Meet the Author: Gillian Wills - North Lakes

Next date: Thursday, 12 November 2026 | 06:30 PM to 07:30 PM

Join music writer Gillian Wills as she reveals the story behind her memoir Elvis and Me: How a Musician and a Broken Racehorse Rescued Each Other.

At 56 years of age, Gillian Wills bought her first horse on a whim. Elvis was emaciated, scarred, unruly, saddle-phobic and imbued with attitude.

Elvis had been pitched to Gillian as a quiet, beginner's 'I'll-do-whatever-you-want-kind-of-horse', one that could hardly summon up the energy to trot. But the truth was very different.

Rehabilitating Elvis through natural horsemanship methods (horse whispering) with the help of a laconic yet seriously gifted trainer introduced Gillian to a whole new world where music was incidental and daily discussions centred on the weather, and how to tell good grass from bad.

Gillian was supposed to help Elvis, but instead he led her on an unexpected trail of self-discovery.

Bookings are required for this free event and is suitable for adults. Arrive 6:00 PM for a 6:30 PM-7:30 PM event.

Gillian Wills appears courtesy of Hawkeye Publishing and will have copies of her books available for sale and signing at our event.

About the author

Gillian Wills is a graduate and an Honorary Associate of The Royal Academy of Music. She is an author, arts writer and music reviewer who has published with The Australian, Limelight, Griffith Review, Australian Book Review, InReview and InDailyQueensland.

Gillian has held senior academic positions in the UK and Australia. She lives on the outskirts of Brisbane in Ransome, a semi-rural area, with her artist husband Mostyn Bramley-Moore, three rescue horses, three ducks, a greyhound and a bull arab. Her memoir Elvis and Me was first published in 2016 by Finch Publishing and released in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, America and The UK.

Her debut novel Big Music was released in October, 2024 with Hawkeye Publishing. Elvis and Me: The Second Edition will be released in August through Hawkeye Publishing.