Dymocks

William McInnes is one of Australia's most popular stage and screen actors, and with the publication of his memoir A Man’s Got to Have a Hobby and his novel Cricket Kings, he has become a much-loved writer too. In 2006 A Man’s Got to Have a Hobby was selected as one of the Books Alive 50 Great Reads and William was named ‘Australian Newcomer of the Year’ at the Australian Book Industry Awards. William received critical and public acclaim for his leading role in the film Look Both Ways, and has become well known for his roles in SeaChange and Blue Heelers

His new book That'd Be Right, is part memoir, part personal history of Australia over the last thirty years. It’s a biographical trip told through sport, families and William’s own experiences. Some of these events would be considered momentous, some small and personal. All are seen through William’s eyes. They range from a day at the Melbourne Cup with his mother where too many champagnes and too few winners were picked; a swimming carnival early in the morning after a gloomy and long federal election the night before; watching truly surreal Grand Final moments in a pub with a group of odd and unknown bar companions. Sailing on a massive yacht during the Sydney Olympics while listening to the conversation of an elderly lady from Texas in the cabin below.

Skye Gyngell is head chef at award--winning Petersham Nurseries Cafe in Richmond, Surrey and an established food writer. Australian by birth, she has worked as a chef in Sydney, Paris and London. Since 2004, she has been pivotal in gaining Petersham Nurseries Cafe its reputation for excellent food and an impressive number of awards. Skye Gyngell's cooking naturally follows the ebb and flow of the seasons, taking advantage of the best produce when its seasonally available.

Her latest book My Favourite Ingredients focuses on what she loves cooking the most. Her extraordinary ability to combine produce in a way that brings out their freshness and flavour result in dishes that are layered with light, clean flavours, softly marrying to provide a wonderful taste experience. Skye Gyngell's luncheon is part of The Sydney Morning Herald's Good Food Month Programme and Skye will be showing us how to cook the recipes we will be dining on using the latest appliances from Smeg.

Skye Gyngell Luncheon and Masterclass

In November 2006, Chris O'Brien was diagnosed with glioblastoma multi-forme, a malignant and extremely aggressive form of cancer. As one of the country's most eminent cancer specialists, O'Brien knows that the chances of beating the brain tumour are tiny; even with chemotherapy, surgery and radiation few sufferers survive past 12 months.

With the support of his close family and an international network of surgeons, friends and well -wishers, O'Brien took the option of radical brain surgery under the supervision of his friend Dr Charlie Teo. Currently he is in remission.

Funny, charming and fearless, O’Brien has said he is not afraid to die - but he doesn't plan to just yet. Here, in his inspiring memoir Never Say Die he takes a look back over his life and the forces which shaped him - from his modest beginnings as part of a typical Australian-Irish family, to his early years as a doctor and football player, through to the shocking news which literally changed his life.

Kathy Lette first achieved success as a teenager with the novel Puberty Blues. After several years as a newspaper columnist and television sitcom writer in America and Australia, she wrote the internationally-bestselling Girls Night Out, The Llama Parlor, Fetal Attraction, Mad Cows, Altar Ego, Nip 'n' Tuck, and Dead Sexy. 

To Love, Honour and Betray (Till Divorce Us Do Part) is her latest novel.

Lucy’s been married for so long, her wedding certificate should be in hieroglyphics. When Jasper walks out after eighteen years, she panics. What will she do about vehicle maintenance, shifting heavy objects and Allen keys? Not to mention her rebellious teenage daughter Tally, who blames Lucy for the marital meltdown. Low self-esteem is hereditary: you get it from your kids. While Tally’s busy trying to find a loophole in her birth certificate so she can put herself up for adoption, Lucy strives to accept that a child is for life and not just for Christmas.

In 2003, we held a Literary luncheon at the Shangri-La for a new writer called Li Cunxin. It was the first speaking engagement that he did for his new book "Mao's Last Dancer". Li arrived resplendent in black from head to toe and proceeded to captivate the audience with his story. Since that day "Mao's Last Dancer' has reached heights of success that nobody ever dreamt of. It has been published in more than 20 countries and has sold over 320,000 copies. Bruce Beresford is currently directing a twenty-five million dollar production of 'Mao's Last Dancer' which will be released next year.
"Mao’s Last Dancer' is the story of a boy who took hope in his hands and found a freedom he thought could never exist. In 1972, Madame Mao sent cultural delegates to search the countryside for young peasants who they could mould into representatives of Chairman Mao's great vision of China. Li was chosen at random, one in a billion, to train as a ballet dancer.One day he would dance with some of the greatest ballet companies of the world and would be a principal dancer of the Houston Ballet and The Australian Ballet.

Di Morrissey is the author of novels including Monsoon, The Valley, The Reef, Tears of the Moon, The Last Rose of Summer and Heart of the Dreaming. She began her writing career as a journalist working for Australian Consolidated Press in Sydney and Fleet Street, London. After marrying a US diplomat, she travelled extensively, returning to Australia to work in television as a presenter on the original current affairs programme Good Morning Australia.

Her latest novel The Islands is set in the 70s. When Catherine Moreland from rural Australia goes on her first trip abroad, a handsome American naval officer sweeps her off her feet and she goes to live in beautiful, romantic Hawaii with her first husband. At first, the magic and loveliness of the Islands lead Catherine to believe she is living in paradise.
However, as Catherine learns more about the Islands, she begins to discover that paradise has a darker side. And when she meets a mystery man of the sea, as though hit by a tsunami, her life is turned upside down and changed forever.

Come in and meet Chrissie Perry and Meredith Badger, authors of the wonderful children's series Go Girl!. Chrissie and Meredith will be instore for a kids event and signing copies of their books.

The Bathtub in the George St Booksalive Window display is courtesy of :

Come in and meet Robert Muchamore, author of the exciting ‘Cherub’ children’s series. Robert will be in store signing copies of his new book ‘The General’.

The world's largest urban warfare training compound stands in the desert near Las Vegas. Forty British commandos are being hunted by an entire American battalion. But their commander has an ace up his sleeve: he plans to smuggle in ten CHERUB agents, and fight the best war game ever. CHERUB agents have one crucial advantage: adults never suspect that kids are spying on them. For official purposes, these children do not exist.

Buy a copy to enter with your chance to win a special Cherub pack.