1-3 April 2016 Festival Program 2 Newcastle Writers Festival 1-3 April 2016

Ticket Information Transport Information

The Newcastle Writers Festival is The festival is held in the Civic Precinct, which is close to bus links and the bustling Honeysuckle and committed to providing free sessions Darby Street eatery strips. in its program. Tickets are not needed Please note, the rail line has been cut at Hamilton Station and passengers cannot alight at Civic or for these events. Seats are offered on Newcastle stations. Buses are available at Hamilton Station for transfers to the city. For updates a “first in, first served” basis. Admission about track work and for timetable information see www.sydneytrains.info. cannot be guaranteed for free events. For bus timetables see www.newcastlebuses.info. All other tickets are available from Ticketek and can be bought over the Newcastle Taxis bookings can be made by phoning 133 300 or book online at counter, online at www.ticketek.com www.newcastletaxis.com.au. or by contacting the box office on You are encouraged to leave your car at home, especially on Saturday, 2 April, as community markets (02) 4929 1977. Please note, the will be held in Civic Park and parking spaces will be hard to secure. The festival recommends all-day advertised ticket price includes parking at the Wilson Parking station on the corner of Perkins and King streets, Newcastle. For more Ticketek’s service fee but unless you details see www.huntercarparks.com.au and www.wilsonparking.com.au. buy your tickets over the counter, the sale will incur an additional delivery fee. Tickets at the door will be limited. There is no concession price. CIVIC THEATRE KING STREET WILSON KING STREET PARKING

BROWN STREET KING STREET KING STREET

NEWCASTLE PERKINS STREET CITY HALL

DARBY STREET KING STREET

Ground Floor - City Hall HUNTER STREET STAGE THE Newcastle City Hall VenueDOOR InformationPLAYHOUSE

Ground Floor - City Hall HUNTER STREET The STAGECivic PrecinctCIVICTHE THEATRE is located between Hunter and King streets. There DOOR PLAYHOUSETICKETEK is wheelchair accessBOX OFFICE to City Hall via the Wheeler Place entrance and

Lower Ground Floor FESTIVAL BOOKSHOP WARATAH BANQUET ROOM there is an internal lift. If you require assistance, CAFE DOOR BLUE please email CIVIC THEATRE

ROOM [email protected] PLACE WHEELER and the festival can arrange CHRISTIE STREETTICKETEK FESTIVAL BOOKSHOP for a volunteerBOX to OFFICE be available. WARATAH BANQUET ROOM CITY HALL CAFE DOOR BLUE LIFT ENTRANCE The main information desk is located in WheelerBURWOOD STREET Place and is staffed

ROOM PLACE WHEELER by volunteers.CHRISTIENEWCASTLE STREET Programs and sessionNEWCASTLE information is available. Due to NEWCASTLE CITY HALL CITY COUNCIL CITY HALL restorationCHRISTIE PLACE work at City Hall the King Street driveway will be closed. ROOM LIFT ENTRANCE BURWOOD STREET Access will beENTRANCE limited to the stairs. Please use the Wheeler Place Green Room NEWCASTLESTAIRS ONLY KING STREETNEWCASTLE NEWCASTLE entranceCITY if you HALL have mobilityCITY concerns. COUNCIL CHRISTIE PLACE ROOM Use the maps below as a guide to the venue to locate individual ENTRANCE Green Room STAIRS ONLY KING STREET Ground Floor - City Hall HUNTER STREET rooms. STAGE THE DOOR PLAYHOUSE Sound and video recording is not permitted without approval from the festival director. Please email [email protected]. Level 1 - City Hall CIVIC THEATRE Level 2 - City Hall TICKETEK At the conclusion of each session, all seats are to be vacated. This BOX OFFICE

FESTIVAL BOOKSHOP Level First

BLUE DOOR CAFE DOOR BLUE enables sound and stage staff to set up for the following session. WARATAH BANQUET ROOM Level 2 - CityDoors Hall will open 20 minutes before the start of each session. ROOM Level 1 - City Hall PLACE WHEELER CHRISTIE STREET UPPER LEVEL CITY HALL CONCERT HALL CONCERT HALL LIFT ENTRANCE BURWOOD STREET NEWCASTLE NEWCASTLE Civic Precinct NEWCASTLE CITY HALL CITY COUNCIL UPPER LEVEL CHRISTIE PLACE CONCERT HALL LIFT LIFT ROOM CONCERT HALL ENTRANCE Green Room STAIRS ONLY Ground Floor - City Hall KING STREET HUNTER STREET LIFT COUNCILSTAGE THE LIFT MULUBINBA ROOM CUMMINGS ROOM HUNTER ROOM CHAMBERSDOOR PLAYHOUSE

COUNCIL MULUBINBA ROOM CUMMINGS ROOM HUNTER ROOM CHAMBERS CIVIC THEATRE Level 1 - City Hall Level 2 - City Hall TICKETEK FESTIVAL BOOKSHOP BOX OFFICE Second Level WARATAH BANQUET ROOM CAFE DOOR BLUE

ROOM PLACE WHEELER UPPER LEVEL CHRISTIE STREET CONCERT HALL CONCERT HALL CITY HALL LIFT LIFT ENTRANCE LIFT BURWOOD STREET NEWCASTLE NEWCASTLE NEWCASTLE CITY HALL CITY COUNCIL COUNCIL CHRISTIE PLACE MULUBINBA ROOM CUMMINGS ROOM HUNTER ROOM ROOM CHAMBERS ENTRANCE Green Room STAIRS ONLY KING STREET

Level 1 - City Hall Level 2 - City Hall

UPPER LEVEL CONCERT HALL CONCERT HALL

LIFT LIFT

COUNCIL MULUBINBA ROOM CUMMINGS ROOM HUNTER ROOM CHAMBERS 3

From the Director

Welcome to the program for the fourth Newcastle The Newcastle Writers Festival is built on a Writers Festival. I have been asked if this year’s foundation of goodwill – from our enthusiastic festival has a particular focus, and while I tend not volunteers and facilitators to funding partners. I to create the program with any one idea in mind, I extend my appreciation to the festival’s key sponsors: have been guided by two themes that stood out in the NSW Government, Newcastle City Council and the array of Australian books published in the past 18 the University of Newcastle. And also to our media months – how did we get to where we are, and where partners: Newcastle Herald and 1233 ABC. are we going? History, memoir and climate change The festival works closely with a number of local have had a strong influence on this year’s program. businesses and organisations and I want to I am thrilled that internationally acclaimed scientist, acknowledge MacLean’s Booksellers, Scion Audio, explorer and conservationist Tim Flannery is Crowne Plaza Newcastle, Hunter Writers Centre, The Rosemarie Milsom participating. Tim is a fiercely intelligent raconteur and Lock-Up and Ideas Bombing Newcastle. I am looking forward to his contribution. Thank you to Newcastle Region Library staff for This year’s stellar line-up also includes Carmel Bird, managing the hugely successful program for children. Stan Grant, Libby Hathorn, Patti Miller, Kerry O’Brien, I would also like to thank the Newcastle Writers Marcus Westbury, Charlotte Wood and the University Festival board members for their hard work and FOLLOW US #nwf16 of Newcastle’s Vice-Chancellor, Caroline McMillen. support: Jenny Blackford, Maryanne Church, Sally Facebook Discussion will traverse fiction and non-fiction, as Ebert, Sheree Kable, Katrina McKelvey and Sharon facebook.com/ well as politics, family violence, the aftermath of the Roberts. newcastlewritersfestival Paris terrorist attacks, art, coal, misogyny, Indigenous It has been a privilege and a pleasure to create this reconciliation, and copyright in the digital era. year’s program and I look forward to seeing you at the Twitter The festival is committed to supporting local writers, festival. Please say hello and don’t hesitate to give me @newwritersfest and there are a number of events, many of them free, your valued feedback. that showcase the diverse talent in the region. For Enjoy! Instagram those interested in advancing their own writing there are opportunities to learn more. @newcastlewritersfestival Rosemarie Milsom [email protected]

OPENING NIGHT Tim Flannery’s Excellent Adventures The scientist, explorer and environmentalist has forged a remarkable path. He will share anecdotes and discuss his new book, Atmosphere of Hope. 7.30pm Friday 1 April 2016 // Civic Theatre MC James Valentine // Hosted by John Doyle // Tickets $33

photography - Chris at Intervision Photography // cover illustration - Tallulah Cunningham // design - Miranda Whittle 4 Newcastle Writers Festival 1-3 April 2016

Festival Masterclasses

Short Order Fiction with On the Road: Writing Travel Carmel Bird Memoir with Claire Scobie Friday, 1 April 10am-4pm Friday, 1 April 10am-4pm Tickets $165 Limited to 12 participants Tickets $165 Limited to 12 participants Newcastle Room, Newcastle City Hall Third Floor Conference Room, (Entrance on Wheeler Place due to restoration Newcastle Region Library, Laman Street work at King Street entrance) This masterclass is suited to both first-time This intensive masterclass will help you and seasoned writers. Packed full of tips, write short fiction with a tight deadline. The examples and exercises, this masterclass will aim is to produce the substance of a story of encourage you to leave the armchair behind about 2000 words, in the course of one and write your own travel narrative. Unlike day. This is not a class where students make critical comments travel journalism, literary travel writing is about narrative techniques about each other’s work. – more closely related to fiction than a Sunday magazine travel Participants will be required to send Carmel a one-page letter piece. So whether you consider yourself a travelling writer or a outlining their writing experience. Please email your letter to writing traveller, it’s essential you’re able to tell a good story. [email protected]. You will also be required You will learn how to craft a compelling story with credible to select a short story by a well-known writer, nominate it, and be characters, believable dialogue, atmosphere, tension and revelation. prepared at the class to read out a very brief outline, as well as Remember, the destination is merely the backdrop for your story reasons for choosing it. and experiences. Carmel Bird is one of Australia’s most experienced and Claire Scobie has run creative writing workshops across Australia inspirational teachers of writing and the author of 30 books. These and Asia for more than a decade. She is a regular presenter at include novels, collections of short fiction, books on writing, and the Australian Writers’ Centre, the country’s largest community anthologies of fiction and non-fiction. Her most recent works are of online and classroom courses, and a trainer at the Walkley a collection of short fiction, My Hearts Are Your Hearts, and an Foundation. She is the author of Last Seen in Lhasa and extended essay, Fair Game. The latter is a meditation on an image The Pagoda Tree, chosen by Good Reading magazine as one of its of a boatload of non-convict women sailing to Van Diemen’s Best Fiction Reads 2013. She has lived and worked in the UK, India Land in 1832. Her Dear Writer Revisited and Writing the Story of Your and now Sydney. Life are inspirational texts for writers.

Art Exhibition Launch

Back to Back Galleries, 57 Bull Street, Cooks Hill Exhibition to be launched by Newcastle writer Mark MacLean on Friday 1 April at 5pm. All welcome. Beyond the Print, a group art exhibition held in conjunction with Newcastle Writers Festival and curated by Margaret McBride, returns for a third year. The works, by Hunter artists such as Varelle Hardy, Anne-Maree Hunter and Brian Cox, are inspired by books featured in the festival program. The exhibition starts on 25 March and continues until 10 April.

Official bookseller of the Newcastle Writers Festival

The MacLean’s Booksellers festival bookshop is located on the Lower Ground Floor in the Banquet Room of Newcastle City Hall. Festival authors will be available for signings at the conclusion of their sessions.

MacLean’s Booksellers’ is an independent bookseller in Newcastle, owned and operated by local residents Amanda and Max Shirley. As a wholly independent bookshop, MacLean’s has total control over stock selection, and has a commitment to stocking the best backlist, the unusual, as well as all your favourite bestsellers. We also have an extensive children’s and young adult section, which covers the best new and classic titles. 5

Friday 1 April FESTIVAL PROGRAM

CUMMINGS ROOM MULUBINBA ROOM HUNTER ROOM CIVIC THEATRE CITY HALL CITY HALL CITY HALL SPECIAL VENUES 10.30am-11.30am 2 10.30am-11.15am 5 10.30am-11.30am 10 10am-4pm 13 Bringing Family What’s Special Not Lost in NEWCASTLE ROOM History to Life About Shakespeare? Translation: Writing CITY HALL Tracing your family tree is Hugh Craig marks the across cultures Masterclass now easier than ever, but 400th anniversary of the With Jenyfer Rozensteins, Short Order Fiction with what does it all mean? playwright’s death. Lucy Shepherd and Elena Carmel Bird: How to write Three prominent historians Terol Sabino. short fiction under pressure. discuss the impact of family Free session Supported by Hosted by Jenny Marchant. See page 4 for details. histories on their writing. the University With Melanie Nolan, Tanya of Newcastle Free session $165 - Limited 12 places Evans and Catharine Coleborne. 11.30am to 12.15pm 6 10am-4pm 14 Hosted by Nancy Cushing. Book Launch NEWCASTLE REGION LIBRARY Sponsored by the NSW and Discussion History Council. 3rd Floor Celebrate the release of Free session King Edward Park, Newcastle Masterclass NSW: A History by On the Road: Writing travel Robert Evans. memoir with Claire Scobie. Free session See page 4 for details.

Elena Terol Sabino $165 - Limited 12 places 12pm-1pm 3 12.30pm-1.30pm 7 12pm-1pm 11 12.00pm-2pm 15 The Father of A Guide to Self Castaways of Chaos CROWNE PLAZA Merewether Street the Hunter Publishing Post-World War II migration Historian Ann Beaumont Local writer Peter Uren and its impact on the Hunter Lunch with Region. discusses her biography of will lead you through the Olympian Edward Close, founder of advantages, disadvantages With Sonia Mycak, Morpeth. and pitfalls. Wolodymyr Motyka Leisel Jones: and Vasilios Vasilas. The highs and lows of life Hosted by Gionni Di Gravio. Free session Hosted by Alex Burns. in the fast lane Free session Hosted by Brett Keeble. Free session In partnership with GenXwomen. Tickets $55 (includes two-course meal) Wolodymyr Bookings at Motyka eventbrite.com.au

Peter Uren

7.30pm-9pm 1 2pm-3pm 4 2pm-3pm 8 2pm-3pm 12 4.30pm-6pm 16 Opening Night All in the Family Not Charted on Picture Perfect NEWCASTLE REGION LIBRARY Event: Tim A guide to writing family Ordinary Maps Three illustrators discuss Flannery’s Excellent memoir with Jan Mitchell. Reflections on the BHP how they created and Outdoor Family Adventures Hosted by Alison Ferguson. closure with John Lewer. published their best-selling books. Event From the discovery of a Free session Hosted by Julie McIntyre. You and your beloved new tree kangaroo species With Liz Anelli, Serena canine friend are invited to in New Guinea to dinosaur Free session Geddes and Gwynneth join us for the launch of A fossils in Victoria, the Jones. Soldier, a Dog and a Boy by scientist, explorer and Hosted by Susan Whelan. award-winning Newcastle- environmentalist has forged 5.30pm-7pm 9 born writer Libby Hathorn. a unique path. He will share Tickets $22 April marks the centenary photos and anecdotes with Newcastle Short host and good mate John of The Battle of the Somme Doyle. Story Award and we are commemorating the occasion with this MC James Valentine Announcement special book. There will be Hosted by Hunter Writers lots of activities for you Centre. Refreshments and your dog, including Tickets available. $33 a parade. Free event Free event Liz Anelli

Tim Flannery

All program information is correct at time of printing and some changes may occur without notice. 6 Newcastle Writers Festival 1-3 April 2016

Saturday 2 April

CIVIC THEATRE THE PLAYHOUSE CUMMINGS ROOM - CITY HALL MULUBINBA ROOM - CITY HALL HUNTER ROOM - CITY HALL OTHER

10am-11am 22 10am-11am 28 10am-11am 33 10am-11am 38 10am-2pm Second Half First Writing about Loss What About the Children? Playground Politics: Exploring FESTIVAL FAMILY HUB NEWCASTLE REGION LIBRARY Award-winning writer Drusilla Modjeska talks It has been three years since the Hunter Writers After completing more than 50 books for children the darker side of school Laman Street about the challenge of exploring “life’s hidden Centre launched its Grieve Writing Project and and young adults, Libby Hathorn is still asked With Brigid Delaney, James Fry places” through memoir. in that time it has contributed to the national when she is going to turn her attention to adult and Rebecca Starford. A fun-filled morning of storytelling, song and discussion about the human experience of grief fiction. She talks to Jenny Blackford about her activities. Featured writers include Jess Black, She speaks to Caroline Baum. Hosted by Magdalena Ball. and loss. commitment to young readers. Deborah Kelly, Katrina McKelvey, Leila Rudge Tickets $22 Free session and Ant Wood. With Ted Bassingthwaighte, Jayne Newling, Tickets $22 Mary Ringstad and Kathleen Wurth. Free event Hosted by Karen Crofts. Drusilla Modjeska Free session 11.30am-12.30pm 17 11.30am-12.30pm 23 11.30am-12.30pm 29 11.30am-12.30pm 34 11.30am-12.30pm & 12.30pm-1pm 39 12.30pm-1.30pm 42 The Elimination of Family Violence The Economy v The Climate This Writing Life Family Matters Wanderlust THE PRESS BOOK HOUSE 462 Hunter Street We know the ugly facts and are aware of the Why does it have to be a battle and Carmel Bird discusses her diverse writing career Balancing family obligation and the urge to reveal The romance and reality of life in another country. devastating impact, but how do we solve the and new collection of short stories. all. With Richard Glover and Rosie Waterland. With Nancy Knudsen and Patti Miller. dilemma of family violence? who will be the biggest loser? Book Launch Hosted by Meredith Jaffé. Hosted by Angela Savage. With Helen Cummings, Richard Fletcher and With Tim Flannery, Ross Gittins, Dennis Glover Hosted by Michael Sala. Celebrate the launch of Newcastle poet Rebecca Poulson. and Paddy Manning. Tickets $22 Zeny Giles new book, A Little More Honey. Free session Tickets $22 Hosted by Scott Holmes. Hosted by Christina Gerakiteys. Book Launch 12.30pm-1pm Free event Free session Tickets $22 Linger for the launch of Hunter Region writer Supported by Nancy Knudsen’s new book, Accidentally Istanbul. the University of Newcastle Launched by Jill Emberson. Dennis Glover Free event 1.30pm-2.30pm 18 1.30pm-2.30pm 24 1.30pm-2.30pm 30 1.30pm-2.30pm 35 1.30pm-2.30pm 40 2pm-3pm 43 Close to Home The Aftermath Group Work: The challenges On the Fringe: Life as a writer The Most Forgotten Race on Earth? THE PRESS BOOK HOUSE 462 Hunter Street Best-selling author of Baby Love Robin Barker Writing memoir is supposed to be a revelatory of writing a collaborative in regional Australia A discussion about Indigenous Australia and discusses families, feminism and her experience, but what happens after the private cultural amnesia and repression. romance series With Sarah Armstrong, Michael Giacometti and Book Launch foray into fiction. becomes public? With Kate Holden, Michael Sala With Lee Christine, S.E. Gilchrist, Mark MacLean. With Blak Douglas, Adam Geczy, Joe Perry Marion Halligan will launch Hunter poet Hosted by Rosemarie Milsom. and Rebecca Starford. and Ellen van Neerven. Lauren K. McKellar Hosted by Anneli Knight. Jean Kent’s new book, Paris in My Pocket. Hosted by Magdalena Ball. Tickets $22 and Stacey Nash. Hosted by Jakelin Troy. Tickets $22 Free session Free event Free session Free session Presented in conjunction with the Robin Lauren K. exhibition, The Most Gaoled Race on Earth, Barker McKellar at The Lock-Up from 19 March to 24 April.

3pm-4pm 19 3pm-4pm 25 3pm-4pm 31 3pm-3.45pm & 3.45pm-4.15pm 36 3pm-4pm 41 3.30pm-4.30pm 44 Talking to My Country Food for Thought: How did what we Mothers and Fathers: Why so Discussion and Book Launch Droughts and Flooding Rains THE PRESS BOOK HOUSE 462 Hunter Street Journalist Stan Grant makes a passionate appeal eat become so complex? complicated? Partners in Crime: The role of the What role do writers play in inspiring cultural for unity among Aboriginal and non-Indigenous River Cottage Australia host Paul West in With Rod Jones, Mark MacLean and short story in crime fiction debate about climate change? Book Launch and Discussion Australians. conversation with Anneli Knight. Rosie Waterland. With Tim Flannery, Sharyn Munro and With Zane Lovitt, Andrew Nette and Celebrate the launch of Anthony Lawrence’s Hosted by Jill Emberson. Geordie Williamson. Tickets $22 Hosted by Meredith Jaffé. Angela Savage. new collection of poems, Headwaters. Hosted by Ed Wright. Tickets $22 Free session Hosted by Jaye Ford. Free Session Free session 4.30pm-5.30pm 20 4.30pm-5.30pm 26 4.30pm-5.30pm 32 Book Launch 3.45pm-4.15pm Beyond the Spin: Dissecting our The Story of a Lucky Man: A young Book Launch Celebrate the launch of Crime Scenes, a collection of short crime fiction, with political leaders refugee’s journey from heartbreak Join us for the launch of special guest Barry Maitland. With Paddy Manning, David Marr to home Sproutlings: A Compendium of Free session and Kerry O’Brien. Abdi Aden in conversation with Dan Cox. Little Fictions. Hosted by Steve Lewis. Free session With Magdalena Ball, Morgan Bell, Tickets $22 Tallulah Cunningham and special guests.

6pm-7pm 21 8.30pm-10pm 27 Free session 4.30pm to 5.30pm 37

Who’s Got the Weirdest Parents? 5x15 Short and Sweet: The art of microlit Richard Glover’s new memoir, Flesh Wounds, will Five speakers, 15 minutes. No subject is off limits. Panel discussion and presentation of short-listed resonate with anyone whose family is not quite An evening of bold revelation and unpredictability. microlit competition entries. what they ordered. Audience participation likely. Hold onto your hats! With Joanna Atherfold Finn, Richard Holt Tickets $22 With Marc Fennell, Chris Flynn, Maria Katsonis, and Bronwyn Mehan. Rosie Waterland and Paul West. Free session Hosted by Dan Cox. Tickets $28 7

FESTIVAL PROGRAM

CIVIC THEATRE THE PLAYHOUSE CUMMINGS ROOM - CITY HALL MULUBINBA ROOM - CITY HALL HUNTER ROOM - CITY HALL OTHER

10am-11am 22 10am-11am 28 10am-11am 33 10am-11am 38 10am-2pm Second Half First Writing about Loss What About the Children? Playground Politics: Exploring FESTIVAL FAMILY HUB NEWCASTLE REGION LIBRARY Award-winning writer Drusilla Modjeska talks It has been three years since the Hunter Writers After completing more than 50 books for children the darker side of school Laman Street about the challenge of exploring “life’s hidden Centre launched its Grieve Writing Project and and young adults, Libby Hathorn is still asked With Brigid Delaney, James Fry places” through memoir. in that time it has contributed to the national when she is going to turn her attention to adult and Rebecca Starford. A fun-filled morning of storytelling, song and discussion about the human experience of grief fiction. She talks to Jenny Blackford about her activities. Featured writers include Jess Black, She speaks to Caroline Baum. Hosted by Magdalena Ball. and loss. commitment to young readers. Deborah Kelly, Katrina McKelvey, Leila Rudge Tickets $22 Free session and Ant Wood. With Ted Bassingthwaighte, Jayne Newling, Tickets $22 Mary Ringstad and Kathleen Wurth. Free event Hosted by Karen Crofts.

Free session James Fry

11.30am-12.30pm 17 11.30am-12.30pm 23 11.30am-12.30pm 29 11.30am-12.30pm 34 11.30am-12.30pm & 12.30pm-1pm 39 12.30pm-1.30pm 42 The Elimination of Family Violence The Economy v The Climate This Writing Life Family Matters Wanderlust THE PRESS BOOK HOUSE 462 Hunter Street We know the ugly facts and are aware of the Why does it have to be a battle and Carmel Bird discusses her diverse writing career Balancing family obligation and the urge to reveal The romance and reality of life in another country. devastating impact, but how do we solve the and new collection of short stories. all. With Richard Glover and Rosie Waterland. With Nancy Knudsen and Patti Miller. dilemma of family violence? who will be the biggest loser? Book Launch Hosted by Meredith Jaffé. Hosted by Angela Savage. With Helen Cummings, Richard Fletcher and With Tim Flannery, Ross Gittins, Dennis Glover Hosted by Michael Sala. Celebrate the launch of Newcastle poet Rebecca Poulson. and Paddy Manning. Tickets $22 Zeny Giles new book, A Little More Honey. Free session Tickets $22 Hosted by Scott Holmes. Hosted by Christina Gerakiteys. Book Launch 12.30pm-1pm Free event Free session Tickets $22 Linger for the launch of Hunter Region writer Supported by Nancy Knudsen’s new book, Accidentally Istanbul. the University of Newcastle Launched by Jill Emberson. Richard Glover Free event

1.30pm-2.30pm 18 1.30pm-2.30pm 24 1.30pm-2.30pm 30 1.30pm-2.30pm 35 1.30pm-2.30pm 40 2pm-3pm 43 Close to Home The Aftermath Group Work: The challenges On the Fringe: Life as a writer The Most Forgotten Race on Earth? THE PRESS BOOK HOUSE 462 Hunter Street Best-selling author of Baby Love Robin Barker Writing memoir is supposed to be a revelatory of writing a collaborative in regional Australia A discussion about Indigenous Australia and discusses families, feminism and her experience, but what happens after the private cultural amnesia and repression. romance series With Sarah Armstrong, Michael Giacometti and Book Launch foray into fiction. becomes public? With Kate Holden, Michael Sala With Lee Christine, S.E. Gilchrist, Mark MacLean. With Blak Douglas, Adam Geczy, Joe Perry Marion Halligan will launch Hunter poet Hosted by Rosemarie Milsom. and Rebecca Starford. and Ellen van Neerven. Lauren K. McKellar Hosted by Anneli Knight. Jean Kent’s new book, Paris in My Pocket. Hosted by Magdalena Ball. Tickets $22 and Stacey Nash. Hosted by Jakelin Troy. Tickets $22 Free session Free event Free session Free session Presented in conjunction with the exhibition, The Most Gaoled Race on Earth, at The Lock-Up from 19 March to 24 April.

3pm-4pm 19 3pm-4pm 25 3pm-4pm 31 3pm-3.45pm & 3.45pm-4.15pm 36 3pm-4pm 41 3.30pm-4.30pm 44 Talking to My Country Food for Thought: How did what we Mothers and Fathers: Why so Discussion and Book Launch Droughts and Flooding Rains THE PRESS BOOK HOUSE 462 Hunter Street Journalist Stan Grant makes a passionate appeal eat become so complex? complicated? Partners in Crime: The role of the What role do writers play in inspiring cultural for unity among Aboriginal and non-Indigenous River Cottage Australia host Paul West in With Rod Jones, Mark MacLean and short story in crime fiction debate about climate change? Book Launch and Discussion Australians. conversation with Anneli Knight. Rosie Waterland. With Tim Flannery, Sharyn Munro and With Zane Lovitt, Andrew Nette and Celebrate the launch of Anthony Lawrence’s Hosted by Jill Emberson. Geordie Williamson. Tickets $22 Hosted by Meredith Jaffé. Angela Savage. new collection of poems, Headwaters. Hosted by Ed Wright. Tickets $22 Free session Hosted by Jaye Ford. Free Session Free session 4.30pm-5.30pm 20 4.30pm-5.30pm 26 4.30pm-5.30pm 32 Book Launch 3.45pm-4.15pm Beyond the Spin: Dissecting our The Story of a Lucky Man: A young Book Launch Celebrate the launch of Crime Scenes, a collection of short crime fiction, with political leaders refugee’s journey from heartbreak Join us for the launch of special guest Barry Maitland. With Paddy Manning, David Marr to home Sproutlings: A Compendium of Sharyn Free session Munro and Kerry O’Brien. Abdi Aden in conversation with Dan Cox. Little Fictions. Hosted by Steve Lewis. Free session With Magdalena Ball, Morgan Bell, Tickets $22 Tallulah Cunningham and special guests.

6pm-7pm 21 8.30pm-10pm 27 Free session 4.30pm to 5.30pm 37

Who’s Got the Weirdest Parents? 5x15 Short and Sweet: The art of microlit Richard Glover’s new memoir, Flesh Wounds, will Five speakers, 15 minutes. No subject is off limits. Panel discussion and presentation of short-listed resonate with anyone whose family is not quite An evening of bold revelation and unpredictability. microlit competition entries. what they ordered. Audience participation likely. Hold onto your hats! With Joanna Atherfold Finn, Richard Holt Tickets $22 With Marc Fennell, Chris Flynn, Maria Katsonis, and Bronwyn Mehan. Rosie Waterland and Paul West. Free session Hosted by Dan Cox. Tickets $28

All program information is correct at time of printing and some changes may occur without notice. 8 Newcastle Writers Festival 1-3 April 2016

Sunday 3 April

CIVIC THEATRE THE PLAYHOUSE CUMMINGS ROOM - CITY HALL MULUBINBA ROOM - CITY HALL HUNTER ROOM - CITY HALL OTHER

10am-11am 45 10am-11am 49 10am-11am 53 10am-11am 57 10am-11am 61 We Need to Talk About Coal The Independent: Tony Windsor The Misogyny Factor Copyfight The Writer as Reader As the outlook for the global trade in coal looks in Conversation Charlotte Wood discusses her searing We share it, quote it, sample it, remix it, Festival guests share their reading habits and increasingly uncertain, is it time to jump off the Tony Windsor held the balance of power in state novel, The Natural Way of Things. but what are the ramifications? discuss their favourite books. mining wagon? and federal parliaments for nearly a third of his Hosted by Caroline Baum. With Marc Fennell and With Kate Holden, Russell Marks and With Ross Gittins, Ian Kirkwood and public life. He speaks to David Marr about holding Phillipa McGuinness. Geordie Williamson. Sharyn Munro. his own and his unexpected return to politics. Tickets $22 Hosted by Russell Blackford. Hosted by Andrew Nette. Hosted by Paul Bevan. Tickets $22 Free session Free session Free session Charlotte Wood

11.30am-12.30pm 46 11.30am-12.30pm 50 11.30am-12.30pm 54 11.30am-12.30pm 58 11.30am-12.30pm 62 11.30am-12.30pm 65 Reality Bites We Will Always Have Paris Boys to Men: Exploring masculinity Crime and Punishment The Ties that Bind NEWCASTLE ART GALLERY A discussion about family, identity and language. Fiction writers discuss how real life inspires and In the aftermath of horrific terrorist attacks, three through fiction Are the execution of two Australians in Indonesia Art and Life infuses their work. writers reflect on their enduring relationship with With Todd Alexander, David Burton and the continued overcrowding in our prisons With Abdi Aden, Maria Katsonis and Artist Joshua Yeldham discusses Surrender: A With Fleur Ferris, Jaye Ford, this much-loved city. and Chris Flynn. signs that the system is broken? Ellen van Neerven. Journal For My Daughter, which chronicles his life Rod Jones and Charlotte Wood. With Marion Halligan, Jean Kent and Patti Miller. With John Anderson, Brigid Delaney, Hosted by Keri Glastonbury. Hosted by Ed Wright. and work, as well as the lessons he has learnt Russell Marks and Charles Waterstreet. Hosted by Angela Savage. Hosted by Caroline Baum. Free session along the way. Free session Hosted by Rosemarie Milsom. Tickets $22 Tickets $22 Hosted by Newcastle Art Gallery curator Free session Sarah Johnson. Free session but bookings required via Todd Jaye Ford Alexander eventbrite.com.au.

1.30pm-2.30pm 47 1.30pm-2.30pm 51 1.30pm-2.30pm 55 1.30pm-2.30pm 59 1.30pm-2.30pm 63 1.30pm-2.30pm 66 The Future of Regional Australia YA@NWF16 The Struggle Within: Writing about Home Grown Secrets and Lies: Exploring NEWCASTLE ART GALLERY What are the key issues affecting our regional The State of Play for YA mental illness Reading by Hunter poets Magdalena Ball, Keri love and deception The Story of a Painting areas? Do governments need to sit up and take Insights from industry insiders. With Sophie Hardcastle and Glastonbury and Ivy Ireland. With Sarah Armstrong and Richard McHugh. Nigel Milsom discusses his controversial more notice? Maria Katsonis. Hosted by Jenny Blackford. Hosted by Meredith Jaffé. With Jennifer Dougherty (Allen & Unwin), 2015 Archibald Prize-winning portrait. With Tony Windsor, Caroline McMillen and Stephanie Speight (Text Publishing) and Hosted by Anneli Knight. Free session Free session With special guest Charles Waterstreet. Marcus Westbury. Zoe Walton (Penguin Random House). Free session Hosted by Christina Koutsoukos. Hosted by Paul Bevan. Hosted by Gerry Bobsien. Maria Tickets $15 via eventbrite.com.au. Free Session Tickets $15 Katsonis 3pm-4pm 48 3pm-4pm 52 3pm-4pm 56 3pm-4pm 60 3pm-4pm 64 3pm-4.30pm 67 Kerry O’Brien on Keating YA@NWF16 Make Your Writing Pop! Book Launch and Readings That Movie Guy WATT SPACE GALLERY Northumberland House The veteran journalist speaks to David Leser Love, Loss and Everything Practical tips from a dynamic Newcastle Celebrate the launch of Novascapes Volume 2, an Marc Fennell takes you around the world via Cnr Auckland and King Streets about his biography of former prime minister in Between writers group. anthology of Hunter Region speculative fiction. awesome, weird and wonderful flicks. Paul Keating. Meet three YA writers who are exploring the big With Jessie Ansons, Maree Gallop, Hosted by Cassandra Page. Free session What is the value of culture to Anna Lundmark and Diana Threlfo. Tickets $22 issues of adolescence. Free session Newcastle and how can the city With David Burton, Trinity Doyle and Fleur Ferris. Free session boost its cultural identity? Hosted by Linsay Knight. With Liz Burcham, Siobhan Curran, Brigette Uren and Marcus Westbury. Tickets $15 In partnership with Idea Bombing Newcastle, which engages the community, fosters creative ideas as well as ways to make them a reality.

Kerry Anna Free session O’Brien Lundmark 9

FESTIVAL PROGRAM

CIVIC THEATRE THE PLAYHOUSE CUMMINGS ROOM - CITY HALL MULUBINBA ROOM - CITY HALL HUNTER ROOM - CITY HALL OTHER

10am-11am 45 10am-11am 49 10am-11am 53 10am-11am 57 10am-11am 61 We Need to Talk About Coal The Independent: Tony Windsor The Misogyny Factor Copyfight The Writer as Reader As the outlook for the global trade in coal looks in Conversation Charlotte Wood discusses her searing We share it, quote it, sample it, remix it, Festival guests share their reading habits and increasingly uncertain, is it time to jump off the Tony Windsor held the balance of power in state novel, The Natural Way of Things. but what are the ramifications? discuss their favourite books. mining wagon? and federal parliaments for nearly a third of his Hosted by Caroline Baum. With Marc Fennell and With Kate Holden, Russell Marks and With Ross Gittins, Ian Kirkwood and public life. He speaks to David Marr about holding Phillipa McGuinness. Geordie Williamson. Sharyn Munro. his own and his unexpected return to politics. Tickets $22 Hosted by Russell Blackford. Hosted by Andrew Nette. Hosted by Paul Bevan. Tickets $22 Free session Free session Free session

11.30am-12.30pm 46 11.30am-12.30pm 50 11.30am-12.30pm 54 11.30am-12.30pm 58 11.30am-12.30pm 62 11.30am-12.30pm 65 Reality Bites We Will Always Have Paris Boys to Men: Exploring masculinity Crime and Punishment The Ties that Bind NEWCASTLE ART GALLERY A discussion about family, identity and language. Fiction writers discuss how real life inspires and In the aftermath of horrific terrorist attacks, three through fiction Are the execution of two Australians in Indonesia Art and Life infuses their work. writers reflect on their enduring relationship with With Todd Alexander, David Burton and the continued overcrowding in our prisons With Abdi Aden, Maria Katsonis and Artist Joshua Yeldham discusses Surrender: A With Fleur Ferris, Jaye Ford, this much-loved city. and Chris Flynn. signs that the system is broken? Ellen van Neerven. Journal For My Daughter, which chronicles his life Rod Jones and Charlotte Wood. With Marion Halligan, Jean Kent and Patti Miller. With John Anderson, Brigid Delaney, Hosted by Keri Glastonbury. Hosted by Ed Wright. and work, as well as the lessons he has learnt Russell Marks and Charles Waterstreet. Hosted by Angela Savage. Hosted by Caroline Baum. Free session along the way. Free session Hosted by Rosemarie Milsom. Tickets $22 Tickets $22 Hosted by Newcastle Art Gallery curator Free session Sarah Johnson. Free session but bookings required via eventbrite.com.au.

1.30pm-2.30pm 47 1.30pm-2.30pm 51 1.30pm-2.30pm 55 1.30pm-2.30pm 59 1.30pm-2.30pm 63 1.30pm-2.30pm 66 The Future of Regional Australia YA@NWF16 The Struggle Within: Writing about Home Grown Secrets and Lies: Exploring NEWCASTLE ART GALLERY What are the key issues affecting our regional The State of Play for YA mental illness Reading by Hunter poets Magdalena Ball, Keri love and deception The Story of a Painting areas? Do governments need to sit up and take Insights from industry insiders. With Sophie Hardcastle and Glastonbury and Ivy Ireland. With Sarah Armstrong and Richard McHugh. Nigel Milsom discusses his controversial more notice? Maria Katsonis. Hosted by Jenny Blackford. Hosted by Meredith Jaffé. With Jennifer Dougherty (Allen & Unwin), 2015 Archibald Prize-winning portrait. With Tony Windsor, Caroline McMillen and Stephanie Speight (Text Publishing) and Hosted by Anneli Knight. Free session Free session With special guest Charles Waterstreet. Marcus Westbury. Zoe Walton (Penguin Random House). Free session Hosted by Christina Koutsoukos. Hosted by Paul Bevan. Hosted by Gerry Bobsien. Tickets $15 via eventbrite.com.au. Free Session Tickets $15

3pm-4pm 48 3pm-4pm 52 3pm-4pm 56 3pm-4pm 60 3pm-4pm 64 3pm-4.30pm 67 Kerry O’Brien on Keating YA@NWF16 Make Your Writing Pop! Book Launch and Readings That Movie Guy WATT SPACE GALLERY Northumberland House The veteran journalist speaks to David Leser Love, Loss and Everything Practical tips from a dynamic Newcastle Celebrate the launch of Novascapes Volume 2, an Marc Fennell takes you around the world via Cnr Auckland and King Streets about his biography of former prime minister in Between writers group. anthology of Hunter Region speculative fiction. awesome, weird and wonderful flicks. Paul Keating. Meet three YA writers who are exploring the big With Jessie Ansons, Maree Gallop, Hosted by Cassandra Page. Free session What is the value of culture to Anna Lundmark and Diana Threlfo. Tickets $22 issues of adolescence. Free session Newcastle and how can the city With David Burton, Trinity Doyle and Fleur Ferris. Free session boost its cultural identity? Hosted by Linsay Knight. With Liz Burcham, Siobhan Curran, Brigette Uren and Marcus Westbury. Tickets $15 In partnership with Idea Bombing Newcastle, which engages the community, fosters creative ideas as well as ways to make them a reality. Marc Fennell Free session

All program information is correct at time of printing and some changes may occur without notice. 10 Newcastle Writers Festival 1-3 April 2016

Biographies

Prize and the Dobbie Literary this year’s festival. She is a qualified Alex Burns Award. Her second novel, His technical writer and a resident film Alex Burns is the settlement team Other House, was published and book reviewer at Salty Popcorn. manager for Northern Settlement by Pan Macmillan in 2015. Session 32 Services (NSS). He has more than Sessions 35, 63 30 years’ experience in casework Paul Bevan and community development among Joanna Atherfold Finn Paul Bevan has worked in radio for migrants and refugees in NSW. Joanna Atherfold Finn lives in more than 25 years, producing and Session 11 Port Stephens and teaches creative presenting current affairs programs. writing at the University of Newcastle. For the past six years, Paul has She has had short stories and presented Drive for ABC 1233. Paul Abdi Aden articles published in anthologies and has an arts degree with honours Abdi Aden was a soccer-playing journals. She received the University from the University of Newcastle 15-year-old when Somalia’s civil war Medal in English and has recently with a major in psychology. He lives tore apart his family and home in completed a creative writing PhD with his family in Lake Macquarie. Mogadishu. Effectively an orphan, at the University of Newcastle. Sessions 45, 47 he fled to Kenya. He was 17 when Session 37 he arrived in Melbourne via Europe with no money or place to live. Until Magdalena Ball Magdalena Ball runs The Compulsive recently, he was a youth worker David Burton Reader (compulsivereader.com). Her for Hume City Council. He has stories, editorials, poetry, reviews David Burton is a playwright and completed postgraduate studies in and articles have appeared in a author whose memoir, How To Be adolescent mental health. Abdi is number of printed anthologies and Happy, won the Text Prize for Young married and has three young sons. journals. She is the author of poetry Adult and Children’s Writing in 2014. Sessions 26, 62 books, novels and a non-fiction Sessions 52, 54 book, The Art of Assessment. She Todd Alexander Lee Christine Todd Alexander is a Hunter-based also runs a radio show, The Carmel Bird Compulsive Reader Talks. Lee Christine’s third novel, In Safe writer. His work has been published Carmel Bird is the author of 30 Sessions 24, 32, 38, 59 Hands, won a number of awards and in magazines and periodicals. His books. Her most recent are a in 2012 Escape Publishing selected most recent novel is Tom Houghton. Robin Barker collection of short fiction, My Hearts the book as its launch title. Two Session 54 Robin Barker is the author of Are Your Hearts, and an extended further In Safe novels followed. A Australia’s baby care classics Baby essay, Fair Game. Her Dear Writer Dangerous Arrangement, the first title John Anderson Revisited and Writing the Story of Your in Lee’s second romantic suspense John Anderson is an Associate Love and The Mighty Toddler. Her first book of fiction, Close to Home, Life are inspirational texts for writers. series, was published in 2015. Professor of Law at the University Sessions 13, 29 of Newcastle and currently the was published in 2015. Robin is a Session 30 retired registered nurse, midwife Interim Dean and Head of Newcastle Jenny Blackford Catharine Coleborne Law School. The overarching concept and child and family health nurse. She lives in Sydney near a famous Jenny Blackford’s poems and Catharine Coleborne, Head of the of his research scholarship is related stories have appeared in Australian School of Humanities and Social to questions of unfairness and beach where she swims out beyond the break several times a week. Poetry Journal, Cosmos Magazine, Science/ Dean of Arts at the inequity in the criminal justice Westerly and more. Her first Session 18 University of Newcastle, writes about system. chapbook, The Duties of a Cat, was the often sad stories of the families Session 58 Ted Bassingthwaighte published by Pitt Street Poetry in who arrived in the colonies and their Ted Bassingthwaighte is a former 2013. Legendary feminist writer sense of both dislocation and Liz Anelli Pamela Sargent called her historical optimism, and about “family” itself. Liz Anelli began her children’s book NSW detective. For the past decade he reviewed books for the NSW novella set in ancient Greece, The She is the author and co-editor of career in 1986 with The Scrapyard Priestess and the Slave, “elegant”. a range of books, including Insanity, Monster. Since then she has Police News magazine. In 2013 he was shortlisted in the Newcastle Sessions 33, 59 Identity and Empire (Manchester illustrated 15 books and numerous University Press, 2015). articles for newspapers, websites Herald short story competition, highly commended in other short Russell Blackford Session 2 and magazines. She moved with Russell Blackford is a Conjoint husband Mario to Australia in 2012 story competitions and in 2014 won the Calvary Mater Special Award in Lecturer in the School of Humanities Dan Cox and quickly fell in love with the and Social Science at the University Born in Sydney and bred in colourful city of Newcastle. Her the Hunter Writers Centre’s Grieve Writing Project. of Newcastle. His many books Newcastle, Dan Cox started his latest offering, One Photo (Penguin include Freedom of Religion and the Session 28 journalism career delivering Books), will launch in September. Secular State (2012) and Humanity newspapers as a teenager. He Session 12 Caroline Baum Enhanced: Genetic Choice and the studied communications and then in Challenge for Liberal Democracies 2008 he joined 1233 ABC Newcastle Caroline Baum is a well-known (2014). He is a Laureate of the as a broadcast journalist. journalist and broadcaster. She is International Academy of Humanism. editorial director of Booktopia’s Session 26 Session 57 online newsletter, The Buzz, Hugh Craig which offers a selection of book Gerry Bobsien Hugh Craig is deputy head of the recommendations and associated Gerry Bobsien has written several Faculty of Education and Arts at the video interviews with up-and-coming books for young adults and children. University of Newcastle and director and established writers. Caroline Her book Surf Ache is set in of the university’s new Centre for 21st was awarded the 2015 Hazel Rowley Newcastle and tells the story of a Century Humanities. His research Literary Fellowship. girl coming to terms with life in a applies statistical methods to Sessions 22, 53, 55 new city where the sea is everything. literature. He co-edited Shakespeare, Jessie Ansons Gerry recently completed a PhD Computers, and the Mystery of Ann Beaumont at the University of Newcastle, Authorship with Arthur F Kinney. Jessie Ansons is a Newcastle Ann Beaumont is a writer/historian writer. Her short stories have been exploring adolescent desire and teen Session 5 living in the Southern Highlands of feminism in young adult literature. published in three hard-copy books NSW. She has had a long career in and five ebooks and she is hoping Session 51 Karen Crofts journalism in Australia and Europe Karen Crofts is the director of the to have a novel published one day. and is the author of six books. Session 56 Liz Burcham Hunter Writers Centre. She holds Her most recent book is A Man of Liz Burcham is Newcastle City a master’s degree in Creative Arts Sarah Armstrong Many Parts, a biography of Hunter Council’s cultural director. Prior to from the University of Newcastle. In 1997, Sarah Armstrong resigned River pioneer Edward Close. arriving in Newcastle in July 2014, She has won or been shortlisted in from the ABC and moved to the hills Session 3 she was the chief executive at a number of competitions and her outside Byron Bay to devote herself Brisbane’s respected community arts work is featured in anthologies. Karen Morgan Bell centre, Metro Arts, a position she conducts writing groups at HWC and to writing fiction. Her first novel, Morgan Bell is a Newcastle-based held for 11 years. is a qualified teacher. She established Salt Rain, was published in 2004 author and editor. Her works Session 67 the Grieve Writing Project in 2012. (Allen & Unwin). It was shortlisted include the collection Sniggerless for the 2005 Miles Franklin Award, Boundulations and the anthology Session 9, 28 the Queensland Premier’s Literary Sproutlings, which will be launched at 11

Telegraph (London), ninemsn and Jill Emberson Fleur Ferris CNN. She is the author of two books: Jill Emberson is a journalist who While working for a number of years This Restless Life and Wild Things. has also worked in development as a police officer and a paramedic, Sessions 38, 58 aid, environment and finance. As a Fleur Ferris sometimes saw the darker side of life. Her experiences Gionni Di Gravio broadcaster she presented on 2JJJ and ABCTV, and currently hosts have informed Risk, her first young Gionni Di Gravio is the University of adult fiction book. She now lives Newcastle archivist. He is the chair Mornings on 1233 ABC Newcastle. Jill has won several media awards and a more settled lifestyle on a rice of the Hunter History Initiative/Coal farm in southern NSW, with her River Working Party and councillor of been shortlisted for a Walkley. She founded the podcast Meet the Mob. husband and three young children. the Australian Society of Archivists. Sessions 46, 52 Helen Cummings Session 3 Sessions 19, 39 Helen Cummings’s memoir, Blood Tim Flannery Jennifer Dougherty Robert Evans Vows, documents an abusive and Robert Evans’s involvement in Tim Flannery has published more violent marriage. Helen escaped with Jennifer Dougherty is an editor of than 30 books including the award- children’s and young adult fiction hospital planning stimulated his her children but faced the reality interest in the history of medicine winning The Future Eaters, The of her ex-husband murdering his at Allen & Unwin. She has a Weather Makers and Here on Earth. background in corporate writing and and led to a PhD thesis centred second wife and daughter. Her story on Australian paediatrics. His In 2013 he founded the Australian reflects hope, love and forgiveness. editing, and has been published Climate Council, which he still leads. in The Sydney Morning Herald. new book, King Edward Park, A long-term advocate for women Newcastle NSW: A History, will be His most recent book, Atmosphere of Session 51 and children victims of domestic launched at this year’s festival. Hope: Searching for Solutions to the violence, she practises yoga every Climate Crisis, is published by Text. Session 6 day and was the 2014 Newcastle Blak Douglas Blak Douglas is an artist, classically Sessions 1, 23, 41 Woman of the Year. Tanya Evans trained Yidaki (didgeridoo) Richard Fletcher Session 17 player and youth educator. He Tanya Evans is a historian and the author of Fractured Families: Richard Fletcher taught science Tallulah Cunningham uses graphic design and pop art in NSW, Kenya and the US before aesthetics in his highly politicised Life on the Margins in Colonial Tallulah Cunningham is an eclectic New South Wales. She wrote this returning to Australia to pioneer illustrator who works in both works, which are in international domestic violence prevention and Australian collections. book in collaboration with family traditional and digital media. Her historians working on the histories within the health promotion unit. Session 40 past projects have included fantasy of their poor ancestors who were He initiated men’s and boys’ health book covers, graphic novel short clients of The Benevolent Society, as areas of study and is currently stories, medieval-style illumination, Australia’s oldest charity. She leader of the Fathers and Families scientifically accurate botanical teaches at Macquarie University. Research Program at the University illustrations and private Session 2 of Newcastle’s Family Action Centre. commissions. She is a part of Session 17 Octopus Ink Illustration Collective, Marc Fennell a working studio space enabled Marc Fennell is a radio and TV by Renew Newcastle. presenter, film critic, award-winning Session 32 technology journalist, author, the host of SBS’s The Feed. Marc’s Siobhan Curran John Doyle first offering, That Movie Book, Since her first visit to Newcastle in reviews more than 260 films. His 1998, Siobhan Curran has been a big John Doyle is one of Australia’s most recent book, Planet According fan of “Australia’s most underrated finest writers for stage and screen. to the Movies is a grand tour of city” (Lonely Planet). Siobhan His work spans the theatrical the world through cinema. indulges her interest in discovering all success of The Pig Iron People for Sessions 27, 57, 64 she can about Newcastle’s creative the Sydney Theatre Company to the Chris Flynn people and culture via her blog, small screen acclaim of series such Alison Ferguson Chris Flynn’s first novel, A Tiger The Novocastrian Files, and through as Marking Time and Changi for the Alison Ferguson set out to be a in Eden, was short-listed for the her work with The Lock-Up, Renew ABC. In 2006, John joined writer back in the ’70s but was led Commonwealth Book Prize. He Newcastle, and the University of Tim Flannery for the documentary astray by the need to make a living. edited Terra Australis: Four Stories Newcastle. Two Men In A Tinnie, which As a speech pathologist, Alison from Aboriginal Australian Writers Session 67 explored the degradation of the worked as a clinician and academic in McSweeney’s #41, and his writing Murray Darling River system. The for more than 30 years. Now Nancy Cushing has appeared in a number of pair have since worked together liberated by retirement, she is writing Nancy Cushing is Head of History publications. His most recent novel on another three series. fiction based on family history. at the University of Newcastle and is The Glass Kingdom. Born in Belfast, has been researching the history Session 1 Session 4 Chris now lives in Melbourne. of Newcastle since 1991. Her most Trinity Doyle Sarah Ferguson Sessions 27, 54 recent books are Radical Newcastle Sarah Ferguson is an award-winning and Smoky City, both published in Trinity Doyle grew up in the suburbs of Lake Macquarie. She has worked investigative journalist and host of Jaye Ford 2015. She has great admiration for Four Corners. In 2015 she wrote and the skill and commitment of family as a music photographer and Jaye Ford is an award-winning graphic designer, and is currently presented The Killing Season, which crime writer who lives in the Hunter historians and is interested in examined the forces that shaped enhancing the impact of their work. living the dream as a bookseller. Region. Her first thriller, Beyond Trinity lives in Newcastle with her Labor during the Kevin Rudd/Julia Fear, won two Davitt Awards for Session 2 husband, daughter and cat. Her Gillard leadership years. Her book, Australian women crime writers Brigid Delaney debut YA novel, Pieces of Sky, was The Killing Season Uncut, is published and was the highest selling debut Brigid Delaney is Guardian Australia’s published in 2015 by Allen & Unwin. by MUP. crime novel in Australia in 2011. Her features editor. She has previously Session 52 Session 49 fifth suspense novel, Darkest Place, worked as a lawyer and journalist was released in February this year. at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Sessions 36, 46

Sarah Ferguson Marc Fennell Sarah Armstrong Jaye Ford 12 Newcastle Writers Festival 1-3 April 2016

Biographies

James Fry Cambridge, and a journalist-in- to help change the lives of young women’s magazine The Hoopla for James Fry is a Sydney author. residence at the Department of people living with mental illness and four years. Chairing panels, His debut memoir, That Fry Boy, Economics at the University of is working with Batyr and Headspace. presenting workshops and published by New Holland in 2015, Melbourne. Her memoir, Running Like China, interviewing authors at writers addresses the horrific impact that Sessions 23, 45 was published in 2015 by Hachette. festivals is high on her list of the bullying can have on a young Session 55 most fun things to do. Her debut developing mind. James is the Keri Glastonbury novel, The Fence, is due for founding editor of Transgression, a Keri Glastonbury is a senior lecturer Libby Hathorn publication in September 2016. new online magazine that looks at in creative writing at the University Libby Hathorn is the author of more Sessions 31, 34, 63 life on the edge. of Newcastle, poet and essayist. She than 50 books. Her work has been Session 38 particularly enjoys supervising and translated into several languages and Sarah Johnson supporting post-graduate students adapted for stage and screen. She Sarah Johnson is the curator Maree Gallop to complete a major creative work is the winner of the Alice Award, a at Newcastle Art Gallery. Sarah Maree Gallop is a Newcastle fiction and encourages anyone with a national award for a female writer was previously the curator and writer with a master of mental health burning desire to write to consider who has made a distinguished programs coordinator at Manly Art nursing. Her work/life experiences enrolling in the program. contribution to Australian literature. Gallery & Museum. Prior to this are creatively reflected in her short Sessions 59, 62 Her most recent books are she worked at the Powerhouse stories, which have won local and A Soldier, a Dog and a Boy and Museum, The Australian National national prizes. She is working on Dennis Glover YA novel Eventual Poppy Day. Maritime Museum and was her first novel. Dennis Glover grew up in Doveton Sessions 16, 33 education program assistant Session 56 before studying at Monash University at Newcastle Regional Museum. and King’s College, Cambridge, Session 65 Adam Geczy where he was awarded a PhD in Adam is an artist, writer and history. He has worked for two Gwynneth Jones academic who works at the decades as an academic, newspaper Gwynneth Jones has completed an University of Sydney as a senior columnist, political adviser and Art Certificate at TAFE, a degree in lecturer in sculpture and art speechwriter to Labor leaders and visual art, majoring in Plant and theory at Sydney College of The senior ministers. His most recent Wildlife Illustration at the University Arts and in conjunction with the book, An Economy is Not a Society, of Newcastle, and other design ATSI Research unit. Adam’s works was published in 2015 by Black Inc. courses. Gwynneth recently have been exhibited throughout Sessions 23 illustrated her first book, Don’t Think Australia, Asia and Europe. Kate Holden About Purple Elephants, written by Session 40 Richard Glover Kate Holden is the author of In My Newcastle author Susan Whelan. Richard Glover is the author of five Skin: A Memoir and The Romantic: Session 12 books and three stage shows. His Serena Geddes Italian Nights and Days, published weekly column has appeared in Serena Geddes is an illustrator by Text. For six years she wrote a The Sydney Morning Herald since who spent six years working for a column for The Age and has 1985. He presents the hugely mouse in trousers, a grumpy duck published essays, short stories and popular Drive show on ABC 702 and a goofy dog! She worked for reviews in Griffith Review, Meanjin, in Sydney. His most recent book Walt Disney Studios in Sydney on The Weekend Australian, The Monthly, is the memoir Flesh Wounds. the sequels to The Lion King, Peter The Saturday Paper and others. Sessions 21, 34 Pan and The Jungle Book before Sessions 24, 61 becoming an illustrator for the highly successful Lulu Bell series Scott Holmes and Totally Twins, to name a few. Scott Holmes is Deputy Vice- Session 12 Chancellor, Vice-President (Research Leisel Jones and Development) and Dean of Leisel Jones retired from swimming Michael Giacometti Business at Western Sydney Michael Giacometti is an Alice in 2012 as the winner of three University. He is an honorary Olympic gold medals, and many Springs writer and the recipient of professor at the University of the inaugural Newcastle Writers Commonwealth and World Queensland and a life member of Championship medals. She Festival Emerging Regional Writer the Small Enterprise Association of Residency offered in partnership was a commentator at the 2014 Australia and New Zealand, reflecting Commonwealth Games. Her memoir, with The Lock-Up and University of Stan Grant almost three decades of research Newcastle. Body Lengths, written with Felicity Stan Grant is the Indigenous and support for the small firm sector. McLean, was published in 2015. Session 35 affairs editor for Guardian Session 23 Session 15 Australia. He is the winner of the S. E. Gilchrist Richard Holt S. E. Gilchrist lives in the Hunter 2015 Walkley Award for coverage Rod Jones of Indigenous affairs. Stan was Richard Holt is a Melbourne-based Rod Jones’s first novel, Julia Valley with her family and pets writer and visual artist who has spent and is the author of more than 15 previously the international editor Paradise (1986), won the fiction at Sky News and has held posts many years combining text with award at the 1988 Adelaide books. Her stories are set in the visual art. He developed FLASHING exciting worlds of science fiction, in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and Festival, was shortlisted for the Beijing for CNN International. His THE SQUARE, a collaborative microlit Miles Franklin Award and was ancient historical, apocalyptic and project with publishing house contemporary small towns. She is a new book, Talking To My Country, runner-up for the Prix Femina is published by HarperCollins. Spineless Wonders. The microlit Étranger. It has been translated proud member of the Romance screen project has now spread into Writers of Australia and manages Session 19 into 10 languages. His four other venues and festivals nationally. novels have all either won or been Hunter Romance Writers with Session 37 her good friend Sandie James. Marion Halligan shortlisted for major literary awards. Born and raised in Newcastle, Rod lives near Melbourne. The Session 30 Marion Halligan is one of Australia’s Ivy Ireland Mothers is his most recent novel. Ivy Ireland runs The Press Book Zeny Giles most important writers, with a long Sessions 31, 46 list of literary prizes to her credit. House, a Newcastle bookstore Zeny Giles has written novels and café. Ivy sometimes teaches short stories. She is a member She has been short-listed for the Maria Katsonis Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and creative writing at the University of Maria Katsonis enjoyed a traditional of Hunter community publisher Newcastle, where she completed her Catchfire Press. Her second book the Miles Franklin Literary Award, Greek childhood, living above a milk and has won the Nita B. Kibble PhD in 2012. She was awarded the bar and sharing a bedroom with her of poems, A Little More Honey, Australian Young Poet Fellowship will be launched at the festival. Award, the Steele Rudd Award yiayia. After a decade in the arts, and the Geraldine Pascall Prize in 2007 and her poems have Maria joined the Victorian Public Session 42 for critical writing. Her most recent been published in magazines Service. In 2008, Maria experienced Ross Gittins novel is Goodbye Sweetheart. and anthologies. Her most recent a severe episode of depression and Session 43, 50 collection of poems, Porch Light, is now lives with an ongoing mental Ross Gittins is the economics editor published by Puncher & Wattmann. of The Sydney Morning Herald and an illness. Her memoir, A Good Greek economic columnist for The Age. He Sophie Hardcastle Session 59 Girl, was published by Ventura Press. is a winner of the Citibank Pan Asia Sophie Hardcastle is based in Sessions 27, 55, 62 Sydney. In 2013, she was admitted to Meredith Jaffé award for excellence in financial Meredith Jaffé is a Guardian journalism and has been a Nuffield hospital and diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder. Sophie is determined Australia book critic. She wrote a Press fellow at Wolfson College, weekly literary column for the online 13

Brett Keeble Anthony Lawrence Mark MacLean Brett Keeble is an award-winning Anthony Lawrence has published Mark MacLean is a Newcastle writer journalist who left the Newcastle 15 books of poetry and his work who explores our connections to Herald in 2015 after 24 years has won many of Australia’s most place. His book A Year Down the covering the Knights and the prestigious awards. He teaches at Drain described his walks in the National Rugby League, among Griffith University, Gold Coast, and storm water drains of Newcastle, other sporting rounds. His articles lives on the far north coast of NSW. and the stories in The New Landscape have been published in national Session 44 covered locations as diverse as newspapers and magazines. Cumbria and Central Australia. He wrote Paul Harragon’s David Leser His most recent book, Five Boxes, biography, One Perfect Day. David Leser has been a Middle East looks at our connection to the Session 15 and Washington D.C. correspondent past through our possessions. as well as feature writer in Australia Sessions 31, 35 Jean Kent for the Murdoch, Packer and Fairfax Anneli Knight Lake Macquarie-based poet media companies. He has received a Barry Maitland Jean Kent has published five number of awards for his journalism. Barry Maitland is the author of collections. The most recent His most recent book, To Begin to the acclaimed Brock and Kolla is The Hour of Silvered Mullet (Pitt Know, centres on his father, Bernie series of crime mystery novels Street Poetry, 2015). Her awards Leser, who started Vogue Australia set in London, as well as the include residencies at the Literature and went on to lead the Conde Nast Australian mystery thriller Bright Board’s Keesing Studio, Paris, in group of magazines. Air and the new Belltree Trilogy. 1994 and 2011. Paris in my Pocket, Session 48 Session 36 a selection of Jean’s Paris poems, will be launched at the festival. John Lewer Paddy Manning Sessions 43, 50 John Lewer joined the Faculty of Paddy Manning is an awarded Business and Law at the University journalist who has worked for News Ian Kirkwood of Newcastle after working in Corp and Fairfax Media mastheads, Ian Kirkwood is a Walkley Award- industrial relations and vocational as well as Crikey and the ABC. He winning journalist who has been education. He was awarded his was founding editor of Ethical Investor reporting on industrial relations doctorate by the University of magazine and is author of Born to and industry-related issues for Newcastle in 2006. He co-authored Rule: The Unauthorised Biography of the Newcastle Herald for 25 years. a leading textbook in Australian Malcolm Turnbull. Ross Gittins industrial relations, now in its Session 45 Sessions 20, 23 seventh edition, and his book Not Anneli Knight Charted on Ordinary Maps: The Jenny Marchant Anneli Knight is a writer, journalist Newcastle Steelworks Closure Jenny Marchant is a presenter and and business writing trainer and was published in 2015. reporter for 1233 ABC Newcastle. consultant. She was a staff reporter Session 8 With a background in news, and at The Sydney Morning Herald and a passion for creativity and live then a freelance journalist – writing, Steve Lewis radio, she presents Treasure Hunter travelling and living between Steve Lewis spent two decades each Saturday morning. Jenny was Melbourne, the Kimberley and Byron tormenting the nation’s political elite, part of the ABC team that won Bay. She has a PhD in creative working for the Australian Financial a Walkley Award for coverage of writing and is a member of the Byron Review, The Australian and News the 2007 storms and floods. Corp tabloids. He is the co-author Bay Writers Festival committee. Session 10 Sessions 25, 35, 55 with ABC journalist Chris Uhlmann of The Mandarin Code and The Russell Marks Linsay Knight Marmalade Files. Their best-selling Russell Marks has worked as a Linsay Knight is widely respected as novels have been turned into a six- criminal defence lawyer and an a leading expert in, and contributor part political thriller, Secret City, to academic. He writes for The Libby Hathorn to, children’s literature in Australia. be broadcast mid year by Foxtel and Monthly’s website and is an As the former head of children’s their third novel, The Shadow Game, honorary associate at La Trobe books at Random House Australia, will also be published in August. University. His most recent book, she nurtured the talent of numerous Session 20 Crime & Punishment: Offenders authors and illustrators. Linsay is and Victims in a Broken Justice also passionate about poetry and Zane Lovitt System, is published by Black Inc. Zane Lovitt won the S.D. Harvey in 2012 she and her husband, John, Sessions 58, 61 launched the dynamic poetry imprint Short Story Award at the 2010 Ned Pitt Street Poetry. Kelly Awards for Australian crime Session 52 fiction, and his novel, The Midnight Promise, won the 2013 Ned Kelly Nancy Knudsen Award for Best First Fiction. His Nancy Knudsen, always a writer, had second novel, Black Teeth, will be her first play performed in Brisbane available in August 2016. at age 17, but career, marriage and Session 36 children became priorities for many years. Her first book, Shooting Stars and Flying Fish, was published by Richard Glover Allen & Unwin in 2011. Her new David Marr book, Accidentally Istanbul, was written while alternating between David Marr is a Guardian Australia homes in Istanbul and Dungog in journalist. He is widely regarded as the Hunter, and will be launched at one of Australia’s most influential the festival. commentators, writing on subjects Session 39 such as politics, censorship, the media and the arts. He has been Christina Koutsoukos a journalist since 1973 and is the Christina Koutsoukos spent Anna Lundmark recipient of four Walkley Awards almost three decades in the media Anna Lundmark is a Swedish/ for journalism. He is the author working in a number of roles Australian environmental scientist of the Quarterly Essay, Faction including current affairs presenter addicted to writing fiction. She is Man: Bill Shorten’s Path to Power. and news and features producer. working on her first novel, and Sessions 20, 49 She now teaches journalism at recently started to write short stories. the University of Newcastle. Her story, In Your Wake, was Session 66 published in the Hunter Writers Centre Grieve 2015 anthology and won an award. James Fry Session 56 14 Newcastle Writers Festival 1-3 April 2016

Biographies

Phillipa McGuinness emerging writers and editors. Sharyn Munro Cassandra Page Phillipa McGuinness has been Session 37 Sharyn Munro is an award-winning Cassandra Page is a Newcastle grappling with copyright issues short story writer and author writer with a penchant for Patti Miller of three non-fiction books, The speculative fiction. She edited as a publisher for 20 years, at Award-winning author of The Mind both Cambridge University Press Woman on the Mountain (Exisle Novascapes Volume 1, the Hunter and UNSW Press/NewSouth of a Thief, Ransacking Paris, and 2007), Mountain Tails (Exisle 2009) Region’s inaugural speculative Publishing, where she has published five other books. Patti is Australia’s and Rich Land, Wasteland (Pan fiction anthology. Volume 2 will many award-winning books. foremost memoir teacher, with Macmillan/Exisle 2012). She was a be launched at the festival. Hunter resident from the 1960s until Session 57 workshops in Sydney and Paris. Session 60 Sessions 39, 50 2014. Runaway coalmining made her Richard McHugh a late-blooming “literary activist”. Joe Perry After his unpublished novella Nigel Milsom Sessions 41, 45 Joe Perry is a Worimi man who about a love-struck teenager was Nigel Milsom is a Newcastle-based has worked for 25 years in higher shortlisted for The Australian-Vogel’s artist and winner of the 2015 Sonia Mycak education, is a well-established prize in 1990, Richard McHugh Archibald Prize for a portrait of Sonia Mycak is a visiting fellow in academic and has previously worked completed his studies at Sydney and barrister Charles Waterstreet. He the Centre for European Studies at within local Aboriginal communities. Yale, worked as an office angel in completed a bachelor degree at the the Australian National University. Joe completed a Bachelor of London and a Wall Street attorney. University of Newcastle and a master For 11 years she held research Adult Education at the University When he is not driving his four of fine arts at the University of fellowships at the University of of Technology Sydney and also a children around Sydney, he works NSW. He won the 2014 Doug Moran Sydney and the University of Doctor of Philosophy. as a barrister, makes photographs National Portrait Prize and the 2012 NSW. Her scholarly and critical Session 40 and writes. Charlie Anderson’s General Sulman Prize. work focuses on the multicultural Theory of Lying is his first novel. Session 66 literatures of Australia and Canada. Session 11 Session 63 Rosemarie Milsom Julie McIntyre Rosemarie Milsom is an Stacey Nash Historian Julie McIntyre uses the award-winning journalist and Stacey Nash writes adventure-filled lens of wine studies to explore the founding director of the stories for young adults in the questions ranging from colonial Newcastle Writers Festival. science fiction and contemporary ambition within global currents of Session 18, 58 romance genres. Her debut novel, history to fashion for wine styles. Her Forget Me Not, was published by book First Vintage: Wine in Colonial Jan Mitchell HarperCollins as a trilogy in the New South Wales won Gourmand Jan Mitchell is vice-president of past two years. Her Oxley College Rebecca Poulson Publishing’s 2013 Best Australian the Lake Macquarie branch of the Series, entailing Shh!, Wait!, and Fellowship of Australian Writers. Pretend . . . is available now. On Rebecca Poulson’s 33rd Drinks History and was shortlisted birthday, her father, niece and for three further prizes including the Since her 20s, Jan has written Session 30 magazine stories about her sailing nephew were murdered by her 2013 NSW Premier’s History Awards. Andrew Nette brother-in-law. Rebecca’s debut Session 8 adventures. She is working on her fourth non-fiction book. Andrew Nette is a Melbourne writer book, Killing Love, details the deep grief, the police investigation, the Session 4 and journalist. He is the author of Lauren K. McKellar intense media scrutiny, the court Lauren K. McKellar is the author two novels, Ghost Money, a crime story set in Cambodia in the mid case, the moments of great despair of four self-published books. She – and her healing. Her family’s enjoys writing about real-life issues, ’90s, and Gunshine State, to be published in 2016. His short fiction experience has directly influenced and is a passionate researcher when domestic violence laws in NSW. it comes to her work. She lives by the has appeared in a number of print beach in Australia with her husband and online publications. Session 17 and their two dogs. Most of the time, Sessions 36, 61 Mary Ringstad all three of them are well behaved. Melanie Nolan Mary Ringstad is the pastoral care Session 30 Melanie Nolan is director of the manager at Calvary Mater Newcastle National Centre of Biography and and has been a judge of the Hunter Caroline McMillen general editor of the Australian Writers Centre’s Grieve Writing Caroline McMillen joined the Drusilla Modjeska Dictionary of Biography. Combining Project since 2013. In 2015, Mary University of Newcastle as Vice- Drusilla Modjeska is one of interests in labour history, family was awarded the national Award Chancellor and President in October Australia’s most acclaimed writers. history and biography, she has used for Excellence in Pastoral Care 2011. Caroline has dedicated 30 Her books include Exiles at Home the technique of collective family in recognition of her 17 years as years to the higher education and the NSW Premier’s Award- biography to explore changes in a pastoral and spiritual carer. sector, holding leadership roles winning Poppy. She is also the work and workers in 20th century Session 28 across research, innovation author of the best-selling Stravinksy’s Australian and New Zealand history. and teaching. She has served Lunch. Her memoir, Second Half First, Session 2 Jenyfer Rozensteins on state government groups was published in 2015 by Penguin Jenyfer Rozensteins is a first- focused on building innovation, Random House. Kerry O’Brien generation Australian, born to climate change, manufacturing Session 22 Kerry O’Brien is one of Australia’s parents who were post-World and the resources industry. most respected journalists, with War II refugees from Latvia and Session 47 Wolodymyr Motyka six Walkley Awards including the Ukraine. She has been researching Wolodymyr Motyka has been Gold Walkley and the Walkley her cultural heritage and was Bronwyn Mehan involved with the Ethnic for Outstanding Leadership in inspired even more so after Bronwyn Mehan runs Spineless Communities Council and Journalism. In his 50-year career, translating her father’s diary. Wonders, an indie press publishing is currently director of the Kerry has worked for newspapers, Session 10 short Australian fiction in print, Ukrainian Association Hromada television and wire service, and as audio and digital formats. She and has promoted Ukrainian a foreign correspondent. He has champions new literary forms studies at the tertiary level. known Paul Keating for 40 years. such as microlit and supports Session 11 Sessions 20, 48

Andrew Nette Kerry O’Brien Phillipa McGuinness Caroline McMillen 15

Michael Sala sector, writes for Hunter Lifestyle was completed with the assistance popular children’s literature website Michael Sala grew up moving Magazine and has had her work of the Australian Ukraine community. Kids’ Book Review. between Holland and Australia. published in the Daily Review and Session 11 Session 12 Much of his autobiographical first The Hoopla. Elena recently finished novel, The Last Thread, is set in her first novel, Time Bank. Zoe Walton Geordie Williamson Newcastle. In 2013, it won the UTS Session 10 Zoe Walton is a publisher at Penguin Geordie Williamson is chief literary Glenda Adams Award for New Random House Australia, where critic for The Australian, a position Writing in the NSW Premier’s Awards, Diana Threlfo her focus is on middle grade and he has held since 2008, though and the Commonwealth Book Prize. Diana Threlfo is a Hunter Region YA fiction. Zoe edits The New York his essays and reviews have He is currently working on his writer based in Dungog. Her short Times bestselling author John been appearing in newspapers second novel. stories Skinflint, The Cat and the Flanagan with his Ranger’s Apprentice and magazines here and in the Sessions 24, 29 Swallows and My Way Home are and Brotherband series, which have UK for more than a decade. published in anthologies. She co- sold eight million copies worldwide. He edited the 2015 edition of Angela Savage edited the e-book Mirrors and is an Session 51 The Best Australian Essays. Angela Savage is an award-winning enthusiastic contributor to Sessions 41, 61 Melbourne writer, who has lived ABC Open. and travelled extensively in Asia. Session 56 Her Jayne Keeney PI series is set in Thailand. She won the 2011 Scarlet Jakelin Troy Stiletto Award for her short story Jakelin Troy is a Ngarigu woman of the NSW Snowy Mountains and The Teardrop Tattoos. Sessions 36, 39, 46 is director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research within the Claire Scobie Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Claire Scobie is an author, journalist Indigenous Strategy and Services and workshop presenter. She is the at the University of Sydney. Rosie Waterland author of Last Seen in Lhasa and Session 40 Charlotte Wood The Pagoda Tree, chosen by Good Rosie Waterland rose to fame in Reading magazine as one of its Best Brigette Uren 2014 with her laugh-out-loud recaps Charlotte Wood is the author of Fiction Reads 2013. She has lived Brigette Uren has a track record of of The Bachelor for the Mamamia four novels and a book of non- and worked in the UK, India and change management, organisation website. Richard Glover described fiction, and editor of The Writer’s now Sydney. excellence, community partnership her commentary as “the best Room Interviews magazine. Her television writing since Clive James”. most recent book, The Natural Way Session 14 building and audience development spanning 15 years. She is cultural Her memoir, The Anti-Cool Girl, was of Things, is published by Allen & Lucy Shepherd director at Maitland Regional Art published by HarperCollins in 2015. Unwin and was described by The Lucy Shepherd is a theatre maker, Gallery (MRAG). Previous roles Sessions 27, 31, 34 Australian as “a novel to provoke performer, director and arts educator. include public art curator for thought, conversation, disgust, anger She is currently the acting artistic the City of Sydney Council and Charles Waterstreet and concern”. She lives in Sydney. director of Tantrum Youth Arts and inaugural director of the Western Charles Waterstreet is a barrister, Sessions 46, 53 is a co-founder of Newcastle’s Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo. Fairfax Media columnist and the inspiration for the ABCTV professional, contemporary Session 67 Ed Wright performance collective, Paper Cut. series Rake. Ed Wright is the best-selling author of six popular histories, Session 10 Peter Uren Sessions 58, 66 After a 30-year career with the a book of poems and an award- Australian Defence Force, Peter winning novella. He also writes the Uren retired to the Hunter Region in Australian Fiction column for The 2007. Since joining Stroud Writers Australian newspaper. He has a in 2012, he has written and self- PhD in literature from the University published three novels: The Old of Sydney and is a director of Mechanic (2013); Dominator in the The Creative Word Shop, a writing Shadows (2014); and The Classic school and editing service for Bike Workshop (2015). Peter has adults and children in Newcastle. been married to Judy for 38 years. Sessions 41, 54 Session 7 Paul West Kathleen Wurth Stephanie Speight Kathleen Wurth is one of the Ellen van Neerven Paul West hosts the popular TV Stephanie Speight is a publicist at Ellen van Neerven is a writer of founders of the Hunter Writers series River Cottage Australia. His Text Publishing in Melbourne, where Mununjali and Dutch heritage. Centre’s Grieve Writing Project. passion for food, self-sufficiency she spends time getting books She belongs to the Yugambeh She is a nurse who has worked in and sustainability runs deep. Born in reviewed, authors interviewed and people of the Gold Coast and palliative care for many years. She the Hunter Valley, Paul is a trained tweeting about young adult books Scenic Rim. She won the David is also a writer who is currently chef who has worked in all areas of and news (@textpubYA). She Unaipon Award for an Unpublished compiling a book of patients’ stories. food production – from Melbourne’s works on local and international Indigenous Writer in the 2013 Session 28 renowned Vue de Monde restaurant fiction, non-fiction and all YA Queensland Literary Awards for Heat to being a WWOOFer (Willing and children’s titles. She’s loved and Light, which was shortlisted for Workers on Organic Farms) stories about teenagers since her the 2015 Stella Prize. Ellen’s short time as a bookseller specialising fiction, poetry and memoir have Sessions 25, 27 in books for young people. featured in numerous publications. Marcus Westbury Session 51 Sessions 40, 62 Marcus Westbury is the inaugural James Valentine chief executive of the Collingwood Rebecca Starford Arts Precinct and founder of Rebecca Starford is the co-founder James Valentine presents Afternoons on 702 ABC Sydney, 1233 ABC Renew Newcastle and Renew and publishing-director of Kill Australia, a not-for-profit urban Newcastle and across ABC Local Your Darlings and an editor at Text renewal scheme that has brokered Publishing. She has written for The Radio NSW. He is the producer and presenter of the ABC Arts television access to hundreds of empty Joshua Yeldham Guardian, The Age, The Sydney buildings for creative enterprises Morning Herald and The Australian program The Mix. He’s written a Award-winning artist Joshua three-part children’s series, JumpMan and cultural projects. His debut Yeldham explores a spiritual newspapers. She was a founding book, Creating Cities, was published member of the Stella Prize steering and three books of humour connection with, and journey into, based on his radio programs. after a crowd-funding appeal. the Australian landscape. Working committee. Bad Behaviour is her first Sessions 47, 67 book. Rebecca lives in Melbourne. Session 1 across painting, photography and sculpture, his art is held in Sessions 24, 38 Vasilios Vasilas Susan Whelan collections around the world. Susan Whelan is a children’s author Vasilios Vasilas is an Australian born Surrender, conceived as a journal Elena Terol Sabino and freelance writer based in Lake to Greek parents and is a school for his daughter, is his first book. Elena Terol Sabino is a Newcastle- Macquarie. She is the author of the based bilingual English/Spanish teacher and author. His new book, Session 65 In Search of Home and Hope: Images picture book Don’t Think About Purple writer and blogger. 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