Byron Writers Festival is Australia's largest regional literature festival and the beating heart of the Northern Rivers' intellectual and cultural life. Our annual patrons help to make everything we do possible Patrons receive exclusive access, invitations and passes to the festival and are an integral part of our community
Byron Writers Festival is a registered charity with DGR1 status All donations over $3,000 will be publicly acknowledged Tax-deductible gift receipts will be issued for all donations
J O I N T H E C I R C L E
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From the ground up springs new life, new ideas, new possibilities. Communities mobilise and movements are born. The earth holds all our histories and the seeds of our future – we begin to build tomorrow’s legacy today.
This year’s Byron Writers Festival returns to the leafy sanctuary of Bangalow Showground, where you are invited to join over 150 writers for a three day literary bacchanal of books, storytelling and ideas.
Among our extensive lineup of Australian and international authors include novelists and poets whose vision, insight and command of language will ignite you, courageous journalists relentlessly working to hold power to account, and academics whose deep expertise reveals the way forward.
We welcome all readers, all who are curious, all seeking community and connection, to gather with us under the trees and join the discussions. Pick up a book (or a bag of books), and witness the hidden art of writing in the light, live on stage.
The 2024 Byron Writers Festival will present the brightest minds whose work enables us to begin to build a better world – from the ground up.
Jessica Alice Artistic Director
We respectfully acknowledge that Byron Writers Festival takes place on the traditional lands of the Arakwal Bumberbin peoples of the Bundjalung Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and acknowledge them as the original storytellers of the lands and waterways of this Country.
Please hold on to your copy of this program and help us reduce waste. A limited number of printed programs will be available at the festival.
FEATURE EVENTS
Electric Poetics
Friday 09 August 6.30pm – 7.45pm
A&I Hall
$30 / $25 Members
Be ignited and inspired by a powerful lineup of poets and performers from Aotearoa/New Zealand, India and Australia. From stories of culture and identity, politics and activism, to relationships and desire, be immersed in rhythm and language in this cabaret-style feature event. Featuring festival stars Jazz Money, Nam Le, Tayi Tibble (NZ), Meena Kandasamy (India), Mitch King, and winners from the Poets Out Loud Slam and Australian Poetry Slam heat, with music by Nicole Smede. Their dynamic voices and beats will bring the fire to Byron Writers Festival, and light up the night. Hosted by Mandy Nolan.
Supported by Kassa-Miller Giving
Keynote Gala: From the Ground Up
Friday 09 August 8.00pm – 9.15pm
Byron Theatre
$40 / $35 Members
What drives change? Where do big things start? From grassroots activism and peoplepowered movements that strive to remake a more equal society, to rewilding a forest from seeds, remarkable things begin from the smallest beginnings. In the words of Nelson Mandela, ‘it always seems impossible until it’s done.’
In this festival keynote gala, a lineup of literary heavyweights will respond to the 2024 Byron Writers Festival theme of ‘From the ground up’. Featuring Yumna Kassab, David Marr, Amy McQuire, Louise Milligan and Chigozie Obioma (Nigeria/USA). Hosted by Jennifer Byrne. Supported by Greenstone Partners
Bob Brown in Conversation
Saturday 10 August 6.00pm – 7.00pm
A&I Hall
$35 / $30 Members
Join Bob Brown, former senator and parliamentary leader of the Australian Greens, for an intimate evening of discussion. What prompted Bob to write a young adult ‘novelette’, and what can it teach us about engaging young people in the fight for Earth’s future?
Bob Brown’s list of book titles is as long as his list of arrests for environmental action. His most recent book, Thera, is his first work of fiction, but why was it rejected by four publishers? Bob says there is a new revolution in the air and young people are the hope of the Earth. His motto: Don’t get depressed, get active.
Bob will be joined in conversation by Jan Fran.
Better Off Said
Saturday 10 August 8.00pm – 9.30pm
A&I Hall
$35 / $30 Members
Better Off Said: Eulogies for the Living and Dead is a spoken-word salon celebrating words, stories, and human experiences. Is there someone still out there in the world waiting to hear an important message, or a time in history you wish you used your voice? Now is the opportunity to leave no verbal stone unturned. To find closure. To sing truth from the rooftops before it’s too late.
Festival guests Ali Cobby Eckermann, William McInnes, Jim Moginie, Steph Tisdell and Leo Vardiashvili (UK) will speak to the phrase ‘the words I wish I’d said’ and deliver a Living Eulogy to someone or something still of this earth, to celebrate the best in our lives while we’re here to hear it.
Hosted by Emilie Zoey Baker and produced by Marieke Hardy.
Supported by Vasudhara
BAR OPEN BAR OPEN
PROGRAM SESSIONS
8.15am Welcome to Country
ACACIA
PRESENTED BY VASUDHARA
HAKEA
PRESENTED BY SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY
9.00am - 10.00am (1)
Women & Children
Tony Birch in conversation with Grace LucasPennington
9.15am - 10.15am (2)
Women Make History
Meg Keneally, Victoria Purman
Chair Mary Spongberg
10.15am - 11.15am (6)
Politics and Desire
Meena Kandasamy in conversation with Claire Nichols
Supported by Vasudhara & ABC Radio National’s The Book Show
Supported by Southern Cross University 10.30am - 11.30am (7)
8.30am - 10.00am (3)
MELALEUCA MARQUEE
Holding Power to Account
Merinda Dutton, David Lindenmayer, Isabelle Reinecke
Chair David Heilpern
Supported by Southern Cross University
ABC North Coast Live Broadcast
with Jo Shoebridge
Featuring Candice Fox, Kate Fullagar, David Lindenmayer, Melissa Lukashenko, William McInnes, Suzie Miller
11.30am - 12.30pm (10)
Songs for the Dead and the Living
Sara M Saleh in conversation with Tony Birch
11.45am - 12.45pm (11)
Fantasy Worlds
Lynette Noni, Lili Wilkinson
Chair Rhianna Patrick
11.00am - 12.00pm (12) Always Will Be Mykaela Saunders in conversation with Daniel Browning
LILLY PILLY
PRESENTED BY GREENSTONE PARTNERS
A&I HALL
PRESENTED BY THE SATURDAY PAPER
8.45am - 9.45am (4)
Becoming Murdoch
Eric Beecher, Walter Marsh
Chair Julianne Schultz
Supported by Greenstone Partners 10.00am - 11.00am (8)
9.00am - 10.00am (5) True Crime
Matthew Condon, Gideon Haigh
Life on the Page: Writing Memoir
Kris Kneen, William McInnes, Nova Weetman
Chair Alan Close
Supported by Byron Homestead
Chair Nell Schofield 10.15am - 11.15am (9) Kin & Community
Marina Kamenev, Kon Karapanagiotidis, Molly Schmidt
Chair Rosemarie Milsom
Supported by Byron Shire Council
11.15am - 12.15pm (13) Self-Publishing
Jessica Mudditt in conversation with Anna Featherstone
Charlotte Wood in conversation with Jill Eddington
Supported by Elements of Byron
9.15am - 10.15am (36)
Animals, Us and Them
James Bradley, Laura Jean McKay, Peter Singer
Chair David Roland
9.00am - 10.00am (37)
10.15am - 11.15am (40) The Art of Writing Crime
Candice Fox, Jane Harper, Dinuka McKenzie
Chair Alex Adsett
10.30am - 11.30am (41)
For The Earth
Ali Cobby Eckermann, Richard Flanagan, Sue Higginson, David Lindenmayer
Chair Bob Brown
Supported by The Book Room
10.15am - 11.15am (42)
11.30am - 12.30pm (45)
Our ABC?
Kim Williams in conversation with Kerry O’Brien
MELALEUCA MARQUEE
LILLY PILLY
PRESENTED BY GREENSTONE PARTNERS
Hazzard and Harrower
Brigitta Olubas in conversation with Suzy Freeman-Greene
Supported by The Book Room
8.45am - 9.45am (38)
Family Ties
Sarah Sasson, Jessie Tu, Karen Viggers
Chair Zacharey Jane
Archaeology of Memory
Tony Birch, Sara M Saleh, Leo Vardiashvili
Chair Russell Eldridge
10.00am - 11.00am (43)
It’s Not Just Cricket
Gideon Haigh in conversation with Chris Hanley
11.45am - 12.45pm (46)
Lola in the Mirror
Trent Dalton in conversation with Julia Baird
Supported by Crystalbrook Byron
11.30am - 12.30pm (47) Writing With Humour
Melissa Lucashenko, Benjamin Stevenson, Steph Tisdell
Chair Sana Qadar
11.15am - 12.15pm (48)
Media & Justice
Wayne Bergmann, Amy McQuire, Rob Waters
Chair Merinda Dutton
A&I HALL
PRESENTED BY THE SATURDAY PAPER
8.45am - 9.45am (39)
Coffee & Papers
Clive Hamilton, Marina Kamenev, Royce Kurmelovs
Chair Erik Jensen
Supported by The Saturday Paper 10.00am - 11.00am (44)
Future of the Liberal Party
Lech Blaine, David Marr
Chair Lucy Clark
Supported by Quarterly Essay 11.15am - 12.15pm (49)
Thea Astley Address
James Bradley
Chair Ashley Hay
SATURDAY 10 AUGUST
12.45pm - 1.45pm (50)
The Road to the Country
Chigozie Obioma in conversation with Claire Nichols
Supported by ABC Radio National’s The Book Show
1.00pm - 2.00pm (51) Woven
Ali Cobby Eckermann, Jazz Money
Chair Anne-Marie Te Whiu
12.45pm - 1.45pm (52)
Writing Pain
Sally Douglas, Ailsa Piper, Sarah Sasson
Chair Ashley Hay
12.30pm - 1.30pm (53)
Killing for Country
David Marr in conversation with Rebecca Huntley
Supported by Greenstone Partners
12.30pm - 1.30pm (54)
Writing for Performance
Jane Harrison, Suzie Miller
Chair Julian Louis
2.00pm - 3.00pm (55)
Psychedelic Medicines
Tim Baker, James Bradley, Rebecca Huntley
Chair Chris Hanley
2.15pm - 3.15pm (56)
36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem
Nam Le in conversation with Caoilinn Hughes
Supported by The Book Room
2.00pm - 3.00pm (57)
The Drowning
Bryan Brown in conversation with Jennifer Byrne
3.15pm - 4.15pm (60)
Black Duck: A Year at Yumburra
Lyn Harwood, Bruce Pascoe
Chair Ashley Hay
Supported by Southern Cross University
3.30pm - 4.30pm (61)
Yeah, Nah!
William McInnes in conversation with Marieke Hardy
Supported by Rochdale Accounting & Advisory
4.30pm - 5.30pm (65) Grace
Julia Baird in conversation with David Roland
Supported by Vasudhara
1.45pm - 2.45pm (58) Politica
Yumna Kassab in conversation with Karen Wyld
3.15pm - 4.15pm (62)
The Mega Election Year
Nick Bryant, Meena Kandasamy, John Lyons
Chair Misha Ketchell
Supported by The Conversation
3.00pm - 4.00pm (63) For Life
Ailsa Piper in conversation with Charlotte Wood
Supported by Honey Bee Homes
Supported by NORPA 1.45pm - 2.45pm (59) Generational Inequality
Lech Blaine, Bri Lee, Steph Tisdell
Chair Isabelle Reinecke
Supported by The Saturday Paper 3.00pm - 4.00pm (64)
Some People Want to Shoot Me
Wayne Bergmann and Madelaine Dickie
4.45pm - 5.45pm (66)
Aboriginal Sporting Legends
Rhoda Roberts, Nicky Winmar
Chair Naomi Moran
Supported by First Nations Australia Writers Network FNAWN
4.30pm - 5.15pm (67) On Grief
Imogen Carn, Gideon Haigh, Molly Schmidt
Chair Nova Weetman
4.15pm - 5.15pm (68) Love, Sex & Autism
Kay Kerr, Jodi Rodgers
Chair Kris Kneen
4.15pm - 5.15pm (69)
Slick: Australia’s Toxic Relationship with Big Oil
Royce Kurmelovs in conversation with Isabelle Reinecke
PROGRAM SESSIONS
ACACIA
PRESENTED BY VASUDHARA
HAKEA
PRESENTED BY SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY
9.00am - 10.00am (70)
Cultural Touchstones
Meg Keneally, Brigitta
Olubas, Bruce Pascoe
Chair Suzy FreemanGreene
Supported by The Conversation
9.15am - 10.15am (71)
Art & Power
Bri Lee, Jessie Tu
Chair Courtney Miller
10.15am - 11.15am (75)
War & Brotherhood
Chigozie Obioma, Leo Vardiashvili
Chair Kerry O’Brien
Supported by Greenstone Partners
Supported by Vasudhara 10.30am - 11.30am (76)
The Prison Healer
11.30am - 12.30pm (79)
Pheasants Nest
Louise Milligan in conversation with Jan Fran
Lynette Noni in conversation with Sarah Armstrong 11.45am - 12.45pm (80)
The Alternatives
Caoilinn Hughes in conversation with Bri Lee
Supported by Greenstone Partners
MELALEUCA MARQUEE
LILLY PILLY
PRESENTED BY GREENSTONE PARTNERS
A&I HALL
PRESENTED BY THE SATURDAY PAPER
9.00am - 10.00am (72)
America at War with Itself
Nick Bryant in conversation with Chris Hanley
Supported by First National Byron
9.00am - 12.30pm (73)
Kids Big Day Out
Host Zanni Louise
9.00am Ella Bancroft
9.30am Kate & Jol Temple
9.00am - 10.00am (74)
Deadlock: Ending Fossil Fuels
Joëlle Gergis, Royce Kurmelovs
Chair Julianne Schultz
10.15am - 11.15am (77)
The Power of Creativity
Kate Ceberano, Caitlin Marshall, Lizzie Rose
Chair Mandy Nolan
Supported by Organic India
10.00am Peter Carnavas
10.30am Matt Stanton
11.00am Nova Weetman
11.30am Bob Brown
12.00pm Student Writing Prizes
Supported by The Saturday Paper 10.15am - 11.15am (78)
Fat Girl Dancing
Kris Kneen in conversation with Amy Lovat
Supported by Copyright Agency Cultural Fund
11.30am - 12.30pm (81)
Balcony Over Jerusalem
John Lyons in conversation with Julianne Schultz
11.30am - 12.30pm (82)
Exiles
Jane Harper in conversation with Zacharey Jane
SUNDAY 11 AUGUST
12.45pm - 1.45pm (83)
Effective Altruism
Peter Singer in conversation with Courtney Miller
Supported by Vasudhara
1.00pm - 2.00pm (84)
The Silver River
Jim Moginie in conversation with Marieke Hardy
Supported by The Sunseeker
12.45pm - 1.45pm (85) Close to the Subject
Daniel Browning in conversation with Rhianna Patrick
Supported by Koori Mail
12.45pm - 1.45pm (86) North Coast Noir
Bryan Brown, Dinuka McKenzie
Chair P.A. Thomas
2.00pm - 3.00pm (88)
Living Hot
Clive Hamilton in conversation with Misha Ketchell
2.15pm - 3.15pm (89)
The Mungo Panel: Press Freedom
Nick Bryant, Amy McQuire, Louise Milligan
Chair Julianne Schultz
2.00pm - 3.00pm (90)
Unsung
Kate Ceberano in conversation with Chris Hanley
Supported by First National Byron
2.00pm - 3.00pm (91) Mothers
Bronwyn Bancroft, Ella Noah Bancroft
Chair Cheryl Leavy
3.15pm - 4.15pm (93)
My Story
Nicky Winmar in conversation with Gideon Haigh
12.45pm - 1.45pm (87) Status Anxiety
Shahar Hameiri, Haruko Koga
Chair Carody Culver
Supported by Griffith Review
2.00pm - 3.00pm (92) Unique
Jodi Rodgers in conversation with Mandy Nolan
3.30pm - 4.15pm (94)
Poetry as Practice
Nam Le, Tayi Tibble
Chair Anne-Marie Te Whiu
3.15pm - 4.00pm (95)
Love, Death & Other Scenes
Nova Weetman in conversation with Sarah Armstrong 4.15pm - 4.45pm (97)
Shire Choir
Melia Naughton, Sally Schofield with special guest Jim Moginie
3.15pm - 4.00pm (96)
Voices of Regional Australia
Madelaine Dickie, Jim Moginie
Chair Annabelle Hickson
Supported by Galah Press
PROGRAM SESSIONS
THE COOLAMON
10.00am - 11.00am (98)
Wisdom of the Elders
Delta Kay, Wayne Bergmann
Chair Jane Harrison
Supported by Blak & Bright
9.00am - 10.00am (101)
Good Mourning podcast
Imogen Carn, Sally Douglas
Chair Sana Qadar
12.45pm - 1.45pm (104) Rainforest Warriors
Stephen Wyatt in conversation with John Lyons
9.00am - 11.30am (107)
Kids Big Day Out
Storytime & Workshops
9:00am Cheryl Leavy
9:30am Miss Nicky
10:00am Megan Daley
11:00am Peter Carnavas
KIDS BIG DAY OUT
Sunday 11 August
Lilly Pilly Marquee & The Coolamon
Kids Big Day Out returns with a stellar line-up of stories and music. A perfect outing for the whole family, kids can get involved with interactive sessions in our workshop space at The Coolamon. See program sessions 73 & 107 for details.
1.00pm - 2.00pm (99)
Publishing: An Insider’s View
Alex Adsett, Lex Hirst Chair Victoria Purman
10.15am - 11.15am (102)
Everest, Guns & Money
Chris Dewhirst in conversation with Madelaine Dickie
2.00pm - 3.00pm (105)
How We Love
Dylin Hardcastle, Kay Kerr, Jessie Tu
Chair Carody Culver
12.30pm - 1.30pm (108)
Creative First Aid Workshop
For ages 12 and up
Caitlin Marshall and Lizzie Rose
2.30pm - 3.30pm (100)
Writing Byron
Annika Johansson, P.A. Thomas
Chair Mick O’Regan
11.30am - 12.30pm (103)
Karkalla at Home
Mindy Woods in conversation with Annabelle Hickson
3.15pm - 4.15pm (106)
Poetry Walk
Tony Birch, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Luka Lesson, Nicole Smede
Hosted by Emilie Zoey Baker
Supported by Australian Poetry
2.00pm - 3.00pm (109)
My Cousin Frank
Rhoda Roberts in conversation with Julian Louis
Supported by NORPA
BOOK LAUNCHES
Join us to celebrate the launch of two new releases. A&I Hall, bar open from 4pm. Free, no bookings required.
Friday 9 August
4.30pm - 5.30pm (34)
Sassafras
Rebecca Huntley in conversation with Steph Harmon Sociologist Rebecca Huntley didn’t know what ailed her, but she knew it was embedded deep within her mind - and her past. Sassafras is the story of Rebecca’s quest to overcome intergenerational trauma, and trauma in her own life, via the use of MDMA treatment that is now legal yet still controversial.
Saturday 10 August
4.15pm - 5.15pm (69)
Slick: Australia’s Toxic Relationship with Big Oil
Royce Kurmelovs in conversation with Isabelle Reinecke
In Slick, journalist Royce Kurmelovs investigates what the Australian fossil fuel industry knew about climate change, and how they learned to wield influence and insert themselves into all facets of public life - putting the survival of our planet and our democracy at stake.
SATELLITE EVENTS
A series of community events across the Northern Rivers.
Jodi Rodgers in conversation with Mick O’Regan
Thursday 08 August
1.30pm - 3.00pm
Ewingsdale Hall
$25 including CWA afternoon tea
Hosted by Friends of the Library
Poets Out Loud
Youth Slam
Thursday 08 August
6.30pm - 8.30pm
The Citadel, Murwillumbah
$5 bookings essential
Featuring K.J. Hayward
Hosted by Sarah Temporal
Australian Poetry Slam - Byron Heat
Friday 09 August
4.00pm - 5.30pm
The Coolamon, festival site Free, bookings essential
Featuring K.J. Hayward, Rob Waters
Hosted by Word Travels
Wordworks
Sunday 11 August
2.00pm - 3.00pm
Bangalow Bowling Club Free, no bookings
Featuring Rob Waters Hosted by David Hallett
For more details and to book satellite events, visit byronwritersfestival.com/satellite-events
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Vae would like to offer all those attending the Writer’s Festival a rejuvenating Broad Band Light Photofacial for HALF PRICE. This is a savings of $249. Simply mention the Festival when booking your treatment.
WORKSHOPS
The Art of Story Design
With Laurel Cohn
Tuesday 06 August
10.00am - 4.00pm
Byron Community Centre
$200/155 member & concession
This workshop explores how theme, plotlines, point of view and voice work together to create the story design and determine the relationship between reader and narrative.
Writing Books that Children Love
With Matt Stanton
Thursday 08 August
9.00am - 12.00pm
Byron Community Centre
$120/100 member & concession
Explore children’s writing and publishing with Matt Stanton, an award-winning author who has published 45 books for children and sold more than a million books in Australia and around the world.
Marketing for Writers
With Anna Featherstone
Wednesday 07 August
1.00pm - 3.00pm
Byron Community Centre
$65/50 member & concession
Discover easy and innovative ways to market yourself and your writing so you can reach a wider audience, land more projects, deals, grants and opportunities, and sustainably sell your works.
The Archive of Remembering and Forgetting
With Sara M Saleh
Thursday 08 August
10.00am - 1.00pm
Byron Community Centre
$120/100 member & concession
Join award-winning poet Sara M Saleh in this workshop on the ways in which a poem can serve as an archive of personal and political hauntings and history.
Slam Your Poetry (all ages)
With Word Travels
Wednesday 07 August
4.00pm - 6.00pm
Byron Community Centre
$50/40 member & concession
Want to set your stories free? Australian Poetry Slam champions Rob Waters and K.J. Hayward will help you migrate your thoughts to the page, become an eagled-eyed editor and take flight on stage.
Face Yoga Australia
WORKSHOPS
Weaving Memoir
With Kris Kneen
Thursday 08 August
12.00pm - 3.30pm
Byron Community College
$120/100 member & concession
In this memoir workshop you will reach across different timelines, weaving strands of your personal story united by common themes, making meaning through temporal layering techniques.
Exploring Narrative Voice
With Laura Jean McKay
Thursday 08 August
12.30pm - 3.30pm
Byron Community Centre
$120/100 member & concession
Like a writer, fiction has its own voice – a voice that can be hard to find. Join Laura Jean McKay to explore narrative voice – the author’s voice, the story’s voice and the character’s voice.
Attention /Devotion
With Ailsa Piper
Friday 09 August
1.00pm - 3.00pm
Bangalow Uniting Church
$80/65 member & concession
‘Attention is the beginning of devotion.’ - Mary Oliver Devotion to a writing project requires attention that is not ‘ordinary’. Join Ailsa Piper to expand your writerly observational skills.
Meet the Agent/Publisher
With Alex Adsett & Lex Hirst
Friday 09 & Saturday 10 August
15min consultations, various times Festival grounds
$160/130 member & concession
So you think you’re ready to submit your manuscript to agents and publishers? Get feedback on your work and discuss your next steps with an industry expert.
Writing with Country
With Ella Noah Bancroft
Saturday 10 August
10.15am - 11.15am
Piccabeen Park, Bangalow
$45/35 member & concession
Slow, listen, observe and reflect. This is a writing workshop to ignite relationality and imagination. Sit with Country and hear the sounds of silence, write and observe your surroundings.
Aged care reimagined. Small home environment.
Feels like a home, not a facility.
Small, dedicated team offering personalised care. Dementia specialists.
Home Care Packages and NDIS funding accepted.
To chat with us please contact: enquiries@honeybeehomes.com.au 02 8088 0773 www.honeybeehomes.com.au
WRITERS
Alex Adsett
40 99 W
Alex Adsett is a literary agent and publishing consultant with over 25 years’ experience and has helped thousands of authors review and negotiate their publishing deals.
Graham Akhurst
22
Graham Akhurst is an Aboriginal writer and academic from the Kokomini of Northern Queensland. He is the author of Borderland.
Sarah Armstrong
33 76 95
Sarah Armstrong has written five novels including Salt Rain, shortlisted for the Miles Franklin, and most recently two novels for young readers, Big Magic and Magic Awry
Julia Baird
46 65
Julia Baird is a Sydney-based author and journalist. Her latest book, Bright Shining, was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) for Non-Fiction Book of the Year.
Emilie Zoey Baker
106 F
Emilie Zoey Baker is an award-winning Australian poet, educator, slam nerd and spoken-word performer. Her poetry has been published widely in Australia and internationally.
Tim Baker
55
Tim Baker is the bestselling author of Bustin’ Down the Door, High Surf, Occy, Surf for Your Life (with Mick Fanning), Surfari and Century of Surf. His latest book is Patting the Shark
Bronwyn Bancroft
91
Dr. Bronwyn Bancroft is a Bundjalung Woman and Artist. Her contribution to Indigenous literature includes writing and illustrating 47 children’s books including Sun and Moon
Ella Bancroft
21 73 91 W
Ella Noah Bancroft is a proud Bundjalung woman whose life as a queer Indigenous woman frames her perspective on the world, as she lives between two worlds often.
Eric Beecher
4 31
Eric Beecher has had a long career in journalism, media and publishing. He is the chair and the largest shareholder in Private Media, owner of Crikey. He is the author of The Men Who Killed the News
Wayne Bergmann
48 64 98
Wayne Bergmann is a leading advocate for Indigenous self-determination and was Executive Director of the Kimberley Aboriginal Law & Culture Centre. He is the author of Some People Want To Shoot Me.
Tony Birch
1 10 42 106
Tony Birch is the author of four novels, five short fiction collections, and two poetry books. His most recent book is the novel, Women and Children.
Lech Blaine
44 59
Lech Blaine is the author of Car Crash: A Memoir and two recent Quarterly Essays: Top Blokes and Bad Cop. He is the 2023 Charles Perkins Centre writer in residence.
James Bradley
26 36 49 55
James Bradley is an award-winning novelist and essayist. His novels and stories have won or been shortlisted for a range of literary awards. His latest book is Deep Water: The World in the Ocean.
Bob Brown
41 73 F
Bob Brown’s list of book titles is as long as his list of arrests for environmental action. His most recent book, Thera, is his first work of fiction.
Bryan Brown
57 86
Bryan Brown is known as an actor, having appeared in over eighty film and television shows. The Drowning is his second book.
Daniel Browning
12 85
Daniel Browning is a Bundjalung and Kullilli writer and broadcaster. His first book, Close to the Subject: Selected Works, won the 2024 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Indigenous Writing.
Nick
Bryant
62 72 89
Nick Bryant, a former BBC Washington correspondent, is an award-winning writer and broadcaster. His new book is The Forever War: America’s Unending Conflict With Itself.
Jennifer Byrne
25 57 F
Jennifer Byrne is a celebrated Australian journalist, editor, Logie-winning presenter, former book publisher and host of ABC’s The Book Club.
Imogen
Carn
67 101
Imogen Carn is the co-creator of the popular podcast Good Mourning and co-author of Good Mourning: Honest conversations about grief and loss.
Peter Carnavas
73 107
Peter Carnavas creates books for children. He has made many picture books and well-awarded novels. His latest book is Leo and Ralph.
Kate Ceberano 77 90
Kate Ceberano AM is a creative powerhouse and the voice of a generation. Her book, Unsung, is an illustrated memoir featuring her song lyrics, stories, paintings, quilts and other artworks.
Lucy Clark 44
Lucy Clark is features editor of Guardian Australia. She is a journalist of 40 years experience, and author of Beautiful Failures: How the Quest for Success is Harming our Kids.
Alan Close 8
Alan Close works across the written word as a writer, editor, mentor and teacher. His memoir is Before You Met Me: A Memoir Of One Man’s Troubled Search For Love.
Ali Cobby Eckermann
21 41 51 106 F
Ali Cobby Eckermann is a Yankunytjatjara poet residing on Ngadjuri country. Her latest collection, She is the Earth, won Book of the Year at the 2024 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.
Nadine J Cohen 24 33
Nadine J Cohen is a Sydney-based writer and refugee advocate with bylines in The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and ABC. Her debut novel is Everyone and Everything.
Matthew Condon 5 18
Matthew Condon is an award-winning journalist and the author of more than 15 works of both fiction and non-fiction. He is currently a senior writer and podcaster for The Australian.
Carody Culver 87 105
Carody Culver is the editor of Griffith Review. Her chapbook, The Morgue I Think the Deader it Gets, was published in 2022.
Megan Daley 107
Megan Daley is an award-winning Teacher Librarian. Megan is the author of the bestselling book Raising Readers as well as Teacher, Teacher and The Beehive.
Trent Dalton 46
Trent Dalton is a two-time Walkley Awardwinning journalist and the international bestselling author of Boy Swallows Universe, All Our Shimmering Skies, Love Stories and Lola in the Mirror.
Chris Dewhirst 102
Chris Dewhirst is an educator and extreme adventurer, who has climbed El Capitan, kayaked the Franklin River and flown a balloon over Mt Everest. He is the author of Everest, Guns & Money.
Madelaine Dickie 64 96 102
Madelaine Dickie is the author of Troppo, Red Can Origami and co-author of Some People Want to Shoot Me. She currently lives in the remote Aboriginal community of Maningrida in Arnhem Land.
Sally
Douglas 52 101
Sally Douglas is an author, grief educator and co-host of the Good Mourning podcast. Her new co-authored book is Good Mourning: Honest conversations about grief and loss
WRITERS
Merinda Dutton
7 48
Merinda Dutton is a Gumbaynggirr and Barkindji woman, emerging writer, First Nations critic, and the co-founder of Blackfulla Bookclub, an online community for First Nations stories.
Jill Eddington 20 35
Jill Eddington is an avid reader and lover of Australian writing. She is a former festival director, publisher and Director of Literature at Creative Australia.
Anna Featherstone
13 27 W
Anna Featherstone writes niche books about subjects she loves: sustainability, bees and books! She mentors writers, founded Bold Authors, and is an advisor to the Alliance of Independent Authors.
Richard Flanagan 20 41
Richard Flanagan has been described by the Washington Post as ‘one of our greatest living novelists’. He won the Booker Prize for TheNarrowRoadtotheDeepNorth His most recent book is Question7
Candice Fox
3 18 40
Candice Fox is the author of ten internationally bestselling crime novels and the winner of three prestigious Ned Kelly Awards. Her latest book is Devil’s Kitchen.
Jan Fran
79 F
Jan Fran is a Walkley-award-winning journalist, TV presenter and social commentator. She is the co-host of ABC’s Question Everything and is well known for her work on The Project and The Feed.
Suzy Freeman-Greene
37 70
Suzy Freeman-Greene is the Books & Ideas editor of The Conversation. A former features editor and op-ed columnist at The Age, her writing has been published widely.
Kate Fullagar
3 14 28
Kate Fullagar FAHA is Professor of History at Australian Catholic University. Her most recent book is Bennelong & Phillip: A History Unravelled.
Joëlle Gergis
26 74
Joëlle Gergis is an award-winning climate scientist and writer. She is the author of the Quarterly Essay Highway to Hell: Climate Change and Australia’s Future
Gideon Haigh
5 43 67 93
Gideon Haigh has been a journalist for more than forty years and published more than fifty books. His latest is the memoir, My Brother Jaz
Shahar Hameiri
87
Shahar Hameiri is a Professor of International Politics. His most recent coauthored books are Fractured China and The Locked-Up Country.
Clive Hamilton
29 39 88
Clive Hamilton is a Professor of Public Ethics and best-selling author. His two new co-authored books are Living Hot: Surviving and thriving on a heating planet, and The Privileged Few.
Chris Hanley
43 55 72 90
Chris Hanley OAM is the founder of Byron Writers Festival and was Chair for 20 years until 2016. He is the CEO of First National Byron.
Dylin Hardcastle
105
Dylin Hardcastle is an award-winning author, artist, screenwriter and former Provost’s Scholar at the University of Oxford. Their new book is A Language of Limbs.
Marieke Hardy
61 84
Marieke Hardy is a screenwriter, political pundit, playwright, podcast host and author. Her comedy series, Laid, is currently being shot in the US. She is co-producer of Better Off Said.
Steph Harmon
16 34
Steph Harmon is the culture editor of Guardian Australia. She was the founding editor of youth pop culture site Junkee.com, and the editor of the Brag.
SEASIDE RESTAURANT & BAR
SEASIDE RESTAURANT & BAR
SEASIDE RESTAURANT & BAR
SEASIDE RESTAURANT & BAR
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HATTED RESTAURANT | AWARD WINNING WINE MENU
COCKTAILS | BAR SNACKS
COCKTAILS | BAR SNACKS
HATTED RESTAURANT | AWARD WINNING WINE MENU COCKTAILS | BAR SNACKS
• Restaurant open daily for lunch and dinner by reservation.
Restaurant open for daily for lunch and dinner by reservation.
Restaurant open for daily for lunch and dinner by reservation.
Restaurant open for daily for lunch and dinner by reservation.
Bar open daily from 3pm.
Bar open daily from 3pm.
Bar open daily from 3pm.
Bar open daily from 3pm.
Bar open daily from 3pm.
Restaurant open for daily for lunch and dinner by reservation.
Jane Harper is the internationally best-selling author of Australian mysteries including The Dry and most recently, Exiles
Daniel Harrison 26
Associate Professor Daniel Harrison from the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Southern Cross University holds a Masters in Engineering (Oceanography) and PhD (Biological Oceanography).
Jane Harrison 17 54 98
Jane Harrison’s (Muruwari) award-winning plays are Stolen, Rainbow’s End and The Visitors. Her novels are BecomingKirrali Lewis and The Visitors. She is the Director of Blak & Bright First Nations Literary Festival.
Lyn Harwood 60
Lyn has worked as a teacher, dancer, editor, publisher and artist. She is a director at Black Duck Foods, promoting Indigenous food agriculture. Black Duck: A Year at Yumburra is her new book with Bruce Pascoe.
Ashley Hay 15 49 52 60
Ashley Hay is an award-winning novelist and essayist. A former editor of Griffith Review, she also works as a journalist, mentor and facilitator.
K.J. Hayward S W
K.J. Hayward is a young slam poet, home schooler and Traveller. She is the APS Youth Champion and advocates for feminism, education and youth.
David Heilpern 7
Associate Professor David Heilpern has authored four published books and many journal articles on legal issues. He is Dean of Law at Southern Cross University and a prize-winning writer, columnist and poet.
Nicolla Hemi-Morehouse
107
Born in Aotearoa, Nicolla HemiMorehouse performs as Miss Nicky Says, an award-winning children’s artist with a YouTube channel celebrating over 1 million views.
Annabelle Hickson 96 103
Annabelle Hickson is a writer and photographer, who started her career as a news reporter for The Australian in Sydney and Brisbane. She is the editor of Galah
Sue Higginson
41
Sue Higginson is an environmental justice warrior. Now, as Greens MP she is working to get action on the climate and extinction crises in the NSW Parliament.
Lex Hirst 99 W
Lex Hirst is Publishing Director at fast growing independent Australian book publisher, Pantera Press – a publisher of socially driven, culturally vital books.
Rebekah Holt 24
Rebekah Holt is a journalist and writer, who regularly gained access to and wrote about Australia’s onshore detention centres.
Caoilinn Hughes
15 33 56 80
Caoilinn Hughes is the award-winning author of The Wild Laughter and Orchid & the Wasp. Her latest novel is The Alternatives.
Rebecca Huntley
34 53 55
Rebecca Huntley is a social researcher and author. Her latest book Sassafras: on love, loss and MDMA is a memoir.
Zacharey Jane
38 82
Zacharey Jane is the author of The Lifeboat, Tobias Blow, Frank Diamond and Amelia Will Go. In 2023 she was an Australian Poetry Slam grand-finalist. Zacharey is also a teacher and artist.
Erik Jensen
29 39
Erik Jensen is an award-winning journalist, biographer and poet. His most recent book is Angry at Breakfast.
Annika Johansson
100
Annika Johansson is a freelance writer living in the rainforests on Bundjalung land (the Northern Rivers of NSW). Downstream is her debut novel.
Marina Kamenev
9 39
Marina Kamenev is the former deputy arts editor of the Moscow Times and has been published in the Atlantic, Time, Sunday Life, The Monthly and Marie Claire Kin is her new book.
Meena Kandasamy
6 15 62 F
Meena Kandasamy is a poet and writer based in India. Her extensive corpus includes two poetry collections and three novels. Her latest book is Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You.
Kon Karapanagiotidis
9 19
Kon Karapanagiotidis is the CEO and Founder of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. His latest book, co-authored with his mum, is A Seat at My Table: Philoxenia.
Yumna Kassab
23 58 F
Yumna Kassab is the inaugural Parramatta Laureate in Literature and author of The House of Youssef, Australiana and The Lovers. Her latest book is Politica
Delta Kay
98
Delta Kay is an Arakwal Bumberbin Bundjalung woman, proud mother and grandmother passionate about sharing culture and protecting Country.
Meg Keneally
2 70
Meg Keneally is the author of many books, and co-author with Tom Keneally of The Soldier’s Curse and three other books in the Monsarrat series. Free is her latest novel.
Kay Kerr
68 105
Kay Kerr is an autistic author and journalist whose work explores the wide range of autistic experiences. Her latest book is Love & Autism.
Misha Ketchell
62 88
Misha is Editor and Executive Director of The Conversation Australia and New Zealand. He has been a journalist for more than 25 years. He was founding editor of The Big Issue Australia.
Mitch
King F
Mitch King is a Yaegl Bundjalung man from the Far North Coast region of NSW. He is a creative producer specialising in hip hop music and dance.
Kris Kneen
8 68 78 W
Kris Kneen is the award-winning author of fiction, poetry and non-fiction including Fat Girl Dancing which was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards.
Haruko Koga 87
Haruko Koga is an emerging writer from Japan. She has been a translator, a writer specialising in TV drama novelisations and is now working on her first novel.
Royce Kurmelovs
39 69 74
Royce Kurmelovs is a journalist and author. His books include The Death of Holden, Rogue Nation, Boom and Bust and Just Money. His fifth book is Slick: Australia’s Toxic Relationship with Big Oil
Nam Le
56 94 F
Nam Le is the author of The Boat, On David Malouf and 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem. He has received major awards in Australia, America and Europe.
Cheryl Leavy
91 107
Cheryl Leavy is from the Kooma and Nguri Nations in western and central Queensland. A poet, Cheryl was the winner of the 2022 Oodgeroo Noonuccal Poetry Prize. Her latest book is YangaMother
Bri Lee
59 71 80
Bri Lee is the multi-award-winning author of Eggshell Skull, Beauty and Who Gets to Be Smart The Work is Bri’s debut novel.
WRITERS
Luka Lesson
21 106
Luka Lesson is a poet, rapper and artist of Greek heritage, born in Brisbane. His work crosses between the history of his family homeland, the fiercely political and the vulnerably self-reflective.
David Lindenmayer
3 7 41
Professor David Lindenmayer AO is a world-leading expert on forest conservation. He is the author of 49 books on forests, including The Great Forest and Forest Wars.
Julian Louis 54 109
Julian Louis is a theatre-maker and is the Artistic Director of NORPA (Northern Rivers Performing Arts), based in Lismore.
Zanni Louise 73
Zanni Louise is an internationally published author of over 40 kid’s books. Her latest release is Cora Seen and Heard
Amy Lovat
22 78
Amy Lovat is the author of Mistakes and Other Lovers and the current program manager of the Newcastle Writers Festival.
Grace Lucas-Pennington
1 30
Grace Lucas-Pennington is a Bundjalung/ European mentor, editor and writer. She grew up mostly between northern NSW and the greater Logan/Brisbane area.
Melissa Lucashenko
3 15 28 47
Melissa Lucashenko is a multi-award winning Goorie novelist from Brisbane. Her latest novel is Edenglassie
John Lyons
31 62 81 104
John Lyons is a four-time Walkley winner and the ABC Global Affairs Editor. He has worked at The Australian, SMH, Nine Network and ABC. His latest book is Balcony Over Jerusalem, re-issued in 2024.
David Marr 14 44 53 F
David Marr is a journalist, commentator and biographer whose latest book is Killing for Country, a personal reckoning with Australia’s frontier wars.
Walter Marsh 4 14 28
Walter Marsh is an award-winning journalist, critic and the author of Young Rupert: the making of the Murdoch empire.
Caitlin Marshall 77 108
Caitlin Marshall is co-founder of MakeShift, providing trauma-informed creativity and mental health programs. She is a social worker and trainer in vicarious trauma management and gendered violence.
William McInnes 3 8 61 F
William McInnes is one of Australia’s most popular writers and actors. His books include the bestselling memoirs A Man’s Got to Have a Hobby and That’d Be Right His latest is Yeah, Nah!
Laura Jean McKay
23 36 W
Laura Jean McKay is the author of The Animals in That Country, winner of the Arthur C Clarke Award and The Victorian Prize for Literature. Laura’s latest collection is Gunflower
Dinuka McKenzie
40 86
Dinuka McKenzie is the author of the Detective Kate Miles crime series, The Torrent, Taken and her latest release, Tipping Point
Amy McQuire
48 89 F
Amy McQuire is a Darumbal and South Sea Islander journalist, writer, academic and podcaster. Her new book is Black Witness.
Courtney Miller
26 71 83
Courtney Miller has a varied career across politics, art and fashion and currently heads up a philanthropic foundation focused on the next generation.
100 Bangalow Rd, Byron Bay NSW 2481
100 Bangalow Rd, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Phone: +61 2 6685 8900
100 Bangalow Rd, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Phone: +61 2 6685 8900
www.thesunseeker.com.au @thesunseekerbyronbay
Phone: +61 2 6685 8900
www.thesunseeker.com.au @thesunseekerbyronbay
www.thesunseeker.com.au @thesunseekerbyronbay
WRITERS
Suzie Miller
3 16 54
Suzie Miller is an Australian contemporary, international playwright, screenwriter and novelist. Prima Facie is her first novel.
Louise Milligan
29 79 89 F
Louise Milligan is a multi-award-winning investigative journalist and the author of two best-selling non-fiction books. Pheasants Nest is her first novel.
Rosemarie Milsom
9 18
Rosemarie Milsom is the founding director of Newcastle Writers Festival, which is in its 12th year. She is a former awardwinning print journalist with Fairfax Media and broadcaster with the ABC.
Jim Moginie
84 96 97 F
Jim Moginie is best known as founding member, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player of Midnight Oil. He has also worked as a producer and composer. His memoir is The Silver River
Jazz Money
21 51 F
Jazz Money is a Wiradjuri poet and artist whose practice is centred around poetics. Mark the Dawn is their second collection.
Naomi Moran
66
Naomi Moran is a Nyangbal, Arakwal and Dunghutti woman from New South Wales, and is the General Manager of Australia’s only independent Indigenous newspaper, the Koori Mail
Priya Nadesalingam
24
Priya Nadesalingam is a wife, mother, former Tamil asylum seeker, and co-author of the book Home to Biloela
Claire Nichols
6 50
Claire Nichols is the host of The Book Show on ABC Radio National, a weekly podcast and radio show that features in-depth interviews with the best authors from around the world.
Mandy Nolan
77 92 F
Mandy Nolan is a stand-up comedian, feminist, activist, mother of five, author and Greens candidate in Richmond. She wants to change the world by changing minds – one joke at a time.
Lynette Noni
11 76
Lynette Noni is the #1 bestselling and award-winning author of The Prison Healer series, The Medoran Chronicles, and the Whisper duology.
Kerry O’Brien
45 75
Kerry O’Brien is one of Australia’s most respected journalists with six Walkley Awards. Kerry co-wrote the ABIA Book of the Year, The Voice to Parliament Handbook, with Thomas Mayo.
Mick O’Regan
100 S
Mick O’Regan is a journalist and broadcaster with more than two decades experience with the ABC and Seven Network.
Chigozie Obioma
50 75 F
Chigozie Obioma was born in Nigeria. His novels, The Fishermen and An Orchestra of Minorities were shortlisted for The Booker Prize. His latest book is The Road to the Country
Brigitta Olubas
37 70
Brigitta Olubas is the author of Shirley Hazzard: A writing life. She has recently co-edited with Susan Wyndham the letters of Hazzard and Elizabeth Harrower.
Bruce Pascoe
30 60 70
Bruce Pascoe is a Yuin, Bunurong and Tasmanian man who lives on Country. A prolific writer, Bruce is the author of over 20 books, including bestseller Dark Emu His latest is Black Duck: A Year at Yumburra.
Rhianna Patrick
11 85
Rhianna Patrick is a Torres Strait Islander media professional with over twenty years experience working across radio, TV, news and current affairs.
Sarah Percy 14
Sarah Percy is a writer and broadcaster and Associate Professor in International Relations at the University of Queensland. Forgotten Warriors is her new book.
Ailsa Piper
52 63 W
Ailsa Piper has written three memoirs. Her most recent, For Life, is an unflinching look at grief and celebration of renewal and wonder.
Victoria Purman 2 99
Victoria Purman is a bestselling Australian historical fiction author, workshop presenter and mentor. The Radio Hour is out now.
Sana Qadar
23 47 101
Sana Qadar is the award-winning host and producer of All in the Mind. She has previously reported and produced for ABC News and ABC Everyday.
Isabelle Reinecke
7 59 69
Isabelle Reinecke is an expert in the intersection of the law, politics and power. Her first book is Courting Power: Law, Democracy and the Public Interest in Australia
Rhoda Roberts
66 109
Rhoda Roberts AO is a Bundjalung woman from northern New South Wales, and a producer, director, writer, broadcaster, performer and arts executive.
Jodi Rodgers
68 92 S
Jodi Rodgers is a sexologist, counsellor and special education teacher, who featured on ABC and Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum. Unique is her first book.
David Roland
36 65
Dr David Roland is a writer, presenter and psychologist drawing on his lived experience as well as his professional training. He has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and a PhD in Clinical Psychology.
Lizzie Rose
77 108
Lizzie Rose is co-founder of MakeShift, providing trauma-informed creativity and mental health programs. She is a community development practitioner, sustainability educator and qualified yoga teacher.
Sara M Saleh 10 21 42 W
Sara M Saleh is a writer, human rights lawyer and daughter of Palestinian, Lebanese and Egyptian migrants. Songs for the Dead and Living and The Flirtation of Girls are her first novel and collection.
Sarah Sasson 38 52
Sarah Sasson is a physician-writer, whose work has been published in Meanjin and Kill Your Darlings, among other places. Tidelines is her first novel.
Mykaela Saunders 12 23 32
Mykaela Saunders is the award-winning author of Always Will Be, and the editor of This All Come Back Now. Mykaela belongs to the Tweed Goori community.
Molly Schmidt
9 67
Molly Schmidt is a writer and journalist. Salt River Road is her award-winning debut novel. She’s now writing a biography celebrating the stories of the Traditional Custodians of her hometown.
Nell Schofield
5 19
Nell Schofield is a broadcaster with Bay FM and activist who co-hosts the podcast This Week In Cyberspace. She is also a writer, MC, organiser and Community Engagement Officer.
Julianne Schultz
4 74 81 89
Julianne Schultz is an acclaimed author of several books, including Reviving the Fourth Estate and Steel City Blues. Her latest is The Idea of Australia: A search for the soul of the nation.
Peter Singer
36 83
Peter Singer’s books include Animal Liberation, Practical Ethics, and The Buddhist and the Ethicist. He founded the charity The Life You Can Save and co-hosts Lives Well Lived podcast.
WRITERS
Nicole Smede
21 106 F
Nicole Smede is an artist of Warrimay/ Birribay and colonial descent. Reconnection to ancestry, language and culture ripples through her work in voice, song, sound and poetry.
Mary Spongberg
2
Professor Mary Spongberg is Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research at Southern Cross University. She is a cultural historian. Her recent book is EmpatheticHistory: WomenWritersandtheNation’sPast.
Matt Stanton 73 W
Matt Stanton is an award-winning children’s author/illustrator of over 45 books. He has sold more than one million books in Australia. His new book is Fluff, Mess Up!
Benjamin Stevenson 18 47
Benjamin Stevenson is the author of the global bestsellers Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, currently being adapted for television by HBO, and Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect
Anne-Marie Te Whiu
21 32 51 94
Anne-Marie Te Whiu is an Australianborn Maori (Te Rarawa) currently living on unceded Wangal lands. She is a poet, editor, weaver and cultural producer. Most recently she has edited Woven
Kate & Jol Temple
73
Kate and Jol Temple are internationally awarded authors of over 26 hilarious books for kids, including Bin Chicken, Frog Squad and The Underdogs.
Sarah Temporal
S
Sarah Temporal has worked with hundreds of young people to empower their voices through the spoken and written word. She directs the Poets Out Loud Youth Slam.
P.A. Thomas
86 100
P.A. Thomas lives in the Byron Bay region, the setting for his first novel, The Beacon. He is also a wilderness landscape photographer, and his images have appeared in Australian Geographic.
Tayi Tibble
21 94 F
Tayi Tibble (Te Whanau a Apanui and Ngati Porou) is a writer and poet. She is the author of Poukahangatus and Rangikura and was the first Maori writer to be published in The New Yorker.
Steph Tisdell 22 47 59 F
Steph Tisdell is an actor, writer, comedian and proud Yidinji woman. Her debut novel is The Skin I’m In
Jessie Tu
38 71 105
Jessie Tu is a book critic and journalist. A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing won the ABIA 2020 Literacy Fiction Book of the Year. The Honeyeater is her second novel.
Leo Vardiashvili
25 42 75 F
Leo Vardiashvili is a Georgian-born, UK-based novelist and author of Hard by a Great Forest.
Karen Viggers
38
Karen Viggers is the author of five bestselling novels. Sidelines is about junior sport and parents living vicariously through their kids.
Maggie Walters
27
Maggie Walters writes about her own mental health diagnosis, challenging stereotypes around dissociation and trauma recovery. Her memoir is Split.
Rob Waters
48 S W
Rob Waters is a Gomeroi poet and storyteller. He was the 2023 Australian Poetry Slam Champion.
Nova Weetman
8 67 73 95
Award-winning author, Nova Weetman has published 19 books for children and young adults. Her memoir Love, Death & Other Scenes is her first book for adults.
~ Toni Morrison
WRITERS
Lili Wilkinson 11
Lili Wilkinson is the award-winning author of nineteen books for young people, including A Hunger of Thorns and Deep is the Fen.
Kim Williams 45
Kim Williams AM has had a long involvement in the arts, entertainment and media industries. He is the twentieth chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Nicky Winmar 66 93
Nicky Winmar is a former AFL player whose stance against a hostile crowd in 1993 became an iconic moment of a proud and defining stand against racism. Nicky Winmar:MyStory is his autobiography.
Charlotte Wood 35 63
Charlotte Wood AM is the author of ten books. Her new novel Stone Yard Devotional was preceded by The Luminous Solution
Mindy Woods
103
Mindy Woods is a woman of the Widjabul Wiabul and Nyangbal clans of the Bundjalung, and owner of native ingredient-driven restaurant Karkalla Byron Bay. She is the author of Karkalla at Home.
Stephen
Wyatt 104
Stephen Wyatt lives in Byron Bay on ten acres of regenerated rainforest with his partner Colleen Ryan. A journalist with the Australian Financial Review and FT, he is the author of Rainforest Warriors.
Karen Wyld 17 32 58
Karen Wyld is an author living on the coast south of Adelaide. They co-edited The Rocks Remain: Blak Poetry and Story
PEN The Empty Chair
The Empty Chair in some of our festival sessions symbolises a writer who could not be present on stage because they have been imprisoned, detained, disappeared, threatened or killed.
# program session F feature event S satellite event W workshop
GET INVOLVED
Byron Writers Festival is Australia’s largest regional literature festival and the beating heart of the Northern Rivers’ intellectual and cultural life. We present year-round author talks, writing workshops and schools programs in addition to our renowned annual festival.
Become a member
Access a like-minded community of writers, develop your work for publication, receive discounts on workshops and festival passes, borrow from our lending library and more!
Donate
Byron Writers Festival is a registered charity and not for profit organisation. Your support enables us to continue our year round activities including our StoryBoard children’s program. All tax deductible gifts enable us to champion writers and their books.
Join our Patron Circle
Our annual patrons make everything we do possible. Patrons receive exclusive access, invitations and passes to the festival and become an integral part of our community. For more details, visit byronwritersfestival.com/get-involved
TICKETS & TRAVEL
2024 FESTIVAL PASSES
Pass Days Full price Members Concession/Youth
3-DAY PASS Includes access to all festival sessions. Excludes workshops and separately ticketed events
1-DAY PASS Includes access to all festival sessions on your selected day. Excludes workshops and separately ticketed events
KIDS BIG DAY OUT PASS
Entry to Kids Big Day Out venues only. Includes one child 6-12 years old and one accompanying adult
We offer Mobtix on 3-Day, 1-Day and KBDO festival passes. Please contact us for your special code via tickets@byronwritersfestival.com
Parking onsite at Bangalow Showground is $5 per day. You will need to purchase a parking pass along with your festival pass.
BOOK NOW BYRONWRITERSFESTIVAL.COM OR CALL (02) 6685 5115
Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Friday, Saturday or Sunday
$315
$275 n/a
$140
$110 $125 Concession
$80 Youth (25 years or under)
Sunday $55 (1 Adult + 1 Child)
$20 per additional child
Children under 6 years are free
Notes and Conditions
All tickets are subject to availability and booking fees. Children under 18 years must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Tickets will be exchanged on entry for a wristband that is non-transferable.
Parking opens at 7.30am. Gates open at 8am. For full terms and conditions, visit byronwritersfestival.com/terms-conditions
GETTING TO THE FESTIVAL
The festival site is located at Bangalow Showground (approximately 15 minutes drive from Byron Bay). Vehicle entry is via Market St and pedestrian access via Station Lane, Bangalow. We encourage you to hop on our free shuttle bus or carpool with friends.
By Shuttle Bus
A free festival shuttle bus will be operating between Byron Bay Interchange (Butler St), Cavanbah Centre (Ewingsdale Rd) and the festival site from Friday 9 - Sunday 11 August. Free car parking is available at Cavanbah Centre for shuttle bus patrons.
Bus timetable available at byronwritersfestival.com/travel
By Car
Onsite car parking is available for $5 per day. Please pre-purchase your car parking pass along with your festival pass, print and display on your dashboard.
Carpark opens at 7.30am, please park as directed by attendants. Accessible parking available, please display your disability parking permit.
By Bike or By Foot
There will be a dedicated parking area for bicycles onsite.
Pedestrian access to the festival, including shuttle bus passengers, is via Station Lane.
FESTIVAL MAP
Stages
Acacia presented by Vasudhara
Hakea presented by Southern Cross University
Melaleuca Marquee
Lilly Pilly presented by Greenstone Partners
A&I Hall presented by The Saturday Paper
The Coolamon
ACACIA MARQUEE
LILLY PILLY MARQUEE
MELALEUCA MARQUEE
HAKEA MARQUEE
Food
Food will be available from an array of popular and delicious local food stalls with vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options available: Japanese Kitchen, Jerry’s Pizza Truck, Pocket Curries, Yulli’s and Yum Cha.
Coffee
Satisfy your caffeine cravings at one of our coffee carts and BYO coffee cup to help our mission to become a zero waste festival.
Bar
Our festival bar at the A&I Hall will be open from 4pm on Friday and Saturday and during our feature events.
Artisan markets
Browse our bespoke onsite marketplace of local artisans and take home a memento.
Book shop
Visit The Book Room, our festival bookshop, to grab your favourite festival titles and have them signed by authors after each session.
Sculptures
Our beautiful sculpture walk is curated by local sculptor Suvira McDonald. Most pieces are available for sale, please see Suvira at the Sculpture Tent to make enquiries.
OUR TEAM Board
Chair Adam van Kempen
Treasurer Cheryl Bourne
Secretary Hilarie Dunn
Members
Sarah Armstrong
Marele Day
Lynda Dean
Lynda Hawryluk
Grace Lucas-Pennington
Courtney Miller
FESTIVAL KEY INFO
Accessibility
Check our website for selected sessions to be Auslan interpreted. Patrons may also bring their own interpreters on a free carer’s pass.
Dedicated accessible seating, toilets and parking areas are available onsite. Visit our Info Booth for assistance with wheelchairs. Byron Writers Festival is a participant of the National Companion Card scheme, offering patrons with disability a second ticket for their accompanying companion at no charge.
Sustainability
Byron Writers Festival is a plastic water bottle free event. BYO bottle for free refills at our water stations. There will be an onsite cup wash station for your BYO coffee cup. Please sort your waste into appropriately marked bins for collection and processing.
