Come along to the magnificent Carrington Hotel in Katoomba to hear me chat about the curious case of Captain Lord and Herbert Stone, the men who watch the Titanic sink.

A Curious High Tea takes place at The Carrington Hotel in Katoomba. The afternoon begins at 2PM with the guest speaker followed by High Tea from 2.45PM. Tickets are $45 each for the Talk and Tea. For $65 you can include an individual psychic reading at select events. Any further question please email us at hello@curioushightea.com.

For further information and tickets click here. 

55+ Club is held at Paddington Library on the first Wednesday of each month, and is a chance for over 55's to have the Library to themselves and enjoy guest speakers.

This month, join ex-lawyer, teacher and novelist David Dyer to learn about the tragic circumstances surrounding the failed disaster response for the Titanic. An obsession with the Titanic led David to the story of the Californian, and the fact that its crew might have been able to assist in averting the tragedy.

Midnight Watch is ultimately a novel about the roles individuals play in shaping history and David Dyer has creatively inventively re-imagined the events surrounding the Titanic's sinking. 

Free event, bookings essential.

For bookings and information, click here or telephone Jenn Martin: 9391 7931

Nab your reservation to Ubud’s highly-lauded, hot-ticket restaurant, Locavore. An intimate lunch, with an unforgettable degustation, this is an imagination-meets-fine-dining mash-up, where foodie dreams collide with the fine minds of our Festival favourites.

With SUKI KIM, LOUISE DOUGHTY and DAVID DYER

“Talent is only 10%. The rest is obsession,” says poet Selima Hill. For these writers, obsession – be it historical, cultural, or physical – has played a defining role. What happens when you become immersed in a subject you can’t let go – or won’t let you go?

Come along and listen to DJENAR MAESA AYU, HANNAH KENT, NINO RICCI, DAVID DYER talk about the obsessions that drove their writing.

A literary fixture in Australia and the USA, this unique evening celebrates the lost art of letter writing. A handpicked selection of Festival guests will share ‘A Letter To The Thing I Wish I’d Written’. Candid, intimate, funny, moving – and absolutely for your ears only.

For more information and tickets, click here.

Deep in the dark night of April 15, 1912, as the Titanic sailed through the still waters of iceberg alley, there was a ship just miles away – a ship that did nothing to help. A treat for lovers of a good story, David Dyer talks about his book, The Midnight Watch, taking us on board the SS Californian to find out just what happened that fateful night

For tickets and more information, click here.

Sometimes history can be more astounding than fiction. These writers discuss the struggle to sift fact from myth, and balance the tension between story and truth, without losing the plot!

Come along and listen to writers David Dyer, Seno Gumira Ajidarma and Louise Doughty.

For information and tickets click here.

I'm very pleased to be talking about the Titanic, the Californian and The Midnight Watch - with a little bit of local history thrown in - at the Kiama Readers' Festival this weekend. An early start (9am on Saturday), so bring along a hot coffee and croissant to keep yourself warm as I talk about ice fields, white rockets and the men who watched Titanic sink.

For more information click here.

For bookings click here.

'Bringing to Past to Life' in the 'Ian' Marquee: David Dyer and Rod Jones talk about their recent historical fiction novels.

Let's take it back a step. Or two. Or two hundred. Why is historical fiction so important? What does it suggest about our future? Enjoy a genre chat with Sarah Drummond, David Dyer and Kate Forsyth.

Come along to the Brisbane Writers Festival and hear me chat with the wonderful Ashley Hay about the ship that watched the Titanic sink, my debut novel The Midnight Watch, the art of writing and researching, and other threads from the rich fabric of life.

For information and tickets, click here.

Research, ethical factors, and a blur between fact and fiction: author David Dyer will share his tips for writing stories set in history.

For more information and tickets, click here.

I'm looking forward to talking about books, Titanic and The Midnight Watch at Warilla Library, my childhood local library. I have such fond memories of this place! 

The event is free, but bookings are essential. Phone: 4297 2522.

Online information and bookings here.

Light refreshments will be provided.

The Midnight Watch
1:45–2:45pm | Town Hall Theatre | $10
David Dyer has travelled the world in a variety of merchant ships. His life-long obsession with The Titanic and the ship that failed to respond to its distress signals – The Californian – led him to write his critically acclaimed psychological thriller The Midnight Watch. He discusses his retelling of this famous maritime disaster with Suzanne Leal. 

Past Tense: Compelling Historical Fiction
11:30am–12:30pm | Town Hall Theatre | $10 | book here
Research, imagination and empathy are necessary ingredients for great historical fiction. Rod Jones has written about motherhood through the 1900s, Kate Forsyth about the German Resistance during WWII and David Dyer about the Titanic. They discuss their work with Sharelle Fellows. 

For tickets click here.

For information about the Mudgee Readers' Festival click here.

For a festival program click here.

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Author of The Midnight Watch

The sinking of the Titanic continues to fascinate. Less well known is the story of the SS Californian that could have gone to her aid but didn’t. The Midnight Watch is a dramatic, compelling novel that brings to life what happened on this mysterious ship during those fateful hours.

Venue:  Hornsby Library
Location: 28-44 George Street, Hornsby
Time: 6.30pm
Cost: $5.00 including light refreshments
Contact:  Hornsby Library
Phone:  9847 6614

For information and bookings click here:

Join David Dyer in conversation with Phil Brown for the Brisbane launch of his gripping historical novel The Midnight Watch.

As the Titanic was sinking slowly in the wretchedly cold North Atlantic, she could see the lights of another ship on the horizon. She called for help by Morse lamp and the new Marconi telegraph machine, but there was no response. Just after midnight the Titanic began firing distress rockets. The other ship, the Californian, saw these rockets but didn't come. Why not?

In store at Avid Reader Bookshop.193 Boundary Street, West End QLD 4101. Telephone: (07) 3846 3422

For tickets and information click here.

From Riverbend Books' website: "We are very excited that David Dyer, author of the wonderful The Midnight  Watch, will be in conversation with our very own Book club coordinator, Julie Kordic on Tuesday the 19th of July at 6.30pm. Come along to hear about this epic tale which was received so enthusiastically our book clubs!"

For more information, click here.

• Phone: 07 3899 8555
• General Email: info@riverbendbooks.com.au
• Events: events@riverbendbooks.com.au

The sinking of the Titanic is one of the most famous catastrophes of the 20th Century, which continues to fascinate to this day. Much less known is the story of the ship that could have gone to her aid but didn’t. The Midnight Watch is a dramatic, compelling novel that brings to life what happened on this mysterious ship during those fateful hours.

Author David Dyer is well placed to tell the enigmatic tale of the Californian, the ship that failed to come to the Titanic’s aid. He has a deep knowledge of the Titanic and an abiding passion for her story. This interest is complemented by his own experience working as a ship’s cadet and third officer in the Australian merchant navy. Dyer was also a maritime lawyer for many years at the London legal practice, whose parent firm represented the White Star Line in 1912.

We’ve programmed a series of monthly author talks, created in partnership with the much-loved Newtown bookshop Better Read Than Dead. We let the writers do the talking as we hear from a lively mix of the best local, emerging and best-selling authors.

For information and booking, click here.

Watch Jennifer Byrne and her panel discuss The Midnight Watch on ABC TV, The Book Club, at 10pm Tuesday 21 June. 

Could the Titanic disaster have been averted? Jennifer promises to 'dive deep' to find the answer!

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/firsttuesday/

David Dyer in conversation with Debra Adelaide.

Australian author David Dyer’s debut novel The Midnight Watch is a brilliant exploration of the small human failings that can lead to the greatest disasters. The novel tells the captivating true story of Captain Lord, and others of the ship Californian, whose crewmen saw eight distress rockets fired by the Titanic on that fateful night, but unfathomably failed to act. Join us for a night of extraordinary storytelling.

Cost: free, but bookings essential. 

Bookings via Potts Point Bookshop: 

http://www.pottspointbookshop.com.au/pages/451-NewsEvents

Telephone: 9331 6642

In this talk, historical novelist David Dyer explores the implications of the sinking of the Titanic for the suffragette movement of the early 20th century. In the weeks leading up to the disaster, unruly women had been smashing windows in London, but on the sloping decks of the sinking liner they readily stepped into the lifeboats while brave men stood back. Should women who want the vote still expect the protection of men’s chivalry?

Free, no bookings.

Information: 

Titanic and the Suffragettes: Bookings

When you live in an age of smartphones and infinite distraction, how do you bring the past to life, making it real enough that your readers feel transported? David Dyer’s fascinating debut novel The Midnight Watch is about the night the Titanic sank. American novelist Jami Attenberg's most recent novel Saint Mazie, is set in the Jazz Age, while Sulari Gentill’s series of crime novels featuring a gentleman artist-cum-amateur detective take us back to the 1930s. Together with Michael Williams they share the joys (and inconveniences) of setting fiction in the past.

Bookings: 

Tel: 9250 1988

Animating History Bookings

In this workshop I will encourage participants to explore some of the principles and pitfalls of historical fiction writing. How can we create an authentic sense of place? What should we leave in and leave out? What duty do we owe to the truth? I will discuss passionate pilgrims, narrative telepathy and ask how historical fiction might reflect upon its own process of construction. The emphasis will be on practical writing exercises, using extracts from popular novels as models.

BOOKINGS: 

Tel: 92560 4200

Historical Fiction Workshop Tickets

For general information, go to the SWF website: www.swf.org.au

A talk about The Midnight Watch

Australian author David Dyer’s debut novel The Midnight Watch is a brilliant exploration of the small human failings that can lead to the greatest disasters. The novel tells the captivating true story of Captain Lord, and others of the ship Californian, whose crewmen saw eight distress rockets fired by the Titanic on that fateful night, but unfathomably failed to act. Join us for a night of extraordinary storytelling.

Tickets: $35, including wine and canapes.

Bookings:

email: bluesptbooks@bigpond.com

telephone:  (02) 9956 7056

What's new is old again - at least in this special edition of The Next Big Thing, where we're celebrating fresh voices in historical fiction. Come and meet the latest crop of writers exploring new ways to tell stories set in the past.

The Next Big Thing - Historical Fiction

On the 104th anniversary of the Titanic striking her iceberg, David Dyer talks about The Midnight Watch

David Dyer has a reporter's ear for a story, a detective's nose for motives, and an artist's eye for detail.

The Midnight Watch is a new gripping, factually based, fictionalised story of the events surrounding the sinking of the Titanic.  Dyer's background in the Law, having been with the London legal practice whose parent represented the owners of the Titanic, the Australian Maritime College, and a teacher of English in Sydney, gives him a marvellous platform for such an absorbing work.

Tickets $10 (includes glass of wine).

Hosted on behalf of "the bookshop queenscliff" www.thebookshopatqueenscliff.com

Bookings:

Contact: Marylou Gilbert

E: thebookshopatqueenscliff@gmail.com    Ph: (03) 52584496

Tune in to hear me chat with Jan Goldsmith and David McLean about The Midnight Watch and getting published

Published or Not

Tune in to listen to me chat with Peter Goers on his evening show on 891 ABC Adelaide 

'Evenings' with Peter Goers