23 24 March 2019 Bookings: www. Tickets $45 Saturday 23 March 2019 $45 ticket covers entry to all 7 sessions SESSION ONE Down the Track 10:00am to 10:50am Our jam-packed festival starts with celebrated author Jackie French talking about what makes a good story, and her latest book in the award-winning Matilda Saga series, popular with children and adults alike, with ever popular moderator David Gilbey.
2 SESSION TWO It s a crime! 11:00am to 11:50am Fictional crime writing at its best with Michael Blenkins moderating Sulari Gentill - Author of the award-winning and bestselling Rowland Sinclair Mysteries, the Greek mythology adventure series The Hero Trilogy, and commercial literary novel Crossing the Lines, having recently taken out the coveted Ned Kelly award for crime writing, in 2018. Chris Hammer was a journalist for more than thirty years, dividing his career between covering Australian federal politics and international affairs. For many years he was a roving foreign correspondent for SBS TV's flagship current affairs program Dateline. He has reported from more than thirty countries on six continents. His book Scrublands is one of the most powerful, compelling and original crime novels to be written in Australia. MORNING TEA: 11:50am 12:00pm available at the venue
3 SESSION THREE Down the Track 12:00pm to 12:45pm Charles Massy & Trisha Dixon in discussion with moderator Genevieve Jacobs. Charles Massy, grazier and author, will speak about his new book Call of the Reed Warbler: A New Agriculture A New Earth. Reflecting on the many challenges our landscape faces, he shares his own personal journey, and explores the experience of many others. He brings together a story of a quiet revolution. Trisha Dixon has a number of books to her name, has edited journals and contributes as a columnist to various publications and lectures within Australia and abroad. Her wide-ranging interests in philosophy, music, art and water ethics has led to the publication of her most recent book, Adagio: Living and Gardening Mindfully. OPENING OF THE FESTIVAL GABRIELLE CHAN 12:45PM 1:00PM LUNCH: 1:00pm 2:00pm available at the venue
4 SESSION FOUR Dare to Dream 2:00pm to 2:50pm Popular Australian fiction writers Holly Throsby, Jackie French and Karen Viggers talk with moderator Deb Stevens. Jackie French is considered one of Australia s most popular and awarded authors, writing across a number of genres, including children s picture books, history, fantasy and historical fiction. With over 140 books to her name and over 25 years writing, Jackie will be a fascinating addition to this session. Holly Throsby is a songwriter, musician and novelist from Sydney, Australia, and daughter of ABC presenter Margaret Throsby. Holly s debut novel, Goodwood (2016), was a critically acclaimed bestseller. It has been shortlisted for the Barbara Jefferies Award, an Indie Book Award, two Australian Book Industry Awards, two Sisters in Crime Davitt Awards, and a Ned Kelly Award. Holly s second novel, Cedar Valley, was recently published in 2018. Karen Viggers is the author of four novels: The Stranding, The Lightkeeper s Wife and The Grass Castle. She writes contemporary fiction set in Australian landscapes, and her work explores connection with the bush, grief and loss, healing in nature, death, family, marriage and friendship. Her novels are known for their evocative portrayal of Australian people and landscapes. Her latest novel The Orchardist s Daughter has just been released.
5 SESSION FIVE Looking Back 3:00pm to 3:50pm Peter Rees has been a journalist for forty years, working as federal political correspondent for the Melbourne Sun, the West Australian and the Sunday Telegraph. He is the author of The Boy from Boree Creek: The Tim Fischer Story (2001), Tim Fischer's Outback Heroes (2002), Killing Juanita: A true story of murder and corruption (2004), which was a winner of the 2004 Ned Kelly Award for Australian crime writing, Anzac Girls, Desert Boys and Lancaster Men (2013). Peter s latest book The Missing Man, documents the incredible story of Australia s only indigenous fighter pilot Len Waters, in discussion with local author Michael Murphy. AFTERNOON TEA: 3:50pm 4:00pm available at the venue SESSION SIX Looking Forward 4:00pm to 4:50pm Gabrielle Chan has been a journalist for more than 30 years, a political journalist and politics live blogger at Guardian Australia since 2013. Prior to that she worked at The Australian, ABC radio, The Daily Telegraph, in local newspapers and politics. Gabrielle has written and edited history books, biographies and even a recipe book. Gabrielle moved from the Canberra press gallery to marry a farmer in 1996 - the year Pauline Hanson was first elected to federal parliament. She noticed the economic and cultural divide between the city and the country, the differences in political culture and yawning gap between the parliament and small-town life. In her book, Rusted Off: Why country Australia is fed up, Gabrielle draws conclusions about the current state of our rural political representation, the gap between city and country and how to bridge it.
6 SESSION SEVEN The dreaded sex scene 5:00pm to 5:30pm Writing a sex scene can be an author s worst nightmare, find out from our visiting authors and moderators what they think about this most intimate of writing. Led by award winning author Sulari Gentill. Sunday 24 March 2019 Under the Windmill Jugiong Park 10am Midday Local Entertainment Didgeridoo & Indigenous Storytelling Poetry and Short Story reading and awards Delicious gourmet brunch available booking essential, see website for details.
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