The Red Witch book launch

On Saturday 28th of May 2022 the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers' Centre celebrated the launch of our good friend, Nathan Hobby's, biography 'The Red Witch: a biography of Katharine Susannah Prichard.' Many friends of the centre came along on the sunny Saturday afternoon to share in Nathan's accomplishment.

The event was filled with fun and laughter and wonderful speeches by Elizabeth Lewis, our Chairperson, and Glen Phillips, KSP Writers' Centre's Patron and Life Member. Thank you to all who attended. We especially thank those who volunteered their time and Cr. Jo Cicchini from the Shire of Mundaring for attending and for the Shire of Mundaring for their support.

A quote from Nathan Hobby: "I’ve felt the KSP Writers’ Centre has been a community cheering me on for eight years while I’ve been writing this book and it’s been so encouraging. I thank you for welcoming me into your community and for your interest in my work. I've been so lucky as a biographer to have Katharine’s Place as a physical reality connecting me to her story. Now it means so much to have launched my book at her house."

If you couldn't make it to the event don't worry! We will be hosting an author talk with Nathan Hobby for Writing WA's 2022 Love to Read Local week on June 10. Nathan will be joined by the Chairperson of the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers' Centre, Elizabeth Lewis, to talk through all the highlights (and the surprises and challenges) of writing the biography. There will also be time for a Q&A with Nathan at the end.

The KSP Foundation will also be giving away a free KSP Writers' Centre one-year membership — to be in the chance to win, just register and attend the event, and we will contact you by email if you win. If you are already a member, then your membership will be extended by one year!

About the book

Through meticulous archival research and historical detective work, Nathan Hobby reveals many unknown aspects of Prichard's life, including the likely identity of the mysterious lover who influenced her deeply in her twenties, her withdrawal from politics during her remarkable five-year literary peak and an intimate friendship with poet Hugh McCrae. Lively and detailed, The Red Witch is a gripping narrative alert to the drama and tragedy of Prichard's remarkable life.

“A revealing account of Prichard’s thrilling life and a sensitive tribute to one of literary Australia’s most curious founding figures... Anyone who still believes Australian literature only began mid-20th century with male figures such as Patrick White needs to read this informative and engrossing work.” Books & Publishing.

You can purchase our copy of the book here.

About the author

Nathan Hobby is a Perth author, librarian and honorary research fellow at the University of Western Australia. His novel The Fur (Fremantle Press 2004) won the TAG Hungerford Award. He blogs at nathanhobby.com.

To keep up to date on all KSP events visit our website.

The author talk with Nathan Hobby event is brought to you courtesy of Love to Read Local Week and the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, with thanks to Writing WA. The KSP Writers' Centre is primarily funded by the Shire of Mundaring, which makes free community events like our book launch possible. We gratefully thank the Shire for their support.