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Free author talk with Sue Smethurst

Free online author talk with Sue Smethurst on Tuesday 17 November from 6.30pm.

By Portal Admin - 22nd November 2020 - Back to News

Latrobe City Libraries and East Gippsland Shire Libraries, supported by Penguin Random House, are presenting a free online author talk with Sue Smethurst on Tuesday 17 November from 6.30pm.

Author Sue Smethurst is an award-winning author and journalist who has spent more than twenty years working in TV, magazines and radio

Remarkable true story

In ‘The Freedom Circus’, Sue Smethurst tells the remarkable true story of the Horowitz family and the circus that saved their lives during the Holocaust. "I genuinely believe that to shape a better future we need to understand our past and where we came from. In my case, this really began as a family history project. I wanted my children to understand their heritage and how they came to be here," Ms Smethurst said.

"I knew a skeleton version of how my grandmother-in-law Mindla Horowitz survived the Holocaust but not the entire story, and as she ticked into her 90’s I felt a sense of urgency that we needed to record this before she took her secrets to the grave. I knew if I didn’t, I’d regret it when she was gone. But, it very quickly became so much more than the few pages of family history tucked away for a rainy day that I first imagined."

Story of overcoming odds

Reminiscent of ‘The Greatest Showman’ and ‘Schindler’s List’, ‘The Freedom Circus’ will have you gripped to the very last page and is an important new chapter in Australia’s Holocaust history. It is an amazing true story of hope, love, persecution and the power of laughter.

"These are themes that have touched us all at some stage, but especially this year I think. It is very much a story of overcoming the odds, and how a split second decision can change your fortunes in an instant, it is also a story about rebuilding and starting over, being able to build a life in the shadow of tragedy and terror," Ms Smethurst said.

Reaching the local audience

Sue Smethurst is a Morwell-born writer who has talked at Latrobe City Libraries to promote her other books. She also supported the library service’s Libraries Change Lives campaign. "Although I’m not able to be there in person this time, I’m delighted that the library service from my hometown and the Gippsland region are hosting this event. Reaching a local audience is important," Ms Smethurst said.

The author talk will be held via Zoom. Tickets are available at Eventbrite's The Freedom Circus'.

Pictures from Eventbrite website.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com

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