The City of Melville and Fremantle Press Great Big Book Club Tea Party is a roaring success

5 November 201825 March 2022

After selling out in less than 48 hours, the City of Melville and Fremantle Press Great Big Book Club Tea Party was packed to capacity on Sunday 21 October at A.H. Bracks Library in Melville.

Authors Carrie Cox, Ambelin Kwaymullina, Steve Hawke, David Whish-Wilson, Liz Byrski, Rafeif Ismail, Susan Midalia, Jodie Moffat and Tracy Ryan entertained the audience with readings and panel discussions between two rounds of a delicious afternoon tea.

Vicki Down of The Well Bookshop said, ‘The afternoon tea was bountiful and delicious, the authors interesting and inspirational and the event was well and truly sold out.’

Great Big Book Club Tea Party guest Dorothy Tracey said, ‘I loved how normal these talented and famous authors are. Full of admiration; I wanted to read all their books.’ Her positive reaction was representative of other attendees’, with 100% of those surveyed saying they would return for another event of this kind.

The survey also revealed that 79% of attendees mostly read Australian fiction and about a third of those said they borrowed their book club books from the library.

Fremantle Press marketing and communications manager Claire Miller said, ‘We had a fantastic response to the event and it was wonderful to see a packed-to-capacity venue. I think the results of the survey show that Western Australian readers want to read local stories. It also showed the important part libraries have to play in helping readers access Australian literature.’

The Great Big Book Club Tea Party was made possible due to the generous support of Lotterywest and the City of Melville. Some 250 tickets were booked in under 48 hours, with an additional 250 people waitlisted for the event.

Those who missed out still have the chance to attend our next big event, the City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award Announcement and Great Big Book Club Read at Fremantle Arts Centre on Thursday 15 November. Tickets are free but booking is essential. Register here.