Author Events with Tess Merlin
Tess Merlin, author, speaker, editor is an active member of the literary community. She regularly speaks on panels and runs workshops at writers’ festivals, libraries and bookstores.
Events with Tess Merlin
Upcoming events
Sisters in Crime
Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor’s Writers in Residence Series
Saturday 17th October 2026
1.30pm – 3.50pm
Afternoon Tea
Brisbane Square Library 266 George Street Brisbane City, QLD
Everyone is invited to attend the Sisters in Crime Queensland 2026 Crime Writing Showcase where Tess Merlin and a talented group of local authors will be speaking about their latest releases.
Join us for afternoon tea, author meet and greet, book signings and a spine-tingling crime author panel. Queensland’s most talented writers will share tips on the dark art of crafting murder and mystery in mudflats and on pristine beaches, in swanky apartments, lush hinterland, close-knit country towns and secretive suburbia.
Featuring: Harrie Blake, T.M. Clark, January Gilchrist, Georgia Harper, Joanna Jenkins, Tess Merlin, Nikki Mottram, Chris Robbins, Carla Salmon, Edwina Shaw & Shailee Thompson.
Please share the invitation with your friends and come along for a fun afternoon.
This event is co-hosted by Sisters in Crime and the Lord Mayor’s Writer in Residence Program. Books will be sold by Books at Stones.
Bookings via Eventbrite
Events with Tess Merlin
Recent Events
Author on the Sidewalk
Saturday 8th August 2026
10am – 1pm
Books@Stones Stones Corner
Come and chat with Tess about her exciting new release…. or one of her earlier books… or books in general!
Set in Australia and Italy and boldly hitting the shelves wearing nothing more than an Italian flag and hand gesture, this book and author have a lot to say about identity, names and titles. Free bookings are required for what promises to be a fun and interactive conversation.
Readers will be transported to Italy with Luca and thrust headlong into unravelling this dangerous mystery with him.
For readers of Crime, Romance, Mystery and Family Saga.
HTAA QHTA Conference Speaker
9 July 2026 at 9.40am
State Library Qld.
HTAA Conference 2026 Many Stories, Many Voices
July 8–9 · State Library Queensland, Brisbane
Hosted by Queensland History Teachers Assn
Zillmere Library
18th July 2026
As part of the Lord Mayor’s Writers in Residence Events, Tess Merlin speaking with readers about her historical novel Red Dirt Blue Lights
10-11am
Free Bookings Essential
Bookings
5th Birthday Celebrations: Guest Author 27 June 2026
Wimberley & Co Books Goomeri
Tess was in conversation with January Gilchrist and a very involved and interactive group of people who attended this event. The level of interaction was a perfect match for the themes and concepts sourrounding this book!
Discussing Identity, Art and Creative Risk.
11-12.30pm
Workshop: Monday 4th May, 11-12.30pm
Red Room at Rosetta Books
Writing with Sensitivity and Respect to ICIP (Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property) Protocols.
Books@Stones Guest Author
January 2026
As guest author at Books@Stones on 28th Jan 2026, Tess answered questions from the book lovers at Stones Corner about Red Dirt Blue Lights and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the wonderful people in the book club group. There was so much love and beautiful feedback for Red Dirt Blue Lights! Thank you Karen and Michael at Books@Stones.
Stage Page and Screen on ABC Radio
November 2025
Tess was a guest on ABC Radio talking Stage Page and Screen with Ellen Fanning on Drive – Friday 28th Nov 2025. If you missed the chat you can catch up on the ABC Listen app.
Love Your Book Store Day
October 2025
On Saturday 11th October, Tess spent the morning chatting with readers at Wimberley & Co Books at Goomeri and the delightful team.
Queensland Literary Awards
September 2025
Red Dirt Blue Lights was a finalist at the 2025 Queensland Literary Awards People’s Choice Book of the Year held at the Brisbane State Library on 26th September.
Cherbourg Launch of Red Dirt Blue Lights during NAIDOC Week
July 2025
‘As part of NAIDOC Week celebrations at The Ration Shed, Cherbourg.
