Every year the good people at Burnside Library choose to highlight one particular book for an extended period of time. To my astonishment and delight The Hum of Concrete was chosen as their featured book in 2014. For a book that was released in March 2012, The Hum of Concrete has had a very long and prosperous life. I was thrilled to receive the good news in the beginning of the year and for months we worked towards the highlights in August, September and October.

Burnside Library Reading

I was invited to teach a workshop on Character Development, which quickly booked out, and I judged a short story competition.

Winners of the short story competition

We had an intimate Readers Session where I read two chapters from the book and finished off with a well-attended Q&A Session with ABC Radio presenter Sonya Feldhoff.

Q&A at the Burnside Library

Q&A at the Burnside Library

It has been an honour and pleasure to be involved with the library. Through Sharon Downing’s enthusiastic efforts, I have met many new readers and I have had plenty of fun along the way. Though we were sadly forced to cancel the ABBA launch party, the rest of the engagements have all been successful. I have met so many lovely readers, many of whom have asked me to come along to speak at their book groups, which will be my pleasure.

Talking to readers

One Book One Burnside is a great program and I am looking forward to seeing who the lucky writer for next year will be. I will certainly attend.

So thank you so much to the Burnside Library for choosing my book. Thanks to Mag Merrilees and Nima Tahsili Fahadan for the lovely photos. Thanks to all of you who attended any of the sessions or submitted your story to the competition and most of all, thanks to my partner for looking after the children so I can pursue my dreams.

Busy signing books

Being chosen has been a great step in my career and it is with eternal gratitude that I now move on to other things. Look out Arteles Writers’ Residency in June 2015!