Library – G. B. Ralph

Book tropes: a shorthand between writers and readers? (Event)

“You have my attention, tell me more!” What book tropes make you say that? A few of my favourites from the mystery and romance genres: I’m leading a discussion on book tropes at the library on Monday evening. I’ll be asking if they’re a useful tool for writers to communicate with readers or if they’re…

G. B. Ralph

3 Feb 2026

Writing

Author, Books, Event, Library, Palmerston North, Palmerston North City Library, Tropes

One Book, One Community 2026: Murder on Milverton Square

An entire town is reading my book this March! Murder on Milverton Square has been selected for Masterton’s One Book, One Community event culminating in an evening with the author (i.e. me!) at the Masterton District Library where I shall answer for my (literary) crimes. What’s “One Book, One Community”? It’s an excellent initiative that…

G. B. Ralph

27 Jan 2026

Writing

Books, Cosy mystery, Cozy mystery, Event, Library, Masterton, Milverton Mysteries, New Zealand, The Milverton Mysteries

2025 Writing Highlights: Performing

I’m a regular at the Palmerston North City Library, often going there to write, so when the librarians asked if I’d be willing to feature in a video, of course I had to say yes! To quote my video self, “just being in the library is inspiring, being surrounded by books and knowing that every…

G. B. Ralph

20 Dec 2025

Writing

Author, Books, Highlights, Library, Palmerston North City Library, Video, Writing

2025 Writing Highlights: Hosting

Introducing MC Ralph – your book launch host and author panel chair! As we know from highlight #2, I love to chat. But what’s better (i.e. less stressful) than being faced with a curly question and frantically attempting to articulate an intelligent and interesting answer on the spot? Asking them, of course! I was delighted…

G. B. Ralph

14 Dec 2025

Writing

Authors, Books, Event, Highlights, Hosting, Library, New Zealand, Panel

What the library means to me (video!)

“OK, give us a goofy grin while slowly lowering your books… Yes! Perfect, just like that.” Those weren’t my instructions but that’s what we ended up with! I had fun filming around the Palmerston North City Library though was clearly starting to lose the plot by the time we wrapped. Watch the video After much…

G. B. Ralph

26 Nov 2025

Writing

Author, Books, Interview, Library, New Zealand, Palmerston North, Palmerston North City Library, The Milverton Mysteries, Video

A brief debrief of the Local Readers and Authors Day 2025

Local Readers and Authors Day at the Palmerston North City Library was a hit and I had a great time chairing the first event of the day! Romance panel It was initially a mystery to me why I – G. B. Ralph, primarily a mystery author – had been asked to chair this romance panel.…

G. B. Ralph

18 Nov 2025

Reading, Writing

Author event, Authors, Books, Event, Library, Palmerston North City Library, Readers, Romance

Local Readers and Authors Day 2025

Love is in the air! I’ll be chairing the romance panel at the Local Readers and Authors Day at Palmerston North City Library next weekend, chatting with A.J. Lancaster, Carole Brungar, and Sean Monaghan about their brand new romance novels. I’ll be asking them about subgenres, tropes, settings, writing something new, their readership, writing process,…

G. B. Ralph

8 Nov 2025

Reading, Writing

Authors, Event, Library, New Zealand, Palmerston North City Library, Reading, Romance, Writing

On the New Books shelf at the library: Fright on Stage Right

My latest Milverton Mystery, Fright on Stage Right, is in such delightfully despicable company on the New Books shelf at the library! I can’t wait to get stuck into Everyone in This Bank is a Thief, the latest Ernest Cunningham novel from Benjamin Stevenson… If you want to read these books for yourself but your…

G. B. Ralph

17 Oct 2025

Writing

Books, Ernest Cunningham, Fright on Stage Right, Library, Mystery, New Book, Paperbacks, The Milverton Mysteries

Behind the scenes: author interview at the library

As an author, I have plenty of time to consider and edit my words before they’re ever made public. My typical day is so far from getting interviewed in person (in the middle of a busy library!) and being expected to give coherent responses on the spot. But when the Palmerston North City Library asked…

G. B. Ralph

14 Jul 2025

Writing

Author, Author interview, Behind the scenes, Filming, Library, Palmerston North City Library

Book launch: Against the Grain by Bing Turkby

You may say it’s only fair, but I call it revenge! Fellow cosy mystery author Bing Turkby did a wonderful job helping me launch my latest book – Death in Douglas Glade – and now he’s roped me into doing the same for him in return. I would say I’m outraged, but I am actually…

G. B. Ralph

10 Jul 2025

Writing