Description Hide Description- Show Description+
Literary Dinner by The Bookshop Darlinghurst
Holden Sheppard in conversation with journalist Steve Pennells - Thursday 20 February from 6.30pm
MC: Kae Woodbury from The Bookshop Darlinghurst
Seating for the dinner will begin from 6.30pm, Upstairs at Thai Nesia Restaurant, 243 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. Note - the only access to Level 1 is by stairs which unfortunately may limit accessibility for some people and we apologise for any disappointment.
This event has been made possible due to the support of Fremantle Press.
Important Notes:
Book buying and Author Signing - from 5.30pm at The Bookshop Darlinghurst
Buy a copy of Invisible Boys or The Brink and have it signed and personalised by Holden Sheppard. This is also an opportunity to browse The Bookshop Darlinghurst's unrivalled range of LGBTIQ+ titles and other books of interest. A 15% discount on purchases will be extended to all literary dinner ticket holders for the event.
Dinner - we are delighted to return to Thai Nesia our inaugural restaurant venue for our literary dinner series. We will have the exclusive use of the upstairs room. The restaurant is BYO. The seating is designated and is at long communal tables.
There is no physical ticket. Both the purchaser and The Bookshop retain a record of the ticket purchase. You will be ticked off the door list on the night when you arrive.
The $75 ticket price covers the Thai banquet dinner, but not drinks. You can BYO wine at no charge.
We need the person purchasing to provide the following information:
- names of everyone in their party
- any dietary requirements for everyone in their party (see menu below)
- any seating preferences e.g. if you have friends also attending and want to be seated together or if you have some issue or impairment that impacts where you are seated.
If you wish to know more about Thai Nesia restaurant, their website can be found at https://www.thainesia.com.au
About the speakers:
Holden Sheppard
Holden is a West Australian author whose debut novel Invisible Boys won multiple awards, including the 2019 WA Premier’s Prize for an Emerging Writer. Invisible Boys has now been adapted as a ten-episode television series with Stan Australia, premiering in 2025. Holden’s second book The Brink won several accolades including the 2024 Ena Noel Award. His third novel King of Dirt will be published in June 2025. Holden’s writing has been widely published in books, journals and the media. A country boy from Geraldton, Holden now lives in Perth’s far north with his husband and his V8 ute.
Steve Pennells
Steve Pennells began his lengthy career in regional newspapers before joining The West Australian, becoming its state political editor. In 2013 he joined Channel 7 as Network Investigative Reporter, becoming part of the on-air team on the network's flagship current affairs show, Sunday Night. In 2012, he won the Gold Walkley Award, the highest honour in Australian journalism, for his reporting on Gina Reinhart. He has won four other Walkleys, the Clarion Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism and has been awarded the UN Media Peace Prize a record six times. In 2018, he became the younger living person to be inducted into The Australian Media Hall of Fame.
Money Bags
Satay Chicken
Main Dishes
Ayam Panggang
Prawns and Eggplant
Crispy Salmon Salad
Massaman Beef Curry
Mixed Greens
Steamed Jasmine Rice
The seating for the event will be at large communal tables. Our experience with these events is that most people prefer to be at a large table and enjoy a more social evening and meet some new people. If you want a private table you would need to be seated downstairs and then come upstairs for the speaking part of the evening. We don't recommend this option but it would be possible.
If you are booking for several people, we need the names of all the people in your party. We will have a door list at the restaurant and will be ticking people off there. We will also need the names in case there is a special dietary requirement to be attached to anyone. It will not be necessary to bring your proof of purchase (whether online or in-store) on the night. We will have confirmed everything prior and if we have everyone's details that will be adequate
Any enquiries about the event should be directed to The Bookshop Darlinghurst (02 9331 1103) and not to the restaurant. We recommend you telephone us then everything can be discussed and arranged more simply.
Note: if anyone is unable to attend on the day due to a Covid-related concern or similar, we are happy to provide a full refund of the ticket cost. Or if you wish to support The Bookshop, we can provide you with a Gift Voucher instead that you can spend on books, magazines or other items. Note: a minimum of 12 hours notice is required as we need to advise the restaurant. Cancellations with less than 12 hours notice will be at their discretion.