I had the pleasure last week of attending a dinner to celebrate International School Libraries Month. Our charming guest speaker was local Bendigo author Glenda Millard. Glenda is a talented author and a thoroughly delightful and charming woman who gave us an insight into why she writes such character driven books that radiate charm and warmth. Glenda spoke about her childhood and her teenage years and we learnt where many of her stories have come from. If you have not read any of Glenda’s books, seek them out, especially her Kingdom of Silk series beginning with The Naming of Tishkin Silk. Its target audience is 8 -11 year olds but it is a story that will delight people of all ages. Her novel A Small Free Kiss in the Dark was named an Honour Book in this year’s CBCA Book of the Year Awards and is for lower secondary students. It is a must read.