7:00pm – 8:00pm

The Art House and Words on the Waves present 

Book Launch with Gina Chick
Hosted by Yael Stone

Gina Chick was the inaugural winner of Alone Australia – the second female and oldest contestant in the history of the popular TV franchise to win. But believe it or not, her life story is even more wild than the 67 days spent alone in the remote Tasmanian bush. With the surprise revelation that Chick is the granddaughter of iconic Australian writer Charmian Clift to the tragic loss of her young daughter, this is Gina Chick’s powerful and deeply moving story.

Words on the Waves Writers Festival and The Art House are so honoured to host this unmissable event to launch Gina’s memoir, We Are The Stars. Gina will be in conversation with actor and climate communicator, Yael Stone; someone with an incredible story in her own right, from a Netflix hit show (Orange Is The New Black) to a climate action startup. They’ve met and declared each other to be soulmates, so this is bound to be one hell of a chat.

The book will be on sale with thanks to Umina Beach Book Nook and Gina will be signing books after the session.

Doors 6:30pm for a 7pm SHARP start.

Note: This event will take place in The Art House Theatre. Seating is allocated. There is a bar onsite with drinks and nibbles available for purchase. Booking is made via our program partner, The Art House Wyong. Their refund policies apply. 

Gina Chick

Gina Chickis a rewilding facilitator, adventurer, writer and speaker. Writing is in Gina Chick’s genes. Her grandmother, Charmian Clift, was an author, essayist and Australia’s first female columnist in the early 60’s. Charmian married George Johnstone (My Brother Jack) and they lived together on Hydra with Leonard Cohen and bohemian expats. Charmian’s teenage indiscretion, an illegitimate daughter, was given up for adoption. Gina’s mum, Suzanne Chick, who, after finally discovering her mother’s identity at 48, wrote her own book, Searching For Charmian, which was shortlisted for the NBC Banjo Award. Gina was one of ten participants of the first series of Alone Australia, made by iTV and screened on SBS in 2023. After 67 days of unforgettable moments of searing vulnerability, Gina was the last person standing, and the second woman to win an Alone solo challenge. Her determination, passion, and love of the natural world endeared her to more than 5.5 million people around Australia.

Yael Stone

Australian actor Yael Stone is best known for playing Lorna Morello in seven seasons of the multi award winning Netflix series, Orange Is the New Black. Most recently she starred in Paramount + series One Night, ABC’s Bay of Fires, Netflix’s Wellmania and multi award winning feature film Blaze.

In Jan 2020 at the height of the Australian bushfires, Yael announced that she would be abandoning her US Green Card, with major impact on her transatlantic film career, returning home to Australia as a symbol of her commitment to reducing CO2 emissions.

Since then Yael founded Hi Neighbour. Hi Neighbour is an organisation that uses solar projects to fund scholarships to help local workers to transition into low carbon jobs.

We Are the Stars

From day one of her wildly unconventional childhood, Gina Chick blazed her own trail, which led her to dance through the hidden world of 90’s Sydney nightlife into the arms of a conman. She fled to the wilderness to find healing, began a wondrous love affair with the deepest lessons life – and death – can offer, and found that all the answers are written in the wisdom of the body and the whirling silence of stars.

We Are the Stars is a magic carpet ride through the exquisite mystery of the human heart. You’ve never read anything like it.

The Art House

The Art House is the centre of arts on the Central Coast. Since opening in 2016, it has become a venue of national significance and was awarded Performing Arts Centre of the Year in 2022, whilst also providing a state-of-the-art performance space for the local community.

Umina Beach Book Nook

A friendly spot for book lovers at beautiful Umina Beach on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Although we’re small we’re packed with the latest new releases, classic reads, a comprehensive kids selection and oodles of lovely gifts and cards. Whether you’re a serious bibliophile or just want an easy holiday read, we can help.