Three new books to launch at Kincumber

like her to leave the serious investigating to him, but when it comes to Birdie and her determination, he’s got Buckley’s chance.

Birdie has to contend with shady council members, a sleazy film producer, an intriguing crime boss, a weekend stopover in Terrigal, shoulder pads and her own heart as she and her friends try and discover what happened to her beloved uncle.

Originally from southwest Sydney, Kaye has lived on the Central Coast for just over 20 years.

She lives with her husband and three children and has experience teaching in primary, secondary and tertiary settings.

She currently teaches secondary English and lectures at the University of Newcastle’s Ourimbah campus.

Her great aunt was an

Olympian, her dad invented Pavlova Magic and in her spare time she paints pictures on the wall.

Her first published work, Jack’s Bike, featured in The NSW School Magazine and her short story, And We Run, features in BAD Sydney WestWords Crime Anthology. “Because I have three jobs, I have to really focus on my writing, which I do, religiously, one day a week,” she said.

“I also write when I can on weekends and during the school and uni holidays.

“In the Christmas holidays I wrote 40,000 words, which is about half a novel.

“I wrote Girl Detectives Just Wanna Have Fun while we were in and out of lockdown, there were bushfires and Trump was in power.

“The world around us was overwhelming.

“I wanted people to be able to escape their troubles and get lost in a fun story, a slice of romance and a bit of a mystery to solve.

“Plus, the 80s was such a great moment in history to drop Birdie and her friends into.”

Also launching their books on the night are L.L. Hunter and Hazel Paton.

L.L. Hunter is the bestselling author of more than 50

Rocwater to headline at Brackets and Jam

published works.

Her novel House of Fire and Blood is an epic fantasy romance about two babies, born with the blood of witches – one of darkness, one of light.

A former high school teacher of English, modern history and languages, Hazel Paton but now turns her hand to storytelling.

Her novel, The Missing Years, tells the story of two brothers – a priest and a detective in the bleak famine of Paris and the relative abundance of rural France as they face two enemies – the occupying Germans and their own past. The launch will take place on Thursday, June 1, at Kincumber Library from 6pm to 7.15pm with doors opening at 5.30pm. For more details see the Words on the Waves website.

Terry Collins

Aerial Spraying of Bitou Bush

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is planning to conduct aerial spraying of Bitou Bush using Metsulfuron Methyl 600WG. This program will occur for one day (weather permitting) between Thursday June 1 and Wednesday June 28 2023, in Bouddi National Park along the coastline from Macmasters Beach to Lobster Beach.

Visitors are advised that the reserve will be closed from 6am till 5pm the day of spraying.

Signs will be posted notifying people of the exact date and time of closures.

For more information, please contact the Girrakool NPWS office on (02) 4320 4200.

Brackets and Jam returns to Kincumba Mountain on Saturday, June 3, with the amazing Rocwater band to play two sets.

After more than a decade away, Rocwater returnsto the stage in 2023 for exclusive local shows.

Their spontaneous reunion show in February 2023 at Long Jetty was such a hit with fans, old and new alike, that they couldn’t stop at just one.

Where better to relive the magic all over again than at their old “stomping” ground up Kincumba Mountain, where they spent a week recording their self-titled album back in 2007.

The band holds a deep connection with the beautiful surrounds and mud-brick hall atop the mountain.

With a unique blend of musical genres absorbed into their songs, Rocwater delivers homegrown music that’s both timeless

Tea Cosy Expo

and mature, while entertaining their audiences with an infectious energy and joy.

Their music delivers a sweet blend of flavours – a serve of Beatlesque melody, raw acoustic-rock and the texture of emotive folk ballads, all served on a base of locally-sourced Central Coast blues and roots.

The day will get underway at noon, with Kaijin Solo’s dream band, The Backbeats.

The Backbeats have a unique take on blues-based rock.

Formed recently by guitarist, singer and songwriter Kaijin Solo, the band also includes Rhys Meyer on vocals and keys and Ash Feder on drums.

The Backbeats offer an interplay between the keys and guitar, energised by the drum work of Ash Feder which brings a new fresh sound to the band.

Next on the bill will be Velvet Blue, with Corina Jones on vocals.

Jones has been singing since she was five. Her music teacher father taught her to sing harmonies with the whole family around the old-style piano.

With her mother being a highly talented dancer and singer and her parents performing together as professional entertainers, music was in her blood.

Jones went on to sing professionally with various bands, most notably taking over as a singer in the Rivershack Blues Band after Karise Eden left to go on ( and win) The Voice. She was with Rivershack for four years before forming her own band, Velvet Blue – a sixmember band with two girls on vocal harmonies.

Following COVID lockdowns, Jones formed the new Velvet Blue Trio, with Peter Kavanagh (Kav) on guitar and Larry Daley on percussion.

The Velvet Blue Trio is influenced by the blues, folk and rock traditions and love to throw in a few originals to add some spice.

Rocwater will round out the day with two sets.

Attendees should bring their own picnic, chairs and blanket, with the fun to move inside if raining.