Five bookstagrammers on what not to miss at the Canberra Writers Festival
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With the biggest authors in the country packing their bags and ready to make their way to the capital this week, the Canberra Writers Festival is about to turn the city into a reader’s playground.
With more than 100 events on the program (yes, you read that right!), the only real challenge is figuring out how to clone yourself so you attend them all. Until technology catches up, we’ll have to make a shortlist of events to attend, but where to start?
Sure, we all know the headliners – Trent Dalton, Jane Harper, Em Rusciano, Kathleen Folbigg, Griffin Dunne and dessert queen Melissa Leong – but what about other events you’ll love? The ones you’ll be bragging about discovering first? Enter Canberra’s bookish elite: from the readers who’ve already torn through more than 100 books this year, or the festival die-hards who have been to almost every. single. festival since it began.
We asked some of the city’s most passionate bookstagrammers what they’re most excited for – from swoony romances and cult favourites to twisty thrillers – and their lists might just inspire your next great read (or ten) and the events you simply cannot miss.
Laura from the.life.of.laura
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How many books have you read this year?
I’ve just finished my 107th book this year (wild, I know!)
How many books are on your TBR?
Currently only like 20…which doesn’t feel like enough if you ask me…
What are your niche/favourite genre(s)?
My go-to genres are either thrillers (particularly psychological ones, though I looooove a serial killer story…) or romcom (to balance out the wild thrillers!)
What are you most excited about for the festival?
There are so many things, it’s honestly just so exciting having such a high caliber of authors (Trent Dalton, Hannah Kent, Em Rusciano, Jane Harper…I could keep going!) from so many different genres coming to spend time in Canberra and chat!
It’s definitely the most exciting list of authors I’ve seen in Canberra to date. If I had to pick a couple of sessions I am really looking forward to though I’d say: The Cult’s Around Us, because I listened to the audio book of Cult Bride a couple of months ago and was captivated! Also, that it all happened in Canberra…?!? So I’m just excited to hear Liz chat about it all. I also think the SMUT session is just going to be a wild ride that I cannot wait for!!
What do you love about the Canberra book community?
I feel like I’m so new to it, but I love how much they love reading. I’ve never been in a community that has loved and promoted reading quite like this group and I love it!
Bron from bookishbron
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How many books have you read this year?
Around 55 to 60, I think. I love tracking my reading on a app, but there are always a few that I miss!
How many books are on your TBR?
My TBR is infinite. Every time I visit a bookshop, go to an event, or even log onto social media I add more!
What are your niche/favourite genre(s)?
I read quite broadly across genres and love kids and young adult (YA) books as well as adult fiction, but my niche is that I love to focus on Australian books and stories. Almost all of the books I read each year are by Aussie authors, and within that I do have a special soft spot for Australian YA.
What are you most excited about for the festival?
This is so tricky to limit to a short answer – anyone who has caught my chats on Instagram with authors about the festival will know I can go on and on about everything I’m looking forward to. I love the excitement of a book festival – so many people together for the purpose of celebrating books and reading. I’m really excited this year about the programing presenting a range of content including the CWF Kids & YA Day – I can’t wait to spend the afternoon at the National Museum at the YA sessions in particular.
In terms of sessions and authors, I’m super excited to see some authors in Canberra who I would honestly travel to catch at events if they weren’t here – it’s such a dream to have writers like Maxine Beneba Clarke and Hannah Kent in my home city for the weekend so any of the sessions either of them are doing are top of my list. That said, I also love that so many local Canberra authors (like Lisa Fuller, Emma Pei Yin, Sandy Bigna, and so many more) are on the program – it makes my little Canberra book nerd heart so proud to see them celebrated at the festival!
What do you love about the Canberra book community?
I think we’re really spoiled in Canberra to have wonderful book community, including gorgeous bookshops, fantastic authors, and of course lots of incredible book lovers, many of whom I’m so glad to call my friends. I love how friendly and welcoming everyone is, and how you can always find someone to chat about books with. I’m looking forward to catching up with friends and meeting some new ones, I hope, at the festival!
Sharon from where.the.books.go
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How many books have you read this year?
It’s been a great reading year – I’ve finished 107 books so far and counting.
How many books are on your TBR?
Several hundred, or two bookshelves and a hallway’s worth (i.e. too many to count!)
What are your niche/favourite genre(s)?
I read and love most fiction genres, but I’m really enjoying novels where characters stumble inside their favourite books at the moment (e.g. Fang Fiction, Long Live Evil, A Novel Love Story) – wishful thinking, perhaps?
What are you most excited about for the festival?
For the program, definitely the Masterclasses! We’re so lucky to have talent like Hannah Kent, Heather Rose and Lev Grossman come and share their craft and expertise. A writer’s time is precious, so we’re fortunate they’re generously stepping away from their work to invest in the local writing community. For the festival days themselves, I’m excited to wander out into the fresh spring air and catch up with friends or sneak some chapters in between sessions. Writers’ festivals feel like a slice of time containing all the best things in life, and I’m keen to soak it all up.
What do you love about the Canberra book community?
It’s so welcoming! I’ve made so many friends through Instagram, bookshop books clubs and other events just because we all love to chat about books.
Nina from nina.reads.books
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How many books have you read this year?
98!
How many books are on your TBR?
Officially, I have 86 unread books on my shelves but there are thousands I still want to read.
What are your niche/favourite genre(s)?
I read mostly literary and contemporary fiction but occasionally throw in historical fiction, crime and rom-coms into the mix.
What are you most excited about for the festival?
For a bunch of reasons, this will be my first Canberra Writers Festival experience! In fact, it’s my first writers’ festival full stop and I am prepping myself to be inspired, intrigued and informed! I am excited to see Heather Rose and Trent Dalton at their special events. I am also looking forward to hanging out for most of Saturday at the National Library. Hannah Kent will be a highlight after listening to her read the audiobook of her recent memoir, Always Home, Always Homesick. But in between the events, I am so keen to catch up with book friends and keep the book chats going.
What do you love about the Canberra book community?
I fell into the local book community about six years ago and would never have expected to meet people that I now call friends. Canberra is also so great at coming out and supporting authors at book events.
Skye from skyewriting1
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How many books have you read this year?
16, plus two I’ve been beta-reading/editing for friends, and written one of my own!
How many books are on your TBR?
I was brought up on the adage of ‘You can never have too many books’ soooo….let’s just say we’re building a second library in our house.
What are you most excited about for the festival?
It’s such an incredible line up this year. Names like Trent Dalton, Hannah Kent and Jane Harper are obvious highlights but also the chance to hear from local talent like Emma Pei Yin talk about her beautiful debut and Jennifer Trevelyan – A Beautiful Family has been one of my favourite reads this year. I love that as well as author talks the program includes Masterclasses. What an incredible opportunity to learn from some of our best! Last year I took my young kids to some of the festival. At five years old they sat up and listened to Charlotte Wood and Robbie Arnott! But this time around there is a whole day dedicated to kids with favourites like Craig Silvey and Andy Griffiths. We’re really excited for that.
What are your niche/favourite genre(s)?
Bookclub, historical and literary fiction.
What do you love about the Canberra book community?
I love how inclusive, fun and supportive the community is. I adore being part of it.
To check out the program and plan your perfect day out at the Canberra Writers Festival go to tickets.canberrawritersfestival.com.au
