Million-Selling Author Fleur McDonald To Visit Ararat Library

Ararat Rural City Council is delighted to welcome bestselling Australian crime author Fleur McDonald to Ararat Library on Friday 13 November for an author chat celebrating her latest novel, The Buried.

With 28 fiction novels published and more than one million books sold, McDonald has built a loyal readership through stories that bring together Australian landscapes, country communities, and gripping crime.

Her debut novel, Red Dust, became Australia’s highest-selling debut novel of 2009, launching a writing career that has taken her from rural fiction to bestselling crime. Her first Kalgoorlie novel, The Prospect, spent three weeks at number one on the Australian fiction bestseller list.

Now she is bringing The Buried, the fourth instalment in her bestselling Kalgoorlie series, to Ararat. The lunchtime event will give readers the opportunity to meet McDonald, hear about her life and writing, and have their copy signed.

Mayor Cr Bob Sanders said Council was thrilled to welcome an author whose stories had connected with so many readers. “A million books sold is a pretty impressive achievement, and we’re thrilled Fleur is joining us in Ararat,” Cr Sanders said. “She knows country life, and that comes through in her writing. There’s something special about meeting the person behind a book you’ve enjoyed and hearing how they put it all together.

“If you love a good crime story, or you’ve ever wondered what goes into writing one, come along. It’s a great chance to hear from someone who has made a real success of it.”

McDonald draws on a lifetime of experience in regional Australia. Raised in Orroroo, South Australia, she spent more than 20 years working on the land and now lives in Esperance, Western Australia. Her books have earned a strong following among readers who return for her characters, suspense, and rural settings.

The author chat will be held at Ararat Library from 12pm to 1pm on Friday 13 November 2026. Bookings are necessary. For further information and to access the booking link, visit 
https://www.ararat.vic.gov.au/events/book-launch-buried-fleur-mcdonald