Ready, steady, read, watch + discuss: Canberra Writers Festival kicks off next month!
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Our very own literary festival is back next month with new spring-time programming allowing Canberrans to be the first in the country to access several highly-anticipated books.
The Canberra Writers Festival, which began in 2016 with the perennial theme of Power Politics Passion, will run from October 23-27 and feature a program of 79 events, showcasing over 100 writers and thinkers, with nearly half hailing from Canberra and the surrounding region.
Tim Winton will launch things with a bang—delving into the narrative depths of his new dystopian novel, Juice, during a special event, while Bri Lee will take part in a HerCanberra-sponsored panel alongside Qin Qin.
Get ready for 66 conversation events and 13 masterclasses — exclusive, small-group workshops taught by some of the country’s leading authors including Charlotte Wood and Markus Zusak. The festival will also showcase over 80 new books, including 28 fiction/poetry titles and 50-plus non-fiction titles, with more than half of these works being new releases published from July onwards. Two books will be launched at the festival, and a number of November releases provided early for the festival audience.
Canberra author Michael Brissenden
Artistic Director, Beejay Silcox, said this year’s program is the most diverse and exciting in the festival’s nine-year history, offering an unparalleled blend of big names and local talent, with something for everyone.
“This year, the Canberra Writers Festival has truly come into its own,” Beejay said.
“Our program is a rich and energising mix of national favourites, emerging voices and local talent. Some of the best thinkers and storytellers from around the country will be here.
CWF Artistic Director Beejay Silcox
“Whether you’re passionate about culture, the wonders of language, the environment, crime and justice, sexual politics, journalistic integrity or social policy – or you just love a damn good story – this year’s festival has something to offer. We have ghost stories and geopolitics; playwrights and poets; grand historical epics and intimate family histories; quiet novels of contemplation and panel discussions about the fate of modern democracy. And a magnificent feast of fiction! The whole spectrum of national storytelling is here.”
Beejay said that First Nations storytelling is the heartbeat of the festival, with more than 20 per cent of conversation events featuring First Nations voices.
New on the program is Queerstories – the beloved storytelling phenomenon that celebrates the the LGBTQI+ community one true story at a time, curated by Maeve Marsden and featuring five storytellers.
Among the local talented celebrated by the festival is ACT Book of the Year winner Chris Hammer who will discuss the screen adaptation of his award-winning novel Scrublands, as well as environmentalist David Lindemayer and respected ANU historian Frank Bongiorno. Inga Simpson will launch her latest book at the festival, The Thinning, and Theodore Ell will discuss his new memoir, Lebanon Days – a survivor’s account of the 2020 Beirut port explosion – with Richard Fidler.
The Canberra Writers Festival is a must for any lover of books, writing, reading and conversation.
To view the full program, which has been released today, or to purchase tickets which go on sale at 9am, go here.
Main image Kate Mildenhall with her book The Hummingbird Effect.
HerCanberra is a proud sponsor of this year’s Canberra Writers Festival.
THE ESSENTIALS
What: Canberra Writers Festival
When: Wednesday 23 October – Sunday 27 October 2024
Where: Venues across Canberra
Web: canberrawritersfestival.com.au
