The stars may come out in force for the launch of Southern Scribes’ newest book.

After all, what could be more fitting and romantic than launching a poetic book about the sky at a Milky Way-lit soirée?

This was one of the many ideas Esperance Library and Information Service manager Jayne Arnold gave the Fitzgerald Coast writers’ group when she addressed its latest meeting on Saturday, June 27, at Hopetoun.

Southern Scribes member Helen Taylor said Mrs Arnold was invited to address the group’s meeting after they realised that some members’ novels were not listed as part of the State Library’s catalogue.

Mrs Taylor said the scribes, who include about 15 writers from Ravensthorpe, Jerdacuttup, Hopetoun and West River, had wanted help to find out how to better publicise their many works, especially seeing as they were working on their latest book, Sky Larks.

The nearly finished book features poetry and prose matched with original paintings, photography and digital manipulations.

“Sky Larks is the last book in our trilogy of land, sea and sky, and we’d really love it to do well when it’s launched in November - everyone involved has put an awful lot of their heart and soul into this project,” Mrs Taylor said.

Fellow scribe and former Esperance Express journalist, Bettina Bowling, said Mrs Arnold had left the scribes feeling really “fired-up” about the options for the book’s launch, including separate launches in Esperance, the Fitzgerald Coast, and perhaps Albany.

“Jayne really threw open the door of choice for us, suggesting that we think outside the square and maybe hold the launch at the beach under fairy lights, perhaps linking with other creative types from the region to showcase what the Fitzgerald Coast has to offer, and to use every advertising avenue to our best advantage,” Ms Bowling said.

“She really made it seem like an exciting thing to be doing, so we’re hopeful our neighbours in Esperance will feel the same way too! And the book’s going to really surprise a few people; it’s pretty diverse and innovative.”

Mrs Arnold has pencilled in Southern Scribes to showcase its members’ publications at the Esperance Public Library for a week early in November, which is planned to coincide with the Esperance Sky Larks launch.

“With the proper staging and a big beach bonfire and some singers, the book launch could be fantastic,” Mrs Arnold said.

She had really enjoyed meeting the scribes, she said.

“Being able to network is a great opportunity – it has benefits for everyone living in the south coast.”

Mrs Arnold also suggested the scribes collaborate on other projects with Esperance’s Bijou Theatre and Recherché Writers.

This could include writing scripts for performance by Bijou or Fitzgerald Coast actors about life in the region before, during and after the Ravensthorpe nickel mine, whose mothballing by BHP Billiton earlier this year has had a huge impact on the Fitzgerald Coast.

Mrs Arnold said she thought the mine had been as important to the region as newland farming had been fifty or so years ago.

Ms Bowling said it was refreshing for the scribes, many of whom had lost close friends to other regions after the mine’s closure or were otherwise disadvantaged, to have the book launch to which to look forward. One scribe, whose work is in Sky Larks and whose husband had worked at the mine, had left Hopetoun soon after the closure.

“So the book’s a really nice link that will preserve the memories we share of our time spent together as scribblers and scribes.”