9.30am – 11.30am

Are you writing your own life story, or the true story of someone else? Learn how to braid and shape true stories that don’t follow a straightforward chronology. This creative writing workshop will look closely at examples by other writers, followed by writing exercises that will encourage participants to try new techniques that enhance how they write creative non-fiction.

Brooke Boland is a freelance writer interested in embodiment and identity and has a PhD in Contemporary Women’s Writing from the University of NSW. Previously, she worked as a casual academic at UNSW and Victoria University. She now works part time as an arts journalist, writing profiles and reviews for various publications. Her essays have been published by Meanjin, Overland, and the Sydney Review of Books.  Her first book is Gulp, Swallow.

12pm – 1pm

Philosopher A.C. Grayling traces ‘cancel culture’ back to the ancient Greeks and tries to find a middle ground among the incendiary debates flamed by contemporary culture wars.

1pm – 2pm

Authors Nick Southall and Claire O’Rourke tackle one of the toughest questions of our time with journalist Joanna Macey. Can a grassroots response to global issues, like climate change, make a difference? And is creating a better world together actually possible?

Nick Southall  is a local social activist, academic and writer. Nick has been published in various academic journals, books, and newspapers. His collaborative works include Illawarra Cooperatives: The First One Hundred Years and Against Fascism and War: Pig Iron Bob and the Dalfram Dispute at Port Kembla. His most recent book is Disaster Communism & Anarchy in the Streets.

Claire O’Rourke is an author, environmentalist and advocate, with two decades working in journalism, communications and campaigns across Australia and around the world. Claire helps others take action on climate change, currently as CEO of the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network. Claire’s first book is,Together We Can: Everyday Australians Doing Amazing Things to Give Our Planet a Future .

2pm – 3pm

Host: Richard Fidler
Panellist: Ben Macintyre

Ben Macintyre discusses his definitive account of the 1980 Iranian embassy siege in London which put the SAS on the world stage. With Richard Fidler.

3:30pm – 4pm

Mark Tredinnick, the managing editor of 5 Islands Press, is one of Australia’s best known poets. The winner of two premier’s prizes, the Montreal Poetry Prize, and many other awards, Mark lives in Bowral on Gundungurra Country. His many books include The Blue Plateau, The Little Red Writing Book, and Walking Underwater. His most recent books are A Beginner’s Guide (2022), House of Thieves (2023), and Bright Crockery Days: the Poetry of Robert Gray (2024).

Kai Jensen works from home as a consultant and specialist editor at Wallaga Lake on the Far South Coast of New South Wales. His poems (many written in cafés) have appeared in most leading Australasian literary journals and in the United States, in The Inquisitive Eater, Men Matters Online, NewVerseNews and Rattle. His debut book The Zebra Path of Tree Light is published by 5 Islands Press.

4pm – 5pm

Host: Michael Williams
Panellist: Ian Rankin

Following the latest instalment of the Inspector Rebus series, Ian Rankin reflects on his career as an international bestselling author and the UK’s #1 crime writer. With Michael Williams.

5.30pm – 6.30pm

Authors Brooke Boland and Catherine Rey talk with Meredith Jaffe about writing memoir and biography tackling motherhood, friendship, love, life and death. 

French-born author Catherine Rey lived in France until 1997, before leaving for Australia. Her debut novel, L’ami intime, was published in 1994 by the iconic French publisher Le Temps Qu’il Fait. Rey followed this with seven more works, two of which have been translated into English. Her French novels have been short-listed for the prestigious Renaudot and Femina Prizes. Also published by Giramondo came the fictionalised autobiography Stepping Out (translated from Une femme en marche by Julie Rose). The Lovers was her first English language novel and her most recent book is Lizette.

Brooke Boland is a freelance writer interested in embodiment and identity and has a PhD in Contemporary Women’s Writing from the University of NSW. Previously, she worked as a casual academic at UNSW and Victoria University. She now works part time as an arts journalist, writing profiles and reviews for various publications. Her essays have been published by Meanjin, Overland, and the Sydney Review of Books.  Her first book is Gulp, Swallow.