Q1. What do you think makes Riverbend so special?
There are so many things that make Riverbend so special but really, it's the atmosphere and and the warmth and the welcome. You come in and you know you are going to have a good time and you are going to go home loaded with books, absolutely loaded. That you’ll be here four times longer than you thought you’d be and there is absolutely no chance of not grabbing something.
It's the engagement of people here too, everybody's talking, and you hear people engaging in such interesting conversations. And there are so many little treasures, I'm just sitting here looking at the Imagine and Magic Beach trinkets by my very favourite Alison Lester. I could go on and on, I love to come here, and I always look forward to coming. I could sit at this table all day; this place is so special to me and my family.
Q2. Do you have a favourite memory from Riverbend? How long have you been coming to Riverbend?
Well, I’ve been coming here for a long time but definitely much more regularly since I came back to live in Brisbane after having been away for a number of years. I’ve got so many very happy memories here, times that have been such fun. Book chats with Laura are what first come to mind, just the laughter of those nights and my admiration for the way she prepares so thoroughly. I love the way people who come to the book chats engage, they all feel like old friends. Many many happy memories.
Another truly happy memory is sitting at this table with Michael (late husband) amongst piles of books and being here for 2-3 hours choosing Christmas presents for the little ones.
Q3. How has reading impacted/ influenced your life?
Enormously. It has brought be every sort of emotion. When I look back, I can remember the first time I stayed up really late reading long after everybody else had gone to bed. I can remember that book so clearly; it was about kids living on a farm. It was the first time I had that wonderful feeling of not being able to wait to see what was coming next, it’s really never left me.
Reading is so important to me as a companion. There is nothing like the excitement of getting into a book that you can’t put down. I always think of a book as a best friend.
Q4. What have read recently?
I just finished April in Spain by John Banville… I’m still thinking about the ending of it.
I’ve also just reading the 2021 booker prize, The Promise by Damon Galgut, which requires a much more thoughtful read than the Banville. At one stage I had Banville upstairs and The Promise downstairs!
And of course, The Burnished Sun by Mirandi Riwoe which has won the UQP Quentin Bryce prize, so of course I’m feeling very proud about that! It is such an honour to have a book prize in my name at UQP.
Q5. What’s your favourite book of all time?
The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard, I absolute loved that book and there are some quotes I can rattle off that I have used again and again in speeches.