Kyogle Writers Festival

QUICK Q&A WITH Mirandi Riwoe

Mirandi Riwoe is a Brisbane-based writer with connections to the Northern Rivers, and is proud to act as the 2022 Kyogle Writers Festival Ambassador.

Her book Stone Sky Gold Mountain won the inaugural ARA Historical Novel Prize and the Queensland Literary Award, was shortlisted for the Stella Prize and longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award. Her novella The Fish Girl won Seizure’s Viva la Novella and was shortlisted for the Stella Prize. Kyogle Culture caught up with her briefly, ahead of this years Festival.

You are this year’s Kyogle Writers Festival Ambassador — how did you come to be involved with the Festival? In 2021, I was invited to the Kyogle Writers Festival in its inaugural year. It was a lovely, intimate festival which meant there was room and time to really meet other authors and readers. I am so grateful to be invited back this year, especially as the festival ambassador. Last year they provided a really interesting, impressive line-up of authors and this year is no different. This year’s theme is ‘Close to Home?’... what comes to mind for you when you think about ‘home’? Home for me will always be about having a sense of belonging, be it within a family or friendship group, or a neighbourhood or even a country. I am often interested in writing about migrants and the difficulties associated with identifying ‘home’ or ‘belonging’ when in a new country. Perhaps this is because my father came from Indonesia in the 1960s and I am Eurasian myself, but also, one day I’d like to write about my mother’s family and their strong sense of connection to Ireland despite living here in Australia for generations. What role do you think writers’ festivals take in inspiring readers and writers in a world of fast media? Writers’ festivals offer a fantastic opportunity to become immersed in books and are a great point of contact between readers and writers. Panels and conversations about books and authors can hopefully engage readers to pick up books that might appeal to them, in which they can become immersed. But, of course, there will still be time for social media in between – to tweet about how fabulous a panel is or to share a favourite read on Instagram.

“Writers’ festivals offer a fantastic opportunity to

become immersed in books and are a great point

of contact between readers andwriters.”

What are you most looking forward to about the Kyogle Writers Festival 2022? Meeting other readers and writers is one of my favourite things about being a writer, and this year’s festival has a really exciting line-up of authors. There are too many brilliant writers attending the festival this year to list, but I am positive the panel conversations will be incredibly inspiring and thought-provoking. I cannot wait! Also, this year I am one of the judges for the Writer in Residence Program, which will support up to two First Nations writers in the development of their craft. I am really excited to read all the submissions. Can you tell us a little bit about what you are currently working on, or what the rest of 2022 holds for you creatively? At the moment, I am working on a novel set in Java just before the Japanese invade during WWII. I hope to get to Indonesia sometime this year – the pandemic really slowed down my research and writing. But my collection of stories, The Burnished Sun, will be released in April. The collection includes a novella about Annah the Javanese, one of Gauguin’s models, and other short fiction set here and overseas. Catch Mirandi at the Festival on Friday 13th of May, in her ambassador role at the Roxy Gallery from 3pm with Mandy Beaumont, and on Saturday 14th (11am) as part of the New Fiction panel. Follow Mirandi’s adventures in writing on Twitter @m_riwoe

13-15 May 2022

Festival Highlights

MARK OLIVE The Bundjalung chef and TV host in conversation with Adele Wessell discussing The Outback Cafe, Indigenous foods, cooking and culture.

JEAN HINCHCLIFFE The young climate justice activist will be participating in the high school program, as well as appearing to discuss her book, Lead the Way: How to Change the World from a Teen Activist and Student Striker.

WRITING NATURE A panel discussion including Harry Saddler, Inge Simpson and Melissa Lucashenko, exploring the ways in which the Australian landscape is imagined, represented and understood through writing.

DELIA FALCONER Delia will talk about her latest book, Signs and Wonders with Nancy Cushing.

FIND OUT MORE www.kyoglewritersfestival.com kyoglewritersfest