A Good Yarn in the Mallee: Meet Crime Author Geoff Parkes at Mildura Library

If you love a good story (or you’ve ever thought, “I could write a book… surely”), this one’s a beauty. Crime novelist Geoff Parkes is coming to Mildura Library on Thursday 26 February at 11am for a relaxed “In Conversation” session about his latest novel The First Law of the Bush — and it’s free. 

You know what I reckon we don’t talk about enough in Sunraysia? How lucky we are to have little pockets of culture that don’t feel “big city fancy”... they feel ours. Like a library event on a weekday morning where you can wander in, sit down, and listen to someone tell a proper story… not on a screen, not through headphones, but right there in front of you.

That’s exactly what’s happening at Mildura Library later this month, with author Geoff Parkes dropping in as part of a regional Victorian tour to chat about his writing journey and his latest crime novel, The First Law of the Bush. It’s on Thursday 26 February, 11:00am, and it’s a free event (bookings encouraged at www.mildura.vic.gov.au/Libraryevents).

Now, before you think “crime novels aren’t my thing,” hear me out. These sessions aren’t just for the die-hard readers who’ve already got the book on the bedside table. They’re for anyone who likes a good yarn, enjoys hearing how creative people think, or simply wants a gentle outing that isn’t about spending money or battling crowds.

You’ll get insight into Geoff’s inspiration, his creative process, and his writing life, and there’s the chance to ask questions along the way. That’s the gold, I reckon. Because everyone has something they’ve wondered:

• How do writers actually come up with characters?

• Do they plan the ending first or make it up as they go?

• How do you keep the suspense going without losing the plot?

• And (my favourite) do authors ever surprise themselves halfway through a story?

Attendees will be able to purchase signed copies of Geoff’s crime novels, and I love that .. not because we all need more stuff, but because a signed book is one of those simple “memory objects” that actually means something. It’s a little reminder that you turned up, you supported local culture, and you had a real experience on a random Thursday morning in Mildura. 

Author visits can inspire future writers and encourage people to pick up a book and disappear into new worlds for a while, and in a world where everyone’s busy and everything’s noisy, that’s not a bad thing. A good book is basically a cheap holiday for your brain.

And here’s the other part I love: the vibe. Library events are low-pressure, friendly, and full of the sort of people who are quietly interesting. You’ll often leave with a couple of new book recommendations, and maybe a “how good was that?” chat with someone you’ve never met before. That’s the kind of community glue we do well here.

If you’re visiting Mildura around that time, this is also a nice little “tourist” activity that’s different to the usual. Markets, wineries, river walks, but a author talk gives you a little peek into the region’s community heartbeat. And you can follow it with a stroll along Deakin, a coffee somewhere nearby, and suddenly your day has that perfect Mildura rhythm: relaxed, warm, and full of small wins.