Latest News
• Add My News • Search Old News

Author to talk about road trip novelPresentation of the book Driving Stevie Fracasso’ by Barry Divola. By news@gippsland - 12th April 2021 - Back to News Join author and journalist Barry Divola to hear him discuss his rock-lit road trip novel. Two estranged brothers, one stolen car and a road trip from Austin, Texas to New York in the days leading up to 9/11. What could possibly go wrong?
Barry Divola - author of the book Driving Stevie Fracasso
This is the premise of a new novel ‘Driving Stevie Fracasso’ by Barry Divola who will be in conversation with Claire Halliday for an online author talk on Wednesday 14 April from 6.30pm. The event is free but bookings are a must.
Event that would appeal to fans
For fans of Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About a Boy) and David Nicholls (Us, One Day, Patrick Melrose), this novel is described as a "glorious, music-infused, rollicking road trip novel". Latrobe City Council Mayor, Cr Sharon Gibson said this event would appeal to fans of smart, endearing and funny literature and films.
Latrobe City Council Mayor, Cr Sharon Gibson said, "This is, on paper, a road trip buddy story but the deeper journey takes the characters back to the things they’ve forgotten they need: family and love."
Driving Stevie Fracasso’ a debut novel
Cr Sharon Gibson said, "Barry Divola is an Australian music and arts journalist who writes regularly for Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly and Men’s Style. Perth-based, it’s one positive from our current times that our local audiences are able to join him for this special event. Although he’s published many books, ‘Driving Stevie Fracasso’ is his debut novel."
Barry is in conversation with Claire Halliday, a freelance journalist and author of Things My Mother Taught Me and Things My Father Taught Me. You can read the synopsis of the story here.
Sypnosis of the novel
Rick is a jaded New York music journalist whose life goes south in the space of a single day when he loses his job, his apartment and his long-term girlfriend. But then he gets thrown a lifeline – a paying gig to get the story of forgotten rock legend Stevie Fracasso while driving him from Texas to New York to do a comeback show. One small problem – Rick and Stevie have history – they’re brothers who have not spoken in 30 years.
Rick knows it’s a bad idea. But he’s out of choices. So he gets behind the wheel of a beaten-up 1985 Nissan Stanza and drives towards his destiny. It’s September, 2001. He’s about to find everything he didn’t know he was missing.
Information on the event
This event is brought to you by East Gippsland Shire Libraries, Latrobe City Libraries, Wellington Shire Libraries and West Gippsland Regional Library Corporation. ‘Driving Stevie Fracasso’ by Barry Divola will be presented via Zoom on Wednesday 14 April from 6.30pm. Bookings are essential. Tickets are available for Driving Stevie Fracasso.
Pictures from Latrobe City Council Facebook page.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com

Related Articles- Darren Chester praises Schoolworks’ Big Bairnsdale Book Bazaar celebrating Gippsland authors, illustrators and community love of reading
Federal Member Darren Chester praised Schoolworks Supplies for hosting The Big Bairnsdale Book Bazaar, featuring over 25 Gippsland authors and illustrators, free workshops, and celebrating local creativity, literacy and independent businesses. - Silcocks Hill Road in Toora reduced to single lane for four to six weeks during landslip repairs
Silcocks Hill Road in Toora will operate under single-lane conditions for four to six weeks from August 17 while landslip remediation works are completed, with motorists urged to allow extra travel time. - Marlo's Healeys road timber bridge to be replaced with stronger steel structure built for 100 years
East Gippsland Shire Council will replace Marlo’s ageing Healeys Road timber bridge with a $642,780 steel structure, improving safety, access, load capacity and long-term reliability for local users. - The Nationals' $5 Better Roads Plan promises pothole repairs and long-term maintenance across neglected Gippsland road network
The Nationals' $5 billion Better Roads plan would tackle Gippsland's deteriorating roads, repair one million potholes, restore preventative maintenance and establish Better Roads Victoria for improved standards. - Martin Cameron backs Regional road funding to fix dangerous, neglected Latrobe Valley roads and bridges
A proposed $288 million Country Roads and Bridges program would give Latrobe City $1.5 million annually for four years to repair and upgrade local roads and bridges. - Wellington Shire Council secures $2M for road safety improvements across five Gippsland towns before mid-2027
Wellington Shire Council has secured $2 million for road safety upgrades across Maffra, Stratford, Sale, Wurruk and Heyfield, with works beginning before Christmas and completion expected by mid-2027. - South Gippsland Council highlights Seniors Festival 2026, road safety projects, community initiatives and other updates across shire
South Gippsland Shire Council highlights Seniors Festival events, $2.849 million in road safety funding, a new Nyora public toilet, resilience initiatives, community programs and feedback opportunities across the region. - Bass Coast Shire Council seeks community feedback to shape safer roads through New Road Safety Strategy Plan until 10 September 2026
Bass Coast Shire Council is inviting residents to help shape its new Road Safety Strategy through community workshops and an online survey, aiming to reduce crashes and improve safety for all road users across the shire. - Latrobe City Council schedules 40 kilometres of road upgrades across municipality
Latrobe City Council will resurface 40 kilometres of local roads during 2026/27, including resealing and asphalt works across six communities to improve safety, extend road life and prevent potholes. - Baw Baw Shire Council Annual Report highlights major achievements, $23.9M road investment and community improvements in 2025-26
Baw Baw Shire Council’s 2025-26 Annual Report highlights facility upgrades, more than $400,000 in community grants, a new emergency dashboard and $23.9 million invested in road improvements. - Darren Chester slams Victorian Labor over five-year delay in critical Mallacoota-Genoa Road upgrade despite federal funding
Darren Chester has slammed Victoria's Labor Government over the stalled Mallacoota-Genoa Road upgrade, despite $10m federal funding committed in 2021, saying Gippsland communities have waited five years for promised safety improvements. - Surf Parade shared path moves forward as Bass Coast Shire Council investigates two-way road and carparking design in Inverloch
Bass Coast Shire Council will soon begin construction of the Surf Parade Shared Path in Inverloch, with completion expected by Christmas, while investigating costs and community support for two-way road and carparking.
|
|