Past events 2011
We regularly host events, including launches, signings, readings, and announcements of prizes. These are usually held in the shop in the early evenings, where you can enjoy a glass of wine with your launch speech, and take the opportunity for some after-hours browsing. We also sell books for events held at other venues.
Check our calendar of upcoming events, or have a look at photos and highlights from past events below.
If you would like to be added to our events mailing list, see our Bookshop Community page. If you are interested in holding an event with us, please email us.
Book Launch: The Blue Cathedral (Cameron Hindrum)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5.30pm Thursday December 8
Cameron's novella, The Blue Cathedral, is set in Queenstown in 1982-3, and deals with the efforts of a young local delinquent, Billy Anson, to come to terms with both the serious illness of his father and the arrival in town of protesters participating in the Blockade to stop construction of the Gordon-below-Franklin Dam.
Book Launch: About Face (Robert Moore)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:00pm Saturday December 3
We were pleased to host the launch, by Richard Moore, of Robert Moore's picture book About Face.
Book Launch: The Comfort of Water: A River Pilgrimage (Maya Ward)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Thursday November 24
Maya Ward's The Comfort of Water was launched by Pete Hay.
Ward's book is the true story of four friends who walk a 21-day pilgrimage from the sea to the source of Melbourne's Yarra River. It tells of Ward's own journey and that of her fellow walkers, and is seamlessly woven together with ecological and cultural history.
In Conversation: Henry Reynolds, Alison Alexander and James Boyce
Dechaineux Theatre, School of Art (Hunter St), 6:00pm Thursday November 17
The Hobart Bookshop was delighted to present Henry Reynolds in conversation with Alison Alexander and James Boyce to celebrate the release of his new book A History of Tasmania.
You can buy the book from us here.
Book Launch: Discussions in Science (Tim Sprod)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Tuesday November 15
Jenny Morgan launched Tim Sprod's Discussions in Science: Promoting Conceptual Understanding in the Middle School Years.
Written for middle school teachers, Discussions in Science encourages students to go beyond learning scientific facts and skills to seek an in-depth knowledge of scientific concepts, the nature of science, the ethical implications of science, and the links between science and their everyday lives.
Book Launch: Hiroshima Nagasaki (Paul Ham)
The Hobart Bookshop, 4:00pm Sunday November 13
We were delighted to host the Hobart launch of Hiroshima Nagasaki, with a talk by the author, Paul Ham.
The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed more than 100,000 instantly, mostly women, children and the elderly. Yet the bombs were "our least abhorrent choice", American leaders claimed at the time - and still today most people believe they ended the Pacific War and saved millions of American and Japanese lives.
Ham (author of the acclaimed Kokoda) challenges this view, arguing that the bombings, when Japan was on its knees, were the culmination of a strategic Allied air war on enemy civilians that began in Germany and had till then exacted its most horrific death tolls in Dresden and Tokyo. Ham describes the political manoeuvring and the scientific race to build the new atomic weapon and gives powerful witness to its destruction through the eyes of eighty survivors, from 12-year-olds forced to work in war factories to wives and children who faced it alone.
Book Launch: Shanti Bloody Shanti (Aaron Smith)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Thursday November 10
Kathryn Lomer launched Aaron Smith's new book about his travels to India, where he encounters a murder mystery, witnesses the tragic death of a friend, dodges terrorist attacks and a revolution, and befriends a colourful cast of fellow characters fit for a Bollywood flick.
Book Launch: Joseph Lyons: The People's Prime Minister (Anne Henderson)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Thursday November 3
The Governor, the Honourable Peter Underwood, launched Anne Henderson's Joseph Lyons.
This landmark book re-establishes Lyons as one of Australia's most capable and popular leaders and reminds us of why he was the first Australian prime minister to win and survive three consecutive elections. A Tasmanian Labor premier in the 1920s, Lyons entered federal politics in 1929 to become a significant figure in the Scullin Labor Cabinet. When Labor split in 1931, Lyons left the party to join the Nationalists and subsequently form the United Australia Party. He was the first Australian political leader to use radio, press photography and newsreels to connect with voters. Joe Lyons led Australia through the financial crisis of the 1930s up to the eve of World War II. He died in office on 7 April, 1939.
Book Launch: Looking at Landscape (Jane Deeth)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Thursday October 27
We were delighted to host the launch, by Peter Timms (Private Lives, In Search of Hobart), of Jane Deeth's Looking at Landscape.
John Glover (1767-1849) is considered the father of Australian landscape painting, and spent the last 19 years of his life in Tasmania. Deeth's book looks at the different ways landscape can be expressed and understood by examining not only Glover's work, but many of the artists who have entered the Glover Prize for landscape painting.
Book Launch: Sophie: Dog Overboard (Emma Pearse)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Tuesday October 18
Emma Pearse is an Australian journalist who lived in New York for over ten years where she wrote for Slate, Salon and Village Voice. Her first book is subtitled 'The Incredible True Adventures of the Castaway Dog.'
Book Launch: Kickstart: Restart Your Life With a Pacemaker or Defibrillator (Dr John England)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Friday October 14
Kickstart is a collection of personal narratives drawn from Dr John England's patients who are recipients of pacemakers and from the doctor's own experience. As a cardiologist, and having had his own pacemaker for 35 years, Dr England has a unique insight into the issues facing pacemaker patients, from medical transparency and responsibility to the emotional support and encouragement which is so important in these cases.
Prize Announcement/Book Launch: Gwen Harwood Poetry Prize and Island 126
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Thursday October 13
The Hobart Bookshop is proud to continue our support of the annual Gwen Harwood Poetry Prize, in association with Island magazine. This year, the prize was judged by John Kinsella and Sarah Day.
James Boyce, author of Van Diemen's Land and 1835: The Founding of Melbourne and the Conquest of Australia, launched Island 126 'Other Stories'. The Spring 2011 issue features writing by Rohan Wilson, an interview with David Malouf, a photographic essay by Jaka Babnik, and an extract from 1835.
You can buy Island magazine from us here.
Book Launch: How Now Brown Frau (Merridy Eastman)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Friday October 7
John Hale launched Merridy Eastman's book How Now Brown Frau. This new autobiography about friendship, marriage, and motherhood in Germany follows on from her previous books There's a Bear in There and Ridiculous Expectations.
You can buy the book here.
Below are photos of John Hale and Merridy at the launch:
Photos © Giles Hugo 2011
Book Launch: Of Things Being Various and De Passage de France en Tasmanie and Other Poems (Christiane Conesa-Bostock)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Tuesday October 4
Jay Wheeler launched De Passage de France en Tasmanie and Other Poems by Christiane Conesa-Bostock, and Gina Mercer launched the poetry collection Of Things Being Various. We were delighted to have Karen Knight, Liz McQuilkin, Liz Winfield, Christiane Conesa-Bostock and Megan Schaffner each read from their work in the collection.
You can buy the book from us here.
Book Launch:City of Lies:The Keepers, book two (Lian Tanner)
Bahá'í Centre of Learning, 11:00am Sunday October 2
After the great success of last year's launch of The Museum of Thieves, we were excited to launch the second book in the popular The Keepers trilogy. City of Lies was launched at the Bahá'í Centre by Essie Kruckemeyer.
You can buy the book from us here.
Thanks to Sheryl Gwyther and Mark Fitzpatrick for the photos below:
Book Launch:Going Beyond the Jesus Story and The Mar Saba Codex (Douglas Lockhart)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Thursday September 29
Professor Jeff Malpas launched Going Beyond the Jesus Story: An Examination of Christian Belief, Mystical Experience and the Ongoing Development of Conscious Awareness and The Mar Saba Codex. Both books examine contemporary religious and theological ideas - the former draws on scholarly theory, while the latter turns these themes into a fictional thriller.
You can buy Going Beyond the Jesus Story from us here.
In Conversation: Ken Haley and Cameron Forbes
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Tuesday September 27
We were pleased to welcome wheelchair traveller Ken Haley and Cameron Forbes (Hellfire, The Korean War), who discussed Haley's account of crossing Europe from Russia to Portugal via the Arctic, covering 26,000 km by train, bus, plane and ship.
Book Launch:No Return (Peter Gouldthorpe)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Thursday September 22
Joe Bugden launched Peter Gouldthorpe's beautifully illustrated No Return: Captain Scott's Race to the Pole.
You can buy the book from us here.
Book Launch:A Tale of Ambition and Unrealised Hope (Craig R Joel)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Wednesday September 21
Joel's book on polar hero and explorer Sir John Franklin, John Montagu, and the political development of Van Diemen's Land was launched by Associate Professor Peter Chapman.
Book Launch:Hobart Town (Eva Meidl, ed and trans)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Thursday September 15
The Right Hon the Lord Mayor of Hobart, Alderman Rob Valentine, launched Meidl's edition of Ludwig Salvator's 1886 book Hobarttown oder Sommerfrische in den Antipoden, which she translated from the original German.
Nathan, Emily, Anika, Rachel, Alderman Rob Valentine and Brendan Lennard.
Book Launch:40o South Short Story Anthology 2011
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:00pm Thursday September 8
The 2011 collection was launched by The Hon Lara Giddings, MP, who also made a presentation to Leigh Swinbourne, winner of this year's 40o South Short Story Competition. Leigh read an extract from the winning story, and the bookshop's own Christopher Pearce read the occasional address by last year's winner, John Hale.
Warren Boyles (editor of 40° South), The Hon Lara Giddings, MP, and Leigh Swinbourne.
Book Launch: One Under Bacchus (Duncan Hose)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Thursday September 1
Jesse Shipway launched Duncan Hose's second collection of poetry.
Book Launch: The Forgotten Islands (Michael Veitch)
The Hobart Bookshop, 6:30pm Thursday August 25
Louise Saunders launched Michael Veitch's new book, The Forgotten Islands: A Personal Adventure Through the Islands of Bass Strait.
You can buy the book from us here.
In Conversation: Steven Carroll and Danielle Wood
Salamanca Inn, 5:30pm Thursday August 18
We were pleased to welcome two award-winning writers (Carroll, winner of the Miles Franklin Award and Commonwealth Writers' Prize, and Wood, winner of the Australian/Vogel Literary Award) in delectable conversation, as we celebrated the launch of Carroll's latest novel, Spirit of Progress.
Book Launch: And Then When The (Dan Disney)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Thursday August 4
Jane Williams launched Dan Disney's first full-length collection of poetry.
Book Launch: One Small Island (Coral Tulloch and Alison Lester)
The Hobart Bookshop, 2pm Sunday July 31
We were thrilled to welcome Coral and Alison to launch their beautiful new book about Macquarie Island.
Our little shop was bursting at the seams and we sold out of all of our boxes of the book! But don't panic, there are more copies in stock now, and you can order one here.
Here are a couple of photos from the event: Coral and Alison with the book, and signing copies for keen fans!
Book Launch: 1835: The Founding of Melbourne and the Conquest of Australia (James Boyce)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30 Tuesday July 12
On a very wintry Hobart night, the shop was packed for Michael Roe's launch and the celebration of James Boyce's latest work of history.
You can buy the book from us here.
Book Launch: This Woman (Adrienne Eberhard)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5pm Sunday June 19
After a series of unfortunate events (all the copies from the first print run were flooded, the second shipment was foiled by volcanic ash...), Adrienne Eberhard's beautiful new collection of poems finally arrived in our shop just in time for the launch!
It might have been a wet and cold Sunday evening outside, but the shop was warm and cheerful and packed with a crowd for Danielle Wood's launch of This Woman. Danielle shared with us some of her favourite extracts from the book, and Adrienne read several poems, and then patiently signed many, many copies of the book!
If you missed the launch, you can buy the book from us here.
Thanks to Miroslav Prazak for these lovely photos from the event.
Danielle Wood with Adrienne Eberhard and Danielle's daughter Xanthe.
Adrienne with our own Christopher Pearce.
Adrienne with Noelene van Schie and Corinne Robinson.
Book Launch: City of Possibilities (Jane Williams)
The Lark Distillery (14 Davey St), 6pm Wednesday June 1
As part of the Tasmanian Writers' Centre's regular 'Readings at the Lark' series, Interactive Publications and The Hobart Bookshop were pleased to help Lyn Reeves launch Jane Williams' new collection (with, of course, flamenco guitar interludes!).
The evening also featured the 2011 Australian/Vogel Literary Award winner, Rohan Wilson, in conversation and also reading from his winning novel, The Roving Party.
Book Launch: Who Wrote Shakespeare's Sonnets? (Peter McIntosh)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Thursday May 26
The Hobart Bookshop and Ginninderra Press welcomed Rodney Croome to launch Peter's book, which addresses age-old mysteries about the Sonnets. The evening also featured a commentary by Prof. Michael Bennett, from the School of History and Classics at the University of Tasmania.
Book launch: Briefs (Molly Guy)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Thursday May 12
The Hobart Bookshop and Ginninderra Press were pleased to announce the launch of Molly Guy's new work. The evening also featured a panel discussion: 'Are you brave enough to be a poet?', with Molly, Robyn Mathison, and Brenda Eldridge.
Book launch: The Shattered City (Tansy Rayner Roberts)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Tuesday May 3
Dirk Flinthart launched Tansy's new book, the second in the Creature Court series. You can read more about Tansy and her work at her website.
Book launch: The Sky Dreamer (Anne Morgan and Celine Eimann)
Ecohaven Cafe, 71 Murray St, 4:00pm Tuesday April 19
Book launch: Lioness (Katherine Scholes)
The Art School Foyer, Hunter Street, 5:30pm Thursday April 14
Professor Lucy Frost launched Katherine Scholes's latest novel, Lioness.
Read more about Katherine and her work at her website.
Book launch: Waltzing with Jack Dancer: A Slow Dance with Cancer (Geoff Goodfellow)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30 Tuesday April 12
Mark Nicholson launched Geoff Goodfellow's new collection, which also includes photography by Randy Larcombe a short story by Grace Goodfellow. You can buy the book here.
Book launch: My Friends This Landscape (Anne Collins)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Thursday April 7
Jane Williams launched Anne Collins's new book.
Event: Home Truths Literary Festival (part of Ten Days on the Island)
Town Hall/Republic Bar, Saturday April 2 and Sunday April 3
Book launch: How the Dead See (David Owen)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Friday April 1
Inspector Brian Edmonds launched David Owen's brand new Pufferfish novel. Buy the book here.
Book launch: Six Months in Wonderland (Gail Foster)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Wednesday March 23
Lord Mayor Rob Valentine launched Gail Foster's biography. You can find more about the book (and see some photos from the launch) at Gail's website.
Book launch: In Advance of our Broken Wings (Stuart Solman)
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm Thursday March 3
Anne Kellas launched Stuart Solman's new book.
Book launch/Reading/EventTasmanian Writers' Centre Readings at the Lark
The Lark Distillery, 6pm Wednesday February 23
The Tasmanian Writers' Centre's February Lark event featured David Reiter, Director of Interactive Press (IP), and Tasmanian poet and publisher Lyn Reeves.
Karen Knight launched Lyn's new poetry collection, Designs on the Body (Winner, IP Picks Best Poetry 2010). 
David Reiter, Lyn Reeves and children's author Anne Morgan held a panel discussion on the topic 'The Future for the Book', speaking about the impact of digital publishing and what it means for writers.
Book sales by Hobart Bookshop.
Event: The Hobart Book Fair
The Long Gallery (Salamanca Arts Centre), February 12-13
The fair featured local and visiting dealers, with secondhand, antiquarian and collectible books in all genres, as well as photographs, ephemera, posters, postcards, maps, prints, and many other treasures.
Book Launch: Famous Reporter #42
The Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm, Thursday February 10
The Hobart Bookshop and Walleah Press were pleased to welcome Canadian poet and publisher Laurie Brinklow to launch Famous Reporter 42. This issue contains a rich assortment of poetry, haiku, review, essay, fiction, launch speech, interview, and more.
You can read a lovley account of the evening (complete with some great photos by Pete Hay) here at Laurie's blog.
You can buy the book here.
Book Launch: Henry the Goat
The Bond Store (Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery), 5:30 Thursday February 3
Our first launch for 2011 was the launch of the second Henry book by Ella Watkins. Ella started drawing Henry the Goat at age eight, self-published her first book (Henry's Holiday) at age twelve, and now, at fifteen, has had the second book published by Hardie Grant Egmont.
We were very pleased to help Ella launch Henry the Goat at the Bond Store, and thanks to everyone who came to help us celebrate!
You can find out more about Ella and Henry at their website.
You can buy the book from us here.