General News
15 August, 2025
Bestselling author will join video link
ONE of Australia’s most prominent contemporary authors, Pip Williams, will join Warrnambool Library members via live video link for an exclusive in-library event on Saturday, August 16.
Williams burst onto the literary scene in 2020 with her debut novel The Dictionary of Lost Words which sold over one million copies.
It has been translated into 30 languages and is currently being developed into a television series.
Her follow up novel, The Bookbinder of Jericho, was an instant bestseller.
It was voted number one on Dymocks’ Top 101 Books list for 2024 and won the highly prestigious Fiction Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards.
The conversation at the Warrnambool Library will explore these richly researched works that illuminate the overlooked stories of women, knowledge, and language in times of great social change.
Warrnambool Library manager Maryanne Vagg said the latest event under the library’s ‘Readers Rendezvous’ banner would be its biggest yet.
“We started the Readers Rendezvous series to bring book lovers together to share their passion for literature, and to secure an author of Pip Williams’ standing is incredibly exciting,” she said.
“Pip is currently writing her next book and is not touring or doing events, so this is a rare opportunity.
“The discussion will be hosted by our very own Leigh Higgins and there will be time for questions from the audience, so if you have anything you’d like to ask Pip, this is your chance.”
Warrnambool mayor Cr Ben Blain said that the event was an excellent example of what’s possible following the construction of the new Library and Learning Hub.
“Events like this make our library a real gathering place,” he said.
“Speaking directly with an author like Pip Williams is the kind of opportunity you’d usually need to travel to a much larger city for, so being able to do it in Warrnambool, alongside fellow south west readers, is something for library members to get very excited about.
“Since the redevelopment, we’ve been able to host a lot more events and programs and it’s great to see so many people taking part.”
The event will run from 1pm-2pm and includes light refreshments.
It’s free to attend, but places are limited.
To book call the library on 5559 4990 or online at https://warrnambool.events.mylibrary.digital
