Love YA

Saturday 13 May, Brisbane Square Library

A full day of free programming especially for fans of young adult fiction. Presented in partnership with Brisbane City Council Libraries and Griffith University Curated by Karen Lee and hosted by the 2023 Youth Ambassadors, Sophie, Emily, Kieren and Maisie.

Everyone Loves a Rom-com

Panellists: Will Kostakis (We Could Be Something), Claire Christian (West Side Honey), Jodi McAlister (Can I Steal You for a Second?)

Moderator: Trisha Buckley

10–11am

Celebrate all things romance with our panel. How can you resist stories about coming of age, coming out, falling in love, falling out of love or just plain falling apart? Join our authors as they discuss how moments of fate and happenstance can kickstart the journey to finding love and leave us with a deeper understanding of what makes us yearn for it.

Magic, Monsters and Mayhem

Panellists: Lystra Rose (The Upwelling), Amelia Mellor (The Bookseller’s Apprentice), Vanessa Len (Only a Monster)

Moderator: Kieren Scougall

11:30am–12:30pm

From ancient supernatural worlds where monsters and magic roam, to the apocalyptic night-visions of a young truth dreamer, to familial relationships dealing with death and grief in a place where riddles and puzzles rule. Listen to how these authors craft worlds and strong characters that keep you on the edge of your seats.

Create Your Own Magic System

A workshop with Amelia Mellor

12:45–1:45pm

Who needs a magic system? You do if you’re writing a fantasy adventure. Join author Amelia Mellor, whose novels The Grandest Bookshop in the World and The Bookseller’s Apprentice are a great introduction to help you develop a magic

Free Events

system. The system helps you decide what the rules of your world are: who can do magic, how does magic work, what its limits are, what are the impacts of those choices, whether pigs can fly – and why not? The sky’s the limit! Come create your own or team up with others along the way.

Writing Family and Loss

Panellists: Rhiannon Wilde (Where You Left Us), Danielle Binks (The Monster of Her Age), Nova Weetman (The Jammer)

Moderator: Pauline McLeod

2–3pm

Tender and powerful are the stories of love, loss and grief. Of families torn apart, the awkwardness of early youth and how we find a way back to each other. Listen to our panel as they discuss letting go of anger, learning to forgive without forgetting, embracing change and fear, and ultimately how to live with hope in our hearts.

The Rise of Enemies-to-Lovers

Panellists: Chloe Gong (Foul Lady Fortune), Vanessa Len (Only a Monster), Stacey McEwan (Ledge)

Moderator: Kieren

Scougall

YA fans, also check out these events at the festival

Who Is YA Really For?

Panellists: Youth Ambassadors Sophie, Emily and Kieren

Moderator: Danielle Binks (The Monster of Her Age)

11:30am–12:30pm, Sunday 14 May, slq The Parlour

The absence of platforms for young people can lead to disengagement and disempowerment. In this turbo-charged panel, BWF’s Youth Ambassadors share their personal take on what YA means to them, how it’s captured the politics that affect their lives, and the spaces in between that can represent the experiences of Australia’s youth. This panel is a must do for festival programmers and publishers who care about where the future of YA should be heading.

What Are Publishers Looking For in YA?

Panellists: Kate Stevens (Hachette), Zoe Walton (PRH), Anna McFarlane (A&U)

Moderator: Danielle Binks (The Monster of Her Age)

Online

Chloe Gong

3:30–4:30pm

They love them, they love them not: from a retelling of the original rivals-to-lovers couple Romeo and Juliet infused with fantasy elements, to the discovery of monster DNA, to a civilisation trapped on an icy ledge. Join our panel of authors as they discuss their craft, why the enemies to lovers storyline is such a nail biter and so much more.

So, you’re polishing off your YA draft manuscript. Are you wondering what’s next? What’s hot and what’s not? Come listen to our panel of commissioning editors from publishing houses with stellar YA lists: Hachette, PRH and A&U. Listen as they talk to literary agent, author and YA aficionado Danielle Binks about what they look for in a manuscript and what the trends are in Australia and overseas. A not-to-be-missed session for all those writing YA.

Books available for purchase and author book signings will take place at the end of each panel.

To register for these free events, visit bwf.org.au/loveya

Saturday, 13 May, 2-5pm, Whale Mall, Cultural Centre

Come along to the Whale Mall to experience a bustling Zine Market creators and pick up some underground publications that you won't selling their self-published publications! Have a browse, meet the of local zinesters, comic creators, illustrators and graphic novelists find in your usual bookshops!

FREE to attend but bring some cash to buy some zines!

From the James C. Sourris am Collection of Artist Interviews

Hear the words of Australia’s most acclaimed artists and see selected artwork from Vernon Ah Kee, Luke Roberts, Fiona Foley, Judith Wright, Leonard Brown, Anne Wallace, Sandra Selig, and Eugene Carchesio.

25 Feb – 9 Jul 2023

Free exhibition

State Library of Queensland