Proud to launch my latest book, PRICE TO PAY, at Yeppoon Library on 23 November 2024. L to R: Kristen Solis (Librarian), the author, Cr Lance Warcon. 

I was delighted to speak to Yeppoon library readers who have embraced the books I write enthusiastically – encouraged by library staff. Thank you!

What an excellent job the staff do in engaging with the community. How nice it was to see, not one, but two Councillors attend the event. Not pictured was Cr Andrea Friend, who shares Recreation and Culture responsibilities with Cr Warcon. Council support for this important community facility is reassuring.

A shout out too to Rockhampton Regional Library, who shared borrowing stats with me on my books – I’m pleased to know my books don’t sit on shelves unread. It’s a wonderful modern facility offering a literary beacon of hope in a city with only one bookstore for new books and one small book exchange.

And, finally, a detour on the way home to call into the Biloela Library, run by the Banana Shire Council in central Queensland. (And, no, it is not a banana growing region. It was named after a bullock—true story. And there is actually a town of Banana.)

Before the dawn of time (or it seems like it), I worked at the Banana Shire offices in Biloela. Thank you, Rachel Gale, for the warm welcome to my unplanned visit. Biloela Library has now added Price to Pay to their library catalogue.

I wanted to share these small highlights of my writing life with my blog readers. I find a lot of communication these days is so polished and preened it lacks personality and character. By writing about these activities, I wanted to give you, my readers – and those who are simply interested in the life and thoughts of a self-published writer – some insight into how important it is to engage at the ‘grass roots’ level.

Other writers may dream of award nights and red carpets but I can tell you there is enormous satisfaction to be gained by engaging with a group of readers in a small town to talk about books and life in general.

MY CONNECTIONS TO THESE PLACES

Who knew I scooped ice cream at a small shop in Yeppoon when I was 16 years old (working for my brother over an Easter weekend in the late 1960s)? Who knew I worked at Banana Shire for a couple of years? Who knew, somewhere buried in a box, is the sash I received for winning Miss Banana Shire way back when?

We bring all these life experiences to our work. But I can’t tell you how much pleasure it brings me to speak to a group of readers – and share tea and cakes with them afterwards. Does life get better than that? The rewards in a writer’s life can be in moments such as these.

Do you want to comment on my ramblings? Feel free. Your input is welcome.