyn’s disappearance and the way it percolated through her childhood and now has created this fictional story dealing with some of the same themes,” Cr Lewis said.

“Unlimited numbers of Fraser Coast Libraries members can borrow The Cane as an eBook or eAudiobook simultaneously through our Libby app and then join the author talk online on March 22 – all for free.”

Cr Lewis said he was delighted that Libby had launched the online book club to give regional audiences access to successful authors.

“People will be able to type in questions during the online Zoom session and, perhaps, be inspired to write their own stories or pick up a few writing tips if they are already penning a book,” Cr Lewis said.

Borrow The Cane via Libby

The Cane is available for borrowing via Libby now and physical copies are also available to reserve.

Cr Lewis said people did not need to have read the book before the video chat between the authors, which was scheduled to begin at 6 pm on March 22.

The link to join the Zoom session can be found in the “What’s On” section of the Fraser Coast Libraries website (www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/whats-on) as well as on the library’s Facebook page.

To get started enjoying eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines, download Libby or, for more information about Libby, visit www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/ebooks

For free membership of the library, and to gain access to the eLibrary within one-and-a-half hours, go to https://catalogue.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/Montage/Join.aspx

Fraser Coast Libraries receives financial assistance from the Queensland Government through the State Library of Queensland.

Who is the host of Ben’s Book Club?

Ben Hobson lives in Brisbane with his wife, son and two dogs and is an English teacher at a Queensland high school.

His childhood was spent surrounded by the country life of Victoria’s Gippsland region, which helped shape many aspects of him today, including how much he loves being close to nature whenever possible.

Ben’s novella If the Saddle Breaks My Spine was shortlisted for a Viva La Novella prize in 2014.

His debut novel To Become A Whale came out in 2017 and was longlisted at an Abia Debut Fiction Award as well as being chosen for The Courier Mail’s People’s Choice Award.

To find out more, click here.

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