An Evening with Astrid Scholte and Lili Wilkinson

Join us at Kinokuniya for our last book event of the year to celebrate two spellbinding new releases: Fallen Beauty, a haunting YA fantasy retelling from internationally bestselling and award-winning author Astrid Scholte, and Lavender & Hemlock, a darkly enchanting sapphic romantasy from award-winning author Lili Wilkinson.

In conversation with Annie McCann, Astrid and Lili will explore the magic, romance and darker secrets at the heart of their latest novels. From art, obsession and dangerous bargains to questions of identity, loyalty and the complexities of good and evil, discover the inspirations behind these captivating stories and the richly imagined worlds their authors have brought to life.

A Q&A and book signing with both authors will follow the conversation.

Date: Tuesday, 1 December 2026

Time: 6:30pm arrivals for a 7pm conversation start, followed by a Q&A and book signings

Tickets: $10 per person (+ GST and Humanitix fee), redeemable on the night towards any book purchase.

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ABOUT FALLEN BEAUTY

Eighteen-year-old Thorelea Winyard has lived her life imprisoned in a tower, forced to paint dead animals – until one comes back to life.

Thrust into court life, she learns the king and queen's centuries-long reign is sustained by the magic of the court painter – a magic that has awakened in Thorelea, binding her to the throne. There, she meets Prince Kelter, the court's only other mortal. Desperate for immortality to join the kingdom's war, he offers her a bargain: Paint his portrait, and he'll help her escape.

But as their secret meetings turn into something more, they must face the monstrous realities of Thorelea's power – and the choice it demands between love and freedom.

ABOUT LAVENDER & HEMLOCK

Housemaid Tansy’s only duties are to tend to old Lady Aster and care for their quaint, peaceful, isolated seaside cottage – the Oubliette. Tansy can’t remember the last time she left…or when she arrived.

Merit is a Carrion Knight. A servant of the dark entity the Unmaker, she has been raised to be a monster. But when she’s wounded during a routine raid, she stumbles through a mysterious door… and finds herself tumbling into the Oubliette.

When the two meet, an instant connection forms, and a crack appears in Oubliette’s perfect facade. As the bond between Merit and Tansy grows and powerful feelings rise to the surface, Tansy must question not only what she wants, but who she is. Because the origins of this charming world are darker than she could imagine – and the key to uncovering them might lie with Tansy herself.

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Astrid Scholte is the internationally bestselling and award-winning author of fantasy novels including Four Dead Queens, The Vanishing Deep and the League of Liars duology. When she’s not writing, she works in film and animation production on such movies as James Cameron’s Avatar, Lilo & Stitch and Wicked.

Lili Wilkinson is the award-winning author of more than twenty books for children and teenagers, including Unhallowed Halls, Deep is the Fen, A Hunger of Thorns, After the Lights Go Out, The Erasure Initiative and Bravepaw. Lili established the Inky Awards at the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing, and lives in Melbourne with her partner, child, dog and three chickens.

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ABOUT THE HOST

Annie McCann is an Indonesian Australian author and emcee from Western Sydney. Founder of multiple literary networks and publisher of multiple short stories, Annie is passionate about representation in books, media and pop culture and works tirelessly to bridge the gap in the creative space. Fofky's Reader's Choice award-winning My Harimau King is her debut novel.