8:45 am - 09:00 am - Elouera Room

Welcome to Country

Aunty Deanna Schreiber

Festival Welcome

Fiona Johnstone, President, Fellowship of Australian Writers (FAW) - Sutherland Branch

09.00 am - 10.00 am - Elouera Room

Subverting the Tropes: Women in Crime

Domestic noir and flawed women characters have become a mainstay of contemporary crime fiction. Join authors Felicity McLean, Rae Cairns, Petronella McGovern, and Anna Downes as they discuss centring women’s stories and exploring female characters beyond the norm in crime fiction. (Panel convener: Ashley Kalagian Blunt)

09.00 am - 10.00 am - Kai’mea Room

The Tap Cats of the Sunshine Coast: The Rise and Rise of Uplit

In the world of contemporary commercial women’s fiction, uplit is a growing phenomenon. Join author Christine Sykes and Ventura Press Publisher, Jane Curry, as they launch Christine’s latest novel, The Tap Cats of the Sunshine Coast, and discuss the increasing popularity of uplit and what goes into creating a compelling commercial women’s fiction narrative. (Panel Convener: Anna Loder)

09.00 am - 10.00 am - Dharawal Room

The Boy From the Mish

Yuin writer, Gary Lonesborough in conversation with Helena Fox on Gary’s 2021 Young Adult debut, The Boy from the Mish.

11.00 am – 12.00 pm - Elouera Room

Tell Me Where It Hurts: Writing about Mental Health

Mental health can be a difficult subject to tackle, both in real life and on paper. Join authors Helena Fox, Jack Ellis, and Katharine Pollock as they discuss their own experience grappling with mental health issues in their writing and what writers need to think about when dealing with sensitive topics on the page. (Panel Convener: Ashley Kalagian Blunt)

11.00 am - 01.00 pm - Kai’mea Room (2-hour workshop)

Story Doctor with Cassie Hamer

Have you been working on a manuscript and can’t quite figure out why it’s not working? In this two-hour workshop, contemporary fiction author Cassie Hamer, will take you through the six elements of a successful story and help you diagnose where your novel is working, and where it might require some resuscitation. This workshop is aimed at writers who have finished a first draft of their novel or have a manuscript underway. The session will cover tips, tricks, and exercises to help with your story concept, characters, setting, plot, pace, and showing versus telling.

11.00 am - 12.00 pm - Dharawal Room

Unleashing that Writer Within with Deborah Abela

The best writing is rewriting. E. B. White

Writing is one big gamble. A gamble that the idea is any good, that we can make it work, that publishers will contract it and readers love it! But we do it, like drivers heading off into a foggy night. Join Deborah Abela, author of 28 kids’ books, as she shares her experience of untangling those ideas to make them shine and take you through a series of activities to help do the same for your writing. Please bring along at least one piece of writing you are working on.

12.00 pm – 01.00 pm - Elouera Room

Writing Through the Age of Global Crisis

Climate change, pandemics, war, and ecological demise. How do you put pen to paper when the world around you feels like it’s coming apart at the seams? How do you retain creativity in an era of rapid change and uncertainty? Join authors James Bradley, Deborah Abela, and Victoria Brookman as they discuss tackling themes around the state of the planet in their writing, reaching different audiences, and writing through their own feelings about where the planet is heading. (Panel Convener: Michelle Barraclough)

12.00 pm - 01.00 pm - Dharawal Room

Writing Non-Fiction for Kids with Kate Simpson

Ever considered what’s involved in writing non-fiction for kids? In this one-hour workshop, kid-lit author and podcaster, Kate Simpson will take you through the basics of non-fiction writing for children and what you need to consider when writing in this space.

02.20 pm – 03.00 pm - Elouera Room

2022 Picture Book Competition & SPARK Competition Winners

Join Sylvia Vago, the Writers Unleashed Picture Book Competition coordinator and Clare Hallifax of Walker Books Australia for the announcement of the winners of the 2022 Writers Unleashed Picture Book Competition including the winner of this year’s emerging writer prize.

The winners of the 2022 Spark High School writing competition will also be announced by Fiona Johnstone, President, Fellowship of Australian Writers (FAW) - Sutherland Branch.

03.00 pm – 04.00 pm - Elouera Room

Song of the Crocodile

Yuwaalaraay storyteller, Nardi Simpson in conversation with Dinuka McKenzie on her multi-award-winning debut, Song of the Crocodile.

03.00 pm – 04.00 pm - Kai’mea Room

Black & Blue: The Craft of Rural Noir

Join authors Hayley Scrivenor and James McKenzie Watson as they discuss their highly anticipated debuts, Dirt Town and Denizen, and what draws them to explore the darker side of Australian rural life. (Panel Convener: Michelle Barraclough)

03.00 pm – 04.00 pm - Dharawal Room

Creating Characters that Resonate

Join kid lit authors and podcasters, Dani Vee and Kate Simpson as they discuss how to craft characters that resonate with kids. Characters that not only appeal to avid readers but those that will entice a reluctant reader.

04.30 pm - 05.30 pm

What Publishers Really Want

Our popular editor session is back to conclude the 2022 Festival. Join kid lit author and podcaster, Dani Vee, as she quizzes your favourite publishers on the ins and outs of submitting a manuscript and what publishers really want to see when they receive your submission!

Featuring:
Beverley Cousins, Penguin Random House
James Layton, Larrikin House
Clare Hallifax, Walker Books Australia
(Unfortunately, Nicola Robinson, Harlequin Australia will no longer be appearing on the panel.)