Over 70 indie authors, bookish merch and an after-dark soirée: what to expect at Unbound Pages

Posted on 8 October, 2026

When Krystal Moon decided to create a bookish event celebrating Australian indie authors, she wanted it to be something that all readers could enjoy.

So, Unbound Pages was hatched – an all-day event dedicated to Australian independent literature taking place in the heart of Belconnen on Saturday 6 February 2027.

“It’s for readers, by a reader,” explains Krystal. “We will have any sort of fiction you can think of.”

“We have romance, sci-fi, high fantasy, romantasy, sports romance, dark romance, YA and a little bit of everything in between. I, and a lot of other people, love to read different genres, and I wanted to be able to grab everyone and get them all in one place.”

Krystal’s love of reading began as a form of escape. Experiencing postpartum depression after having her second baby, she says that it was discovering the power – and magic – of a good book that helped her through a difficult time in her life.

“I had a fantastic first baby and then my second baby didn’t sleep and cried a lot; so, while I was up at night, it was a way for me to escape,” she explains.

“Then I just fell in love with it, and I haven’t stopped. Between 2024 and the end of last year, I’ve read 160 books!”

After falling down a reading rabbit hole, Krystal – who also works full-time in law – started her bookstagram account @krystal.who.reads.books and began exploring the works of indie Australian authors.

 

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She travelled to Brisbane to meet K E Barden (the romance fantasy author that Krystal says was the original white rabbit that led her into this world), and quickly realised that while Canberra has a passionate bookish community, there was nothing in the city dedicated to celebrating indie authors.

With her background in events management, she decided to change that.

“I love to support small businesses, and I found that independent authors are like small businesses but in books – so it was everything I loved all in one,” explains Krystal.

The resulting event is 12 hours dedicated to books.

Beginning with an independent creator showcase, Unbound Pages is divided into two parts. From 10 am until 4 pm, over 70 indie authors will gather in the UC Refectory to host panel discussions and meet with readers. Including local authors like Sarah Biggerstaff and Brendan Arnold, the list includes other national names like K E Barden, Ash Tough, and Jade May.

The morning session will also include a marketplace featuring a curated collection of indie authors and artisanal bookish merchandisers – including the Bookmark Revolution and Shelf Indulgence – with limited-edition items available for purchase.

Then, when the sun goes down, the After Dark Literary Soirée will transform the venue into a ballroom straight out of a fantasy novel.

“It’ll be catered, there will be a drinks package, local music and a lot of the authors will be attending as well so it’s a nice way to meet them in a more relaxed environment,” explains Krystal.

“I love to dress up and I love a gown. You can do black tie, but when else are you going to wear chainmail, the ears or crowns? It’s just a fun thing to do!”

Unbound Pages is just one of the book events sweeping Canberra in early 2027, joining hamlet. Literature Expo and the Beyond This World Ball. Krystal is thrilled to see Canberra’s bookish community growing at such a rapid rate and embracing events.

She hopes that Unbound Pages not only grows TBRs and sparks conversations but also connects the bookish community with new authors and like-minded readers.

“Mostly I want people to find smaller authors,” says Krystal. “It’s really hard to find independent books in Canberra, so I want to share my love of these books with other people.”

“We’re all here; we just need to become a community and embrace it.”