Kate Mildenhall is an author, teacher and podcaster and she will join the local audience next week to talk about her latest release, The Mother Fault.

Kate is the guest of MidCoast Libraries at the Zoom author talk next Monday, October 26 from 6pm to 7pm.

Local thriller enthusiasts will be particularly interested as The Mother Fault has been compared to Margaret Atwood's Gilead.

"We're delighted to have Kate join us and share her story, her inspiration for this novel, writing process and character development, among other things," MidCoast Council Libraries manager Chris Jones said.

"We've got plenty of local thriller, dystopic and science fiction fans, but as always these author talks are great for all book lovers."

The Mother Fault's focus is on Mim and missing husband, Ben. No one knows where Ben is, but everyone wants to find him - especially The Department.

And they should know, the all-seeing government body has fitted the entire population with a universal tracking chip to keep them 'safe'.

But suddenly Ben can't be tracked and Mim is questioned, made to surrender her passport and threatened with the unthinkable - her two children being taken into care at the notorious BestLife.

Cornered, Mim risks everything to go on the run to find her husband - and a part of herself, long gone, that is brave enough to tackle the journey ahead.

From the stark backroads of the Australian outback to a terrifying sea voyage, Mim is forced to shuck off who she was - mother, daughter, wife, sister - and become the woman she needs to be to save her family and herself.

Kate's debut novel, Skylarking, was named in Readings Top Ten Fiction Books of 2016 and longlisted for Best Debut Fiction in The Indie Book Awards 2017 and the 2017 Voss Literary Prize.

Kate teaches creative writing to young writers and co-hosts The First Time, a podcast about the first time you publish a book.

The Mother Fault is her second novel.

Kate lives with her partner and two daughters in Hurstbridge, Victoria.

This free event will take place on Zoom and bookings are essential. A link will be sent to ticket-holders on the day of the event.

For more information and for bookings, head to www.midcoastlibraries.com.au/events

WHILE YOU'RE WITH US: