PROGRAM
We are so excited to share our 2024 program with you!
You can print out the full program by downloading the pdf version via the button below. And you can book tickets via the buy tickets buttons. Please note that some sessions sell out very quickly.
Cocktail Party
Opening Night
** SOLD OUT **
Join us for an exclusive evening of cocktails, nibbles and rubbing shoulders with some of the festival’s authors, facilitators and organisers, to celebrate the opening of the 2024 festival. Ticket includes finger food, and a welcome drink on arrival. The bar will be open for the duration of the cocktail party, should you wish to purchase additional beverages.
FRIDAY 27 SEPTEMBER, 6:30 - 9:30 pm
Workshop
*** SOLD OUT*** Crime Writing
with Candice Fox
Candice Fox delivers a one-stop-shop of all things crime fiction, from writing heart wrenching victims to terror-inducing villains, heroes we root for, twists that make us gasp and settings we remember.
Presented by Candice Fox - award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author and experienced workshop presenter.
Max number of participants is 15
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 9:45 am - 1:00pm
Panel
Caught Between Worlds
Does the desire to belong mean ignoring where you come from? Or does identifying with one culture over another result in disconnection?
Join Winnie Dunn, Will Kostakis and Saman Shad as they discuss, with Claudine Tinellis, the rising popularity of stories that explore the challenges of staying true to yourself in a cross-cultural upbringing.
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 1:30 - 2:30 pm
Panel
On The Edge Of Your Seat
Desolate townships, menacing characters, dark truths and even darker lies - this is the rich seam of fiction mined by crime writers Candice Fox, JP Pomare and Greg Woodland. Take a journey with them, and facilitator Rae Cairns, to the grim side of life, a side that leaves readers craving more, long after they have turned the final page.
Brought to you by Penguin Random House Australia
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Panel
Messed Up Millennials
They’ve grown up in a dot com world where everything, except happiness, is available at the click of a button. Meet authors Madeleine Gray, Amy Lovat, and Jessie Stephens, who’ve struck a major cultural chord with twenty-something-year-old protagonists as they confront the messiness of life, love and dawning adulthood in an age of uncertainty. Facilitated by Michelle Barraclough.
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Panel
Killers In Plain Sight
‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,’ goes the saying. But what if your friends are your enemies? And what if one of them has murderous intentions?
Hear from authors Jo Dixon, Jack Heath and Benjamin Stevenson, who write mysteries where the danger comes not from those we don’t know, but those we do, as they discuss their work with Cassie Hamer.
SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER, 10:00 - 11:00 am
Panel
A Touch Of Magic
Meet the authors who use the ‘other-worldly’ to shine a light on dysfunction in the real world. Uplifting and relatable, the protagonist in Jane Tara’s novel fights to be seen while Michael Thompson’s main character fights to be remembered.
Delve into why their highly original stories are taking Australian and international readers by storm, with Valerie Khoo.
SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Panel
Past Lives And Present Challenges
When the past and present collide, it makes for powerful storytelling. Especially when secrets buried long ago impact the now. Join Julie Bennett, Sandie Docker and Claire van Ryn as they discuss with Kaneana May the trials and joys of writing multiple timelines, and the secrets to creating casts of characters who connect across generations as deeply as they connect with readers.
Brought to you by Penguin Random House Australia
SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER, 1:45 - 2:45 pm
Panel
The Suspense Is Killing Me
Our love of books that make us squeeze our eyes tightly shut and forget to breathe is ever-increasing.
Join triple-threat thriller writers Sulari Gentill, Kelli Hawkins, and Ashley Kalagian Blunt on a journey to the dark side, exploring the motivation behind their stories and how they keep readers frantically turning the page. Facilitated by Tim Ayliffe.
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 9:45 - 10:45 am
In Conversation
Michael Robotham
with Sandie Docker
With his latest novel, Storm Child, two times Gold Dagger winner Michael Robotham celebrates 20 years as a published author. Join festival director, Sandie Docker, in conversation with Michael as they discuss the twists and turns of his latest release, and take a look back at his incredible writing career.
Brought to you by Avalon Community Library
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 11:15 am -12:15pm
Panel
Writing Women Back Into History
For too long history has been his-story, but the work of authors such as Tea Cooper, Julie Janson and Alli Parker are putting the female perspective back into our consciousness. What was life like for women of early colonial Australia? Or in WWII occupied Japan?
Join us as we journey back in time to discover her-story, with facilitator, Claire van Ryn.
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 1:30 - 2:30 pm
Panel
Fun Feisty and Fabulous : The Rise Of The 50+ Heroine
Older women haven't always attracted heroine status in literature, but authors Amanda Hampson, Joanna Nell and Tricia Stringer are re-writing the narrative. Join them for an insightful discussion with Penelope Janu about their brave, clever, flawed and funny characters, and the rising interest in relatable women who know who they are and what they want.
Brought to you by Royal Motor Yacht Club
Broken Bay
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Panel
Fantastic Tales
Greek goddesses, freedom-fighting crusaders and not-so-wicked witches - they are tales as old as time that are still attracting new and growing audiences. Readers love a fantastic tale that takes us into other worlds and in this session we hear from three of the best storytellers in the business, Kate Forsyth, Jo Riccioni and Kell Woods, as they chat with Pamela Cook.
Brought to you by Australian Writers' Centre
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Panel
Chef's Kiss : Our Love Affair With Food In Fiction
What is it about the magical combination of food and fiction that has readers salivating for more?
Join Sophie Beaumont, Maya Linnell and Vanessa McCausland as they discuss how food can inform a character, propel a storyline or shape the meaning of the novel - and have us readers running to the kitchen for a snack. Facilitated by Cheryl Akle.
SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER, 10:00 - 11:00 am
Workshop
** SOLD OUT ** Climb Inside Your Character's Skin with Pamela Cook
‘You never really understand a person...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.’ Atticus Finch To Kill a Mockingbird. As writers we need to understand our characters, inside and out. In this workshop we’ll go deep, looking at what makes our characters who they are, how to use their experiences to create a page-turning plot, and how to show their emotions to create empathy with our reader.
Max number of participants is 15
SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER, 1:00 - 4:30 pm
Panel
Characters Who Make Us Feel
Reading, like life, is a personal pursuit. Contemporary novels about issues of our time allow readers to delve into a fictional character’s psyche, while reflecting on their own.
Join celebrated authors Emma Grey, Amy Hutton and Penelope Janu in a wide-ranging discussion with Claudine Tinellis on the memorable and relatable characters they create from the messiness of everyday life.
SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER, 3:15 - 4:15 pm
Panel
Stories That Don't Play By
The Rules
Whether it’s cricket, rugby, soccer or tennis, Australia has a long love affair with sport. But how does the drama of chasing a ball translate to fiction?
Discover three authors - Clare Fletcher, Abra Pressler and Justin Smith - who bring love, humour and high emotion to the games we love to watch and play. Facilitated by Cassie Hamer.
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 9:45 - 10:45 am
Panel
When Life Gives You Lemons
Life has a way of throwing us off course when we least expect it. Authors Amal Awad, Maxine Fawcett and Karina May explore relationships, love, and women pushing boundaries to re-discover themselves when all seems lost, as facilitator, Amy Lovat, takes us behind the façade of perfection.
Brought to you by LJ Hooker Avalon, Palm Beach
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Festival Fiver Session
You CAN Ask That
Do romance writers act out their sex scenes? Are all authors millionaires? What if you hate your cover or your editor wants to kill-off your favourite character?
Join authors Sandie Docker, Cassie Hamer and Penelope Janu as they answer all the questions that readers shouldn’t ask, but often do. Attendees can submit questions anonymously prior to the panel.
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 1:30 - 2:30 pm
Festival Fiver Session
*** SOLD OUT *** A Writer, An Editor and A Publisher Walk Into A Bar
How do publishers choose which books to acquire?
What can writers do to get their attention?
What role does an editor play?
Join writer, Claudine Tinellis, as she chats with Penguin Random House editor, Catherine Hill, and Harper Collins publisher, Catherine Milne, about the process that sees a manuscript evolve into a published book. If your dream is to land a book deal, this session is for you.
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Festival Fiver Session
Book Club : Lessons In Chemistry
It’s the novel that took the world by storm and continues to top bestseller lists. But what do readers really think of Lessons In Chemistry? Are we meant to believe such a life is possible? Join Avalon Library’s Meg Dunn, author Cassie Hamer, and book-seller extraordinaire Anna Loder for this lively discussion of a publishing phenomenon.
Spoiler Alert : twists and the ending will be discussed
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 4:30 - 5:30 pm
In Conversation
Shankari Chandran
with Claudine Tinellis
Join 2023 Miles Franklin Award winner Shankari Chandran and book podcaster Claudine Tinellis as they discuss Shankari’s rise to prominence through her award-winning novel Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens and more recent release, Safe Haven.
Exploring dispossession, national identity and community, Shankari’s writing holds a mirror to societal shame whilst offering us hope that things can change.
SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Panel
Dark Places
What Jane Harper started with The Dry has morphed into a global appetite for Australian crime set in extreme landscapes. Each year, bodies continue to pile up with. Join Darcy Tindale, Chris Hammer and Hayley Scrivenor, with Claudine Tinellis, as they travel from dry towns to sheer cliffs, and discuss whether the bubble of this publishing phenomenon will ever burst.
Brought to you by Penguin Random House Australia
SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER, 1:45 - 2:45 pm
Panel
Tackling Big Issues In Fiction
The challenges of the world seem enormous - regional wars, climate change, shifting geopolitics, destabilised democracies and a rise in radicalised politics with racist overtones. What role can fiction play in all of this?
Hear from Tim Ayliffe, Michael Brissenden and Kate Solly - three authors who confront the world’s big issues in a way that entertains, thrills and moves us - as they chat with Cassie Hamer.
SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER, 3:15 - 4:15 pm
Closing Event - Free
Battle Of The Bookish Brains : A Trivia Contest Like No Other
Come and watch the fun as five fabulous festival authors battle it out for bookish trivia supremacy and the chance to take home the coveted NBRF Bookish Brains Quiz Champion Trophy. To make it even more interesting, we are giving FIVE audience members the chance to join the authors on stage and help clinch victory for their team. Five teams of two will fight for their right to be crowned champions in a fun-filled, highly competitive round of trivia. An event not to be missed.
Participating authors: Ashley Kalagain Blunt, Maya Linnell, Kate Solly, Benjamin Stevenson, Greg Woodland
Quiz Master: Michael Robotham
SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER, 4:45 - 5:30 pm