Rural romance author Maya Linnell will be visiting Hay library on June 26, for a special 'in conversation' author talk, celebrating the upcoming release of her new novel Cockatoo Cove.

The free event will include an intimate discussion with Maya and library staff, followed by morning tea with books available for purchase and signing.

Maya's journey to becoming a published author began after taking a break from her journalism career to raise her children.

“When it was time to go back to work, I thought do I go back to newspapers or do I do something completely different?” Maya reflects. “I thought I'd love to try writing a book.”

Her background as a journalist, including cadet training through Country Press Australia and Deakin University, provided the perfect foundation for novel writing.

“Being a journalist is such a great background to becoming an author because you've got that love of words, that built-in ability to sit in the chair and write," she explains.

“And that willingness to be edited as well - working in newspapers, you've always got someone with a red pen who will say you need to do better.”

Maya's passion for the romance genre began early, with Mills & Boon novels from her local library serving as her gateway into adult fiction.

“The world just needs a bit more love and tenderness and stories of redemption and second chances,” she says.

“It's really nice to spend your days working with characters that grow throughout the process of the story.”

Her rural settings aren't just backdrop - they're integral to connecting with her audience.

“A lot of the rural communities can really relate so well to the storylines because the stories are about rural issues and social issues that are quite typical for small towns.

“The audiences can see themselves reflected back on that page.”

Maya is passionate about defending her genre against critics who dismiss romance as lightweight literature.

“Easy reading is not necessarily easy writing. People put a lot of effort into making a book easy to read and enjoyable,” she emphasises.

She's particularly proud of how modern romance has evolved to include important conversations about consent and respectful relationships.

“Today's books have the advantage of talking about consent and respectful relationships. “I'd rather young people pick up stories that are talking about female pleasure and how relationships can be mutually beneficial.”

Maya's visit to our library exemplifies her commitment to connecting with readers in rural communities. After moving from Victoria to Queensland via South Australia, she makes it a point to stop at libraries during her travels.

“I find it really hard to just drive past. I want to stop and have a look at the library, meet the librarian, see if they've got any of my books on the shelves.”

When she offered to do an event at our library, the response was immediate enthusiasm.

“You could just see the enthusiasm at the library for the style of writing that I do, and it's really nice to be able to reward that behaviour,” Maya notes.

The author is eager to share her knowledge with aspiring writers, having overcome the daunting transition from short newspaper articles to full-length novels.

“I thought, with my journalist training, I can write 250 words, I can write 2000-word features, but how the hell am I going to hold 90,000-100,000 words together in my head?

“It was doing courses that helped me - 'Write Your First Draft in 12 Months.'” “I knew I could write, I knew I could put a nice sentence together, but it's holding several plot lines and characters and making sure everything is tied up at the end of the story.”

Make sure you put it in your diary – come to the event, 'In Conversation' with rural romance author Maya Linnell, June 26 at Hay Library.

Cost is free, and includes author discussion, morning tea, book sales and signing.

The event is perfect for both romance readers and aspiring writers looking for tips and inspiration.

Maya encourages questions from the audience and promises to share insights about the writing process, from developing characters to managing complex storylines.

Don't miss this opportunity to meet a talented local author who's bringing heart, humour, and hope to the rural romance genre.

Whether you're a longtime fan of romance novels or simply curious about the writing life, Maya's warmth and passion for storytelling promise an engaging and inspiring morning.

Books will be available for purchase and signing. For more information, contact the library at (02) 6993 4492