ACTRESS turned novelist Judy Nunn may be better known for her long-running role in Australia's hit soap Home and Away but she has always loved writing.

The actress played Ailsa Stewart for more than a decade, but Ms Nunn visited Ipswich to spread the word of her new career and latest book, Elainne.

The book is based in the southern canefield estate called Elainne in Bundaberg and follows the Durham family as their secrets come to the surface during the 1960s.

The novelist, who has sold more than a million copies of her books, recalled fond memories of working with Ray Meagher who plays Alf Stewart.

She said working alongside her co-star was like having two husbands.

"Ray and I were and always will be great buddies. He's a very good mate of mine and my husband's. While we were making Home and Away it was rather like having two husbands because we knew each other so well," she said.

She read a sample of her book to an enthralled audience at the Barry Jones Auditorium, before signing copies in the Ipswich Library.

Fans lined up for 30 minutes to meet the novelist and chat to her about the book.

Long before her days on Home and Away, Ms Nunn developed her love for writing.

"In other words I've wanted to write and act. My books are of the greatest importance to me. It's a whole new wonderful career, but I still love both," she said.

"They are creative processes that are very different."

Ms Nunn said the apparently youthful looking cast which graced the screens of the soap were a sign of the times

"From the promos I've seen of it there are a lot of bare-chested beefy boys, muscle men," she said.

"I actually think the demographic they are heading to is the early 20s.

"What they keep doing like clever people like Kylie Minogue and Madonna, they reinvent themselves so they don't go stale."