Oh, how I love libraries! Those beautiful, sacred buildings full of learning. Growing up, I loved visiting the library. I loved my school library the most and clearly remember our old librarian who would read to us, who made sure her library was kept clean and her books respected and who taught her students that same respect.
There's always a sense of nostalgia whenever I visit a library. I get swept up in it. The rows of books, the hushed, almost revered silence and of course, that wonderful smell of books. Something akin to walking into a bookstore.

Books.

​I discovered Christopher Pike's books in a library. R.L Stine, Caroline Keene's Nancy Drew mysteries and of course, Roald Dahl. 
Dahl enchanted me. Dahl may have been the very first author who inspired me to become one too. Keene made me want to be a detective and Pike and Stine... well, their books are the reason I always tend to lean to the dark side of reading. Every now and then, I love to pick up a good horror and even some of my own writing has some of those darkish elements to it. Gosh I loved their books.

So you can imagine my reaction when I received some lovely photos last week of A Stranger's Tale in its new home at the East Gippsland Shire Council Library in Bairnsdale. 
I can't begin to describe to you the feeling. Knowing that my book is freely available to all, that it rests upon a shelf waiting for someone to inspire as so many had once inspired me is just incredible. 

What an absolute honour.    

A huge thank you to the lovely people over at the Romsey Co-op for such a heart-warming display of A Stranger's Tale.

If you're visiting the Macedon Ranges in Victoria, pop by Romsey and check out this beautiful store which stocks all kinds of unique, handmade items from locals. Including yours truly. Perfect for those special Christmas gifts you won't find in the major stores.

​Buy local and support small businesses if you can this year.