24 Aug — 2 Sep a matter of life and death

mwf.com.au #mwf18 Contents

Special Events 5 Opening Night 6 Closing Night 7 Performances 16 Conversations 28 Workshops 44 Kids & Teens 48 Artist Index 50 Essential Information 52 Thanks 54

We respectfully acknowledge that Melbourne MWF18 is a celebration of joy, empathy and life Writers Festival takes place on the traditional lands itself. However, the Festival contains discussions of the Kulin Nation, in particular the Wurundjeri that may be distressing to some audiences, on and Boonwurrung people. We pay respects to topics including sexual assault, abuse, death, Elders past and present, and to the Elders of all suicide, self-harm, animal death, pregnancy communities and cultures across Australia. and stillbirth, mental illness, eating disorders, racism, sexism, ableism and homophobia. Lifeline: 13 11 14 lifeline.org.au beyondblue: 1300 224 636 beyondblue.org.au A writers festival like you’ve never seen it before

‘Tis upon us, friends! The thing! The glorious Festive thing! Y’know, this time last year I was a voracious and wide-eyed MWF punter, making my way from event to signing to pre-keynote tipple to bookshop, undulating through the warm crowd, tome in hand. In 2018 I’m humbled to be newly placed in a curatorial position, setting the traditional Festival experience on a light yet deliberate art-kook tilt. Along with the talks, ideas and sharing of passions you’ve come to know and love from authors at MWF we’re expanding the program to include theatre, performance, music, art, dance workouts and…an Animal Church. Obviously. When we talk about matters of life and death as a theme we’re exploring all the rich, important motifs that spring to mind under such an emotional umbrella. Survival, fluidity, impermanence, joy, grief, loss, love, determination. And empathy. If there’s any one thing I might hope for you to discover somewhere in our ten-day collection of hearts, warriors, song and words, it’s empathy. Allow yourself to be curious, allow yourself to explore, and allow yourself to listen. There’s a wealth of human experience on offer for you to share and connect with. Oh, and if you spot me around – I’m always up for a hug.

Marieke Hardy Artistic Director

Message from the Minister for Creative Industries On Melbourne’s tenth anniversary as a City of Literature we welcome the ever-creative Marieke Hardy as Melbourne Writers Festival’s new artistic director. This year, the Festival broadens its boundaries, marrying the world of books and writing with the thrill of live performance – it’s a program fit for our creative state.

The Hon Martin Foley MP Minister for Creative Industries

Message from the Lord Mayor of Melbourne Calling all lovers of literature! The Melbourne Writers Festival returns this year, bringing together a stellar line-up of the best local and international writing talent. The City of Melbourne is delighted to support this ambitious and exciting festival. This year is the 10th anniversary of our designation as a UNESCO City of Literature – and what a way to celebrate!

Sally Capp Lord Mayor

3 Meet authors in-store after their events and get your books signed

Readings Festival Bookshop

OPEN DAILY IN THE ATRIUM AT FED SQUARE 25 August - 2 September

Australian Independent Book Retailer of the Year 2016, 2017 & 2018 Special Events

5 SPECIAL EVENTS Opening Night Gala: You Are Here

WHEN Fri 24 Aug, doors and bar open 7pm VENUE Melbourne Museum TICKETS $50/$45 Life is complex and we all try our best. So let’s toast survival, joy, resilience and pure existence. This evening of immersive performance features literary legend DJ Andy Griffiths on the decks, soul singer Mojo Juju, spoken word artist Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa, rap icon Fablice Manirakiza, Australia’s first gay and lesbian youth chorus shOUT Choir, romantic art collective The Boon Companions, and a keynote address by the king of party-joy himself, Andrew W.K. Hosted by Sista Zai Zanda.

6 SPECIAL EVENTS

WHEN Sun 2 Sep, doors and bar open 7pm VENUE Melbourne Museum TICKETS $50/$45 The final night of MWF celebrates what it means to let go, as six writers pay tribute to something or someone loved and lost in a night of ritual, healing and farewell. Featuring readings from Ali Cobby Eckermann, Jessie Cole, Sophie Cunningham, Kate Holden, Mariam Issa and Maria Tumarkin, and a full musical performance by the soaringly beautiful Megan Washington. Supported by Belong

Closing Night Party: You Are There

7 SPECIAL EVENTS

Second Last Rites: Magda’s Funeral WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 6pm (90 min) VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square TICKETS $45/$35 CODE 1106

It seems unfair to ask us to wait until we’re gone to be seen off properly. What would sitting through your own funeral really be like? Beloved Australian writer and legendary good sort Magda Szubanski is about to give over to the one party she never thought she could attend, as several big names gather to toast her life. One catch – the guests are a secret. Hosted by Emilie Zoey Baker.

Supported by The Melbourne Gin Company 8 SPECIAL EVENTS

‘I’ve always had some kind of moral conscience, Irvine Welsh: but it gets Redemption stronger WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 8.30pm (90 min) when you VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square TICKETS $45/$35 CODE 1107 get older. ‘I’ve always had some kind of moral conscience, It’s harder but it gets stronger when you get older. It’s harder to be a bastard,’ says Irvine Welsh. ‘You’ve got to be a bit kind to yourself as well.’ to be a The highly acclaimed and often controversial cult author of Trainspotting asks if artists have bastard.’ a responsibility to say sorry for their art, social crimes or personal misdemeanours before seeking redemption. He talks with Omar Musa.

Supported by The Melbourne Gin Company 9 SPECIAL EVENTS

Home: Marwa Al-Sabouni & Ben Quilty

WHEN Mon 27 Aug, 8.30pm VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square TICKETS $30/$27 CODE 1306

Marwa Al-Sabouni (author of the memoir The Battle for Home, about living as an architect in Syria) and artist and commentator Ben Quilty (curator of Home, a collection of drawings by Syrian children) discuss these extraordinary testaments to a generation of survivors.

The ‘Hood: Raising Ted Chiang: The a Glass to Mothers Alchemist’s Gate

WHEN Tue 28 Aug, 6.30pm (2 hours) WHEN Tue 28 Aug, 8.30pm VENUE STARWARD Distillery VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square TICKETS $35/30 CODE 8461 TICKETS $30/$27 CODE 1406

It’s time to properly bend the elbow and Award-winning iconic science-fiction toast the beautiful brutality of motherhood, writer and the brilliant mind behind Arrival, with designer whisky cocktails and live Ted Chiang, shares his belief on how the readings from those who have been there philosophy of time travel speaks to the and/or done that: Timmah Ball, Quinn question of free will. He’ll be joined by writer Eades, Em Rusciano, Jo Stanley and Maria and heavenly creature Benjamin Law. Tumarkin, with DJ Clementine Ford. Supported by US Consulate General Supported by STARWARD Distillery

10 SPECIAL EVENTS

Paul Kelly: Other People’s Words

WHEN Wed 29 Aug, 6pm (90 min) VENUE Athenaeum Theatre TICKETS $45/$35 CODE 8561

Quintessential Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly presents an evening of musical performance featuring songs he has written to ‘other people’s words’. Highlighting the poetry of Emily Dickinson, Les Murray, Judith Wright, WB Yeats and more, this very special event will also include a conversation about the art of words with writer and poet Maxine Beneba Clarke.

Supported by 3RRR 102.7FM

11 SPECIAL EVENTS

Kathy Lette: Girls’ Night In

WHEN Wed 29 Aug, 8.30pm (90 min) VENUE Athenaeum Theatre TICKETS $45/$35 CODE 8562

Anthropologists have revealed that women, in all cultures, laugh more often than men – but why? Contradicting the bunkum that ‘women aren’t funny’, Kathy Lette is joined by Anne Edmonds and Celia Pacquola to explore the difference between male and female humour, and how women’s humour brings us closer together.

12 SPECIAL EVENTS

Everything Happens For A Raisin: Jonny Sun & Mara Wilson

WHEN Thu 30 Aug, 6pm (90 min) VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square TICKETS $30/$27 CODE 1605

Canadian graphic novelist and Twitter icon Jonny Sun (Everyone’s A Aliebn When Ur A Aliebn Too) joins American writer, former child actress and social media raconteur Mara Wilson (Where Am I Now?) to examine how microblogging can be a tool for empathy.

Supported by US Consulate General Ronan Farrow: Power, Abuse & Facing Facts

WHEN Thu 30 Aug, 6pm (90 min) VENUE Athenaeum Theatre TICKETS $30/$27 CODE 8661

Ronan Farrow has been one of the foremost reporters documenting the culture of silence and impunity around sexual misconduct in Hollywood and beyond. As industry after industry attempts to confront long-unexamined demons in this area, Farrow offers fresh ideas for creating a new culture of accountability. Hear from Farrow as he discusses the poignant personal stories of abuse, in his family and beyond, that led him to report so passionately on the topic. With Tracey Spicer.

Presented in partnership with the Wheeler Centre. This is a MEL&NYC event, supported by the Victorian Government

13 SPECIAL EVENTS

Ta-Nehisi Coates: Writing Yourself into History

WHEN Thu 30 Aug, 8.30pm (90 min) VENUE Athenaeum Theatre TICKETS $45/$35 CODE 8662

American author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, (Black Panther comics, national correspondent for The Atlantic) is currently in development on America in the King Years, a television project about Martin Luther King Jr and the civil rights movement, as well as writing the next Captain America movie. He’s discussing ‘writing yourself into history – making courageous art’ and the cultural, social and political issues surrounding race in the US today. With Santilla Chingaipe. 14 SPECIAL EVENTS

The Literary Body Women of Letters

WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 7.30pm (2 hours) WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 8.30pm (90 min) VENUE State Library of Victoria VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square TICKETS $30/$27 CODE 9771 TICKETS $30/$27 CODE 1307

In a world where women’s bodies are constantly International literary phenomenon Women of politicised, MWF hosts a night of naked Letters presents an exclusive event celebrating women, with spoken word performances the lost art of letter writing. Join an exceptional and responses to famous feminist texts from group of women as they come together to Maude Davey, Krissy Kneen, Miss Jane Doe, read a goodbye letter, in the city where it Leisa Prowd and Frankie Valentine. Shed your all began. Hosted by Emilie Zoey Baker. clothes at the door. 18+ women’s only event. Audience and performers will be nude.

Kitty Flanagan’s Chris Fleming: Live

School for Relationship WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 8.30pm Break-ups VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square TICKETS $30/$27 CODE 1408 WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 5.30pm VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square Known for his role as highly-strung mum TICKETS $30/$27 CODE 1409 Gayle Waters-Waters and epochal music videos (‘I’m Afraid to Talk to Men’), cult comedian Comedian, author and guiding light and swoon-worthy YouTube favourite Chris Kitty Flanagan is ready to share her tips on Fleming performs a brand-new special ditching the romantically unwanted – inviting stand-up event fresh from his US live tour. Jo Stanley onstage for further education and conversation on the Austen-esque dilemma of extricating oneself from a stage-five clinger.

15 Performance

16 PERFORMANCES

Vanitas The Big Bent Sunday Salon Poetry Reading WHEN 25–26 Aug & 1–2 Sep WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 6pm (4 hours) 10am, 12pm, 2pm (2 hours) WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 10am VENUE Immigration Museum VENUE Melbourne General Cemetery VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8259 TICKETS $10 TICKETS Free Celebrate the multiplicity of Vanitas is an immersive choose- Alert your synapses to a poetic language and storytelling at the your-own adventure set in exploration of gender and inaugural Immigration Museum Melbourne General Cemetery. queerness, featuring poets Broede salon. Curated by spoken word Step out amongst the historic Carmody, Quinn Eades, Michael poet Nour Abouzeid and artist, graves guided by a beautiful app, Farrell, Kate Lilley, Lian Low, actor and activist Sukhjit Kaur an elusive stranger, and your gut Harry Reid and Ania Walwicz. Khalsa, audiences are free to move feeling telling you all is not as it between performances in different seems. Smartphones required. Supported by Australian Poetry rooms of the grand museum. and Cordite Publishing Inc Supported by Southern Supported by Immigration Museum Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust The Miles Franklin Pretty for an Aboriginal: Literary Award West Writers: Set it Alight In Parallel Universes WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 4pm (2 hours) WHEN Wed 29 Aug, 7pm (2 hours) WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 2.30pm VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square VENUE The Thornbury Theatre VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1205 TICKETS $30/$27 CODE 4551 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1104 Celebrating Australia’s most prestigious literature prize. Part podcast, part polemic, part Sharing stories from Melbourne’s The 2018 winner is announced stand-up, this conversation west, Footscray Community Arts and acclaimed authors Sofie with Nakkiah Lui and Miranda Centre’s West Writers Group Laguna, Christos Tsiolkas and Tapsell burns down the will exhibit the works of their Alexis Wright read from award- structures, strictures and power collective. Aiming to amplify winning novels on death, love brokers that have governed the the stories and voices of the and family. Proudly supported by entertainment industry for too region, this event will showcase Perpetual, the Copyright Agency’s long. Featuring performances by the group in performance. Cultural Fund and Sky News. upcoming Indigenous musicians. Supported by Footscray Supported by BuzzFeed Community Arts Centre Ned Kelly Awards Liner Notes: Nevermind Celebrating the Poetry WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 5pm (2 hours) of Peter Steele Doors and bar open 4.30pm WHEN Thu 30 Aug, 7pm (2 hours) VENUE The Toff in Town VENUE The Thornbury Theatre WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 4pm TICKETS Free TICKETS $30/$27 CODE 4651 VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square Join us for a criminally good The iconic, raucous, spoken word TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1105 evening at the annual Ned Kelly cabaret is back at MWF – this Awards, celebrating Australia’s time adapting seminal album Remember the life and celebrate finest crime writing. With prizes the work of Peter Steele. Author, Nevermind by Nirvana. Featuring recognizing the greats in crime a line-up including writers, poet and creative writing professor fiction and true crime, the night Kevin Brophy will read Steele’s comedians, spoken-word artists, will also feature true crime live performers and a band, this work and discuss the poetic legacy storytelling from local writers. of this renowned Australian poet. eclectic group gather to breathe Hosted by Jane Clifton. oxygen into Cobain’s masterwork. Supported by the Faculty of Arts, 18+ event, ID may be requested. The University of Melbourne Supported by Australian Crime Writers Association

17 PERFORMANCES

Mitchell Coombes: Crawl Me Blood Crawl Me Blood: Life After Death Gardens, Voices, WHEN 29–31 Aug, 6.45pm Histories WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 10am | 31 Aug, 9.15pm | 1–2 Sep, VENUE ACMI Studio 1 6.45pm (90 min) WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 4pm

TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 4111 VENUE Royal Botanic VENUE Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Gardens Victoria What happens after we die? TICKETS $30 Australia’s most trusted psychic TICKETS Free, bookings required medium, lecturer on life after death Inspired by Jean Rhys’s modern and bestselling author Mitchell Go deeper into the world of classic Wide Sargasso Sea, Crawl Me Blood as professor Coombes offers insight into this Crawl Me Blood brings together eternal question, as well as sharing Sue Thomas joins director and Australian artists with a different performer Willoh S Weiland his experiences as a medium and family connection with the conducting audience readings. to discuss the installation’s Caribbean. Part documentary, soundtrack, family secrets, part radio play, and with racial histories and gardens Caribbean music and food, this as colonial legacies. Speculative Futures: immersive installation lays bare Writing Tactics for Survival our shared colonial history.

WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 10am Visit rbg.vic.gov.au/crawlmeblood or call 9252 2429 to book. VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square Presented by Aphids and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1301

Join scriptwriter Michele Lee, epidemiologist Jodie McVernon and writer Ellen van Neerven, Wholeness & the The Eye of the Storm: all involved in the Arts House Refuge project, looking at Implicit Order The Power of Patrick White the ways in which writing will WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 6pm (90 min) WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 6.30pm (90 min) inform our approach to future disasters and frame artistic VENUE Linden New Art VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square responses to climate change. TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 7751 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1309 Artist Julia deVille is joined by Dying: A Tribute Linden New Art director Melinda Celebrate Patrick White’s hugely influential body of work at to Cory Taylor Martin for a guided tour and discussion of deVille’s new this special storytelling and exhibition Wholeness and the performance event. Christos WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 11.30am Implicit Order, an immersive Tsiolkas reads from White’s books VENUE ACMI Studio 1 sensory environment that and shares his reflections on explores consciousness and reality the author, while William Yang TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 4301 through holography and VR. delivers a signature performance on his relationship with White Written in the final weeks before Supported by Linden New Art as the writer’s photographer. her death, Cory Taylor’s Dying: A Memoir was named by Barack Obama as one of his favourites of 2017. This warm-hearted, personal tribute includes readings and reflections on Taylor performed by writers and friends.

18 PERFORMANCES

Duets David Bridie & Alice Skye VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 TICKETS $22/$19 WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 4pm CODE 2415 Brought to you by Helen Marcou, SLAM and Bakehouse Studios founder, MWF’s live music stream Alice Skye, singer-songwriter, Wergaia woman and universal features performances from Australian talents, little sister, is known for her followed by conversations with fellow musicians stripped back piano melodies and about their craft, lyrics and creative practice. a striking musical sensitivity. She will be in conversation with seven- time ARIA-winning songwriter and composer David Bridie.

Mojo Juju & Joel Ma

WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 1pm

CODE 2913

Genre-bending vocal power-punch Mojo Juju is set to shake up the Australian musical landscape with her ruminations on identity and place. She’s changing the world with MC and producer Joel Ma.

Rob Snarski & Romy Vager

WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 2.30pm

Paul Dempsey & Sarah Blasko & CODE 2914 Julia Jacklin Ryan Downey Romy Vager, frontwoman of one WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 1pm WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 4pm of Melbourne’s most exciting rising acts, RVG, isn’t used to CODE 2113 CODE 2115 answering personal questions, preferring to let her music do Julia Jacklin (Don’t Let The Indie-folk artist Ryan Downey’s the talking. Now for MWF, she’s Kids Win), hailing from the Blue voice speaks to the honey of talking to globe-trotting, velvet- Mountains in NSW, is known for Leonard Cohen and depth of Bill voiced troubadour, Rob Snarski. her observational folk songs laced Callahan. He’s in conversation with a melancholic ache. She’s in with singer-songwriter and conversation with Paul Dempsey, chanteuse Sarah Blasko. Jen Cloher & Miss Blanks singer, guitarist and songwriter Supported by APRA AMCOS from the band Something for Kate. WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 4pm

CODE 2915 Glenn Richards & Kate Ceberano & Kaiit Activist and hip-hop saviour Miss Ainslie Wills WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 2.30pm Blanks has been empowering CODE 2214 genres since her first glorious WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 2.30pm entrance with ‘Clap Clap’. CODE 2114 The honeyed and fierce Kaiit has She’s dismantling structures opened up the aural landscape with singer-songwriter and Ainslie Wills (Oh The Gold), writes with her groundbreaking trailblazer Jen Cloher. songs with a quietly profound ‘Natural Woman’. She breaks lyricism and musical sincerity, conversational bread with jazz and has headlined sold-out singer and icon Kate Ceberano. shows in Australia and the UK. She talks to Glenn Richards from Augie March about her craft. 19 PERFORMANCES

Animal Church VENUE Animal Church at 524 Flinders An utterly unique performance space, immersive experience and art installation dedicated to lost and loved animal lives. In these surrounds writers will discuss how animals have informed their work, while audiences are invited to bring along a photo or token of their own lost animal friend to add to a growing collection.

The Menagerie JM Coetzee: Eating Animals of Imagination The Glass Abattoir WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 2.30pm

WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 10am WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 4pm TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8254 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8151 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8155 Adam Liaw discusses and Explore the connection between The Nobel Prize winner, novelist debates veganism today with literature and the animal and animal rights activist reads Shannon Martinez and Mo kingdom, with readings from his new story and discusses using Wyse from acclaimed vegan Ceridwen Dovey, Giselle Au-Nhien fiction to explore powerful ideas. restaurant Smith & Daughters. Nguyen and Ashleigh Young. Memento Mori: Call Me Ishmael The Essential Equine Beastly Mourning WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 4pm

WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 11.30am WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 10am TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8255

TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8152 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8251 The secret life of whales and marine mammals revealed Horse-adorers David Francis, Author and doctor Leah Kaminsky by writer Phillip Hoare Eliza Henry-Jones, Selina Jenkins reflects on what the animal and marine biologist and and Zoya Patel saddle up. kingdom can teach us about author Micheline Jenner. human existence and mortality. Animal Ethics The Crow Family WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 1pm Year of the Dog: Chinese Astrology WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 10am TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8153 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8751 WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 11.30am Is it ever ethical to take an Traditional storytelling comes to animal’s life? Tammi Jonas, Anna TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8252 the stage in a musical theatre Krien and Jason Rapke discuss show exploring relationships food consumption ethics. Edgar Lok Tin explains the role of animals in the Chinese zodiac and between living creatures. reflects on the Year of the Dog. In Praise of the Feline Recasting the Snake WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 2.30pm Pet Meditation WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 11.30am TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8154 WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 1pm TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8752 Cat lovers unite! Feline advocates TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8253 Manisha Anjali, David Blissett, Helen Brown, Maria Dahvana Melissa Lucashenko, Carrie Headley, Myles Loughran and Medium and spiritual teacher Tiffany and Ellen van Neervan Racerage make a case for Mitchell Coombes and animal launch a passionate defence cat devotees worldwide. high priestess Laura Jean McKay examine the spiritual lives of pets. of nature’s uber-villain. 20 PERFORMANCES

Holy Cow Birds & Bees: Helen Jukes Pet Remembrance

WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 1pm & William McInnes Ceremony

TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8753 WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 1pm WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 10am Yamini Narayanan reimagines TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8853 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8951 relations with animals, and Memoirist and beekeeper Helen Pet funeral director Caroline examines the sacred bovine Jukes and bestselling author Higgins leads a remembrance in the Hindu imagination. and amateur birdwatcher ceremony for all our lost friends, William McInnes make a case featuring special guests. Hayley Singer: for their beloved species. The Fleischgeist Animals in Indigenous For the Love of Dog WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 2.30pm Storytelling WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 2.30pm TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8754 WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 11.30am TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8854 Hayley Singer explores the TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8952 fleischgeist and wonders if Tony Birch, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Join musician and storyteller Ron humans can feel haunted by the First Dog On The Moon, Peter Murray as he combines storytelling violence inflicted upon animals. Goldsworthy and Han Yujoo and the sounds of the didgeridoo sing the praises of the canine. to share creation stories. Raimond Gaita: For an Animal Kama Sea-tra: Secrets Fallen Angels: of Sex in the Sea WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 4pm Echolocating Bats WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 4pm TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8755 WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 1pm TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8855 Raimond Gaita investigates the TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8953 relationship between animals Author Krissy Kneen and aquatic ‘What is it like to be a bat?’ and humanity through stories of scientist Sheree Marris go beneath James Grant and Tessa Laird’s animals he has known and loved. the waves in this expose of sea sonic and poetic journey creatures’ raunchy sex lives. explores connections between Live Music: Grand Salvo humans and animals. Life of Pikelet: WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 8pm (2 hours) Meet & Greet My Family & TICKETS $30/$27 CODE 8756 WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 5.30pm (30 min) Other Animals Grand Salvo’s 2008 album WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 2.30pm Death, which tells a story about TICKETS Free, booking required animals via music and narration, CODE 7855 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8954 presented in full for the first time. Meet Australia’s favourite pooch! Two families, Anna Goldsworthy Adorable rescue staffy Pikelet and and Peter Goldsworthy, and The Rescuers his brother Pumpernickel are on Leah Kaminsky and Ella Loeffler, WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 10am hand for pats and pawtographs. share their differing opinions on the animal kingdom. TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8851 Live Music: Steve Kilbey Pam Ahearn, Laurie Levy, Farewell Old Friend: Debra Tranter and Ward Young WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 7.30pm (2 hours) A Singalong discuss the emotional cost TICKETS $30/$27 CODE 8856 of being an animal advocate WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 4pm Australian cultural icon and with Osher Günsberg. TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8955 frontman of The Church Steve Kilbey performs highlights from Eulogy for Species Lost Chorus master Henry Wagons his broad career of 43 years. leads an almighty singalong WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 11.30am to farewell to the animal friends we’ve loved and lost. TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8852 Join Sophie Cunningham, Aviva Reed, Ellen van Neerven and Alice Young to somberly celebrate the animal species which are gone forever. 21 PERFORMANCES

Staged VENUE ACMI Studio 1 TICKETS $22/$19 Immerse yourself in a collection of vibrant one-off theatre performances by a collection of local and international artists. Featuring spoken word, poetry, comedy, music and one rather ribald puppet, MWF’s brand-new theatre stream has something for all audiences. Join the artists for a free Q&A session after the performance – visit mwf.com.au for full details.

Quippings Monster / Woman The Aspie Hour

WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 2.30pm WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 1pm WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 4pm

CODE 4104 CODE 4203 CODE 4205

See outside the confines of the A surreal black comedy from The Aspie Hour is an informative expected with Quippings, a award-winning theatre- and delightfully irreverent troupe of performing artists and maker Sabrina D’Angelo, cabaret from Ryan Smedley non-normative body activists Monster / Woman follows a and Sophie Smyth. The duo who identify as deaf and/ feminist superhero with snaky explores their experiences with or disabled, as they explore locks and a deadly gaze who Asperger’s Syndrome, navigating queered notions of sexuality, journeys through time into the neurotypical world through love, relationships, and gender. the unreliable, paradoxical musical theatre, redefining what and weird history of herself. it is to be an ‘Aspie’ today. Carrying the World Randy Writes a Novel Through the Night WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 4pm WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 2.30pm WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 1pm CODE 4105 CODE 4204 CODE 4403 The best of a decade-long international poetry career Randy, Australia’s most celebrated Writer and translator Ed Moreno is brought to the stage in a felt-face comedian, teams up brings his experience as a theatrical performance of Maxine with a typewriter in this perfectly long-term HIV survivor to this Beneba Clarke’s collection unseemly hour of spoken word performance of the work of Carrying The World, traversing and gratuitous arm movements. Brazilian writer Caio Fernando a love–hate relationship with Tear yourself emotionally Abreu, one of the most important words and a young black girl asunder as Randy reads excerpts voices of the AIDS epidemic, in pushing back against authority. from his unpublished novel in a performance that celebrates between existential ramblings. humanity and survival.

22 PERFORMANCES

Brer Rabbit Stories Writers Across Borders

WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 11.30am WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 2.30pm

CODE 4902 VENUE ACMI Cinema 1

TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 2314 This musical spoken-word performance by sparkling This dynamic session sees writers griot novelist Arthur Flowers from five countries riff on the brings Brer Rabbit back to real stuff of writing and culture. his African-American literary From India, Korea, Singapore, roots. Oral stories originally told Indonesia and Australia, leading by slaves from the American and emerging writers talk about South are powerfully re- where they connect and differ, and rendered as wisdom tales for the passions that drive their work. a contemporary audience. Supported by WrICE Born, Still Shakespeare Now WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 1pm WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 2.30pm CODE 4903 VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 Born, Still is a gentle reflection on the death of a daughter TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 4304 before birth. This performance is based on a short story by Jane The beauty and ingenuity of Harrison which was published in Shakespeare’s writing continues Writing Black: New Indigenous to fascinate us to this day. Writing from Australia. Experience dramatic monologues and a conversation with James Evans, associate director of Bell The Lebs Death of a Playwright Shakespeare and David McInnis, lecturer in Shakespeare studies WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 2.30pm WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 2.30pm Supported by the Faculty of Arts, CODE 4404 CODE 4904 The University of Melbourne

Experience performed readings Could an artificial neural from award-winning writer network ever write Hamlet? Australian Centre Michael Mohammed Ahmad’s Or Home and Away? With Literary Awards confronting, claustrophobic, violent advancing technology, could and unrelentingly authentic new AI replace artists altogether? WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 4pm novel The Lebs, which explores the Join theatre scholar Rachel experience of Lebanese-Australian Fensham and digital artist VENUE ACMI The Cube students at Punchbowl Boys Chris Rodley for a performance TICKETS Free, bookings required High School in Western Sydney. of scripts authored by AI. CODE 4315

Surviving the Apocalypse Join the Australian Centre and The University of Melbourne’s WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 4pm (90 min) Faculty of Arts in congratulating the winners of this year’s literary CODE 4405 awards. Prizes are awarded to life writing, poetry and Are you prepared for the looming creative writing. Hosted by collapse of civilisation? Join Ken Gelder and Denise Varney. national treasure First Dog on the Moon for this one-dog live Supported by the Faculty of Arts, performance, answering all The University of Melbourne your tactical questions about what to do in a dystopian hellscape. Warning: contains singing and dancing.

23 PERFORMANCES

The Boon Companions Cocktail Hour VENUE Mayfair TICKETS Free, bookings required SESSION LENGTH 90 min Let loose with theatre and art collective The Boon Companions at salons featuring cocktails, costumes and general revelry, along with special guest readings and secret artist appearances.

Gothic Horror Poetry Flora & Fauna

WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 5pm WHEN Wed 29 Aug, 5.30pm WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 5.30pm

CODE 9161 CODE 9551 CODE 9741

Plunge into dark romance Tonight: all things poetic, from Celebrate the intoxicating with a celebration of the delightfully macabre sonnets combination of literature and gothic horror genre, from to richly erotic couplets. nature by paying tribute to Dracula to Edgar Allan Poe. the language of flowers. Teenage Cult Classics Science Fiction Crime & Mystery WHEN Thu 30 Aug, 5.30pm WHEN Tue 28 Aug, 5.30pm WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 5pm CODE 9651 CODE 9261 CODE 9861 Swoon over teen cult classics Toast the celestial allure – from Judy Blume to Holden Raise a magnifying glass of all things sci-fi, from Caulfield, The Outsiders to to all things Miss Marple Frankenstein to HG Wells. The Baby-Sitters Club. with a salon dedicated to classic crime mysteries.

Afro Hub at MWF Celebrate African talent – in all its diversity – with a series of events curated by Afro Hub. Meet the poets, writers, activists, musicians and more in workshops, discussions and performance. Supported by Afro Hub

Our Words & Our Melodies Breaking Down the Ownership of

WHEN Mon 27 Aug, 6.30pm Publishing World Our Narrative

VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square WHEN Tue 28 Aug, 7pm (90 min) WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 1pm

TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1305 VENUE Afro Hub VENUE ACMI The Cube Grace your ears with the spoken TICKETS Free TICKETS Free word of African poets Soreti A workshop and network event to Journalist and filmmaker Kadir, Manal Younus and Wāni, help emerging writers understand Santilla Chingaipe is joined by accompanied by the traditional the ‘how to’ of getting a book special guests to discuss the instruments of the continent published. With distinguished discourse around diversity and with Anbess on the kirar and publishers, book publicists and real inclusion beyond tokenism. Haftu on the masenqo. authors, discover how to open a window into the publishing world.

24 PERFORMANCES

Westside The Lebs First Nations Art & Activism WHEN 10am (90 min) CODE 6812 WHEN 3.30pm (90 min) CODE 6813 Words Experience award-winning writer Ryan Griffen, creator of the Michael Mohammed Ahmad’s sci-fi television series Cleverman, WHEN Sat 1 Sep confronting, claustrophobic, and Katherena Vermette, a violent and unrelentingly First Nations Canadian writer VENUE Footscray Community authentic new novel The Lebs, with whose novel The Break is Arts Centre dramatic readings and discussion. acclaimed around the world, TICKETS Free, bookings required Hosted by Khalid Warsame and discuss their creative practice featuring readings by writers and process, and the role of Connect with a world from the Footscray community. art-making as activism. of ideas in the west. Supported by Footscray Make Your Own Superhero Live & Loud Literary Showcase Community Arts Centre WHEN 12.30pm (90 min) CODE 6811 WHEN 6pm (90 min) CODE 6814 If you were a superhero, what Be in the audience for a special would your special ability be? literary live performance, What would your costume look featuring the best poets like? Maxine Beneba Clarke and and artists from Footscray TextaQueen help you design, Community Arts Centre and make and become your very own Melbourne Writers Festival. superhero. The power is yours!

Music & Writing Me & Melbourne Robert Manne: On Borrowed Time WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 1pm WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 5.30pm (90 min)

VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 VENUE ACMI The Cube WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 11.30am

TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 2413 TICKETS Free VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1902 Three vastly different musicians Study Melbourne invites the and authors – memoirist and international students of On Borrowed Time is Robert songwriter Dave Graney (guitar), Victoria to reflect on their time Manne’s account of his recent comedian and memoirist Hung Le and experience in Australia in brush with death via throat (violin) and literary fiction author either visual or written form. cancer. Hear one of Australia’s John Tesarsch (cello) – discuss Join us as we announce this finest intellectuals discuss work the influence of music on their year’s competition winners with his wife, Anne Manne, who writing, with live performances. over afternoon tea. will share her experiences of how Hosted by Lee Kofman. Supported by Study Melbourne they survived together. Supported by Affirm Press WrICE Papers Salon Australia’s First President Arthur Flowers: Martin Luther King WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 10am WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 4pm VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 2.30pm TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 2911 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1905 VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 Be immersed in the imaginative If Australia finally cut ties to the TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 2414 worlds of Asia and Australia through tiara and became a republic, what would the maiden address of our In an homage to Martin Luther a collage of readings on life and death. An ensemble performance first president sound like? Lend an King Jr, performance poet ear to speculative speeches from Arthur Flowers will serenade weaves together the voices of 12 diverse writers from Mumbai to Marcia Langton, Nakkiah Lui, in musical prose, based on his Omar Musa and Matt Preston. graphic novel I See the Promised Melbourne, Seoul to Singapore. Land, and explore MLK’s legacy Supported by WrICE Supported by Australian Republic today, before conversing with the Movement wonderful Kon Karapanagiotidis. 25 PERFORMANCES

Raimond Gaita: Mission to Seafarers Facing Death VENUE Mission to Seafarers WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 7pm

Engage in a world of art, dance, conversations, TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8185 panels and literary tattoos in one of Melbourne’s What does it mean to face death iconic seaside buildings. From the ‘boat truthfully? Raimond Gaita gives a chapel’ to the nautical-themed public bar, we lecture on the philosophy of death. encourage you to discover the many spaces in this rich and character-filled heritage venue. Adam Liaw: First We Eat WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 8pm Literary Tattoos Eulogy for My Career TICKETS Free Adam Liaw explains why WHEN 25–26 Aug & 1–2 Sep, WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 4pm cookbooks are ‘not a matter 10am–5pm TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8183 of life and death, but the Commit to your literary passions matter of life and death.’ Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Andy and ink a book to your skin. Butler, Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Twice-winner of the Doug Moran Lehmann and Yumi Stynes The Mind Examined: portrait prize Leslie Rice and his eulogise the careers they once team of experienced tattoo artists Catherine Deveny had in the process of letting go. from LDF Tattoos provide literary- & Steve Ellen themed ink for Festival-goers. Andrew P Street’s WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 2pm 18+ event, ID required. All booking TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8281 enquiries to [email protected]. Literary Singalong Comedian Catherine Deveny Supported by STARWARD Distillery WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 5pm and psychiatrist Steve Ellen TICKETS Free combine forces to demystify The Cosmos Are you a writer who sings, or the world of mental health. WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 1pm a singer who writes? Andrew P Street discusses the connections Maria Dahvana TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8181 between music and words. Headley: Beowulf Upulie Divisekera and Amie Kaufman share brain fireworks Living Dyingly: On WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 3.30pm in a cerebral celebration of Writing Death TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8882 science and the universe. WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 5.30pm Beowulf spans both page and Ashleigh Young: stage as Maria Dahvana Headley TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8184 and Robert DiNapoli discuss Written on the Body Clare Wright reveals the adaptations of the epic poem. WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 2.30pm emotional complexities of putting mortality on the page with Leah Jonny Sun: Art Workshop TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8182 Kaminsky and Deepanjana Pal. WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 4.30pm Ashleigh Young, winner of the Windham-Campbell prize, Let’s Get Physical TICKETS Free talks to Cate Kennedy about Graphic novelist and Twitter her collection of personal WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 6.30pm lifecoach Jonny Sun leads essays, Can You Tolerate This. TICKETS Free a creative workshop on Shake off Melbourne’s winter how to find your inner alien to songs inspired by books with and unleash your art. a Dance Magic Dance class.

26 PERFORMANCES

So Much to Tell You: John Vale: A Writer Dave Graney’s Poetry Jam

Marsden & Alice Pung WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 2.30pm WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 7pm

WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 5pm TICKETS Free TICKETS Free TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8283 Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa, Alice Dave Graney reads selected Two Australian YA icons, John Pung, Jamila Rizvi and Andrew passages from the works Marsden and Alice Pung, P Street deliver personally of controversial genius explore what they’ve learned written eulogies for their John Cowper Powys. from each other and compare favourite departed authors. philosophies on writing. Story Club A Tribute to Childhood WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 8.30pm Mother Tongue WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 4pm TICKETS Free WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 6pm TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8883 Australia’s finest raconteurs TICKETS Free Jessie Cole, Majok Tulba, Mara gather to reveal their funniest Mother Tongue celebrates women’s Wilson and Nevo Zisin celebrate, stories, darkest moments spoken word poetry, with Fleassy lament and mourn their youth and shameful secrets. Malay, Tariro Mavondo, Trixi Rosa and turn to the future. and Chalise van Wyngaardt. The Boyhood of Bob Murphy: Leather Soul Justin Heazlewood Underworld & Afterlife WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 5pm WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 2pm WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 6.30pm TICKETS Free TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8982 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8282 Footballer turned author Join comedian, musician and Explore ancient myths and Bob Murphy talks about the author of Get Up Mum Justin rituals around death through people, places and events Heazlewood in a mock church conversation and performance that shaped him with Doggies service to honour his child self. with Manisha Anjali, KO Chong- superfan Wil Anderson. Gossard and Parshia Lee-Stecum. Will Tait: Love Thine Kon Karapanagiotidis: Supported by the Faculty of Arts, WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 2.30pm The University of Melbourne The Power of Hope TICKETS Free WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 5.30pm Dr Sketchy’s TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8884 Will Tait leads an intimate journey Anti-Art School of philosophical whimsy and Trailblazing human rights activist heartfelt questioning, woven WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 7.30pm Kon Karapanagiotidis reveals with musical performances. TICKETS Free how prioritising community, love and compassion has the Famous Last Words Part art, all fun, enjoy a ability to change the planet. bawdy night out as you sketch WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 3.30pm and draw MWF artists. A Better World TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8981 Starts Here Death of the Environment: Eddie Ayres, Cate Kennedy, WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 7pm Steve Kilbey, Ed Moreno and Zoe Great Barrier Reef Norton Lodge recite the eulogies TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8885 WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 1pm they hope to accompany them.

TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8881 International human rights activists Sisonke Msimang, Samah Chuffed: An Ode to Dads Join Tony Birch, Geoff Cousins, Sabawi and Saba Vasefi share Hannah Donnelly, Joelle their ideas for a better world. WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 4pm Gergis and David Ritter to pay TICKETS Free tribute to the dying earth. Supported by PEN Melbourne Join Brian Nankervis as he raises Supported by Australian a beer to dads, along with dads, Communities Foundation fans of dads and the dad-curious.

27 Conversation

28 CONVERSATIONS

Jo & Lehmo Nayuka Gorrie & How I Nakkiah Lui WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 10am Survived VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 2.30pm TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 2311 VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square CODE 1404 Adversity, grief, fracture, There’s little worse than being crisis: moving past the fired from a job you love, except Co-writers and stars of ABC’s when it’s mortifyingly public. moments that bring us irreverent Black Comedy, Nayuka Stand-up comedian Anthony Gorrie and Nakkiah Lui, discuss to our knees requires ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann and comedian their experience of breaking into all our resources and all and author Jo Stanley discuss how the world of television comedy they survived being fired from their writing as Aboriginal and Torres that our relationships breakfast radio show on Gold 104.3. Strait Islander women, sharing might offer. This series how they supported each other explores the tricky Anna Krien & along the way. business of survival. Benjamin Law Jamila Rizvi & WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 2.30pm Rosie Waterland Corrie Chen & VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 1pm Michelle Law CODE 1304 VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 11.30am Authors and journalists Anna Krien CODE 1903 VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square and Benjamin Law are not only two of Australia’s most acclaimed CODE 1102 ‘Walking with a friend in the young writers, they’re also long- dark is better than walking time BFFs. They’ll discuss how Trailblazing collaborators on the alone in the light’ – so wrote they survived Krien’s motherhood SBS series Homecoming Queens Helen Keller. Writer, blogger and challenges, and their ongoing and dear friends Corrie Chen and activist Rosie Waterland talks commitment to support one Michelle Law discuss how they with her dear friend and political another through creative darkness. survived their respective mental commentator Jamila Rizvi on health challenges whilst managing how they survived together. the delicate balance of a friendship Fablice Manirakiza and working relationship. & Paulie Stewart Samantha Maiden WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 4pm ‘Walking & Sally Rugg VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 CODE 2315 WHEN Mon 27 Aug, 6pm with a

VENUE Queen Victoria Former African child soldier Women’s Centre turned rapper and young friend in Victorian achiever of the year CODE 9033 Fablice Manirakiza discusses the healing power, strength the dark is Samantha Maiden is a political and influence of music with his journalist and Sally Rugg is an mentor, Paulie Stewart, front LGBTI activist. They’ll speak better than man of Painters and Dockers and frankly and openly on how member of Jesuit Social Services. their surprising friendship has steered them through walking Australia’s marriage equality vote and shared family history. alone in Supported by Queen Victoria Women’s Centre the light’

– Helen Keller 29 CONVERSATIONS

Reading Party Take the time to read (and party) Thursday 20 September, 6.30pm to 8pm at The Moat, 176 Little Lonsdale Street Bookings open Monday 20 August

melbourne.vic.gov.au/libraries

30 CONVERSATIONS

The Premier & Emily Nussbaum: The Fifth Estate: the Polymath Culture, Criticism Masha Gessen & TV Today WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 10am WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 4pm

VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 1pm VENUE The Wheeler Centre

TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1101 VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8163 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1103 Bob Carr and Barry Jones, the Writer and contributor to The premier and the polymath, share Emily Nussbaum has won a New Yorker and The New York their passion for the written word large and devoted international Times Masha Gessen joins Sally and reflect on the art of surviving readership by giving contemporary Warhaft in an intimate discussion political life in Australia. Join these television the incisive, on journalism, media and politics two friends, avid readers and sophisticated and entertaining in the context of LGBTI rights, former politicians for some robust criticism it deserves. Join the New Russian politics and activism. conversation. Yorker’s brilliant TV critic for a Supported by the Wheeler Centre conversation about art, culture Juno Dawson: and storytelling and screen. Frontier Wars: Teenage Fanclub Presented in partnership with the Wheeler Centre. This is a Henry Reynolds WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 11.30am MEL&NYC event, supported by the Victorian Government WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 11.30am VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 2112 Walk: Melbourne TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 2212 ‘Teenagers’, noted award-winning Through Rainbow- Why are there no official YA author Juno Dawson, ‘have Coloured Glasses seen things that would make milk commemorations of the wars fought on Australian soil curdle.’ The UK writer hasn’t shied WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 2pm (2 hours) away from broaching big topics between First Nations people with younger readers. Sexuality, VENUE MWF Box Office, Fed Square and white colonists? Author gender, mental health and the and historian Henry Reynolds TICKETS $40 CODE 5103 power of writing: she talks with explores this question with pop icon Brendan Maclean. academic Marcia Langton, Stroll alongside creative duo and why the frontier wars are Supported by the British Council The Gents as they walk down still so controversial today. memory lane, reminiscing on 16 years of life and love in Sally Seltmann: Melbourne’s CBD. Exploring the personal and political, Lovesome the walk will highlight places of historical significance for WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 11.30am Melbourne’s LGBTI community. VENUE ACMI Studio 1

TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 4102

Is it possible to separate your heart from your art, or are the two irrevocably entwined? Join singer-songwriter and author Sally Seltmann (Lovesome) in conversation with ABC and Eurovision superstar Myf Warhurst The PEN Empty Chair at MWF about love, the creative process and women who make art. PEN International campaigns on behalf of writers across the globe who have been threatened, kidnapped, murdered, exiled, imprisoned or in other ways silenced for the peaceful practice of their professions and in violation of their right to freedom of expression. The PEN Empty Chair is on stage for a writer who cannot join this gathering because of these circumstances.

31 CONVERSATIONS

MWF at Storytelling Live: Futures Ted Chiang WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 6.30pm WHEN Wed 29 Aug, 6.30 pm Dandenong VENUE Walker Street VENUE Dandenong Library Gallery & Arts Centre CODE 5511 TICKETS Free, bookings required CODE 5331 Iconic science-fiction writer Express yourself Join us for a night of performances Ted Chiang crafts stories that through words and from spoken word artists and are filled with a deep sense poets, curated by MWF and City of wonder about the nature storytelling. MWF of Greater Dandenong. Hear from of existence, including the celebrates the cultural international and local performers short story that inspired the richness of the in the heart of Dandenong film Arrival. Hear him discuss on the theme of Futures. how sci-fi can teach us what Dandenong community it means to be human. with this series of Amie Kaufman free activities and Dr Karl events that inspire WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 3pm WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 11am readers and writers VENUE Dandenong Library VENUE Dandenong Library of all backgrounds. CODE 5411 CODE 5711 Supported by the City of Hear New York Times bestselling Greater Dandenong author Amie Kaufman talk Why do stars shine? Why do about her writing, including YA we burp? How many universes sci-fi behemoths The Illuminae are there in the multiverse? All Files and The Starbound Trilogy, the wonderful, curious, curly her obsession with deep space questions about the world and and her work as a storytelling beyond, answered by Dr Karl, consultant at NASA. Australia’s most beloved scientist.

The Rules The Fifth Estate: Homecoming Queens David Neiwert WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 11.30am WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 2.30pm

VENUE ACMI Studio 1 WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 1pm VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square

TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 4202 VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1204 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 2213 The sport in our blood helps guide The creators of SBS comedy us through the complexities of Journalist, author and Homecoming Queens Corrie living. George Megalogenis, author acknowledged expert in American Chen and Michelle Law meet of The Football Solution, Bob right-wing extremism David with Yassmin Abdel-Magied, who Murphy, former professional AFL Neiwert talks to Sally Warhaft made her acting debut on the player, and Angela Pippos, sports in an intimate discussion on show. They chat to Yumi Stynes journalist and public speaker, talk journalism, media and politics about making the series in the frankly about footy. in the context of the alt- context of the one thing nobody right in Trump’s America. wanted to talk about: race. Supported by the Wheeler Centre Supported by Queen Victoria Women’s Centre

32 CONVERSATIONS

The Muse The Searchers for Home The Knowledge WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 3pm (90 min) of the Seasons in Museum CODE 9251 WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 3pm (90 min) Omid Tofighian guides you CODE 9851 VENUE Melbourne Museum through Melbourne Museum to Hannah Donnelly guides TICKETS $40 hear the stories of Australia’s you through the Melbourne displaced peoples and asylum Museum Forest Gallery. Its seven Explore the Melbourne seekers. He is a lecturer, researcher seasons timeline opens up new Museum with guided and community advocate, with perspectives on seasonality in interests in transnationalism, walking tours from Australia, the continued use of displacement and discrimination. a four-season colonial model, writers on a subject and Indigenous knowledge of their specialty. The Broken Faces of War of living in Australia.

WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 11.30am (90 min) The Journey to the The Ghosts of CODE 9751 Ocean Floor Kew Asylum Lee Kofman guides you through WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 11.30am (90 min) WHEN Sat 25 Aug, Melbourne Museum’s WW1: Love 11.30am (90 min) and Sorrow exhibition which CODE 9951 CODE 9151 looks at Queen’s Hospital’s groundbreaking approach to At the Melbourne Museum, Join professor Philip Hoare facial injuries, pioneered on Catherine Deveny and Steve and marine biologist Micheline soldiers. The exhibition considers Ellen discuss the wooden Jenner for a guided tour the experiences and identity isolation cell from the around Melbourne Museum’s crises of men with broken faces. decommissioned psychiatric beautiful oceanic collection. Contains graphic content. hospital Kew Asylum, built This immersive experience will circa 1872. An examination provide the opportunity to share of Melbourne’s history of and your own tales of the deep blue attitude towards mental illness. sea and discuss its presence in literary greats.

High Tea with Alice Pung Walk: Elephant Journey Neko Case: This with Sophie Cunningham Tornado Loves You WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 3pm (90 min)

VENUE Melbourne Star WHEN Sun 26 Aug, WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 4pm 4.30pm (2 hours) TICKETS $40 CODE 9291 VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 VENUE MWF Box Office, Fed Square TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 2215 Join Alice Pung for afternoon tea TICKETS $40 CODE 5211 as she ruminates about living in Sublime art goddess Neko Case, Footscray. Then take flight on the Trace the footsteps of Ranee, American singer-songwriter and iconic Melbourne Star to marvel the first elephant in Australia. two-time Grammy nominee at the extraordinary views and Acclaimed writer Sophie known for her work with hear writers’ local suburban Cunningham leads this two-hour Canadian indie rock group The stories that were originally walk while exploring the animal’s New Pornographers, examines published in Reading Victoria. dark journey, Melbourne’s early the magical connection between Supported by Melbourne Star history, animal rights and the literature and songwriting. Observation Wheel. Reading ethics of zoos today. Victoria is a project of Melbourne UNESCO City of Literature Office

33 CONVERSATIONS

Local Libraries TICKETS Free, bookings required Don’t miss international and local Festival guests at a library near you.

Manal al-Sharif Kon Karapanagiotidis Ceridwen Dovey

WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 11am WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 3pm WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 3pm

VENUE Belgrave Library VENUE St Kilda Library VENUE St Kilda Library

CODE 7112 CODE 7152 CODE 5412

Manal al-Sharif is a leading Kon Karapanagiotidis is the From the award-winning author women’s rights activist from Saudi CEO and founder of the Asylum of Only the Animals comes an Arabia, now based in Sydney. Seeker Resource Centre. His new unputdownable novel of obsession, In her book, Daring to Drive, she book, The Power of Hope, is a guilt, and the power of the past recounts how she spearheaded powerful and inspiring memoir, to possess the present. Join South a political movement after being which argues that by putting African–Australian writer Ceridwen jailed in 2011 for defying Saudi community, love and compassion Dovey to discuss her new book Arabia’s ban on women driving. at the centre of our lives, we have In the Garden of the Fugitives. the power to change our world. Catherine Deveny Ed Husain & Steve Ellen Han Yujoo WHEN Mon 27 Aug, 7pm WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 6pm WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 1pm VENUE Realm (Ringwood Library) VENUE Flemington Library VENUE Frankston Library CODE 7351 CODE CODE 7111 7153 Explore the intricacies of Islam What do we know about mental Han Yujoo was born in Seoul and with the bestselling author of health? How do we get help? is the author of four short story The Islamist Ed Husain (UK), What actually works? Comedian collections. Her first book to and his new book, The House of and writer Catherine Deveny has appear in English, The Impossible Islam. Learn about the global teamed up with psychiatrist Steve Fairytale, is a fresh and terrifying history, ethical purpose and Ellen to write Mental, a book that exploration of the ethics of art complexities of the Muslim world. talks with heart and humour about making and of the stinging consequences of neglect. taboo issues around mental illness. Barry Jones

Micheline Jenner Amie Kaufman WHEN Tue 28 Aug, 7pm VENUE Clayton Library Theatrette WHEN WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 2.30pm Sun 26 Aug, 3pm CODE 7451 VENUE VENUE Brighton Library Dandenong Library CODE Join Australian polymath Barry CODE 7151 5411 Jones to explore his latest book, Uncover the mysteries of ocean Hear New York Times bestselling Looking Into The Abyss: Trump, giants with marine biologist author Amie Kaufman talk Brexit & Beyond. Understand Micheline Jenner as she discusses about her writing, including YA more about religious beliefs the research behind her book, sci-fi behemoths The Illuminae in a multicultural society, the The Secret Life of Whales. Tap into Files and The Starbound Trilogy, existential threat to democracy Jenner’s world-leading research her obsession with deep space and what we must do to and infectious enthusiasm for and her work as a storytelling preserve it, and much more. these magnificent creatures. consultant at NASA. Supported by the City of Greater Dandenong

34 CONVERSATIONS

Ted Chiang Dr Karl Michelle de Kretser

WHEN Wed 29 Aug, 6.30pm WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 11am WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 2pm

VENUE Dandenong Library VENUE Dandenong Library VENUE Beaumaris Library

CODE 5511 CODE 5711 CODE 7952

Iconic science-fiction writer Why do stars shine? Why do The Life to Come is the dazzling Ted Chiang crafts stories that are we burp? How many universes new novel from Michelle de filled with a deep sense of wonder are there in the multiverse? All Kretser, author of Questions of about the nature of existence, the wonderful, curious, curly Travel, bestseller and winner of the including the short story that questions about the world and Miles Franklin Award. Profoundly inspired the film Arrival. Hear beyond, answered by Dr Karl, moving and wickedly funny, him discuss how sci-fi can teach Australia’s most beloved scientist. The Life to Come reveals how the us what it means to be human. shadows cast by both the past Supported by the City of and the future can transform, Supported by the City of Greater Dandenong distort and undo the present. Greater Dandenong

Helen Jukes Mara Wilson Michael Mohammed WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 6.30pm Ahmad WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 3pm VENUE Camberwell Library VENUE Cheltenham Library WHEN Wed 29 Aug, 7pm CODE 7711 CODE 5911 VENUE Sam Merrifield Library UK author Helen Jukes has written CODE 5512 Mara Wilson was thrust into a beautiful memoir A Honeybee the spotlight as a child actor, The Lebs is a confronting new Heart has Five Openings. After in her starring role in the film novel from award-winning young feeling trapped, disconnected adaption of Matilda. Join Wilson novelist Michael Mohammed and stressed through an urban for a discussion of her memoir Ahmad. He is the founder and grind of office politics, she Where Am I Now?, an honest and director of Sweatshop, a literacy opens up new perspectives in hilarious insight into her life. movement in Western Sydney her world after being gifted devoted to empowering culturally a colony of honeybees. and linguistically diverse artists Eddie Ayres through creative writing. Ali Cobby Eckermann WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 7pm Anita Heiss WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 6.30pm VENUE Doncaster Library VENUE Geelong Library CODE 7951 WHEN Thu 30 Aug, 7pm and Heritage Centre From the former ABC Classic FM VENUE Newport Community Hub CODE 7761 broadcaster, Eddie Ayres, comes CODE 9671 a remarkable story about the Meet one of Australia’s greatest power of music and courage to Hear Anita Heiss discuss her living poets, Indigenous writer be one’s self. In Danger Music, groundbreaking anthology Ali Cobby Eckermann. Author of Ayres takes us through the Growing Up Aboriginal in the verse novel Ruby Moonlight, bombs and chaos of Kabul, Australia, which showcases poetry collection Inside My Mother where Emma becomes the man diverse Aboriginal voices speaking and the memoir Too Afraid to always there inside – Eddie. from the heart, including Tony Cry, in 2017 she was awarded Birch, Adam Goodes, Ambelin Yale University’s Windham- Kwaymullina and many more. Campbell Prize in poetry.

35 CONVERSATIONS

Death of Democracy Alexis Wright: Tracker

Brow Talks WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 6pm WHEN Tue 28 Aug, 1pm (90 min)

VENUE Belleville VENUE ACMI The Cube VENUE Victorian Archives Centre

TICKETS Free TICKETS Free TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 7651

The Brow Talks series asks In a post-Trump world, the rise of Discover the research behind sharp thinkers to speak on extremism has been accompanied Alexis Wright’s Stella Prize– unusual topics of public by increasing censorship – and winning book Tracker. Join Wright, and creative interest. a move to demonise. Esteemed winner of the Miles Franklin for writer and author Ed Husain Carpentaria, in conversation Supported by The Lifted draws on years of experience and about the process of writing her Brow and RMIT’s non/fictionLab investigative reportage to thrash ‘collective memoir’ of Tracker the subject out with journalist Tilmouth in the fascinating walls Michelle Law David Neiwert. of the Victorian Archives Centre.

WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 3pm Supported by Ancestry.com.au Jimmy Barnes: and Public Record Office Victoria Michelle Law speaks about embracing anger Musical Memory as a constructive tool, so India’s #MeToo Movement your writing rises like a WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 7pm phoenix from fiery ashes. VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square WHEN Tue 28 Aug, 6pm

TICKETS $30/$27 CODE 1207 VENUE Queen Victoria Nic Holas Women’s Centre

WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 3pm Which songs from Jimmy Barnes’s TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1407 vivid and rich youth formed the Writer and HIV activist Nic Holas cerebral jukebox to his life? Join Indian author and journalist reflects on how far we’ve come the rock icon and bestselling Deepanjana Pal speaks on in depathologising but not Australian musician as he spins India’s #MeToo movement and depoliticising our sex lives. 7” records and reveals all to major Raya Sarkar’s infamous list of music buff Myf Warhurst. abusive men. What has been Evelyn Ida Morris the fallout, and where to next? Supported by Queen Victoria WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 3pm They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us Women’s Centre Evelyn Ida Morris aka Pikelet shares stories they’ve used WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 8.30pm Megan Davis: to make sense of their VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square music, art, activism and John Button Oration structures for living. TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1208 WHEN Tue 28 Aug, 6.30pm

Nayuka Gorrie Join American poet, essayist, VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square and critic Hanif Abdurraqib, WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 3pm New Zealand poet, playwright, TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1405 Peruvian-Australian music Laughter can be a powerful tool video director and writer Triana Aboriginal activist and human against oppression. Nayuka Hernandez and New Zealand rights lawyer Megan Davis shares Gorrie explores a history of poet, playwright, and musician an on-the-ground account of laughing at people in power Courtney Sina Meredith in a her involvement with the Uluru and ways to do it today. conversation and performance Statement From the Heart, the about the role of music in astonishing near-consensus that activist movements, and the was achieved, and the great lyricism of resistance. disappointment of its rejection by the Turnbull government. Supported by the John Button Fund, Melbourne School of Government, The University of Melbourne

36 CONVERSATIONS

Dream Dinner Party VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square TICKETS $22/$19 Four MWF favourites answer the age-old question:

Who would you invite Leigh Sales Benjamin Law to your WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 1pm WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 11.30am CODE 1203 CODE 1402 dream At her dream dinner party, Leigh Columnist, writer, and renowned Sales raises a glass to great writing raconteur Benjamin Law has in film and television with actor assembled a conversational dinner Lachy Hulme (Romper Stomper), menu for his dream dinner party, comedian and writer Tony with guests writer and activist Martin (Deadly Kerfuffle), and Nayuka Gorrie, novelist Melissa party? screenwriters Jan Sardi (Secret Lucashenko, journalist David River) and Samantha Winston Marr and writer Nevo Zisin. (Wentworth, Power Games). Watch them feast upon the topic ‘queers across generations’. Supported by Star Observer

Carly Findlay Judith Lucy

WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 10am WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 2.30pm

CODE 1401 CODE 1904 The table’s set, and writer and National treasure Judith Lucy activist Carly Findlay has put is holding a dinner party, but together her dream guest list don’t expect polite conversations of attendees. She’ll be joined by about work and the weather. writer Yassmin Abdel-Magied, She explores the topic of death broadcaster Namila Benson, with her specially selected guests educator Nic Holas and journalist Waleed Aly, Rachel Berger, Ash Beverley Wang to explore media Flanders and Karen Hitchcock. and the balance of power.

37 CONVERSATIONS

Signs Across Australia Michael Robotham: The Personal is Political: The Other Wife Bri Lee & Zoya Patel WHEN Tue 28 Aug, 6.30pm (90 min) WHEN Thu 30 Aug, 8.30pm WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 11.30am VENUE Belleville VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square VENUE ACMI The Cube TICKETS Free TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1606 TICKETS Free

Road trip! The Gents (aka Dale Michael Robotham, author of Authors of two astonishing Campisi and Brady Michaels) the multi-million-copy bestseller and raw debut memoirs, Bri discuss their book Signs of The Secrets She Keeps, is one Lee and Zoya Patel, discuss Australia, their 40,000km of Australia’s most widely read the implications of writing on search for precious hallmarks crime writers. Join the author a subject close to your heart, of Australian history and in conversation about his and the way that the personal culture, and reflections about new novel, The Other Wife, a can be used as a framework their romantic relationship confronting psychological thriller. to explore systemic issues. they learned along the way.

How to be a Better Ally Majok Tulba: When Alexis Wright: Elephants Fight Boisbouvier Oration WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 10am VENUE ACMI The Cube WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 1pm WHEN Wed 29 Aug, 6.30pm TICKETS Free VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 2313 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1505 It’s not up to the LGBTI community to shoulder the burden of survival Author Majok Tulba discusses his What is the power and purpose alone – as friends, family and haunting coming-of-age novel, of literature? Alexis Wright, the allies we can do better. Join artist When Elephants Fight, a heart- only author to win both the Miles and non-binary dragtivist Dani wrenching story of transcendence Franklin Award (Carpentaria) Weber as they run a workshop on and resilience, and an important and the Stella Prize (Tracker), listening, learning and supporting. testimony to refugees in the midst examines this question in her of civil war in South Sudan. lecture as the Boisbouvier Chair in Australian literature at The Female Thrillers University of Melbourne. WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 11.30am Supported by the Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 2312

Behrouz Boochani: Three thriller writers, Candice Live from Manus Fox, Susi Fox and Megan Goldin get into the nitty gritty of their WHEN Wed 29 Aug, 8.30pm genre. Join them for a discussion on defying stereotypes and VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square expectations of female characters, TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1506 writing revenge, and how women’s stories and experiences Beyond the inhumane policies are depicted in thrillers. and dehumanising detention lies a group of desperate and Supported by Penguin betrayed people. Kurdish Random House journalist, poet and film producer Behrouz Boochani talks live from Manus Island (where he has been detained for five years) with translator Omid Tofighian and human rights educator Arnold Zable.

38 CONVERSATIONS

Sacred Texts

VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square

TICKETS $22/$19 Do you remember a piece of writing that inspired you to become the person you are today?

The Book That Made The Book That Made The Book That Made Me a Feminist Me an Activist Me a Better Lover

WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 11.30am WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 11.30am WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 4pm

CODE 1202 CODE 1302 CODE 1308

The path to feminism often Carly Findlay, Gerry Georgatos, One can’t always rely on late- begins with the powerful act Sisonke Msimang and Jeff night furtive Googling to find of discovering the right text Sparrow discuss the texts out how to be a better lover. at the right time. Neko Case, that set them on their activist Nayuka Gorrie, Krissy Kneen, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Michelle paths, and their ongoing Fiona Patten and William Law, Hollie McNish and Emily influence on their practice. Yang will reveal the books that Nussbaum nominate the set them on a path to a more novel that set them alight. pleasurable intimate life. Supported by Queen Victoria Women’s Centre

Context & Memory: Radical Self-Care Tony Birch & Celebrating Bourdain Katherena Vermette WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 2.30pm

WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 1pm VENUE ACMI The Cube WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 4pm

VENUE ACMI Studio 1 TICKETS Free VENUE ACMI Studio 1 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1722 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 4303 Activism is tireless, brave, ‘Walk in someone else’s shoes… beautiful, exhausting work. Join award-winning author Tony or at least eat their food’. The So how do those constantly at Birch (Ghost River, Shadowboxing) loss of celebrated chef and the battlefront ensure their in conversation with poet and documentarian Anthony Bourdain own emotional wellbeing? novelist Katherena Vermette has left a chasm in the hearts of Join four incredible activists (North End Love Songs, The the food community. Join four as they discuss what forms Break), a writer from the heart passionate food lovers as they of support and self-care they of the Métis nation in Canada. reflect on his magical legacy. reach for in challenging times.

39 CONVERSATIONS

Therapy Couch

TICKETS $22/$19 Writing a new work is a lonely process – though it doesn’t have to be. In this intimate series, beloved authors will be gently guided through their work in process by a ‘literary therapist’.

Krissy Kneen Judith Lucy Claire G Coleman

WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 10am WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 1pm WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 11.30am

VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square VENUE ACMI Cinema 1

CODE 1201 CODE 1303 CODE 2912

Krissy Kneen is guided through Taking some time out from her Therapy Couch gives authors her current creative roadblocks elusive work in progress, comedian mid-way through a new work a by acclaimed writer Cate and writer Judith Lucy sits down break to discuss their creative Kennedy in this fascinating for a chat with broadcaster, process. This session invites Claire insight into her writing process. book reviewer and producer G Coleman, writer of the Stella Audience members are invited Elizabeth McCarthy, who plays Prize–shortlisted Terra Nullius to to leave messages of support ‘literary therapist’ in a discussion chat with her ‘creative therapist’ for Kneen as she returns to the around the creative process. and writer Tony Birch. studio to complete her new book.

Creative Couples: Alannah Hill: Black Lives, Refugee Lives Richard Glover & Butterfly on a Pin WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 1pm Debra Oswald WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 11.30am VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square

WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 10am VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1402 VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 2412 An estimated one in ten Aboriginal TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 2411 Fashion designer, stylist, author… and Torres Strait Islander deaths Alannah Hill has carved out an is from suicide. An estimated 50 Celebrating the survival skills of percent of refugees to Australia couples working in the arts, author iconic space in the Australian sartorial landscape over the are further traumatised by Richard Glover and playwright immigration processes. Riyadh Debra Oswald share an intimate years. She speaks about her stark, raw and revealing new Al-Hakimi, Gerry Georgatos and portrayal of life, work, big issues, Megan Krakouer on learning, small issues and raising two sons. memoir and how it feels to escape family trauma. empathy, hope and ways forward.

40 CONVERSATIONS

Book Clubs

VENUE Immigration Museum

TICKETS $60 This intimate series John Safran Neko Case invites you to get up close and personal with WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 8.30pm (90 min) WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 8.30pm (90 min) your favourite authors CODE 3155 CODE 8262 and hotly debate their Join documentary-maker Beloved American singer-songwriter personal book club picks John Safran for a deeper look at Neko Case will be dissecting one over wine and cheese. cult horror classic The Exorcist by of her favourite books, Watership American writer William Peter Down. Written by Richard Adams in Only 20 tickets per Blatty, and its legacy as one of 1972, this classic fantasy adventure session – be quick. the greatest supernatural films novel will be open for robust of all time. discussion, critique and discovery.

Irvine Welsh Adam Liaw Michelle de Kretser

WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 4.30pm (90 min) WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 4.30pm (90 min) WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 6.30pm (90 min)

CODE 8161 CODE 8861 CODE 9761

Acclaimed author and cult figure Chef, television host and all-round Miles Franklin Award–winning Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting) convivial human Adam Liaw sits author Michelle de Kretser will be discusses one of his favourite down to discuss two books that your guide for a thoughtful and texts. PostCapitalism: A Guide To shaped his creative life – Roald sagacious examination of one of Our Future by Paul Mason explores Dahl’s extraordinary memoirs, her favourite novels, Elizabeth the existential threat posed to Boy and Going Solo. Join him for Harrower’s The Watch Tower. capitalism by the digital revolution. an impassioned conversation.

Bob Carr Yassmin Abdel-Magied Sarah Krasnostein

WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 6.30pm (90 min) WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 6.30pm (90 min) WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 8.30pm (90 min)

CODE 8162 CODE 8261 CODE 9762

Join former Australian politician Writer and advocate Yassmin Sarah Krasnostein is a law and well-known bibliophile Bob Abdel-Magied leads a discussion of researcher and the award-winning Carr for an evening of wine, much-loved literary classic, George author of bestselling book The cheese, and robust conversation Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984, Trauma Cleaner. Delve into one of about one of his favourite novels, with insights on how its themes her favourite novels, the New York Saul Bellow’s The Adventures of of censorship and fascism remain Times bestseller My Name Is Lucy Augie March. ever-relevant in today’s society. Barton by Elizabeth Strout.

41 CONVERSATIONS

Ask Me Anything: The The Afterlife Funeral WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 11.30am Always wanted to know about Parlour the Afterlife but been afraid to ask? In this group discussion and VENUE ACMI The Cube open question event, Gyatso, TICKETS Free a Buddhist monk, Reverend Alexandra Sangster and more How to: The Final Page Part immersive- share their differing beliefs on the performance space, afterlife and answer your queries. WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 10am part talks venue, The Death (and Rebirth) Who will write the final page the MWF Funeral of your story? Fiona Garrivan of Sex discusses penning your own Parlour provides a eulogy as a gift to your family, chance to interrogate WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 1pm and female-led law firm topics of mortality. Sinclair + May explain why Sex and death: Are they inevitable you need a will (and why you partners? Why does sex tend shouldn’t write it yourself). to flourish at the start of Assisted Dying: relationships, then die off? More What’s Next? importantly, what can we do Ask Me Anything: to (a)rouse the dead? Roger Rites & Rituals WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 10am Butler of Curious Creatures and sexologist Linda Kirkman explore. WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 11.30am What does voluntary assisted dying legislation mean for Love Letters to Loss Death may be universal, Victorians? Representatives from but practices around the nursing, medicine, disability WHEN 25 Aug, 2.30pm, 4pm, 5.30pm death and dying process rights and bioethics discuss 26 Aug, 1pm, 2.30pm, 4pm vary enormously. Join Irish the right to end our own lives. celebrant Fiona Garrivan, Featuring Courtney Hempton, You are warmly invited to write holistic funeral director Libby Tricia Malowney, Margaret a letter to whom or what you Moloney and Rabbi Noam O’Connor, Rodney Syme and have lost. Your words of sorrow Sendor to learn about different a potential service user. and heartache will be folded rites and rituals for the dead. to form an intimate artwork of woe. This participatory art will immerse audiences in a cathartic, healing experience.

Michelle de Kretser: Jessie Cole: Staying The Life to Come WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 4pm

WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 4pm VENUE ACMI Studio 1

VENUE Deakin Edge, Fed Square TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 4905 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 1415 How do we recover from loss? Time for our literary culture to Jessie Cole, author of the take a look in the mirror. Miles heartbreaking memoir Staying Franklin Award–winning author holds a conversation and healing Michelle de Kretser discusses workshop about tragedy in her new novel, The Life to Come, her adolescence, and finding as well as race, gender politics, peace in a place of pain. identity and satire with writer Mridula Nath Chakraborty. Supported by Monash University 42 CONVERSATIONS Festival Bar

Continue the conversation at the MWF Festival Bar at Beer DeLuxe, open every day from Friday 25 August to Sunday 2 September. Snuggle up with a blanket and a good book in our cosy reading nooks or connect with your lit-loving friends to discuss, debate and deliberate. Supported by Beer DeLuxe, Hargreaves Hill Brewing Co., The Melbourne Gin Company, Noisy Ritual Urban Winery and STARWARD Distillery

43 Workshops

Dead Letter Club

WHEN Wed 29 Aug, 7pm (3 hours)

VENUE Noisy Ritual

TICKETS $25 CODE 9561 In a world of Twitter, textspeak and emojis, it’s time to romantically revisit communication using ink and paper. Audiences are Between Words & Deep Dive into invited to release their creative thoughts through the lost art Music: Meditation the Archives of letter writing in an evening dedicated to the written word. WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 10am WHEN Wed 29 Aug, 1pm (90 min)

VENUE ACMI Cinema 1 VENUE Victorian Archives Centre Meditation Pages TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 2111 TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 8581 WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 11.30am Explore a new awareness of self Explore the Victorian Archives and reality at this meditative, Centre’s 1930s archives with author VENUE ACMI Studio 1 interactive event with Nadine Gideon Haigh. Haigh guides you TICKETS $22/$19 CODE 4402 Cameron and SnowBorne (David through the records, exploring Rosa). Surrender to breath and their potential with writing How is reading like meditation? the unique physical sensations exercises and group presentations, Listen to writers share their and sensory experiences that and explains his own research favourite works which have can occur when music and for Scandal in Bohemia. induced meditative states, spoken word combine. before diving into a guided Supported by Ancestry.com.au meditation and writing session and Public Record Office Victoria for all while listening to music. Don’t miss this interactive journey of self-discovery.

44 WORKSHOPS

Healing Trauma Why Lyrics Matter The Ideas Through Words WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 11.30am WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 1pm Hospital Why are lyrics important to us Sometimes there is no therapy when we’re struggling? shOUT VENUE ACMI The Cube more powerful than putting Choir members join Eddie Ayres to discuss the songs that have TICKETS Free pen to paper. Join Judy Atkinson, author of Trauma led them through hardship, Come and heal your Trails: Recreating Songlines, and helping connect them to the wider world, sing louder and shout art practice and write Sarah Krasnostein, writer of The Trauma Cleaner, to discuss the higher. That’s followed by a group a prescription for a power of words and writing in singalong of survival songs. better future in MWF’s the journey towards healing. Ideas Hospital. Happy Pills Writing Darkness WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 1pm Waiting Room Collage for Young People US comedian and YouTube WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 10am WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 2.30pm sensation Chris Fleming and cult Australian comedian Zoe Norton Artists Alasdair McLuckie and Illustrator Andrew Frazer talks Lodge examine what it means to Tai Snaith and conduct a live about his new book, Drawn be a outsider comedian, and the collage demonstration. They Onward, and how to broach dark peculiar nature of using comedy discuss the role collage plays topics with children and young as a medium to be understood... in their broader art practices people. His powerful picture and gloriously misunderstood. and how it can be a great tool book looks at how shifting to free up unconscious ideas perspectives and our inner and survive creative block. With voices change interpretations Healing clown doctor Sabrina D’Angelo. of the world around us. WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 2.30pm Supported by Moleskine Anatomy of a Short Story In a process of healing the wounds The Pen Hospital created from underrepresentation, WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 4pm Sista Zai Zanda forms a space for people to connect by co-creating WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 11.30am Join creative ‘doctor’ Cate a list of books, plays, songs and Kennedy (The Taste of River Water, films written by women of colour. The pen might be mightier than The World Beneath) in the Ideas the sword, but what do you do Hospital installation space for a when your favourite pen breaks? workshop on the anatomy and The Birthing Suite Don’t cry over spilt ink! Hear inner workings of a short story. from expert pen doctors (yes, WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 4pm it’s a thing) from Milligram and Supported by Moleskine passionate scribe Jess McGuire. An insightful conversation Supported by Milligram Jerome Doraisamy between authors Jamila Rizvi (Not Just Lucky, The Motherhood) & Bri Lee and Christian White (The Nowhere Child), and their long- WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 10am suffering editors Cate Blake and Martin Hughes, exploring Join former legal professionals the often complex and always turned writers Jerome Doraisamy emotional journey of a novel and Bri Lee to hear about from conception to publication. working and writing within the industry, how to care for oneself when writing about personally taxing issues, and how the law should look after us too.

45 Sarah Krasnostein Writer / Lawyer / Great Indoorswoman / T-Shirt Enthusiast / Creative Victorian

Sarah’s book The Trauma Cleaner won the 2018 Victorian Prize for Literature. See her at this year’s Melbourne Writers Festival.

Creative Victoria proudly supports the festival and creative Victorians, see how at creative.vic.gov.au WORKSHOPS

Industry Insights

Presented in partnership with the Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne

Ready to take your career to the next level? Learn the craft from the creators of the world’s best literature. From masterclasses to seminars, these hands-on events will educate and inspire writers, publishers and editors at all career stages.

All About YA Seminar Radical Poetry How White is My Masterclass Writing? Seminar WHEN Mon 27 Aug, 7.45pm (90 min)

VENUE The University of WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 9.30am (3 hours) WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 5.30pm (90 min) Melbourne, Forum Theatre VENUE The University of VENUE The University of TICKETS $50 / $40 CODE 9351 Melbourne, Lecture Room 556 Melbourne, Forum Theatre TICKETS $140 / $120 CODE 9661 TICKETS $50 / $40 CODE 9783 Young adult fiction is wildly popular among both adults and Explore the world of contemporary Does your writing accurately teens. Learn about this successful poetry with Singapore’s Joshua reflect the world around you, market with international YA Ip and experimental poets and and how can you improve your superstar Juno Dawson (UK), academics Bella Li and Eddie racial literacy? Writers Elena Australia’s Leanne Hall, and Paterson. Write and workshop Gomez and Hella Ibrahim, and lecturer Penni Russon. your own unconventional verse, academic Odette Kelada explore working from text messages, representation in literature. True Crime Podcast collages, or spoken word. Seminar Get Published! Seminar Graphic Novels WHEN Thu 30 Aug, 6.15pm (90 min) Masterclass WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 7.30pm (90 min) VENUE The University of VENUE The University of Melbourne, Forum Theatre WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 2pm (3 hours) Melbourne, Forum Theatre

TICKETS $50 / $40 CODE 9451 VENUE The University of TICKETS $50 / $40 CODE 9781 Melbourne, Lecture Room 156 Explore the booming phenomenon Award-winning author Claire G TICKETS $140 / $120 CODE 9782 of podcasts. What makes aural Coleman and her publisher Robert storytelling – particularly deep- Explore the history and resurgence J Watkins talk with Mark Davis dive crime investigations – so of graphic storytelling and learn and Sybil Nolan from Grattan compelling to audiences, and to craft your own stories with Street Press about getting your Sarah Krasnostein what does it tell us about Cleverman creator Ryan Griffen, manuscript seen, how to choose ourselves? Audio journalism and lecturers Bernard Caleo the right publisher, and if you Writer / Lawyer / Great Indoorswoman / lecturer Louisa Lim leads the and Elizabeth MacFarlane. really need a literary agent. discussion with investigative T-Shirt Enthusiast / Creative Victorian journalist Richard Baker and the ABC’s Rachael Brown.

Sarah’s book The Trauma Cleaner won the 2018 Victorian Prize for Literature. See her at this year’s Melbourne Writers Festival.

Creative Victoria proudly supports the festival and creative Victorians, see how at creative.vic.gov.au 47 KIDS & TEENS Kids & Teens Let your creativity loose! There’s something for kids of all ages at MWF.

Songwriting: Josh Earl Writing & Movement Quantum Physics for Babies WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 11am (90 min) WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 11am (90 min)

VENUE ArtPlay VENUE ArtPlay WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 11am (90 min)

TICKETS $15 CODE 5101 TICKETS $15 CODE 5111 VENUE ArtPlay TICKETS $15 CODE 5102 Learn to write your own songs with Use parkour-inspired movement Australian stand-up comedian and and exercises to uncover your own Meet Quantum Physics for Babies musician Josh Earl. Write your own original stories! In this workshop author Chris Ferrie and introduce lyrics, come up with a tune, and with Dan Nixon, you will learn a your little one to the world of tap into your creativity to perform new way of telling stories through science. Baby will find out that your own funny songs. All you need exploration of movement and energy is quantized and the weird to bring is your imagination. finding your own way through world of atoms never comes to a obstacles or ‘writers’ blocks’. standstill. It is never too early to Witches Workshop become a quantum physicist! The Patchwork Bike WHEN Sat 25 Aug, 2pm (90 min) Slow Down World WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 2pm (90 min) VENUE ArtPlay VENUE ArtPlay WHEN Fri 31 Aug, 2pm (90 min) TICKETS $15 CODE 5302 TICKETS $15 CODE 5401 VENUE ArtPlay Double, double toil and trouble; TICKETS $15 CODE 5311 fire burn and cauldron bubble! Learn about recycling, Write your own spells with upcycling and bike cycling What would a slower world look poet-witch Emilie Zoey Baker, with bestselling author Maxine like? Use collage and clay to an award-winning writer and Beneba Clarke’s first children’s create your vision for a future slam poetry champion. Create book, and learn how to draw slower city with Tai Snaith, artist ancient scrolls and conjure the with illustrator Van T Rudd. and creator of Slow Down, World. rhymes to make some magic. A reminder to slow down and appreciate the world around us.

48 KIDS & TEENS

Teens Juno Dawson AMA Spoken Word Workshop WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 11am WHEN Sun 26 Aug, 1pm (2 hours) at Signal CODE 5221 CODE 5222

VENUE Signal Find out all you ever wanted to Learn from the best how to know about writing YA, gender master rhythm and rhyme in a TICKETS Free, bookings required and learning about mental health special poetry-for-performance A host of free events with British YA sensation and workshop. With poets Hanif trans activist Juno Dawson. Abdurraqib (US) and Courtney and workshops just Sina Meredith (NZ). for young people Activism Workshop aged 13–25. Manga Workshop WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 11am (75 min) WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 1pm (2 hours) CODE 5921 CODE 5922 Join writer and zinester Timmah Ball and activist Tarneen Onus- Learn how to create your very Williams for a discussion on the own manga comic! Artist role of writing and art in activism Kenny Chang shows you how and how to get organised. to draw manga-style faces and convey emotion through character expressions.

Make Your Own Family Sundays: Games Workshop Superhero Down the Rabbit Hole WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 11am (90 min)

WHEN Sat 1 Sep, 12.30pm (90 min) WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 10am – 4pm VENUE ArtPlay

VENUE Footscray Community VENUE ACMI TICKETS $15 CODE 5112 Arts Centre TICKETS Free Co-author of Game Changers, TICKETS Free, bookings required Explore Wonderland magic with Leena van Deventer, is an CODE 6811 a free day of family activities for award-winning game developer kids aged 5-12. Spend your Sunday and writer. In this interactive If you were a superhero, what together exploring special effects, workshop she will help you to would your special ability be? coding your own interactive collectively write a story to What would your costume look Wonderland game and designing turn into a brand new game. like? Maxine Beneba Clarke and traditional Victorian costumes. TextaQueen help you design, make and become your very own Presented as part of ACMI’s Wide Big World superhero. The power is yours! free Family Sundays WHEN Sun 2 Sep, 2pm (90 min) Supported by Footscray Community Arts Centre VENUE ArtPlay TICKETS $15 CODE 5922

Difference is everywhere, just look and see. This whole-wide- big-world is wondrous-unique! Discover a beautiful children’s picture book about diversity from award-winning author Maxine Beneba Clarke and illustrator Isobel Knowles.

49 GUEST INDEX

Jessie Cole...... 7, 27, 42 Ryan Griffen...... 25, 47 Claire G Coleman...... 40, 47 Andy Griffiths...... 6 Guests Mitchell Coombes...... 18, 20 Osher Gunsberg...... 21 Geoff Cousins...... 27 Gyatso...... 42 Yassmin Abdel-Magied. 26, 32, 37, 41 Annabel Crabb...... mwf.com.au Haftu...... 24 Hanif Abdurraqib...... 36, 49 Cubbie...... mwf.com.au Gideon Haigh...... 44 Nour Abouzeid...... 17 Sophie Cunningham...... 7, 21, 33 Leanne Hall...... 47 Pam Ahearn...... 21 Dance Magic Dance...... 26 Jane Harrison...... 23 Michael Mohammed Sabrina D’Angelo...... 22, 45 Angie Hart...... mwf.com.au Ahmad...... 23, 25, 35 Maude Davey...... 15 Maria Dahvana Headley...... 20, 26 Riyadh Al Hakimi...... 40 Anni Davey...... mwf.com.au Justin Heazlewood...... 27 Saba Alemayoh...... mwf.com.au Mark Davis...... 47 Anita Heiss...... 35 Idil Ali...... mwf.com.au Megan Davis...... 36 Courtney Hempton...... 42 Marwa Al-Sabouni...... 10 Juno Dawson...... 31, 47, 49 Eliza Henry-Jones...... 20 Manal al-Sharif...... 34 Michelle de Kretser...... 35, 41, 42 Triana Hernandez...... 36 Piri Altraide...... mwf.com.au Paul Dempsey...... 19 Caroline Higgins...... 21 Waleed Aly...... 37 Hedley Derenzie...... mwf.com.au Alannah Hill...... 40 Roj Amedi...... mwf.com.au Catherine Deveny...... 26, 33, 34 Karen Hitchcock...... 37 Amoudou...... mwf.com.au Julia deVille...... 18 Philip Hoare...... 20, 33 Anbess...... 24 Robert DiNapoli...... 26 Nic Holas...... 36, 37 Wil Anderson...... 27 Quang Dinh...... mwf.com.au Kate Holden...... 7 Manisha Anjali...... 20, 27 Upulie Divisekera...... 26 Christopher Hollow.... mwf.com.au Adolfo Aranjuez...... mwf.com.au Jane Doe...... 15 Penny Hueston...... mwf.com.au Lavanya Shanbhogue Hannah Donnelly...... 27, 33 Martin Hughes...... 45 Arvind...... mwf.com.au Jerome Doraisamy...... 45 Lachy Hulme...... 37 Judy Atkinson...... 45 Ceridwen Dovey...... 20, 34 Ed Husain...... 34, 36 Denise Sithembiso Ryan Downey...... 19 Amal Ibrahim...... mwf.com.au Atzinger...... mwf.com.au Dr Karl...... 32, 35 Hella Ibrahim...... 47 Eddie Ayres...... 27, 35, 45 Quinn Eades...... 10, 17 Noriko Ikaga...... mwf.com.au Emilie Zoey Baker...... 8, 15, 48 Josh Earl...... 48 Joshua Ip...... 47 Mark Baker...... mwf.com.au Anne Edmonds...... 12 Mariam Issa...... 7 Richard Baker...... 47 Rachel Edmonds...... mwf.com.au Julia Jacklin...... 19 Timmah Ball...... 10, 49 Steve Ellen...... 26, 33, 34 Ben Jenkins...... mwf.com.au Jimmy Barnes...... 36 James Evans...... 23 Selina Jenkins...... 20 Namila Benson...... 37 Michael Farrell...... 17 Micheline Jenner...... 20, 33, 34 Rachel Berger...... 37 Ronan Farrow...... 13 Tammi Jonas...... 20 Elise Bialylew...... mwf.com.au Rachel Fensham...... 23 Barry Jones...... 31, 34 Tony Birch...... 21, 27, 39 Chris Ferrie...... 48 Mojo Juju...... 6, 19 BIRDZ...... mwf.com.au Carly Findlay...... 37, 39 Helen Jukes...... 21, 35 Cate Blake...... 45 First Dog On The Moon...... 21, 23 Soreti Kadir...... 24 Sarah Blasko...... 19 Kitty Flanagan...... 15 Kaiit...... 19 David Blissett...... 20 Ash Flanders...... 37 Leah Kaminsky...... 20, 21, 26 Behrouz Boochani...... 38 Chris Fleming...... 15, 45 Kon Karapanagiotidis...... 25, 27, 34 David Bridie...... 19 Arthur Flowers...... 23, 25 Amie Kaufman...... 26, 32, 34 Sara Brooke...... mwf.com.au Clementine Ford...... 10 Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa...... 6, 17, 27 Kevin Brophy...... 17 Susi Fox...... 38 Odette Kelada...... 47 Helen Brown...... 20 Candice Fox...... 38 Paul Kelly...... 11 Rachael Brown...... 47 David Francis...... 20 Cate Kennedy...... 26, 27, 40, 45 Andy Butler...... 26 Andrew Frazer...... 45 Jessica Kerr...... mwf.com.au Roger Butler...... 42 Raimond Gaita...... 21, 26 Steve Kilbey...... 21, 27 Bernard Caleo...... 47 Fiona Garrivan...... 42 Linda Kirkman...... 42 Nadine Cameron...... 44 Ken Gelder...... 23 Krissy Kneen...... 15, 21, 39, 40 Broede Carmody...... 17 Gerry Georgatos...... 39, 40 Melanie Knight...... mwf.com.au Bob Carr...... 31, 41 Gabriela Georges...... mwf.com.au Isobel Knowles...... 49 Neko Case...... 33, 39, 41 Joelle Gergis...... 27 Lee Kofman...... 25, 33 Kate Ceberano...... 19 Masha Gessen...... 31 Megan Krakouer...... 40 Kenny Chang...... 49 Girl Zone...... mwf.com.au Sarah Krasnostein...... 41, 45 Corrie Chen...... 29, 32 Vanessa Giron...... mwf.com.au Anna Krien...... 20, 29 Ted Chiang...... 10, 32, 35 Ravi Glasser-Vora...... mwf.com.au Fred Kroh...... mwf.com.au Santilla Chingaipe...... 14, 24 Glitter and Snatch..... mwf.com.au Sofie Laguna...... 17 KO Chong-Gossard...... 27 Richard Glover...... 40 Tessa Laird...... 21 Shu-Ling Chua...... mwf.com.au Megan Goldin...... 38 Marcia Langton...... 25, 31 Maxine Beneba Anna Goldsworthy...... 21 Jack Latimore...... mwf.com.au Clarke...... 11, 22, 25, 39, 48, 49 Peter Goldsworthy...... 21 Benjamin Law...... 10, 29, 37 Jane Clifton...... 17 Elena Gomez...... 47 Michelle Law...... 29, 32, 36, 39 Jen Cloher...... 19 Nayuka Gorrie...... 29, 36, 37, 39 LDF Tattoos...... 26 Ta-Nehisi Coates...... 14 Grand Salvo...... 21 Hung Le...... 25 Ali Cobby Eckermann...... 7, 21, 35 Dave Graney...... 25, 27 Jeanine Leane...... mwf.com.au JM Coetzee...... 20 James Grant...... 21 Bri Lee...... 38, 45 50 GUEST INDEX

Michele Lee...... 18 Joh Nyx...... mwf.com.au Andrew P Street...... 26, 27 Dion Leedham...... mwf.com.au Margaret O’Connor...... 42 Yumi Stynes...... 26, 32 Parshia Lee-Stecum...... 27 Tarneen Onus-Williams...... 49 Jonny Sun...... 13, 26 Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann...26, 29 Debra Oswald...... 40 Rodney Syme...... 42 Kathy Lette...... 12 Celia Pacquola...... 12 Magda Szubanski...... 8 Laurie Levy...... 21 Deepanjana Pal...... 26, 36 Will Tait...... 27 Bella Li...... 47 Zoya Patel...... 20, 38 Tony Tan...... mwf.com.au Adam Liaw...... 20, 26, 41 Eddie Paterson...... 47 Miranda Tapsell...... 17 Kochava Lilit...... mwf.com.au Fiona Patten...... 39 John Tesarsch...... 25 Kate Lilley...... 17 David Pidd...... mwf.com.au TextaQueen...... 25, 49 Louisa Lim...... 47 Pikelet and Pumpernickel...... 21 The Boon Companions...... 6, 24 Ella Loeffler...... 21 Angela Pippos...... 32 The Gents...... 31, 38 Edgar Lok Tin...... 20 Rainer Pollard...... mwf.com.au Sue Thomas...... 18 Myles Loughran...... 20 Matt Preston...... 25 Achut Thuc...... mwf.com.au Lian Low...... 17 Leisa Prowd...... 15 Carrie Tiffany...... 20 Melissa Lucashenko...... 20, 37 Alice Pung...... 27, 33 Omid Tofighian...... 33, 38 Judith Lucy...... 37, 40 Bhakthi Debra Tranter...... 21 Nakkiah Lui...... 17, 25, 29 Puvanenthiran...... mwf.com.au Tripod...... mwf.com.au Joel Ma...... 19 Queenie Bon Bon...... mwf.com.au Christos Tsiolkas...... 17, 18 Elizabeth MacFarlane...... 47 Ben Quilty...... 10 Majok Tulba...... 27, 38 Brendan Maclean...... 31 Quippings...... 22 Maria Tumarkin...... 7, 10 Halcyon Macleod...... mwf.com.au Racerage...... 20 Saaro Umar...... mwf.com.au Samantha Maiden...... 29 Randy...... 22 Romy Vager...... 19 Fleassy Malay...... 27 Jason Rapke...... 20 Frankie Valentine...... 15 Jason Maling...... mwf.com.au Neal Razzell...... mwf.com.au Jenny Valentish...... mwf.com.au Tricia Malowney...... 42 Aviva Reed...... 21 Leena van Deventer...... 49 Fablice Manirakiza...... 6, 29 Harry Reid...... 17 Ellen van Neerven...... 18, 20, 21 Anne Manne...... 25 Henry Reynolds...... 31 Chalise van Wyngaardt...... 27 Robert Manne...... 25 Leslie Rice...... 26 Denise Varney...... 23 Sonia Marcon...... mwf.com.au Glenn Richards...... 19 Saba Vasefi...... 27 David Marr...... 37 Brian Ritchie...... mwf.com.au Katherena Vermette...... 25, 39 Sheree Marris...... 21 David Ritter...... 27 Andrew W.K...... 6 John Marsden...... 27 Jamila Rizvi...... 27, 29, 45 Henry Wagons...... 21 Tony Martin...... 37 Michael Robotham...... 38 Robert Walton...... mwf.com.au Melinda Martin...... 18 Chris Rodley...... 23 Ania Walwicz...... 17 Shannon Martinez...... 20 Gratiagusti Chananya Beverley Wang...... 37 Tariro Mavondo...... 27 Rompas...... mwf.com.au Wāni...... 24 Thomas May...... mwf.com.au Trixi Rosa...... 27 Sally Warhaft...... 31, 32 Elizabeth McCarthy...... 40 Van T Rudd...... 48 Myf Warhurst...... 31, 36 Jess McGuire...... 45 Sally Rugg...... 29 Khalid Warsame...... 25 William McInnes...... 21 Em Rusciano...... 10 Megan Washington...... 7 David McInnis...... 23 Penni Russon...... 47 Rosie Waterland...... 29 Laura Jean McKay...... 20 Samah Sabawi...... 27 Robert Watkins...... 47 Alasdair McLuckie...... 45 John Safran...... 41 Dani Weber...... 38 Hollie McNish...... 39 Leigh Sales...... 37 Willoh S Weiland...... 18 Jodie McVernon...... 18 Alexandra Sangster...... 42 Irvine Welsh...... 9, 41 George Megalogenis...... 32 Jan Sardi...... 37 Sean M Whelan...... mwf.com.au Miss Blanks...... 19 Rajith Savanadasa..... mwf.com.au Christian White...... 45 Libby Moloney...... 42 Sally Seltmann...... 31 Ainslie Wills...... 19 Ed Moreno...... 22, 27 Dicky Senda...... mwf.com.au Mara Wilson...... 13, 27, 35 Evelyn Ida Morris...... 36 Noam Sendor...... 42 Samantha Winston...... 37 Louise Moulton...... mwf.com.au Emily Sexton...... mwf.com.au Asher Wolf...... mwf.com.au Sisonke Msimang...... 27, 39 shOUT choir...... 6, 45 Alexis Wright...... 17, 36, 38 Bob Murphy...... 27, 32 Dane Simpson...... mwf.com.au Clare Wright...... 26 Fiona Murphy...... mwf.com.au Courtney Sina Meredith...... 36, 49 Damien Wright...... mwf.com.au Ron Murray...... 21 Hayley Singer...... 21 Mo Wyse...... 20 Omar Musa...... 9, 25 Alice Skye...... 19 William Yang...... 18, 39 Brian Nankervis...... 27 Ryan Smedley...... 22 Alice Young...... 21 Yamini Narayanan...... 21 Sophie Smyth...... 22 Amelia Young...... mwf.com.au Mridula Nath Chakraborty...... 42 Tai Snaith...... 45, 48 Ashleigh Young...... 20, 26 David Neiwert...... 32, 36 Rob Snarski...... 19 Ward Young...... 21 Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen...... 20 SnowBorne...... 44 Manal Younus...... 24 Jennifer Nguyen...... mwf.com.au Miranda Sparks...... mwf.com.au Han Yujoo...... 21, 34 Nadia Niaz...... mwf.com.au Jeff Sparrow...... 39 Arnold Zable...... 38 Dan Nixon...... 48 Tracey Spicer...... 13 Sista Zai Zanda...... 6, 45 Michael Nolan...... mwf.com.au Ranjana Srivastava.... mwf.com.au Zii...... mwf.com.au Sybil Nolan...... 47 Jo Stanley...... 10, 15, 29 Nevo Zisin...... 27, 37 Zoe Norton Lodge...... 27, 45 Jill Stark...... mwf.com.au Emily Nussbaum...... 31, 39 Paulie Stewart...... 29

51 ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Essential Information

Accessibility Larger Text Program

MWF is committed to making the Festival If you’d like a large text version accessible for all. We provide a range of of this program, please accessible services and facilities so that all booklovers have access to the Festival. contact us on 03 9999 1199 or [email protected] and we If you’re buying tickets online, please enter any will email or post a copy to you. access requirements when prompted at checkout. Alternatively, call the MWF box office on 03 9999 1199 or email [email protected]. MWF is excited to partner with Vision Australia Radio. They will be offering Service Animals a range of programs that feature book Trained guide, hearing and assistance dogs are welcome at all Festival venues. readings plus interviews with some of this year’s most interesting writers. Wheelchair Access Find out more at Wheelchair access is available in all Fed radio.visionaustralia.org. Square venues. For details about the easiest entry points, and location of accessible toilets, visit mwf.com.au/accessibility. How To Book Companion Card The easiest way to buy tickets is online at MWF supports and accepts the Companion Card. mwf.com.au or through the free MWF App You can book in person at our box office, by phone for iOS or Android. Browse the program, on 03 9999 1199, or email [email protected]. purchase tickets, then show your tickets on A copy of your valid Companion Card is required. screen at the door – no printing required!

Assistive Listening You can also book over the phone Hearing loops are available in Fed Square or in person at the box office. including the Atrium, Deakin Edge and ACMI. For more information about each Phone venue, visit mwf.com.au/accessibility. 03 9999 1199 (10am – 5pm, Monday to Friday) AUSLAN Interpreters Advance box office AUSLAN is available by request for any session in the 20 July – 23 August program. Visit mwf.com.au/accessibility to make Level 1, 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne a request or alternatively call the MWF box office (10am – 5pm, Monday to Friday) on 03 9999 1199 or email [email protected].

Festival box office Low Vision 24 August – 2 September Reserved seating is available for patrons with Atrium Entrance, Fed Square, low vision. When buying tickets online, enter Flinders Street, Melbourne your request when prompted at the checkout, (9am – 30 minutes after last or call 03 9999 1199 to arrange these seats. session commences, daily)

Visit mwf.com.au or call 03 9999 1199 for booking terms and conditions.

Event Times Festival events are 60 minutes in duration, unless otherwise stated.

52 ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Win a Year of Reading

Sign up to MWF eNews for your chance to win 52 books from this year’s Festival. mwf.com.au

Suburbs Venues Afro Hub Beaumaris Library City Belgrave Library Brighton Library ACMI Camberwell Library Animal Church at 524 Flinders Cheltenham Library ArtPlay Clayton Library Athenaeum Theatre Dandenong Library Belleville Doncaster Library Fed Square Flemington Library Immigration Museum Footscray Community Arts Centre Mayfair Frankston Library Melbourne General Cemetery Geelong Library and Heritage Centre Melbourne Museum Linden New Art Melbourne Star Newport Community Hub Mission to Seafarers Noisy Ritual Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Realm (Ringwood Library) Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Sam Merrifield Library Signal St Kilda Library State Library of Victoria STARWARD Distillery The Toff in Town Thornbury Theatre The University of Melbourne Victorian Archives Centre The Wheeler Centre Walker Street Gallery & Arts Centre

53 THANKS Thanks

Festival Supporters Melbourne Writers Festival Board Afro Hub John Jerome Myers (Chair) Ancestry.com.au Jayne Dullard (Vice Chair) APRA AMCOS Fahim Ahad (Treasurer) Australian Republic Movement Jill Campbell (Secretary) British Council Phillip Benedetti Cinema Nova Karen Monaghan City of Greater Dandenong Jamila Rizvi Evan Evans Bob Sessions AM Faber Writing Academy Jane Smith Footscray Community Arts Centre Michael Webster Hargreaves Hill Brewing Co. Immigration Museum Milligram Special Thanks Moleskine Our very special thanks go to CPR Communications Monash University & Public Relations; Festival videographer Alessandro Noisy Ritual Urban Winery Frosali and photographer Timothy Herbert; John PEN Melbourne Paxinos and Associates; the MWF Programming Public Record Office Victoria and Schools’ Programming Advisory Committees; Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust our Audience Advocates; plus each and every STARWARD Distillery one of the wonderful staff and volunteers who The Melbourne Gin Company are essential to the success of the Festival. The Wheeler Centre WrICE Creative direction and design Patrons Sweet Creative Maria & Allan J Myers QC AC The Hart Line Fund attributed to the Australian Communities Foundation MWF makes every effort to ensure that all details are correct at time of printing. Any unforeseen late program changes will be listed on our website Ambassadors and ticketholders will be notified via email. John Jerome Myers Maureen & Tony Wheeler

Champions BB & A Miller Fund attributed to the Australian Communities Foundation Support Us Leg Up Foundation MWF is a not-for-profit organisation Dr George & Rosa Morstyn dedicated to producing Victoria’s premier, annual literary event. Ongoing support is Guardians vital to ensure MWF continues to deliver excellent programming and offer free entry Venessa Ahad to at least a quarter of Festival events. Phillip Benedetti Ann & Michael Cohn Donate now Irene Kearsey mwf.com.au/join-us/donate Bernard Marin Mark Rubbo OAM

54 Thanks

Major Partners

Official Bookseller

Education Partners Venue Partner

Media Partners

Festival Partners

Cultural Partners

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