Award-winning and internationally bestselling Australian author Karen Viggers will be featured at the Bundaberg Library’s first author talk event of the year, showcasing her latest novel Sidelines.
After five years of living inside her writer’s cave, creating Sidelines, Karen said she was excited to now emerge and talk to readers.
Her author talk will take the local audience on her life’s journey as a writer and veterinarian, which will entertain book lovers with thought-provoking chats and a few laughs.
Sidelines is Karen’s fifth novel having also written The Stranding, The Lightkeeper’s Wife, The Grass Castle and The Orchardist’s Daughter.
Her work explores contentious issues, such as dying with dignity, displacement of First Peoples, wildlife conservation, clear-felling of native forests and now, junior sport.
Karen’s novels have been translated into several languages, achieving great success in France with over a million copies in sales and winning the Prix Litteraire: Les Petits Mots des Libraires award in the Discovery Novel Category.
Spending time in Bundaberg whilst undertaking her PhD in wildlife health some years ago, Karen has never forgotten the region and her visit to Mon Repos, learning about its nesting turtles.
Being an issue-focussed author, Karen wrote Sidelines to draw attention to children’s sport and how it should be fun and not just about winning.
Sidelines tells the story of a suburban junior soccer game that descends into a violent brawl after a controversial line call.
The story follows 13-year-old Audrey, a talented young football player who questions if she really wants to play for Australia, or if she just wants to please her father Ben.
Ben’s thwarted sporting career looms large in his ambitions for his daughter.
Audrey’s mother Jonica, isn’t sure whether to be more concerned about her anxious daughter, overbearing husband, or the only other girl on the team, Katerina, who is causing trouble on and off the field.
Katerina’s mother Carmen is so busy looking for opportunities to give Katerina more game time, that she is failing to notice what is really capturing her daughter’s attention.
Tensions reach boiling point when Griffin, a naturally gifted player joins the team.
Rivalry, parental pressure, coaching bias, inequity, and many other factors unfold, with the Saturday morning soccer games turning into a pressure cooker.
Author Talk: Karen Viggers
- Friday 15 March 5.30 – 7.30 pm
- Bundaberg Library – 49 Woondooma Street Bundaberg
- Doors open at 5.30 pm for light refreshments prior to the talk at 6 pm
- Sidelines may be purchased on the night from Dymocks Bundaberg, through your local bookseller or online retailer and borrowed from the libraries
- Book signing will be available
- Free event with bookings open Friday 1 March by contacting the library by phone 4130 4140, by email library@bundaberg.qld.gov.au or book online here.
More Bundaberg Regional Libraries’ information and events can be found here.
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