Romance novels, poetry, memoirs, issues-based non-fiction, children’s books, whatever genre you like to read it’s covered in the Wollongong Writers Festival.
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The full program was unveiled on Friday with events free and ticketed events beginning in September in the lead up to the main event over November 25 and 26.
Some of the highlights include a zine fair, comedy, book launches, performance poetry, workshops and panel discussions.
The line-up also features a range of well-known and award-winning authors and presenters such as Clementine Ford, Ellen van Neerven, Fiona Wright, Tracey Spicer and Caroline Baum, and adventurers Tim Cope and Huw Kingston.
“We have always thought that people shouldn’t have to travel to Sydney to attend literary events, and we’re now attracting people from Sydney who see the quality of what we are putting on,” festival director Hayley Scrivenor said.
“We love working with a mix of new and established writers, including local and international authors ... this is the perfect time to be in Wollongong, it’s an exciting time for the arts here.”
For the Wollongong Writers Festival’s full program visit: www.wollongongwritersfestival.com
This is the perfect time to be in Wollongong, it’s an exciting time for the arts here.
- Hayley Scrivenor
TOP PICKS:
ENOUGH SAID PRESENTS: YOU’VE CHANGED
Three acclaimed spoken word poets perform new work about words that have changed their world in a showcase extraordinaire from the folks at Enough Said Poetry Slam.
Headlining the show is one of Australia’s most prominent performing writers, Candy Royalle. She is a multi-award winning storyteller, activist, educator, singer and vulnerability advocate.
THURSDAY 23 NOVEMBER// 6.30PM FOR 7PM // $10 // JANE’S BAR NORTH WOLLONGONG
FREE LAUNCH WITH WINE AND FOOD
Join us as the main festival weekend is launched by Wollongong’s Lord Mayor, Gordon Bradbery.
There’ll be a cabaret performance and art auction featuring Liberte La Femme, the announcement of the 2017 Short Story prize and poetry from the Cocoon Floatation float tank poet, Bella Luna.
Enjoy the company, food and wine.
FRIDAY 24 NOVEMBER// 7PM—8.30PM // FREE // WOLLONGONG ART GALLERY
A HUNDRED SMALL LESSONS
Caroline Baum talks to Ashley Hay about her newly-released lyrical novel A Hundred Small Lessons. Luminous and deeply affecting, this book is about the many small decisions—the invisible moments—that come to make the lives of two mothers from different generations converge in one hot, wet summer.
SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER// 12.30PM—2PM // $15 // WOLLONGONG ART GALLERY
HOLDING THE SPACE: PUBLIC WOMEN
Women writers speak to the pressure of being female in public life – panel with Winnie Dunn, Shakira Hussein, Lynnette Lounsbury, Tracey Spicer and Fiona Wright
The discussion will range over women negotiating the hazards of the post- 9/11 terrain, the lack of female representation, body image and illness, and workplace harassment.
This panel’s unique perspective on feminism, multiculturalism, race and religion is one that we urgently need.
SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER// 2.15PM—3.30PM // $20 // WOLLONGONG ART GALLERY
A HISTORY OF ABORIGINAL ILLAWARRA BEFORE COLONISATION
Les Bursill OAM is an author, archaeologist and Elder in Residence at UOW’s Nowra Campus.
At this event, he talks with Mike Donaldson, coauthor of A History of Aboriginal Illawarra before Colonisation about Les’s stewardship of more than 800 Aboriginal archaeological sites north of Wollongong. The book is based on the stories from Aboriginal Elders, works already published and investigations of archaeological sites.
SUNDAY 26 NOVEMBER// 1PM—2PM // $10 // JANE’S BAR NORTH WOLLONGONG
SEXY WORDS: AUSTRALIAN ROMANCE WRITING
Get to know four writers of romance books you’ll want on your to-read list. The talented women will explore different parts of Australian culture with characters that sizzle like a summer’s day.
Panel discussion of Diane Cassar, Alyssa Montgomery, Kasey Millstead, Pamela Cook and JL Perry.
SUNDAY 26 NOVEMBER// 12.15PM—1.30PM // $10 // WOLLONGONG ART GALLERY
LIFE, DEATH, FAITH, FRIENDSHIP
An email written from a priest to an author saying how much he enjoyed her latest book was the catalyst for an enduring friendship. Over the years the pair have discussed everything from dinner party menus and shoes to family, faith, grief and love.
Social researcher Hugh Mackay says Ailsa Piper and Tony Doherty’s book The Attachment is ‘... the chronicle of an unlikely but beautiful friendship that will inspire you to value your own friendships more highly, and to nurture them more carefully’.
SUNDAY 26 NOVEMBER// 2.15PM—3.30PM // $10 // JANE’S BAR NORTH WOLLONGONG