Meet Blake Chapman - Brisbane Square Library

Sometimes it seems the most invaluable stories can be found in the unlikeliest of corners. For all who know Brisbane, McWhirters, a once celebrated department store in Fortitude Valley, is an icon. For Melissa Fagan, it is also the starting point for this remarkable exploration of her mother and grandmother’s lives, and a poignant reminder of the ways in which retail stores and fashion have connected women’s lives across decades. Behind the dusty shop counters of an Art Deco treasure, Fagan discovers both what has been lost and continues to shine. Ultimately this tender exploration of self and family, so exquisitely written, speaks of the ways in which life so often surprises us and of how the legacies of others can truly enrich our own relationships and lives. Melissa Fagan will share her research and discoveries in writing What Will Be Worn: A McWhirters Story in this engaging talk.

Books will be available for purchase on the day, or bring your copy from home for Melissa to sign.

This event is presented as part of the Lord Mayor’s Writers in Residence series.

Weekend parking is available at King George Square Car Park for $5.