EVENTS

Saturday 31 January, 10.30am
NUNAWADING LIBRARY

Want to help the native wildlife in your area but not sure how to start? Are you keen to grow more native plants but have a small budget? Would you like to attract native birds, bees and butterflies to your outdoor spaces?

Countless Australian species of birds, bees and butterflies are in decline or threatened with extinction, but you can help. Writer and gardener Jaclyn Crupi shows us that protecting and fostering precious native wildlife starts in our own backyards. The first step: start planting! And choose native plants where possible. This alone presents endless opportunities for habitat creation – sometimes it’s the smallest actions that make the biggest difference. Providing a well-placed dish of water on a hot day, building and installing a simple insect hotel or allowing leaf litter to stay where it falls are among the many other super simple ways you can make your garden more attractive to native birds, bees and butterflies, and in turn benefit all species. Loads of practical advice for gardeners and novices alike.

Saturday 7 February, 2pm
BRUNSWICK KITCHEN

Ticket includes one copy of "Very Good Salads", a recipe tasting from Very Good Falafel's Louisa Allan and a glass of wine. Food from the cookbook will be served as an afternoon treat.

Join us at Brunswick Kitchen for an afternoon of salady goodness with author Louisa Allan who will be discussing her approach to cooking, food and developing recipes with Brunswick Bound’s Jaclyn Crupi.

"Very Good Salads" is from Shuki Rosenboim and Louisa Allan, the team behind cult-favourite Very Good Falafel in Brunswick.  A seasonal cookbook, it includes veggie-filled plates, salads, dips, pita and pickles, alongside the best chickpea falafel recipe.  The book is filled with more than 50 Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired recipes that showcase the best seasonal produce, with an emphasis on vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Wednesday 11 February, 6pm
SUBSTACK

New Release Roundup + Industry Fireside Chat with Jaclyn Crupi & Bri Lee

Allow us to help you cut through the noise and never-ending lists, and bring your attention to the best of book world each month.

Tuesday 17 February, 6pm
READINGS EMPORIUM

Turn down the volume, let your brain breathe and learn to live well in this practical, actionable and evidence-based guide from best-selling author Jodi Wilson.
It's a lot, we say. And it's true – sometimes everyday life feels like too much. So what habits can we prioritise for mental clarity and creative verve? How can we continue to do what's normal and necessary but wind back to care for our basic human needs? In this gentle, wise and actionable guide, best-selling author and respected health journalist Jodi Wilson explores the simple, evidence-based changes we can make to give our brains the breathing space they need.
After a lifetime with anxiety, Jodi wanted to better understand herself so she could continue to be creative and productive without slipping into overwhelm and exhaustion. In this fascinating exploration of the brain and body, she discovers that neuroscientists and psychologists, as well as artists and sustainable living experts, all agree on the one habit that can change how we live. It's something our ancestors had in abundance but we've essentially eradicated from our lives: free time, spare time, leisure time – real space to breathe.
The modern concept of self-care we've been sold doesn't help – it costs us time and money and keeps us on an unsustainable treadmill. No one is making any money when we choose to rest and do less, yet it's the proven antidote to modern stress. Instead of looking ahead for answers, we need to consider our evolutionary biology; our brains were designed for life 10,000 years ago, so what would our ancestors have found helpful?
A Brain That Breathes is full of accessible and practical suggestions to embrace the power of 'enoughness', 'soft fascination' and intentional 'not-doing' so you can declutter your mind, restore your attention, and live every day with breathing space.

Tuesday 3 March, 6.30pm
THE WHEELER CENTRE

Literary icon Nell Zink brings to Melbourne the hedonistic spirit of a big night out in Berlin as she discusses her seventh much acclaimed novel, Sister Europe.  

In this dazzling satire of modern life, an eclectic cast of characters gathers at a tedious literary award ceremony in Berlin. Over the course of the evening, their assumptions, foibles and irrepressible humanity are slowly brought to light.  

A Guggenheim Fellowship recipient and the celebrated author of Avalon, Doxology and Nicotine, among others, Nell Zink is widely hailed as a singular voice in literary fiction. In a Melbourne first, she takes the stage at The Wheeler Centre to discuss her sharp and tightly wrought new novel, Sister Europe, and its animating themes: loneliness and the possibility of transcending it, the tension between old and new ideas and the challenge of defining one’s identity in an increasingly complex world.   

Join Zink in celebration of this exhilarating and exquisitely funny novel, with host Jaclyn Crupi. 

Thursday 5 March, 6pm
FITZROY

FLOWER POWER is a bold and transformative guide that will change the way you think about garden design forever.

Visionary plant advocate Jac Semmler introduces a groundbreaking philosophy to create year-round wonder: a garden with layers of heroic and supportive plants and flowers; with textures and patterns; with resilience and delight - no matter the season or climate.

This is not about following rules; it's about unlocking your vision and understanding the core creative elements of garden design to create plant-driven gardens of beauty that are truly your own. With a seasonal calendar of care, practical how-tos and innovative graphic guides that explore methods for composition and layout, Flower Power lights the way for gardens that flourish, change and captivate - all year round.

Saturday 7 March, 10.30am
BRUNSWICK KITCHEN

Embrace the unparalleled joys of baking seasonally and creatively with this mouth-watering collection of recipes from Melbourne’s tiny beloved bakery, Beatrix. This new edition – released to mark the 15th anniversary of Beatrix’s opening – brings fresh life to the classic with a vibrant new cover and the same joyful, irreverent spirit that made it a modern baking icon.

For Natalie Paull, baking is a gift. It’s also a powerful elixir of pleasure, connection, generosity and joy. Beatrix Bakes celebrates baking’s sweetest moments with more than seventy recipes designed to inspire bakers of all kinds to mix and match, adapt and personalise – whether it’s a Lemon curd cream crepe cake or Pecan maple cinnamon scrolls.

Thursday 12 March
THE CAPITOL

Give your students a unique opportunity to dive into writing and storytelling at our FREE Stella Schools’ Program on Thursday 12 March

It's a great experience for high school students and teachers to connect with incredible authors and take part in inspiring discussions about the books shaping Australian literature.

These sessions are the first chance to hear from the Stella Prize Longlisted authors for 2026. The authors will be revealed later, each speaking about their books, writing processes, inspirations, and careers.

Saturday 21 March, 2.30pm
THE MOAT

Bookish Club returns for 2026 as Virginia Trioli leads a spirited deep-dive into Daphne du Maurier’s gothic classic Rebecca. 

Start your reading year the right way with Bookish Club – where the conversation is lively, the wine and nibbles flow, and the book on the table is always worth getting lost in.

For this edition, special guest Virginia Trioli has chosen Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier’s atmospheric tale of love, murder and unsettling secrets. The novel follows a naïve young woman whose marriage to a charismatic widower sweeps her into life at Manderley, a grand and isolated estate. But as she settles into her new role as mistress of the house, the lingering presence of her husband’s first wife begins to shadow every corner. Who was Rebecca de Winter and what really happened to her?

Join Trioli and host Jaclyn Crupi for a rich and revealing discussion of this enduringly suspenseful masterpiece. The floor will be open throughout, with plenty of opportunities for you to share your own thoughts and favourite moments from the book.

Saturday 28 March
FRANKSTON INDIGENOUS NURSERY

Come and join us at Frankston’s Indigenous Nursery Open Day for a morning of festivity.

Enjoy a range of activities including plant sales and giveaways, nursery and propagation tours, coffee and a sausage sizzle. There will be interactive displays from local wildlife gurus, Living with Wildlife, AWARE Wildlife Rescue, Frankston's Natural Reserve Friends groups and Gardens for Wildlife Victoria volunteers.

Special guest presenter Jaclyn Crupi

Saturday 18 April, 2pm
BRUNSWICK KITCHEN

We live in a cynical world: there's not nearly enough cake.

Baking holds and shares memories. Each slice of cake carries the scent, the flavour and the wonder of a birthday, a friendship, a celebration. The classic art of cake-baking is also a rhythm that can bring so much joy to the baker - especially when you're measuring, creaming, folding and scraping to foolproof Emelia Jackson recipes. Every style of cake imaginable is covered here across four approachable, delightful, fully photographed chapters:

Hello, is it cake you're looking for? For all the go-to classics, from one-bowl wonders like fluffy vanilla cake and carrot and pecan cake, to the code-breaking recipe for café-style banana bread.
All you need is cake. The perfect introduction to nut meals, syrups and more, this chapter features creative and simple cakes that will up your flavour and texture combinations, including a roasted plum, brown sugar and cinnamon pavlova for a very special summer celebration. May the (mini) cake be with you. Cake can come in all shapes and sizes, including mini lemon polenta cakes and cardamom and blackberry financiers, all purpose-designed for travelling to a friend's home or gifting (after saving one for yourself).
Around the world in 80 flavours. A delicious voyage through cultural cornerstones, from Syrian orange cake, to two wonderful Hungarian layer cakes to impress, and an incredibly easy but satisfying French yoghurt cake.

In Emelia's hands, cake becomes limitless. Each of the 80-plus recipes are flexible, adaptable and designed to welcome bakers of any skill level. Now, show me the cake.

Tuesday 21 April, 6.30pm
CARNEGIE LIBRARY

Join us for an irresistibly sweet talk with Dessert Masters star and creative cake visionary Alisha Henderson, as she shares the delicious world behind her new book Everybody Loves Cake.

Founder of Sweet Bakes and co-founder of Co.Bake Space, Alisha will take us on her journey and reveal what makes a truly glorious cake. She will be joined in conversation with writer and educator Jaclyn Crupi. And because no event about cake should be cake-less… you’ll also get to taste some of Alisha’s own creations on the day!

Suitable for adults. Tickets $10. Bookings essential. Please note: No refunds. Includes cakes, tea and coffee. Book signings and sales available.

Saturday 2 May, 11am
BELGRAVE LIBRARY

Want to help the native wildlife in your area but not sure how to start? Are you keen to grow more native plants but have a small budget? Would you like to attract native birds, bees and butterflies to your outdoor spaces?

Countless Australian species of birds, bees and butterflies are in decline or threatened with extinction, but you can help. Writer and gardener Jaclyn Crupi shows us that protecting and fostering precious native wildlife starts in our own backyards. The first step: start planting! And choose native plants where possible. This alone presents endless opportunities for habitat creation – sometimes it’s the smallest actions that make the biggest difference. Providing a well-placed dish of water on a hot day, building and installing a simple insect hotel or allowing leaf litter to stay where it falls are among the many other super simple ways you can make your garden more attractive to native birds, bees and butterflies, and in turn benefit all species. Loads of practical advice for gardeners and novices alike.

Wednesday 20 May, 6.30pm
NORTHCOTE LIBRARY

Want to help the native wildlife in your area but not sure how to start? Are you keen to grow more native plants but have a small budget? Would you like to attract native birds, bees and butterflies to your outdoor spaces?

Countless Australian species of birds, bees and butterflies are in decline or threatened with extinction, but you can help. Writer and gardener Jaclyn Crupi shows us that protecting and fostering precious native wildlife starts in our own backyards. The first step: start planting! And choose native plants where possible. This alone presents endless opportunities for habitat creation – sometimes it’s the smallest actions that make the biggest difference. Providing a well-placed dish of water on a hot day, building and installing a simple insect hotel or allowing leaf litter to stay where it falls are among the many other super simple ways you can make your garden more attractive to native birds, bees and butterflies, and in turn benefit all species. Loads of practical advice for gardeners and novices alike.

Tuesday 2 June
BULLEEN LIBRARY

According to Jaclyn Crupi – a proud Italian-Australian pasta maker and devotee – pasta is love, pasta is life. Pasta can be a quick and simple meal or a culinary masterpiece, but in essence it is about generosity, comfort and the beauty to be found in simplicity. Her book Pasta Love is a celebration of pasta and the people who make it.

Join Jaclyn to learn how to make fresh pasta at home and how to improve your dried pasta dishes (unlock the secrets of starchy salty pasta cooking water). Hear stories of the incredible pasta nonne (Italian grandmothers) Jaclyn has been making pasta with and learn their pasta-making ways. Jaclyn will demonstrate how to make a semola rimacinata flour and water pasta dough and then shape it into cavatelli, orecchiette, fusilli al ferretto, lorighittas and many more pasta shapes. So if you’re keen to give pasta making a go, or you just love all things pasta, this is the event for you.