Canadian-born Captains Flat author Christina Marino and Bungendore author Zach Quinn both read passages from their books and discussed their writing processes and inspiration at the launch held in the Bungendore library on Saturday.

Marino has written what she describes as a "dystopian, post-apocalyptic novel" aimed at the young adult market.

Her inspiration for the story was the bush, the impact of climate change and the importance of practical skills and looking after the environment.

Titled Community, the book had its genesis in blog form, and examines how a group of young people survive as a group in a world where climate change and ecological collapse have already happened.

"I love bushwalking and I also love fibre crafts," she said. "The original blog started as a way of thinking about how to survive just with the practical skills of working with fibre."

Marino, who works as a librarian in the Bungendore library, said she started writing the blog on her phone at night after her children had gone to bed.

"I then got friends to read it and comment," she said. "Eventually it just took on a life of its own. I didn't really plan the story, I just let myself be absorbed into it to see where it led."

An equally hard theme has been addressed by Bungendore author, ZT (Zach) Quinn in his novel, Sanlundia.

Quinn's experiences working with refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island in 2013 led him to realise there were consequences for everyone when people in power were permitted to exploit others to win political points.

At a broader level, he said it also looked at the plight of refugees around the world.

"If governments do bad things to foreigners, they will start doing bad things to their own people," he said.

The authors cited Margaret Atwood and George Orwell as influences. Quinn said there were "lessons in both ... about what happens when powerful people can do what they want".

Both books are available for loan in all QPRC libraries.