The secret is out – Winning Author’s research revealed

28 February 2017

MEDIA RELEASE

The winner ofthe 2016 Nib Waverley Library Award for Literature will be revealing closely guarded secrets of her research into her recent book Who Bombed the Hilton?

Who Bombed The Hilton? is the terrifying tale of the 1978 bombing outside Sydney’s Hilton hotel – widely regarded as the first act of terrorism on Australian soil and resulted in the death of two garbage collectors and a police officer.

Rachel Landers’ novel details this shocking and high-profile crime which has won her the $20,000 first prize ahead of many other worthy nominations.

Rachel will be interviewed by criminal lawyer and member of the Nib prize committee Suzanne Leal on Thursday 2 March 2017 at the Bondi Pavilion.

The pair will explore the evidence and unravel this complex cold case in forensic detail. Corruption will be exposed, conspiracy theories will be examined, intriguing political involvement will be investigated and a prime suspect revealed.

“I unpicked,and put in chronological order thousands of pieces of paper. I laid out the facts which flew in from dozens of sources from every corner of the world,” Rachel said.

“As they arrived for the first time, unadorned and un-interpreted I painstakingly put the pieces of the puzzle together to reveal the story of what happened.”

Mayor of Waverley, Sally Betts said, “Everyone has heard of the Hilton bombing and knows that the mystery has never been solved.

“There search that went into this book is truly amazing and Rachel is a deserving winner of our Nib prize.

“We are excited about hosting this event as it is a great opportunity for the literary community, general public and those interested in Australian history to attend.”

Now in its 16th year, The Nib is one of Australia’s most prestigious Literary Awards and the only one run by a local council. This award recognises the excellence in research in Australian writing, along with other criteria of literary merit, readability and value to the community.

It is not the first award Rachel Landers has received. The talented author is also an historian and has been recognised for her film-making ability.

The Nib is presented by Waverley Council, and supported by Mark Moran Vaucluse, Gertrude & Alice Bookshop & Café, Friends of Waverley Library (FOWL), Bondi Icebergs Club and the Bondi Junction, North Bondi, and Rose Bay RSL Sub-Branches.

Thursday 2March 2017
6.30–7.30pm
Bondi Pavilion Theatre,
Queen Elizabeth Dr, Bondi Beach
Free
Bookings essential at Eventbrite.com.au