Savannah WRITERS’ VOICES UP NORTH Literary Festival 21 – 29 May 2015
PROGRAM
Welcome
A Message From The Mayor Welcome to Savannah: Writers' Voices Up North Proudly brought to you by CityLibraries Townsville I commend the program to you, and trust that you will enjoy the many opportunities available, from writing workshops to readings by the lake, to panel discussions. There is something for everyone in the program. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many volunteers who will be helping make Savannah run smoothly. They will add so much to everyone’s experience. The development of Townsville as a learning community is a key strategic focus for CityLibraries Townsville, and we work hard to provide programs to develop literacy and a love of reading for all ages. So in 2015, we have Savannah. I would like to congratulate the staff of CityLibraries Townsville for bringing this festival to fruition, in partnership with other members of the steering committee, the Foundation for Australian Literary Studies, Writers in Townsville, Townsville Writers and Publishers and Mary Who? Bookshop. Please enjoy all that Savannah has to offer. Susan Coker Executive Manager, Library Services.
BOOKINGS can be made at www.townsville.qld.gov.au PLEASE NOTE: Writers Workshops require the additional purchase of a Weekend Pass.
The inaugural Savannah: Writers' Voices Up North Literary Festival will be a feast for the senses with inspiring speakers, motivating workshops and diverse opportunities to hone your skills. Townsville is the perfect location for such an event and we are proud to be welcoming some of Australia’s most prolific writers, novelists, illustrators, actors and poets. Designed to provide insight into the writing process and inspire budding authors, the program will offer something for everyone to enjoy. Congratulations must go to the many groups and individuals behind this program who have grown the concept from a small authors’ afternoon in 2012 to this eight-day event in 2015. However you read, whatever you read, this festival is for you. Townsville Mayor Cr Jenny Hill.
FESTIVAL BOOKSHOP at Mercure Townsville Mary Who? Bookshop will be on-site throughout the Festival with all the latest titles by our guest presenters. You can buy a book and then have it signed by the author. See pages 5, 7 and 9 for book signing times.
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Savannah: Writers’ Voices Up North
Key Events Your 2015 Festival presenters include: Joan Beaumont Terri Brabon Michael Bromage Tania Cox Peter FitzSimons Barbara Hannay
Festival Opening and Dinner with Peter FitzSimons Join us for a welcome drink on arrival and a three course dinner as we celebrate the inaugural Savannah: Writers' Voices Up North Literary Festival. Townsville Mayor Cr Jenny Hill will launch the Festival followed by our special guest Peter FitzSimons. DATE: Thursday 21 May TIME: 7pm for 7.30pm start AT: Mercure Townsville Ballroom DRESS: Smart Casual COST: $80/$75 concession BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL: Visit www.townsville.qld.gov.au
Literary Lunch By The Lake
at Mercure Townsville Enjoy a picnic lunch by the lake and listen to poetry readings by Samuel Wagan Watson and readings by Townsville Writers and Publishers Centre. Lunch is available from the coffee shop or BYO picnic. DATE: Sunday 24 May TIME: 11.30am-2.30pm AT: Mercure Townsville Plantation Room COST: Festival Weekend Pass
Sylvia Kelso David Legge Jarryd Luke Hugh Lunn David Malouf Ian McIntosh David Metzenthen Glenda Millard Joanna Murray-Smith Judy Nunn Brendan O’Connor Ian See Inga Simpson Lindsay Simpson RA Spratt Liliana Stafford Ariella Van Luyn Bruce Venables Frances Watts Samuel Wagan Watson (See pages 11 to 15 for more information on each presenter)
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Friday 22 May Publishing: The Inside Story
Starting With The KISS Principle
WITH IAN SEE What happens behind the scenes at a publishing house? University of Queensland Press editor Ian See reveals how a manuscript turns into a book, what publishers and editors look for, and how writers can maximise their chances of publication. FRIDAY: 10am-12pm COST: Festival Weekend Pass
WITH BRUCE VENABLES Would you like your work to be read? Bruce will share his ideas about Keeping It Short and Simple. He will show how following some easy principles can have amazing results. Time for Bruce to KISS and tell! FRIDAY: 10am-12pm COST: $30/$27 concession
Writing A Successful Romance Novel WITH BARBARA HANNAY Readers know exactly what they expect from a romance novel and whether you write historical romance, contemporary or suspense, you must meet these expectations in order to succeed. Award winning romance author Barbara Hannay will outline the essential components of character, plot and conflict that are unique to the genre. FRIDAY: 1pm-3pm COST: $30/$27 concession
The Poetry Of Travel WITH LINDSAY SIMPSON Travel inspires the imagination and transports you to another world. This workshop provides tips on how to capture stories as well as engage readers in your work. Learn what editors are looking for, how to pitch your story, and the importance of fact finding and note taking on the run. Lindsay is the author of The Australian Geographic Guide to Tasmania and runner up in the 2013 the Nature Conservatory Australian Writing Prize for a travel memoir. FRIDAY: 2pm-5pm COST: $75/$70 concession
Writing Fantasy WITH SYLVIA KELSO Sylvia’s workshop will first establish what we mean by (modern) “fantasy”, distinguish different forms of current fantasy, and then cover aspects of writing fantasy, particularly worldbuilding and the use of language. All topics will include on-the-spot writing by the workshop participants. FRIDAY: 10am-1pm COST: $75/$70 concession
One Title One Townsville: Big Book Club WITH INGA SIMPSON The culmination of CityLibraries One Title One Townsville journey for 2015 will be the opportunity to meet the author of Nest, Inga Simpson. Inga’s second novel has been described as delightful, uplifting, evocative and optimistic. Listen to Inga talk about her writing and ask her about her latest work. FRIDAY: 6.30pm-8.30pm COST: Festival Weekend Pass
ABC Open: Digital Stories Performance and Writing WITH MICHAEL BROMAGE ABC Open writers perform their favourite stories to improvised music. Be entertained with the drama, intrigue, sadness and humour that human stories evoke and engage your imagination with true stories from our local writers. Then the fun continues with writing activities that help improve your storytelling, such as ‘Two Word Stories’ and ‘Writing To Music.’ So join in and get writing! COST: Festival Weekend Pass FRIDAY and SUNDAY: 3pm-5pm
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Thursday 21 May Mercure Townsville Ballroom 7pm-10pm Festival Opening and Dinner with Peter FitzSimons and Townsville Mayor Cr Jenny Hill
Friday 22 May 2015 - Register to participate at the Mercure Townsville Foyer from 9.15am Mercure Townsville Burdekin Room 9am-10am 10am
Boardroom 1 Mary Who? Bookshop Book Signings Starting With The Publishing 11am-4pm: The Inside Story KISS Principle Sales and signings Workshop with Workshop with 11am-12pm by local selfIan See Bruce Venables published authors Tinaroo Room 12pm-1pm: Lunch Break 12pm-12.30pm: 1pm Writing From Writing A Successful Poetry Readings by Townsville Bush Bruce Venables History (See below) Romance Novel Workshop with Poetry Mates Inc. 1pm-1.30pm: Lindsay Simpson Barbara Hannay See p15. 3pm-3.30pm: 2pm Hugh Lunn, 2.30pm Judy Nunn and Joan Beaumont Eacham Room 3pm ABC Open with 3.30pm CityLibraries World Michael Bromage: 3.30pm-4pm: Barbara Hannay War 1 Education Kit Digital Stories 4pm Information Session performed to improvised music (See below) 4.30pm-5pm plus writing activities 6.30pm-8.30pm One Title One Townsville: Meet Inga Simpson
Writing From History WITH HUGH LUNN, JOAN BEAUMONT AND JUDY NUNN Hugh Lunn’s writing is autobiographical, Joan Beaumont writes from the perspective of an academic historian and Judy Nunn uses historical events as the foundation of her novels. Join these authors as they discuss the challenges of their research and writing. FRIDAY: 1pm-2.30pm COST: Festival Weekend Pass
Eacham Room
Plantation Room
Boardroom 3 Writing Fantasy Workshop with Sylvia Kelso 1pm-2pm: Lunch Break The Poetry Of Travel with Lindsay Simpson
INFORMATION SESSIONS:
CityLibraries World War 1 Education Kit The World War 1 Education Kit was constructed to support teachers and students. The kit satisfies the requirements of the Australian History Curriculum and provides insight into aspects of World War 1 history pertinent to Townsville.
Townsville City Council Education Pack The TCC Education pack is the portal to council’s activities and programs for schools. FRIDAY: 3.30pm-5pm COST: Festival Weekend Pass Savannah: Writers’ Voices Up North
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Saturday 23 May In Conversation WITH HUGH LUNN Join an engaging conversation with Hugh Lunn on his fascinating life and work. Chaired by Michael Clarke ABC Radio. SATURDAY: 10am-12pm COST: Festival Weekend Pass
Poetry Masterclass Portraits In Poetry WITH SAMUEL WAGAN WATSON Samuel reveals his day to day techniques as a wordsmith either working on a manuscript, a radio play or a piece of public artwork and how the medium of words can transform your page into an engaging textual landscape. Whether you are an emerging writer or an avid scribbler come and see how you can get more out of your ideas. And please, you’ll be amongst kindred so feel free to bring some of your writing to share. SATURDAY: 10am-12pm COST: $75/$70 concession
Budding Writers WITH JUDY NUNN Judy originally comes from a theatre background where studying texts, the human condition and working with dialogue have trained her to be a writer. She believes as long as you are literate, you can write a book, and feels there is room for all forms of books out there and the more the better. Judy will share her wisdom and experiences and give some useful tips and information to help budding writers on their journey. SATURDAY: 10am-12pm COST: $30/$27 concession
Cultivating A Sense Of Place: Exploring Setting & Description WITH INGA SIMPSON Harness the senses to enhance your setting in fiction or non-fiction with Inga Simpson. Learn how to capture place on the page, and incorporate setting into plot and character to create evocative images and affecting detail. SATURDAY: 10am-12pm COST: $30/$27 concession
Shipwrecked At Riverway Savannah Youth Segment WITH JARRYD LUKE AND ARIELLA VAN LUYN Explore the stories of a haunted shipwreck at Riverway. Young writers are invited to tell the tales behind the wreck, from divers and sea creatures discovering the doomed vessel to survivors re-living the accident and the ghosts that haunt the ruins. Each story will be published at www.townsvillestories.com and can be read at Riverway. AGE GROUP: 10-15 years COST: $10 WHAT TO BRING: Tablet or computer to write your story (optional) AT: Riverway Arts Centre Foyer SATURDAY: 1pm-5pm
The Festival Dinner WITH JUDY NUNN, BRUCE VENABLES AND DAVID MALOUF Come and enjoy a fabulous 3 course dinner with our inspiring presenters. COST: $90/$85 concession DRESS: Smart casual AT: The Brewery Banquet Centre SATURDAY: 7pm BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL: www.townsville.qld.gov.au
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Saturday 23 May - Register to participate at the Mercure Townsville Foyer from 9.15am Mercure Townsville Burdekin Room 9am 10am
11am-12pm
Eacham Room
In Conversation Budding Writers with Hugh Lunn. Workshop with Chaired by Michael Judy Nunn Clarke ABC Radio.
Tinaroo Room
Boardroom 1 Boardroom 3 Mary Who? Bookshop Poetry Masterclass Book Signings - Portraits In Cultivating A Sense 9am-12pm: Poetry with Of Place Workshop Sales and signings Samuel Wagan with Inga Simpson by local authors Watson 9am-9.30am: Inga Simpson and Samuel Wagan Watson 9.30am-10am: Hugh Lunn and Judy Nunn
12pm-1pm: Lunch Break 2pm
Saturday 23 May - Other Venues 10am-11am 1pm-5pm 4pm-5.30pm 7pm
Best Start Storytime with Ian McIntosh. Games, songs, rhymes and craft. See below. Shipwrecked At Riverway - Savannah Youth Segment with Jarryd Luke and Ariella Van Luyn. Colin Roderick Lecture: The Autobiographical Imagination by Joanna Murray-Smith.
CityLibraries Aitkenvale 4 Petunia Street, Aitkenvale. Riverway Arts Centre Foyer 20 Village Blvd, Thuringowa. JCU Medical Lecture Theatre Building 45, James Cook Drv, TSV.
The Festival Dinner with Judy Nunn, Bruce Venables and David Malouf.
The Brewery Banquet Centre Cnr Flinders and Denham Sts, CBD.
Colin Roderick Lecture
Best Start Storytime
WITH IAN MCINTOSH WATCH OUT FOR THE BICKIE MONSTER! Join the author of this beautiful picture book for a fun session of stories, games, songs, rhymes and craft and morning tea. AGE: 0-5 years and their caregivers SATURDAY: 10am-11am AT: CityLibraries Aitkenvale, 4 Petunia Street, Aitkenvale. COST: Free BOOKINGS: Not required
WITH JOANNA MURRAY-SMITH The Autobiographical Imagination: How whimsy, flights of fancy, and fantasy are ignited by life. When is fiction fictional? Can we ever say “I made it up”? Writers are beholden to their childhoods and the further they think they distance themselves, the more rigorously the past carves its way into the writing life. Presented by the Foundation for Australian Literary Studies (FALS).
BOOKINGS: townsville.qld.gov.au AT: JCU Medical Lecture Theatre SATURDAY: 4pm-5.30pm COST: Free Savannah: Writers’ Voices Up North
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Sunday 24 May The 12 Most Important Things To Be A Good Writer WITH JOANNA MURRAY-SMITH This conversation with playwright Joanna MurraySmith includes writing exercises - about the most useful things she’s learnt during her writing life. SUNDAY: 9.30am-11.30am COST: $30/$27 concession
Dip Into Your Life: Writing Memoir WITH LINDSAY SIMPSON By completing writing exercises to tap into your past, you learn how to connect with your inner voice. Skills from the literary toolbox include helping you to craft your writing in an engaging and readable way. The exercises allow you to practice these skills by writing in class which also tackles writer’s block. SUNDAY: 12pm-2pm COST: $30/$27 concession
In Conversation JUDY NUNN, BRUCE VENABLES TERRI BRABON AND BRENDAN O’CONNOR A light-hearted look at the lives of two creative couples. The conversation will focus on how couples who both have creative or artistic careers, manage their busy schedules, their work spaces and juggle home and family life. SUNDAY: 10am-12pm COST: Festival Weekend Pass
The Other War: Battles On The Australian Home Front - History Lecture WITH JOAN BEAUMONT For Australians there was much more to WW1 than battles, fighting and the ANZACs. The war bitterly divided Australian society and politics along fault lines that would last a generation - including loyalists and the labour movement. SUNDAY: 1pm-3pm COST: Festival Weekend Pass
Plain Wrap To Deluxe Youth Workshop WITH GLENDA MILLARD An inspired workshop on where to find good ideas for stories, and how to bring them alive. Glenda will work with young people on finding inspiration and developing techniques to enhance their writing. AGE: 10+ BRING: Pencils and notebook SUNDAY: 10am-1pm COST: $10 AT: CityLibraries Thuringowa
Writing About Real People WITH HUGH LUNN Many writers stop at the first hurdle because they don’t know what you can and can’t write about real people – and thus how to go about writing their own real life story. Hugh has written many books about real people and a thousand newspaper feature articles and columns in his 56 years. SUNDAY: 10am-12pm COST: $30/$27 concession
Illustration Workshop The Amplified Author - QLD WRITERS CENTRE What are the skills and knowledge writers need to navigate the complicated world of digital publishing? if:book Australia explores new digital literature and investigates the changing connections between writers and readers. if:book Australia has published tens of thousands of words, delivered workshops from Perth to Canberra, created real-world story adventures, and taken a complete book from concept to print in twenty-four hours. SUNDAY: 1pm-2.45pm COST: Festival Weekend Pass
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WITH LILIANA STAFFORD Liliana talks about the process of writing and illustrating books for children. Participants will focus on her illustrations for The Stone Elephant and use crystalline tissue paper and encaustic wax to make their own paper and create a double page spread for a picture book. SUNDAY: 2.30pm-4.30pm COST: $30/$27 concession
Sunday 24 May - Register to participate at the Mercure Townsville Foyer from 9.15am Mercure Townsville Burdekin Room Eacham Room 9.30am 10am In Conversation: A light-hearted look at two creative couples: Judy Nunn and Bruce 11am Venables, and 11.30am Terri Brabon and Brendan O’Connor 12pm-1pm: Lunch Break 1pm The Other War: Battles On The Australian Home Front - History Lecture with Joan 2pm Beaumont 2.30pm 3pm 3.30pm 4.30pm-5pm
Tinaroo Room
Boardroom 1 Boardroom 3 Mary Who? Bookshop The 12 Most Important Things Writing About Real Book Signings To Be A Good People Workshop 9.30-4pm: Sales and signings Writer Workshop with Hugh Lunn by local authors with Joanna 9.30am-10am: Murray-Smith Hugh Lunn 11.30am-12pm: Lindsay Simpson 12pm-12.30pm: Plantation Room Judy Nunn and Dip Into Your Literary Lunch By Bruce Venables Life: Writing The Amplified 1.30pm-2pm: The Lake Memoir Workshop Author Seminar: Liliana Stafford with Lindsay Navigating eBooks 11.30am-2.30pm 2pm-2.30pm: Picnic lunch and Simpson Barbara Hannay readings. See p3. 3pm-3.30pm: Illustration Joan Beaumont Workshop with ABC Open with Afternoon Tea With A Classic: Michael Bromage: Liliana Stafford Rebecca by Daphne Digital Stories du Maurier. performed to Special guest improvised music Barbara Hannay. plus writing $25/$20 concession activities. See p4.
Sunday 24 May - Other Venues 10am-1pm
Plain Wrap To Deluxe Storywriting Youth Workshop with Glenda Millard.
CityLibraries Thuringowa 86 Thuringowa Drive, Thuringowa.
Afternoon Tea With A Classic
WITH BARBARA HANNAY Join special guest Barbara Hannay as we discuss Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier over afternoon tea. SUNDAY: 3pm-5pm COST: $25/$20 concession
Space is our specialty • 162 modern rooms • Unique indoor and outdoor venues for conferences and events • Rated ‘Top 3’ in Australia for wedding venues • Free-form pool, tennis courts • Modern dining in the Celsius Restaurant & Bar
T: 4759 4900 166 Woolcock St, Townsville. E: stay@mercuretownsville.com.au W: mercuretownsville.com.au
Monday 25 to Friday 29 May
Children, Youth and Schools Program Authors In Schools Our presenters David Legge, David Metzenthen, Glenda Millard, Liliana Stafford and Frances Watts are available to inspire your students about reading, writing and illustrating. MONDAY- FRIDAY: Various times BOOKINGS REQUIRED: See below
Authors On The Strand Join us for an afternoon of words and pictures, fun, drama and mess. Meet our guest authors and illustrators and get their autographs. TUESDAY: 3.30pm-5.30pm AT: The Strand, Townsville, near the Water Park. COST: Free
National Simultaneous Storytime: The Brother's Quibble
Best Start Storytime at Early Childhood Centres Early Childhood Centres can book free Best Start Storytime sessions with Tania Cox, Ian McIntosh and Frances Watts. MONDAY- FRIDAY: Various times BOOKINGS REQUIRED: See below
Best Start Storytime and Messy Play In The Park: With Nan WEDNESDAY: 10am-11am AT: Cambridge Park, Vincent. BOOKINGS: Not required.
Best Start Storytime: Kisses For Daddy FRIDAY: 10am-11am AT: CityLibraries Aitkenvale BOOKINGS: Not required.
WEDNESDAY: 10am-11am AT: CityLibraries Thuringowa COST: Free
Professional Learning For Teachers Liliana Stafford, Frances Watts and David Legge will talk about the narrative requirements of picture books, collaborative and techniques to improve students’ writing. WEDNESDAY: 4.30pm-7pm AT: CityLibraries Aitkenvale BOOKINGS REQUIRED: $30/$27
Author Talk
WITH LILIANA STAFFORD Author Talks For Kids: Liliana Stafford creates a fun way to learn about writing, illustrating and stories.
THURSDAY:
Virtual Talk
WITH RA SPRATT WEDNESDAY: 4pm-5pm AT: CityLibraries Thuringowa BOOKINGS REQUIRED: See below.
11am-12pm: Preps to Year 3 1.30-2.30pm: Year 4 to Year 7 COST: $7 per child.
AT: CityLibraries Aitkenvale BOOKINGS REQUIRED: See below.
BOOK NOW: Visit www.townsville.gov.qld.au for more information or call Children Youth Services on 4773 8818 or email yps@townsville.qld.gov.au
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Meet T he Presenters Joan Beaumont Professor Joan Beaumont is an internationally recognised historian of Australia in the World Wars, Australian Defence and foreign policy, and the history of prisoners of war. She is a graduate of the University of Adelaide and the University of London (PhD), a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences of Australia, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs. Joan’s critically acclaimed Broken Nation: Australians and the Great War won the 2014 NSW Premier’s Prize. Joan has also written a number of other publications.
Terri Brabon Born and bred in Ayr, North Queensland, Terri began her love of Shakespeare through her work with the late Jean-Pierre Voos performing in Shakespeare Under the Stars. She has directed each production since her mentor’s passing early in 2008 and proudly keeps the tradition alive in his honour. She has worked for many theatre company’s across Australia. Terri’s TV and film credits include Underbelly, Neighbours, John Doe and The Cypriot as well as national advertising campaigns for Carlton, McDonalds and Kraft.
Michael Bromage Michael helps people develop the skills and confidence to become great writers, filmmakers and photographers. He is the ABC Open producer for North Queensland, which is based in Townsville. Michael has written jingles, composed music for advertising, and worked in post-production for films and documentaries for National Geographic and the Discovery Channel. Michael specialises in story development, video production, directing and coordinating teams for multimedia production, music composition, events management, writing and photography.
Tania Cox Tania was born in Ayr and is now one of Australia’s best loved picture book authors with Snap Went Chester and With Nan nominated for Children’s Book of the Year Awards. Tania’s other titles include Baby, The Scary Bear, What Makes My Mum Happy, Millies Special Something and a short story in Stories For 6 Year Old Girls.
Peter FitzSimons Peter FitzSimons is a columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald and Sun-Herald. He has played rugby for Australia, co-hosted radio shows, interviewed famous people from George Bush to Diego Maradona and written 25 best-selling books in genres of Biography and Memoir, and History and Sports. Peter is Australia’s biggest-selling non-fiction author of the last ten years. Peter is the author of over 20 books including Tobruk, Kokoda and Gallipoli and biographies of Ned Kelly and Nancy Wake.
Barbara Hannay Barbara Hannay is an Australian multi-award winning author of contemporary romance novels. Most of her 40+ books are set in rural and outback Australia. In her own version of life imitating art, Barbara and her husband currently live on a misty hillside in beautiful Far North Queensland where they keep heritage pigs, hens, ducks, turkeys and an untidy but productive garden. Author of Home Before Sundown. Her novel Zoe's Muster was short-listed for the Romance Writers Of America’s RITA® Award. Moonlight Plains was published in August 2014. Savannah: Writers’ Voices Up North
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Meet T he Presenters Sylvia Kelso Sylvia Kelso lives in North Queensland. She mostly writes fantasy and science fiction set in analogue or alternate Australian settings, and likes to tinker with moral swordsand-sorcery, and elements of mythology. Sylvia has published 8 novels including Amberlight and The Moving Water and both were finalists for Best Fantasy Novel in the Australian Aurealis Awards. Her short stories have appeared in Anthologies DAW and 12th Planet Press.
David Legge David has been a professional illustrator since 1986. After emigrating to Australia from England in 1989, David developed a love of children’s picture books. David strives to instill warmth and humour into his picture books. His first book Bamboozled won the Honour Book in the 1995 Children’s Book Council of Australia Book Of The Year. He has collaborated on other award winning titles including Baby Boomsticks, written by Margaret Wild, Kisses for Daddy and Parsley Rabbit's Book About Books, both written by Frances Watts. He is a regular illustrator for The School Magazine.
Jarryd Luke Jarryd Luke is a Townsville resident. He has a PhD in creative writing from the Queensland University of Technology and is currently Director of the Townsville Writers and Publishers Centre. In 2011 Jarryd was shortlisted in the QUT Postgraduate Writing Prize and the State Library of Queensland Young Writers Award. His manuscript Corkscrew Section was shortlisted in the Emerging Author category of the 2013 Queensland Literary Awards. He’s been published in The Lifted Brow, M/C Journal, LiNQ and Rex.
Hugh Lunn Hugh Lunn is an Australian journalist and author. He served his journalism cadetship with The Courier-Mail and in 1964, aged 23, talked his way into “Red China” before the Cultural Revolution - a story he tells in Spies Like Us. During the 1970s Hugh won three Walkley Awards for feature writing. In 2009 Hugh was named a Queensland Icon for the State’s 150th Anniversary. Hugh has written over 15 books. The best known of these is his memoir Over The Top With Jim which became the biggest-selling Australian childhood memoir ever published.
David Malouf David Malouf was born in 1934 in Brisbane, and educated at Brisbane Grammar School and the University of Queensland. He lived abroad in Europe from 1959-68 and on his return to Australia, lectured English Literature at the University of Sydney from 1968 until 1977 when he then became a full-time writer. David’s books include The Great World (Winner of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize), and Remembering Babylon (Winner of the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award). His most recent books are A First Place and The Writing Life.
Ian McIntosh Ian McIntosh grew up amidst the dancing brolgas on grassy plains and giant crocodiles in meandering, muddy brown rivers in the remote outback town of Normanton, in Queensland’s Gulf Of Carpentaria. Ian is a former rodeo clown, and is currently a balloon artist who regularly entertains children at birthday parties and events with his amazing balloon creations. His first children’s story Watch Out For The Bickie Monster, was self published in November 2014.
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David Metzenthen David Metzenthen now lives with his wife and two children in Melbourne and is one of Australia’s top writers for young people. David has received many awards for excellence, including 2003 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Wildlight, both the Queensland and NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Boys of Blood and Bone. Jarvis 24 won the CBCA Award for Book Of The Year, as well as being shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award.
Glenda Millard Glenda Millard is a writer of children’s literature and young adult and teenage fiction. Glenda has published 23 books and is currently an ambassador for the Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge. Many of Glenda’s books have been nominated in a number of literary awards including Queen Of Hearts which won the 2007 Queensland Premier’s Literacy Awards - Children’s Book Award.
Joanna Murray-Smith Joanna Murray-Smith is a Melbourne based Australian playwright, screenwriter, novelist, librettist and newspaper columnist. Her plays, which include Rapture, Bombshells, Nightfall and Redemption have been produced around the world. Honour and Rapture won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Best Play. Joanna’s novels are Sunnyside, Truce and Judgement Rock.
Judy Nunn Judy Nunn’s career has been long, illustrious and multifaceted. After combining her internationally successful acting career with scriptwriting for television and radio, Judy decided to turn her hand to prose and has since developed a love of writing Australian historically-based fiction. Judy’s bestsellers include Territory, Pacific, Heritage, Maralinga and Elianne.
Brendan O’Connor Brendan was a founding member of Jean-Pierre’s Voos’ Tropic Line Theatre. Moving to Melbourne to further his career, Brendan has been a leading actor of Glenn Elston’s Australian Shakespeare Company in Melbourne for the past 15 years. Brendan helped to devise The Bridge Project training programme and is a principal mentor. He has achieved success in film and TV including Ned Kelly, The Extra, Neighbours, Blue Heelers and City Homicide as well as appeared in national advertising campaigns. Brendan, with his partner Terri Brabon, created TheatreiNQ.
Ian See Ian See is an editor at University of Queensland Press, where he works on adult fiction and non-fiction list. Before joining UQP in 2014 he was editor of Scribe Publications in Melbourne. He studied professional writing and editing at RMIT and undertook internships at Sleepers Publishing, Meanjin and Overland.
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Meet T he Presenters Inga Simpson Inga Simpson began her career as a professional writer for the government before gaining a PhD in creative writing. In 2011, she took part in the Queensland Writer’s Centre Manuscript Development Program and as a result Hachette published her first novel, the acclaimed Mr Wigg. She is currently researching Australian nature writing for a PhD in English Literature. Inga’s novel Mr Wigg was shortlisted for the 2014 Indie Awards. Her new novel Nest became available in July 2014.
Lindsay Simpson Lindsay was an investigative journalist at The Sydney Morning Herald and the first female Chief Police reporter. Lindsay has taught life writing and she founded two postgraduate writing programs at the University of Tasmania and James Cook University. Lindsay Simpson is author and co-author of eight books. Brothers in Arms, co-authored with Sandra Harvey, was made into a successful six part mini-series called Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms. Other books include Honeymoon Dive with Jennifer Cooke, and Where is Daniel?, written with Bruce and Denise Morcombe in August 2014.
R.A. Spratt R.A. Spratt is an award winning author and television writer. Her latest book is Friday Barnes: Under Suspicion. This is the second installment in the Friday Barnes: Girl Detective series. R.A. is also known for her biographical account of the world’s most glamorous flying pig, Nanny Piggins.
Liliana Stafford Liliana Stafford is an award-winning author, illustrator and artist. To Liliana, writing is like breathing and it is present in everything she does. Chiko: Book One - Through the Starting Flags and Shah both won the Hoffman Award in the WAYRBA. The Stone Elephant is the first title in which she both wrote and illustrated.
Ariella Van Luyn Dr Ariella Van Luyn is an English lecturer at James Cook University. She completed her practice-led PhD in Creative Writing in 2012 which investigates the dialogue between fiction writing and oral history practice in Australia. Her novel Hidden Objects, was shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards 2012, in the Unpublished Manuscript Category. Ariella has also been published in OHAA Journal, Ejournalist and Text, and her creative writing is published in M/C Journal, Rex, The Lifted Brow and Voiceworks. She is chair of the editorial board of the Oral History Association of Australia Journal and co-edits LiNQ.
Bruce Venables In 1976 Bruce Venables joined the Royal Hong Kong police as an inspector, and was a launch commander and in the Tactical Unit as a platoon commander. In 1984 he took up residence in Sydney and began his career as a writer of film and television scripts. He is also well known to Australian audiences as an actor. Author of A Necessary Evil, The Time of the Dragon and a collection of poetry, The Spirit of the Bush, Bruce’s latest novel Scattered Monkeys was published in 2014.
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Frances Watts After studying literature at university, Frances spent ten years working with some of Australia’s most talented children’s authors and illustrators as an editor, before publishing her first book, Kisses for Daddy, which is beautifully illustrated by David Legge. Her picture books include Parsley Rabbit's Book about Books, Captain Crabclaw's Crew and Goodnight Mice. She has won a number of prestigious awards including the Prime Minister’s Literary Award For Children’s Fiction and the Children’s Book Council Eve Pownall Award. She is currently working on books for junior and young adult readers.
Samuel Wagan Watson Samuel Wagan Watson is an award-winning Indigenous poet and professional raconteur. Born in Brisbane in 1972, he is of Munanjali, Birri Gubba, German and Irish descent. Watson writes about his observations of the everyday world and about Aboriginal culture. His writing style is direct and unstructured, rarely using capital letters. Samuel also mentors young people and presents workshops in schools. Samuel’s first collection of poems Smoke Encrypted Whispers won the 2005 NSW Premier’s Award for Book Of The Year and the Kenneth Slessor Poetry Prize.
Townsville Bush Poetry Mates Inc. are a performing, reading and writing Australian Bush Poetry group
with the main aim of having fun. Two of their members have appeared in The Long Yard, reciting poetry as part of the Tamworth Poetry Festival, which is conducted every year as part of the Tamworth Country Musical Festival.
The Townsville Writers and Publishers Centre is a not for profit organisation that exists to promote a North Queensland culture of writing. The Centre hosts activities and collaborates with other groups to bring a bumper calendar of events and shared resources in our region and connect their members to writing and publishing opportunities.
>> Please note:
T his program was correct at the time of printing. Any updates or changes will be available at www.townsville.qld.gov.au or at reception on the day.
>> Special thanks to: The Foundation for Australian Literary Studies, our presenters, supporters and volunteers. This event is proudly sponsored by:
Savannah: Writers’ Voices Up North
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Locations 1 Mercure Townsville 2 CityLibraries Flinders Street
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Southern Port Rd
Railway Ave
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Bruce Hwy H Townsville Hospital
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Flinders Street Thuringowa Central Aitkenvale
Phone: 4727 9666 Phone: 4773 8811 Phone: 4727 8310
>> Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8.30am to 5pm
>> Contact Us:
Phone: Email: Web:
1300 878 001 enquiries@townsville.qld.gov.au townsville.qld.gov.au
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>> CityLibraries:
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166 Woolcock Street, Townsville. Level 1 Northtown, 280 Flinders Street, Townsville. CityLibraries Thuringowa Central 86 Thuringowa Drive, Thuringowa. CityLibraries Aitkenvale 4 Petunia Street, Aitkenvale. Cambridge Park Cambridge Street, Vincent. Riverway Arts Centre 20 Village Boulevard, Thuringowa. Colin Roderick Lecture James Cook University - Medical Lecture Theatre Building 45, James Cook Drive, Douglas. The Brewery Banquet Centre Corner of Flinders and Denham Streets, Townsville CBD. The Strand Water Park Between Oxley and Fryer Streets, Townsville Foreshore.