Markets, book talks and sala 2026

May and June 2026 Report

Hi everyone, I was very pleased to have a successful sold-out launch of my latest book 'Paving the Way: Pioneer Ancestors from England, Ireland, Prussia and Bavaria to South Australia and New Zealand,' during the SA History Festival last month. Thanks again to Dr Lainie Anderson for interviewing me at the launch and Rochelle Sideris and staff and the City of Charlies Sturt for hosting this, and of course everyone who came along.

Along with those passionate about history (including the original Paving the Way!) and genealogy, I met many distant relatives and others who I have communicated with over writing the book, one of which, Janine Buob, gave me the fascinating shipping diaries from 'the John' voyage, which the Lomman family came out on (along with her relatives the Hearnes who lived next door to the Lommans!). Her husband David Buob is the President of the Glenside Historical Society. Sadly, both Henry Lomman and Janine's relative Uria Hearne both ended up at the Parkside Asylum. I have also had previously unknown family members contact me such as artist Margaret Hage, a 3rd cousin who also descended from Henry Lomman. She owns the Old Vine Studio at Penola, and her wonderful art and textile work can be seen here.

The same week I spoke at the Probus Club at Para Hills about my books, the Genealogy SA German group about 'The German Connection' in the Paving the Way book, and the following week at the City of Campbelltown about the Lomman and Heading families from the area. I met my mum's cousin Peter Rumbelow again, who along with other family members wrote the first history of the Rumbelow family for the 150th celebration of the Rumbelow family in South Australia.

I also attended Meander Markets at North Adelaide and Sunday Funday Markets at Tonsley for the first time - the latter being a hugely busy market in the Tonsley Innovation Centre, and dropped off and signed books at Dymocks Adelaide and Dymocks Glenelg.

At Sisters in Crime SA we also had a cosy gathering to hear Mercedes Mercier and Eve Thomson speak about their new crime fiction books, ‘The Couples Retreat’ and ‘Smother.’

What I'm reading

I'm currently reading Murder on North Terrace (Lainie Anderson's 3rd book), The Couples Retreat (Mercedes Mercier's 3rd book), The Signs (Dr Tara Swart) and The Portfolio Life (Christina Wallace). Are there many other people out there that read a few books at once?!

What I'm Writing

'From Caltowie to the World' - I've started reading and writing about the extraordinary life of Mary Tenison-Woods (nee Kitson), the first female lawyer in South Australia and first Chief of the UN Commission on the Status of Women - more on her on my FB post here.

I have also written 25,000 words of a memoir and part travel stories - I have been keeping diaries since 1996!

Upcoming July-September 2026

Over the next 3 months I will be doing a number of book presentations and talks around South Australia, as folllows....

Markets

Next weekend I will attend the Playford Authors Market on Sunday 5th July, 1-4pm, Playford Hall, Shedley Theatre Complex. A place I know well due to attending my great-niece's musical theatre and dance performances for several years! I will also attend the Indie Author Book Fair, Plant4, Bowden, 9:00am to 3.30pm on Saturday October 24th 2026.

Art Exhibition

I will do my first SALA exhibition in August, titled 'Little Creatures.' I will be doing a launch of this on Sunday 2nd August, 2pm at the Semaphore Hotel Bistro area. Drawing and painting is something I have done throughout my life, a relaxing hobby!

Book Talks

There are many book talks and workshops coming up, including:

4th August - Genealogy SA, 'Researching and Writing' Paving the Way, 4th August 2026 at 7pm. Bookings here.

15th August - Nurioopta Library, 'Paving the Way' book talk and signing with morning tea, 15th August 2026 at 10.30am Bookings here.

29th August - Talk on 'Paving the Way' at the Gawler Library, 11am, 29th August 2026. Bookings here.

5th September - 'Sisters in Crime SA - Authors of True Crime and Crime Fiction,' presentations and author panel discussion (with Diane Hester, HR Kemp, Dorothy Short and myself), 11 am to 1pm, following by lunch/afternoon tea, City of Charles Sturt, Ngutungka West Lakes. Bookings here.

18th September - 'The Rhynie Poisoning Case' book talk at Riverton & District High School,  Fredrick Place, Riverton SA, 10am to 12noon (including morning tea)

3rd October - Talk on 'Paving the Way' with a focus on the Rumbelow and Glassenbury families, at the Victor Harbor Library, 11am, 3rd October 2026. Bookings here.