Newcastle Writers Festival
In 2025, Newcastle Writers Festival will bring together 140 writers from across Australia for the festival program, which will be held from 4 to 6 April. The program will be launched on 14 February and tickets go on sale the same day. The festival champions a culture of writing and reading. To keep updated about upcoming events, please subscribe to our newsletter by scrolling to the bottom our website https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/
Environmental Nonfiction Short Course
Saturday 3 May 2025
Newcastle Writers Festival and The University of Newcastle’s School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences are collaborating to offer a month-long intensive creative writing short course.
The course is designed for writers eager to explore narrative nonfiction as a means of engaging with the environment, balancing artistry with advocacy and invites aspiring authors to reflect on their interactions with the natural world through a personal lens, while navigating the complex intersections of subjective experience and objective realities such as climate change, capitalism, and colonisation. It includes in-person workshops and weekly online conversations with authors.
The course will be led by Keri Glastonbury (Newcastle Sonnets) and includes special guests Joanna Atherfold Finn (Plastic Free: The inspiring story of a global movement and why it matters), James Bradley (Deep Water: The World in the Ocean), and Lauren Fuge (Voyagers: Our journey into the anthropocene).
University of Newcastle NUspace
An evening with Colum McCann
Thursday 8 May 2025
Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with award-winning Irish writer Colum McCann, author of American Mother and Apeirogon, and the new novel Twist – a darkly epic novel about connection, disconnection and destruction. Festival director Rosemarie Milsom will host the event.
Colum McCann was born and raised in Dublin. He has been the recipient of many international awards and his work has been published in more than 40 languages. He is the author of novels Let the Great World Spin and Apeirogon, which became a New York Times best-seller and won several major international awards. His first major non-fiction book, American Mother, was published in 2024 and centres on Diane Foley, the mother of photojournalist James Foley who was murdered by ISIS.
McCann’s new book Twist is as taut and propulsive as a thriller, and a timeless exploration of narrative and truth. It is simply the work of a master storyteller at the height of his powers.
Newcastle Library
20 Years of Crime: Michael Robotham in Conversation
Sunday 6 April 2025
It’s been 20 years since Michael Robotham published his first novel The Suspect and he has emerged from his ‘cabana of cruelty’, aka his home office, with new bestseller Storm Child, the latest in his Cyrus Haven series. Join this festival favourite in conversation with Anna Downes as he spills the secrets to his success.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
Dangerous Desires
Sunday 6 April 2025
Drawing on Greek mythology, medieval monastic history, and fairy tale lore, Kate Forsyth, Emily Maguire, and CA Wright explore the duality and dangers of womanhood in their recent novels. In conversation with Katharine Pollock, they discuss myth, magic, and romance.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle
Things We Don't Speak About: Motherhood and Mental Health
Sunday 6 April 2025
In this returning series of conversations, we invite authors to share how they interrogate tough topics in their writing lives. Ariane Beeston and Oceane Campbell discuss the secrets and stigma around maternal mental health, perfectionism, and society's expectations. Hosted by Katharine Gillett.
NUspace X207, The University of Newcastle
Philosopher's Cafe
Sunday 6 April 2025
Join Newcastle philosopher Russell Blackford for a deep dive into the values, principles, and assumptions behind some of the big news stories of the day. Led by questions from the audience, the group will explore the issues together, with Russell providing input from philosophers past and present. Come along with an open mind and willingness to listen.
Momo Wholefood
About a Boy: Helen Garner in Conversation
Sunday 6 April 2025
Helen Garner returns with her signature candour and wit in an exuberant new book The Season, an account from the sidelines of her youngest grandson’s under– 16s footy team’s passage from boyhood to manhood. Helen speaks to festival director Rosemarie Milsom about the vulnerability of boys and the experience of loving them and letting them go.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
About a Boy: Helen Garner in Conversation Livestream
Sunday 6 April 2025
Helen Garner returns with her signature candour and wit in an exuberant new book The Season, an account from the sidelines of her youngest grandson’s under– 16s footy team’s passage from boyhood to manhood. Helen speaks to festival director Rosemarie Milsom about the vulnerability of boys and the experience of loving them and letting them go.
This event will be live streamed. Details for the Zoom event will be emailed to you after 8.00am AEST on the day of the event. If you have not received this information prior to the event please check your spam folder.
Out of the Shadows: In Praise of Ghostwriters
Sunday 6 April 2025
They’ve been up close and personal with the famous and infamous, and written beloved, bestselling, even award-winning books, but there’s a catch: their name isn’t on the cover, or is in fine print. Summer Land, Ben Mckelvey, and Liam Pieper emerge from the background to share their experiences of ghostwriting in this conversation led by Elfy Scott.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
Setting the Record Straight: Mark Dapin in Conversation
Sunday 6 April 2025
With a doctorate in military history and several true crime books under his belt, historian and journalist Mark Dapin turns his attention to Australian war myths. From Simpson’s donkey and the Emu War to Vietnam and Ben Roberts-Smith, Australian military history is full of events that didn’t happen the way most people think they did. Which begs the question, are we overlooking the real heroes and celebrating the wrong people? Join Mark in conversation with Kate Evans as he sorts fact from fiction.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle
Christabel Blackman in Conversation
Sunday 6 April 2025
Join author, artist and fine art conservator, Christabel Blackman, in conversation with Newcastle Art Gallery Head of Curatorial and Exhibitions, Miriam Kelly, as they explore a fabulous portal of art and love between Charles and Barbara Blackman. This special event will feature a discussion about Christabel’s highly acclaimed book Charles & Barbara Blackman: A Decade of Art and Love. Discover the themes and significance of the Charles Blackman works of art within the Gallery's collection and the author's experience growing up as the child of two prominent figures in Australian art and culture. Supported by Newcastle Art Gallery.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
Complicated Characters
Sunday 6 April 2025
Lisa Kenway, Nicola Moriarty and Hayley Scrivenor have crafted complicated characters who are multi-faceted, morally ambiguous, and not altogether likeable. They’ll discuss the ways in which nuanced characters blur the line between good and bad, provoke empathy, and mirror the contradictions of real life. Hosted by Abby Millerd.
NUspace X301, The University of Newcastle
Family Sagas
Sunday 6 April 2025
Lech Blaine and Khin Myint grew up on opposite sides of Australia in very different families, but they have written compelling memoirs brimming with understated humour, honesty, and sharp-eyed observations. Join them for a conversation about fractured families, identity, and healing childhood trauma. Hosted by Drew Ambrose.
NUspace X207, The University of Newcastle
Rapture: Emily Maguire in Conversation
Sunday 6 April 2025
In her daring 10th book and first historical fiction, award-winning writer Emily Maguire introduces readers to the wild and brilliant Agnes, who avoids the expectations of marriage and motherhood by disguising herself as a boy and joining a 9th-century monastery. So begins her life as John the Englishman: a revered scholar with a matchless connection to God. Join Emily in conversation with Amy Lovat about gender, faith, and feminism across centuries.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle
Your Time Starts Now: Julie Goodwin in Conversation
Sunday 6 April 2025
We were first charmed by Julie Goodwin when she served up simple, authentic dishes during the debut season of Masterchef – and took home the main prize. It was the beginning of a dizzying number of opportunities that included hosting an award-winning breakfast show and writing best-selling cookbooks. What we didn’t see was the mounting pressure of success. Julie will speak about her extraordinary experiences and how they have shaped who she is today. Hosted by Naima Brown.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
Your Time Starts Now: Julie Goodwin Livestream
Sunday 6 April 2025
We were first charmed by Julie Goodwin when she served up simple, authentic dishes during the debut season of Masterchef – and took home the main prize. It was the beginning of a dizzying number of opportunities that included hosting an award-winning breakfast show and writing best-selling cookbooks. What we didn’t see was the mounting pressure of success. Julie will speak about her extraordinary experiences and how they have shaped who she is today. Hosted by Naima Brown.
This event will be live streamed. Details for the Zoom event will be emailed to you after 8.00am AEST on the day of the event. If you have not received this information prior to the event please check your spam folder.
Pushing the Boundaries: John Safran in Conversation
Sunday 6 April 2025
Writer and filmmaker John Safran is best known for his bold, satirical approach to exploring complex social and cultural issues such as religion, race, and corruption. Mixing humour with investigative journalism, John’s new book Squat is a stranger-than-fiction account of squatting in Kanye West’s abandoned Californian mansion. With the widely condemned celebrity’s promotion of Hitler as a kick-off point, Safran explores threads of Jewishness, identity and belonging. Hosted by Marieke Hardy.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
The Power of Place
Sunday 6 April 2025
From the familiar to the alienating, the setting of a novel is more than just a location—it’s a character, a mood, and a driving force in storytelling. From the wintry depths of Canada, to the gothic architecture of Edinburgh, the backstreets of Fitzroy and war-torn Colombo, Ashley Kalagian Blunt, Shankari Chandran and Jock Serong explore the interplay between memory, imagination, and geography. Hosted by Nick Wasiliev.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle
Writing to the Edge of Reality
Sunday 6 April 2025
In Chris Flynn’s Orpheus Nine, a mysterious global event causes the simultaneous death of every nine-year-old. Everyone prays it is a dream. In Inga Simpson’s The Thinning two teens race against time; the Great Barrier Reef is gone, the last koala has died. The authors join Michael Sala in conversation about their apocalyptic thrillers set in a ravaged Australian landscape.
NUspace X207, The University of Newcastle
Culture and the Creative Spirit
Sunday 6 April 2025
In Nardi Simpson’s The Belburd, the author and musician reimagines the history of Sydney in a story that spans a contemporary setting and the 18th century, inspired by stories of Barangaroo and Bennelong. Dirrayawadha by Anita Heiss similarly resurrects a crucial time in Australian history in a story that follows Aboriginal warrior and resistance leader Windradyne during the frontier wars of the 1820s. Nardi and Anita speak with Kate Mildenhall about blending history with imagination and drawing on culture in their work.
NUspace X207, The University of Newcastle
The Correspondent: Peter Greste in Conversation
Sunday 6 April 2025
Based on extensive interviews, research and first-hand experience, Peter Greste’s The Correspondent provides a firsthand insight into the challenges facing Western media in the face of terrorism – from Trump’s phony war on ‘fake news’ and the repression of Putin’s Russia, to the war zones in Ukraine and Gaza. Peter speaks to Ben Mckelvey about the ongoing importance of investigative journalism to shine a light amid the darkness of war, and the upcoming film The Correspondent starring Richard Roxburgh, in cinemas 17 April 2025.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
The Limits of Language: Poetry as Protest
Sunday 6 April 2025
“History, despite its wrenching pain / Cannot be unlived, but if faced / With courage, need not be lived again.” — Maya Angelou
Poetry has long served as a powerful form of protest, but where do we turn when words aren’t enough? Jeanine Leane and Omar Sakr speak with Miles Merrill about speaking out, bearing witness, and the transcendent yet limiting potential of language.
Watt Space Gallery
Things We Don't Speak About: The Body as Taboo
Sunday 6 April 2025
In this returning series of conversations, we invite authors to share how they interrogate tough topics in their writing lives. Dylin Hardcastle and Kris Kneen discuss the body as the last great taboo in our society. Hosted by Amy Sambrooke.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle
Unsettled: Kate Grenville in Conversation
Sunday 6 April 2025
Kate Grenville starts each book with a question. The latest one she asked is, ‘What does it mean to be on land taken from other people?’ The result is Unsettled – a book that grapples with what it means to descend from people who were, as she puts it, ‘on the sharp edge of the moving blade that was colonisation’. Kate speaks with David Marr about the pilgrimage of the past, uncovering family stories, and confronting difficult truths.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
Unsettled: Kate Grenville in Conversation Livestream
Sunday 6 April 2025
Kate Grenville starts each book with a question. The latest one she asked is, ‘What does it mean to be on land taken from other people?’ The result is Unsettled – a book that grapples with what it means to descend from people who were, as she puts it, ‘on the sharp edge of the moving blade that was colonisation’. Kate speaks with David Marr about the pilgrimage of the past, uncovering family stories, and confronting difficult truths.
This event will be live streamed. Details for the Zoom event will be emailed to you after 8.00am AEST on the day of the event. If you have not received this information prior to the event please check your spam folder.
Highways and Byways: Jimmy Barnes in Conversation
Saturday 5 April 2025
From larger-than-life adventures to vivid and poignant tales of the imagination, no one tells a yarn quite like Jimmy Barnes. In his fourth memoir Highways and Byways, he takes readers on another enthralling tour, this one complete with the odd detour, and a roundabout or two, through the life of one of this country’s most successful and beloved artists. Hosted by Richard Glover.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
Highways and Byways: Jimmy Barnes in Conversation Livestream
Saturday 5 April 2025
From larger-than-life adventures to vivid and poignant tales of the imagination, no one tells a yarn quite like Jimmy Barnes. In his fourth memoir Highways and Byways, he takes readers on another enthralling tour, this one complete with the odd detour, and a roundabout or two, through the life of one of this country’s most successful and beloved artists. Hosted by Richard Glover.
This event will be live streamed. Details for the Zoom event will be emailed to you after 8.00am AEDT on the day of the event. If you have not received this information prior to the event please check your spam folder.
Politics in the Age of Anxiety
Saturday 5 April 2025
In his Quarterly Essay Bad Cop, which explored Peter Dutton's rise to power, Lech Blaine pinpointed the opposition leader's raison d'être: "Make Australia afraid again". As a BBC foreign correspondent, Nick Bryant was posted in Washington, South Asia, Australia, and New York to cover the Trump years. Ahead of the federal election, they share their observations of the interplay of power and politics in Canberra as well as their predictions about where we're headed. Hosted by Virginia Trioli.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle
Yarn Up
Saturday 5 April 2025
For thousands of generations First People in our country have gathered in a continuing practice of coming together to share knowledge, celebrate country, and strengthen ongoing relationships. In the spirit of this continued gathering practice, The Wollotuka Institute, in partnership with Newcastle Writers Festival, invites you to an evening of community, corroboree and celebration.
5.00pm-5.30pm Gawimarra: Gathering - A reading by poet Jeanine Leane
Award-winning Wiradjuri poet and academic Jeanine Leane will read from her most recent collection, Gawimarra: Gathering
5.00pm-6.00pm Scribbling Magic for Kids
5.35-6.30pm What Happens Next? Thomas Mayo in Conversation
6.30-7.00pm BBQ (food available at no cost)
7.15-7.45pm Traditional Dance to close
Tickets $15 Free for community members who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander but booking required to assist with catering.
The Wollutuka Institute, The University of Newcastle
Mean Streak: Rick Morton in Conversation
Saturday 5 April 2025
A moral vacuum, a dodgy debt generator and a multi-billion-dollar government shake down – this is the true story of robodebt, an initiative described by the Royal Commission's report as a 'massive failure of public administration' caused by 'venality, incompetence and cowardice'. Award-winning journalist and author Rick Morton followed the case closely, and now brings us Mean Streak, an enraging, compelling tale of how the Australian government gaslit its own citizens for more than four years. And the story isn't over. Hosted by Abby Millerd.
NUspace X207, The University of Newcastle
One Hundred Years of Betty: Debra Oswald in Conversation
Saturday 5 April 2025
Debra Oswald has long charmed us with her novels, children’s books, and screenwriting prowess (Police Rescue, The Secret Life of Us, Offspring). Now, she’s introducing readers to Betty: storyteller, feminist, eternally curious, and about to turn 100. On the eve of her birthday party, she tells her story, from poverty in pre-war London to the 21st century in Australia. Hosted by Amy Sambrooke.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle
The Cost of War: Gideon Levy and Antony Loewenstein
Saturday 5 April 2025
Join award-winning journalists Gideon Levy and Antony Loewenstein for an urgent and thought-provoking discussion about the war in Palestine. They will speak to Drew Ambrose about the broader regional impact, the profound humanitarian catastrophe, the role of international actors and media, and the complex challenges to achieving lasting peace.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
Words & Music
Saturday 5 April 2025
‘Music is the shorthand of emotion.’ – Leo Tolstoy
This special event returns for its third year and celebrates music, literature and the nature of inspiration. Drawing on the work of influential writers, an eclectic lineup of songwriters and musicians will transform words from the page to the stage.
Curated by Nick Milligan.
Featuring ChaiChester, William Crighton, Chain Daisy, Tim McPhee, Khin Myint, Melody Pool, Ziggy Ramo, Chelsea Reed and Dave Wells and Symphony Rain Riley. Host / Nick Milligan.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
Words & Music Livestream (CANCELLED)
Saturday 5 April 2025
‘Music is the shorthand of emotion.’ – Leo Tolstoy
This special event returns for its third year and celebrates music, literature and the nature of inspiration. Drawing on the work of influential writers, an eclectic lineup of songwriters and musicians will transform words from the page to the stage.
Curated by Nick Milligan.
Featuring ChaiChester, William Crighton, Chain Daisy, Tim McPhee, Khin Myint, Melody Pool, Ziggy Ramo, Chelsea Reed and Dave Wells and Symphony Rain Riley. Host / Nick Milligan
This event will be live streamed. Details for the Zoom event will be emailed to you after 8.00am AEDT on the day of the event. If you have not received this information prior to the event please check your spam folder.
Poetry Salon @ The Press
Saturday 5 April 2025
Join us for an evening of poetry readings by international and Australian artists. Featuring Larry Buttrose, Ally Chua, Shawn Hoo, Hasib Hourani, Daryl Lim Wei Jie, Omar Sakr, and Paris Rosemont. Hosted by Gillian Swain.
The Press Book House
Dusk: Robbie Arnott in Conversation (CANCELLED)
Saturday 5 April 2025
Tales of escaped big cats have long haunted the colonial-settler imagination in parts of Australia. In Robbie Arnott’s latest novel, Dusk, the award-winning author refashions a century of stories into a tale of twins Iris and Floyd, who take it upon themselves to hunt down a puma in the Tasmanian highlands, a place of ‘old beauty haunted by new violence’. Robbie speaks to Kate Evans about exploring myth, human relationships, and the natural world.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle
Stories With Heart: Anita Heiss in Conversation
Saturday 5 April 2025
From rom-com to historical fiction and everything in between, Anita Heiss’s novels underscore the significance of communication across cultures and generations. With Dirrayawadha, the follow-up to Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray, Anita explores resistance and resilience against the backdrop of the brutal frontier wars in 1800s Bathurst. In her most recent fiction, Red Dust Running, Anita explores matters of the heart through much-loved rom-com themes. Courtney Collins hosts this wide-reaching conversation about Anita’s deep desire for truth-telling in fiction.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
The Zine Collection
Saturday 5 April 2025
Join us at Newcastle Library to celebrate the vibrant world of zines and explore their rich culture, creative processes, and underground significance as we launch our new zine collection.
2.00pm–4.30pm Zine Market. Discover local zine makers, collectors, and enthusiasts.
2.30pm–3.15pm: Panel Discussion Zine makers Vanessa Berry, Bastian Fox, and Nina Katzmarski share their experiences of collaboration and creativity. Hosted by James Turvey.
3.30pm–4.30pm: Workshop. Get hands-on and create your own zine, immersing yourself in the DIY ethos of zine culture.
Please register seperately for the panel discussion and the workshop, if planning to attend both.
Newcastle Library, War Memorial Cultural Centre
Philosopher's Cafe
Saturday 5 April 2025
Join Newcastle philosopher Russell Blackford for a deep dive into the values, principles, and assumptions behind some of the big news stories of the day. Led by questions from the audience, the group will explore the issues together, with Russell providing input from philosophers past and present. Come along with an open mind and willingness to listen.
Momo Wholefood
Close to Home: Colonial Violence and Family Histories
Saturday 5 April 2025
Now, more than ever before, we seem more willing to acknowledge difficult histories in our family trees. At the same time, historians are increasingly writing about colonial violence and challenging long-held myths. What impact is this having on how we see Australia’s past, as well as our own? John Maynard, Mark Dunn, Stephen Gapps, and Kate Grenville speak with Julie McIntyre about their experiences of encountering dark moments in their research and how they've dealt with them in their work. Supported by the History Council of NSW.
NUspace X301, The University of Newcastle
Journeys of the Self
Saturday 5 April 2025
Lauren Fuge’s memoir is a call to action on climate change. Kris Kneen’s Fat Girl Dancing is a meditation on binaries and the body. Jo Peck rebuilds a brand new life from the ashes of a shocking marriage break-up. Join these three authors in conversation with Summer Land about blending personal truth with artistic expression when writing memoir.
NUspace X207, The University of Newcastle
Memorial Days: Geraldine Brooks in Conversation
Saturday 5 April 2025
On Memorial Day in the US in 2019, Geraldine Brooks received a call from a brusque resident doctor that upended her world. Her beloved husband Tony Horwitz was dead. For three years she kept sorrow at bay, publishing her award-winning book Horse, managing the bureaucracy that surrounds the death of a spouse, and supporting their two sons. Then, she returned to Flinders Island, a place of meaning and mourning. In her first Newcastle Writers Festival appearance, Geraldine joins founding director Rosemarie Milsom for a heartrending conversation about her memoir, Memorial Days, and her journey towards peace.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
Memorial Days: Geraldine Brooks in Conversation Livestream
Saturday 5 April 2025
On Memorial Day in the US in 2019, Geraldine Brooks received a call from a brusque resident doctor that upended her world. Her beloved husband Tony Horwitz was dead. For three years she kept sorrow at bay, publishing her award-winning book Horse, managing the bureaucracy that surrounds the death of a spouse, and supporting their two sons. Then, she returned to Flinders Island, a place of meaning and mourning. In her first Newcastle Writers Festival appearance, Geraldine joins founding director Rosemarie Milsom for a heartrending conversation about her memoir, Memorial Days, and her journey towards peace.
This event will be live streamed. Details for the Zoom event will be emailed to you after 8.00am AEDT on the day of the event. If you have not received this information prior to the event please check your spam folder.
The Men Who Killed the News: Eric Beecher in Conversation
Saturday 5 April 2025
What’s gone wrong with our media? Crikey owner and former Fairfax and News Corp editor Eric Beecher reckons the answer lies in the owners — at least, the big guys. Join Eric in conversation with award-winning former journalist Jennifer Byrne about his book, The Men Who Killed The News, which lifts the lid on the abuse of power by media moguls, and the implications for our future.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle
Wing: Nikki Gemmell in Conversation
Saturday 5 April 2025
Four teenage girls go missing in the Australian bush on a school trip, and a male teacher volunteers to look for them. What happens next blows up friendships, divides families, and threatens reputations. Nikki Gemmell’s recent novel, Wing, explores the fault lines of female friendship, gender, power, and what it means to be a woman today. Hosted by Jane Caro.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
After the Voice Referendum: Thomas Mayo in Conversation
Saturday 5 April 2025
In his newest book Always Was, Always Will Be, Thomas Mayo investigates 'what's next?' for reconciliation and justice in Australia after the failed Voice to Parliament referendum. Thomas speaks with Clare Wright about lessons from the past, a path towards the future, and the new generation of Indigenous leaders who are ready, resilient, and hopeful.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
After the Voice Referendum: Thomas Mayo Livestream
Saturday 5 April 2025
In his newest book Always Was, Always Will Be, Thomas Mayo investigates 'what's next?' for reconciliation and justice in Australia after the failed Voice to Parliament referendum. Thomas speaks with Clare Wright about lessons from the past, a path towards the future, and the new generation of Indigenous leaders who are ready, resilient, and hopeful.
This event will be live streamed. Details for the Zoom event will be emailed to you after 8.00 am AEDT on the day of the event. If you have not received this information prior to the event, please check your spam folder.
First Time Lucky? Overcoming Second Book Syndrome
Saturday 5 April 2025
It’s a well-known phenomenon: the anxious, agonising process of releasing a second book after a successful debut. Is the new book too similar to the first? Or maybe too dissimilar? Was the debut effort a fluke? Courtney Collins, Hayley Scrivenor, and Jessie Tu open up about imposter syndrome, creative blocks, and debunk second-book blues. Hosted by Amy Lovat.
NUspace X301, The University of Newcastle
Siblings and Secrets in Crime Fiction
Saturday 5 April 2025
From fierce loyalty to unbridled rivalry, long-held grievances and deep-seated secrets, sibling relationships ramp up the tension in the latest crime novels by Ashley Kalagian Blunt, Anna Downes and Petronella McGovern. They speak to Abby Millerd about why families provide the best fodder for thrillers.
Watt Space Gallery
Things We Don't Speak About: Pleasure
Saturday 5 April 2025
In this returning series of conversations on things we don’t speak about, we invite authors to share how they interrogate tough topics in their writing lives. Hilary Caldwell, Alyx Gorman and Georgia Grace discuss sex, pleasure, and shame. Hosted by Kate Mildenhall.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
A Call to Action: Nature Writing
Saturday 5 April 2025
James Bradley’s recent book Deep Water explores the awe-inspiring depths of the world’s oceans and their fight for survival. Science writer Lauren Fuge’s memoir Voyagers traces the history and trajectory of human exploration and adaptation alongside her travels to illuminate our perilous future. Inga Simpson's latest novel The Thinning is an apocalyptic thriller that imagines a world where the Great Barrier Reef is dead and the last koala extinct. Join them for a conversation about the ways landscape can shape words, and how writing can make sense of the anxiety about our world, acting as both catharsis and truth-telling. Hosted by Jennifer Byrne.
NUspace X207, The University of Newcastle - This event has been moved from X321
A Wild Life: Markus Zusak in Conversation
Saturday 5 April 2025
From the international bestseller, The Book Thief, to his most recent memoir Three Wild Dogs and the Truth, Markus Zusak’s stellar writing career has taken him down unexpected paths. In his first appearance at Newcastle Writers Festival, Markus sheds light on the good, the bad, and the ugly moments in a life full of love, sorrow, and success. Hosted by Dan Cox.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
A Wild Life: Markus Zusak in Conversation Livestream
Saturday 5 April 2025
From the international bestseller, The Book Thief, to his most recent memoir Three Wild Dogs and the Truth, Markus Zusak’s stellar writing career has taken him down unexpected paths. In his first appearance at Newcastle Writers Festival, Markus sheds light on the good, the bad, and the ugly moments in a life full of love, sorrow, and success. Hosted by Dan Cox.
This event will be live streamed. Details for the Zoom event will be emailed to you after 8.00 am AEDT on the day of the event. If you have not received this information prior to the event, please check your spam folder.
Lyrebird: Jane Caro in Conversation
Saturday 5 April 2025
Best known for her thought-provoking writing on gender, politics, and social justice, festival favourite Jane Caro turns her attention to crime fiction with Lyrebird, which is set in the Hunter Valley against the backdrop of rapidly escalating climate change. The premise? A body is found in bushland where a lyrebird was recorded by a university student 20 years earlier mimicking a woman’s terrified scream. Will action finally be taken? Jane speaks with Marieke Hardy about her compelling book and its themes of mothers and daughters, racism, the vulnerability of trafficked women and an older woman rediscovering her courage.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle - Previously scheduled in X207
Uncovering Your Family History
Saturday 5 April 2025
Family history is so much more than births, deaths and marriages; it’s about discovering unique stories to help us understand our place in the world. Julie McIntyre hosts this conversation with Cassie Gilmartin and Shaun Gilmartin, authors of The Family History Book, and Andra Putnis, author of Stories My Grandmothers Didn’t Tell Me. They speak about the light and dark of digging into the past, and share their research tips.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
Coming of Age Stories
Saturday 5 April 2025
What does it really mean to ‘come of age’? Is the journey to adulthood more perilous depending on culture and circumstance? Join Dylin Hardcastle and Molly Schmidt in conversation with Benjamin Law as they tackle the big topics of identity, change, and growing up.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
Some Like It Cosy: Sulari Gentill in Conversation
Saturday 5 April 2025
Murder is having a moment in the literary world, but it’s not the gory kind. Sulari Gentill is one of Australia’s most acclaimed writers at the helm of the rising ‘cosy crime’ trend; in other words, murder that is strangely comforting. Blending historical settings from the 1930s and beyond, with compelling characters, danger, and intrigue, Sulari’s books have dazzled readers internationally.
Hosted by Nicola Moriarty.
NUspace X207, The University of Newcastle
The Way We Are: Hugh Mackay in Conversation
Saturday 5 April 2025
In his new book—his 24th—social psychologist Hugh Mackay unveils a compelling portrait of Australia through the lens of a lifetime of research and thousands of insightful interviews. The Way We Are explores the shifting dynamics of our society, delving into the ways we connect, communicate, and navigate the complexities of modern life. Hosted by Ailsa Piper.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
The Way We Are: Hugh Mackay in Conversation Livestream
Saturday 5 April 2025
In his new book—his 24th—social psychologist Hugh Mackay unveils a compelling portrait of Australia through the lens of a lifetime of research and thousands of insightful interviews. The Way We Are explores the shifting dynamics of our society, delving into the ways we connect, communicate, and navigate the complexities of modern life. Hosted by Ailsa Piper.
This event will be live streamed. Details for the Zoom event will be emailed to you after 8.00am AEDT on the day of the event. If you have not received this information prior to the event please check your spam folder.
The Yirrkala Bark Petitions: Clare Wright in Conversation
Saturday 5 April 2025
In 1963—a year of agitation for civil rights worldwide—the Yolŋu of northeast Arnhem Land created the Yirrkala Bark Petitions: Naku Dharuk. ‘The land grew a tongue’ and the land-rights movement was born. The final book in Clare Wright’s historical trilogy tells the story of how the people of Yirrkala changed the course of Australian Democracy.
Hosted by Jock Serong.
NUSpace X321, The University of Newcastle
Untold: A Storymaking Workshop
Friday 4 April 2025
What’s your story? Take a walk on the wild side with Voices of Women Artistic Director Lliane Clarke and unleash your senses, play with word fragments and watch as your unique story comes to life. Record a podcast together, and share the stories in readings.
Everyone is welcome to join this open storymaking workshop to inspire your creativity through spoken and written word, and sound. This is a safe space to create and we particularly encourage women from First Nations, culturally diverse, and LGBTQI+ communities to take part. In a collaborative environment we will explore and create together – using our powers of observation, storytelling, spoken word sharing, fun games and early character development.
Note: This is a workshop for all women over 18 to explore the female perspective including female identifying and non-binary creatives. Registration is essential.
Watt Space Gallery
Reading the Waters
Thursday 3 April 2025
This special event celebrates the enduring influence of water on Australian stories: as a symbol, motif, and source of inspiration. Writers Dael Allison, Joanna Atherfold Finn, Annette Higgs, Jean Kent and Micheál Lovett will share readings from their work. Hosted by Alison Rogers.
Ticket includes one glass of wine on arrival. Non-alcoholic beverages also available.
Port Stephens Artisan Collective
Literary Trivia Hosted by Nick Milligan
Wednesday 2 April 2025
Our literary trivia night is back! Can you name the town where Tim Winton's most recent book Juice is set? (Trick question) What is the title of the book awarded this year's Booker Prize? Which Australian actor has played the main character in the film adaptations of two of Jane Harper's books? Great 'literary’ prizes to be won including bundles of new books and festival tickets.
Teams are limited to 8 participants and solo competitors can be accommodated.
Please note there is no lift and access to the upstairs venue is by a staircase.
Customs House Hotel
Historical Fiction Masterclass for Primary Students
Wednesday 2 April 2025
Join the festival’s dynamic Story Hunter program for an all-day workshop at Newcastle Museum.
Students will interact with museum objects and learn how to blend historical settings with their own imagination to create a short story. This workshop is designed for high potential and passionate young writers in Stage 3 (Years 5 and 6).
Schools are encouraged to send a small group with a supervising teacher.
Newcastle Museum Theatrette
Marie Curie's Legacy: An Afternoon with Dava Sobel
Sunday 9 March 2025
The acclaimed Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestselling author, Dava Sobel, has written a luminous chronicle of the life and work of Marie Curie, the most famous woman in the history of science, and the untold story of the many young women trained in her laboratory and were launched into stellar scientific careers of their own.
"Even now, nearly a century after her death, Marie Curie remains the only female scientist most people can name," writes Sobel. And yet, she makes clear, as brilliant and creative as she was in the laboratory, Marie Curie was equally passionate outside it.
Dava will speak with broadcaster and author Sarah Macdonald.
This event is a collaboration with Adelaide Writers Week with support from HarperCollins and the University of Newcastle.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall - (Updated 26/6/23)
Lucia Osborne-Crowley: The Trial of Ghislaine Maxwell
Friday 28 February 2025
Australian-trained lawyer and journalist Lucia Osborne-Crowley was one of only four court reporters admitted daily into the blockbuster criminal trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, where she bore witness to the extensive evidence brought against Maxwell for sex-trafficking minors and abetting Jeffrey Epstein’s abuses.
Maxwell’s trial and ultimate conviction is carefully detailed in Lucia's book The Lasting Harm, which amplifies the voices of the victims and serves as a critique of a legal system ill-equipped to deliver justice for abuse survivors.
Lucia will speak to Newcastle Writers Festival director Rosemarie Milsom about the impact of the Maxwell trial, our age-old appetite for crime and punishment and a new blueprint for meaningful reparative justice.
Recommended for audiences aged 18 and older. Please note, this event may include references to sexual abuse and assault.
This event is supported by the University of Newcastle and Allen & Unwin.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall - (Updated 26/6/23)
Lessons I've Learnt: An Afternoon with Kasey Chambers
Saturday 2 November 2024
Join us to celebrate the release of Kasey Chambers' memoir Just Don't Be a D**khead and Other Profound Things I've Learnt! The acclaimed country music artist will discuss her extraordinary career and life with friend Danni Carr. Kasey will also perform.
From her childhood in the Australian outback to the heights of her chart-topping international success as a singer/songwriter, Kasey has trusted her gut, stuck to her values and learned some hard truths, always while trying to live by the best advice she’s ever received: just don’t be a dickhead.
MacLean's Booksellers will have copies of Kasey's book for sale and she will sign copies after the event.
This event is presented in partnership with The University of Newcastle Conservatorium of Music and supported by Hardie Grant.
Accessibility information: The venue is accessible for wheelchair users.
The Festival is part of the Companion Card program. Please email us when booking your ticket so we can assist.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall - (Updated 26/6/23)
An Evening with Tim Winton
Saturday 19 October 2024
We are thrilled to announce a special event with award-winning Australian writer Tim Winton who will speak about his new novel Juice with Newcastle Writers Festival director Rosemarie Milsom. This will be Tim's first Newcastle event and is supported by the University of Newcastle.
Juice centres on two fugitives, a man and a child, who drive all night across a stony desert. As dawn breaks, they roll into an abandoned mine site. As a refuge, this is the most promising place they’ve seen. The child peers at the field of desolation. The man thinks to himself, this could work. The problem is, they’re not alone. So begins a searing, propulsive journey about survival, and how to maintain human decency as everyone around you falls ever further into barbarism.
MacLean's Booksellers is supporting the event and Tim will be signing books on the night. Please arrive by 5.30pm for a 6.00pm start. There will be limited door sales.
University of Newcastle Great Hall
Writing Place - Creative Writing Short Course
Saturday 13 April 2024
Newcastle Writers Festival and The University of Newcastle’s School of Humanties, Creative Industries and Social Sciences are collaborating to offer a month-long intensive creative writing short course. Getting place right is more than having a backdrop or setting for your writing and in this course you will learn ways to engage with place as a narrative or poetic trigger. The course is suitable for anyone who wants to explore the ‘place of place’ across the genres of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction (memoir/travelogue/essay).
The course will be led by Dr Keri Glastonbury and includes special guests Amy Lovat, Kim Mahood, and Charlotte Wood. It is for experienced writers as well as readers who want to make the transition to becoming writers and are happy to read the three books mentioned and hear from the authors. Guest writers will participate via Zoom.
For a full course outline visit https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/writing-course/
University of Newcastle Nuspace Building
Boy Conquers Universe
Sunday 7 April 2024
The screen adaptation of Trent Dalton's much-loved novel Boy Swallows Universe has been applauded by the book's loyal fans since its January release on Netflix, but no one could have predicted its international success. Meet the Newcastle-based BAFTA and Emmy-nominated director, Bharat Nalluri, who helped bring this very Australian story to life for a global audience. Hosted by Rosemarie Milsom.
NUspace X301, The University of Newcastle
Bright Shining: Julia Baird in Conversation
Sunday 7 April 2024
From the religious to the secular, wonder to mystery, humanity to the natural world, grace can be found everywhere – and, according to Julia Baird, it changes everything. In conversation with Cath Keenan, Julia shares the popular sociology of grace, how it can make us healthier as a society, and that which can’t be measured by science.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
Life, Interrupted
Sunday 7 April 2024
What happens when all we know about our lives is lost? How do we recover when trust is broken? Steph Lentz concealed her sexuality from her church community for many years. Ben Mckelvey’s active life took a turn when he suffered debilitating health issues in his 20s. And Jeanne Ryckmans discovered the hard truth about a beloved partner when it was almost too late. They speak with Anna Downes about writing what lies beneath the surface, and what it takes to rebuild.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle
Rage and Resistance
Sunday 7 April 2024
‘...Art sustains life … showing people things they otherwise might not see’, observes a protagonist in Sara M Saleh’s Songs for the Dead and the Living. In fiction and in life, where do we go when words fail us and language isn’t enough? How can art tell stories that we need the world to understand? Daniel Browning, Sara M Saleh and Lucy Treloar discuss drawing on rage and resistance to write hard truths. Hosted by Jackie Dent.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
An Affair to Remember
Sunday 7 April 2024
Three young queer writers navigate power, morality, and sexuality in their debut novels. Maeve Marsden speaks with Anna Kate Blair, Madeleine Gray and Amy Lovat about millennial mess, the ethics of love, and writing between the lines of relationships.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
Lies My Mirror Told Me: Wendy Harmer in Conversation
Sunday 7 April 2024
In Lies My Mirror Told Me, Wendy Harmer reflects on her life as one of Australia’s most versatile entertainers. Author, journalist, stage performer and more – prepare to hear an unlikely success story told from a frank, funny, and fearless perspective. Hosted by Jane Caro.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
The Love Language of Food
Sunday 7 April 2024
After twice appearing on Masterchef and reaching the top five, Reece Hignell now runs the popular Newcastle bakery, Cakeboi. Linda Marigliano’s memoir Love Language covers family, music and pasta, to uncover her people-pleasing in relationships. In her cookbook-memoir Heartbake, Charlotte Ree writes about learning to cook, and in turn learning to love again. Join them in conversation with Yumi Stynes about the delicious marriage of food and love.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle
Things We Don’t Speak About: Mental illness
Sunday 7 April 2024
In this new series of conversations about issues we don’t speak about, we invite authors to share how they interrogate tough topics in their writing lives.
Elfy Scott, Jessie Stephens and Nick Wasiliev discuss representing mental illness in both fiction and non-fiction. Hosted by Maddison Connaughton.
NUspace X207, The University of Newcastle
Workshop: Short Stories in Cyanotype
Sunday 7 April 2024
In collaboration with WH!P Collective’s exhibition, photomedia artist Clare Weeks is leading this workshop. Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print. It’s safe, simple, and easy to use. Participants will create a photographic image utilising this process. All you need is your imagination and light.
Free but bookings essential.
Watt Space Gallery
36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem: Nam Le in Conversation
Sunday 7 April 2024
Fifteen years after his award-winning debut The Boat, Nam Le brings us 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem, an explosive, devastating book of poetry with praise from Nick Cave, David Malouf and Barbara Tran. He speaks with Michele Seminara about reckoning with identity, diaspora and displacement, and exploding the poetic form.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
Earth, Sea and Sky
Sunday 7 April 2024
When the world feels like it’s falling apart, how do we find hope? Can we still feel wonder and awe, even as temperatures rise and forests burn? Kirsten Bradley, Krystal de Napoli, and Duane Hamacher discuss grounding through earth, sea and sky, finding joy, and connecting with nature in tough times. Hosted by Amy Sambrooke.
NUspace X207, The University of Newcastle
Finding it in the Family
Sunday 7 April 2024
When stories are passed through generations, how does that shape the ones we tell ourselves? These novels use memory and lore to blend the real with the imagined. Tony Birch, Andre Dao and Laura Elizabeth Woollett share how family history helped inform their fiction. Hosted by Bernadette Brennan.
NUspace X301, The University of Newcastle
The Last Daughter: Brenda Matthews in Conversation
Sunday 7 April 2024
At two years old, Brenda Matthews and her siblings were taken from their parents. For five years, she lived happily as a much-loved daughter within a white family, before being swiftly reunited with the birth family she barely remembered. Decades later, Brenda searched for her foster family and learned the truth about her past. Brenda appears in conversation with Melissa Lucashenko about her memoir and Netflix documentary, The Last Daughter.
NUspace X101, The University of Newcastle
The James Fletcher Hospital Site: Sounds of the Past
Sunday 7 April 2024
Join historians and writers Cathy Coleborne, Jude Conway, Nancy Cushing, Mark Dunn, Helen English, Keri Glastonbury, Ann Hardy, and Adam Manning as they share historical, cultural and poetic insights about the James Fletcher Hospital site, including its past use for Awabakal ceremony, coal mining, concerts and an industrial school for girls, as well as its early years as a centre of mental health care.
James Fletcher Hospital
Words & Music
Saturday 6 April 2024
‘Music is the shorthand of emotion.’ - Leo Tolstoy
This special event returns for its second year and celebrates music, literature and the nature of inspiration. Drawing on the work of influential writers, an eclectic lineup of songwriters and musicians will transform words from the page to the stage.
Curated by Nick Milligan.
Featuring Elijah Moss, Piper Butcher, Deborah Conway, Natalie Damjanovich-Napoleon, Jim Moginie, Adam Newling, Nina Romeru, Lachlan X Morris and Bray Porter.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
Giyi Para - the Convening of a Gathering
Saturday 6 April 2024
For thousands of generations First People in our country have gathered in a continuing practice of coming together to share knowledge, celebrate country, and strengthen ongoing relationships.
In the spirit of this continued gathering practice, The Wollotuka Institute, in partnership with Newcastle Writers Festival, invites you to an evening of community, corroboree and celebration.
Tickets $10 / Free for those who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, but booking is required for catering purposes.
5.00pm to 5.30pm The Way of the Ancestors with Wonnarua elder Uncle Warren Taggart.
5.40pm to 5.50pm A performance by poet and storyteller Rob Waters.
5.55pm to 6.40pm The Last Daughter (Brenda Matthews)
6.40pm to 7.00pm BBQ (Food available at no cost)
7.00pm to 7.45pm Big Sky
7.45pm to 8.15pm
The Wollotuka Institute, The University of Newcastle
Book Launch: Wear Next, Fashioning the Future by Clare Press
Saturday 6 April 2024
Celebrate the launch of Wear Next, Fashioning the Future by Clare Press at Momo Wholefood, 227 Hunter Street.
What will you be wearing in 10 years? Will your jacket have been grown in a lab, or your jeans coloured using bacteria?
Clare Press’ new book explores the factors that are likely to shape our fashion futures, from conscious, fair, slow and upcycled to bio-intelligent and digital. She’ll speak to Rowena Foong about fascinating innovators around the globe who are redesigning fashion from the ground up and changing it in the most fundamental ways.
Momo Wholefood Cafe
Life on the Page
Saturday 6 April 2024
Jessica Kirkness grew up close to her grandparents, who were deaf in a hearing world. Sophie Matterson walked across Australia with her beloved camels. Ben Mckelvey experienced a sudden stroke, and then a heart attack, in his twenties. Eye-opening and honest, all three lay bare some of the most intimate and vulnerable moments in their lives. They speak to Fiona Murphy about what compelled them to share their stories.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle
On Art and Desire
Saturday 6 April 2024
‘There’s art, and then there’s everything else,’ declares Lally in Bri Lee’s first book of fiction, The Work. Bri joins Anna Kate Blair and Kylie Needham for a discussion about the tension between art and desire, family and privilege, ambition and seduction. Hosted by Amy Sambrooke.
NUspace X207, The University of Newcastle
Poetry Salon
Saturday 6 April 2024
Join us for an evening of poetry readings. Featuring Richard James Allen, Susie Anderson, Deborah Conway, Natalie Damjanovich-Napoleon, Yvette Henry Holt, Kirli Saunders, and Ellen Shelley. Hosted by Michele Seminara.
Watt Space Gallery
The Teacher’s Pet: Hedley Thomas in Conversation
Saturday 6 April 2024
Thought you knew the story of The Teacher’s Pet? Walkley Award-winning journalist Hedley Thomas shares insights from behind the scenes of one of the most intriguing Australian murder cases of our time. He will speak with Richard Glover about what prompted him to explore the disappearance of Lynette Dawson, how he created the #1 podcast, and his involvement in the trial that ultimately convicted Chris Dawson of murder.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
The Teacher’s Pet: Hedley Thomas in Conversation Livestream
Saturday 6 April 2024
Thought you knew the story of The Teacher’s Pet? Walkley Award-winning journalist Hedley Thomas shares insights from behind the scenes of one of the most intriguing Australian murder cases of our time. He will speak with Richard Glover about what prompted him to explore the disappearance of Lynette Dawson, how he created the #1 podcast, and his involvement in the trial that ultimately convicted Chris Dawson of murder.
This event will be live streamed. Details for the Zoom event will be emailed to you after 8.00am AEST on the day of the event. If you have not received this information prior to the event please check your spam folder.
Haunted by the Past
Saturday 6 April 2024
To be human is to be haunted by the past: the narratives of our collective and subjective worlds. Three authors grapple with colonial, personal, and family history in their recent fiction, blurring the lines of fantasy and reality and creating characters who ask, ‘Can we lay these ghosts to rest?’ With Winnie Dunn, Mirandi Riwoe and Lucy Treloar. Hosted by Cath Keenan.
NUspace X207, The University of Newcastle
The Case Against Marriage: Clementine Ford in Conversation
Saturday 6 April 2024
In Clementine Ford’s most controversial book to date, she argues an impassioned case against the institution of marriage. I Don’t reveals the capitalist, patriarchal structures that work to maintain control over women’s agency, ambitions, and autonomy. Clementine speaks with Maeve Marsden about the history of marriage, the illusions of feminism, and what the world could look like if women were truly free.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
The Case Against Marriage: Clementine Ford Livestream
Saturday 6 April 2024
In Clementine Ford’s most controversial book to date, she argues an impassioned case against the institution of marriage. I Don’t reveals the capitalist, patriarchal structures that work to maintain control over women’s agency, ambitions, and autonomy. Clementine speaks with Maeve Marsden about the history of marriage, the illusions of feminism, and what the world could look like if women were truly free.
This event will be live streamed. Details for the Zoom event will be emailed to you after 8.00am AEST on the day of the event. If you have not received this information prior to the event please check your spam folder.
The Long Haul
Saturday 6 April 2024
In three years, ‘Long Covid’ has become one of our most significant health conditions, estimated to have affected about one million Australians – and that number is rising. Until now, the lack of understanding and information about the condition has meant that people have largely endured in silence. Join clinician Dr Steven Faux, author of Long Covid, and journalist Tracey Spicer, who has become a vocal advocate for sufferers since her diagnosis, as they unpack the myths and misunderstanding that plague this chronic illness. Hosted by Rosemarie Milsom.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle
The Palestine Laboratory: Antony Loewenstein in Conversation
Saturday 6 April 2024
Israel’s spying technology and defence hardware is being used by despots and democracies around the world – from the Pegasus software that hacked Jamal Khashoggi’s phones, and the weapons sold to the Myanmar army that killed thousands of Rohingyas, to the drones being used by the European Union to monitor refugees in the Mediterranean. Independent journalist Antony Loewenstein discusses how Israel became a leader in the development of weaponry and surveillance technology. Hosted by Matt Bevan.
NUspace X101, The University of Newcastle
2023 Miles Franklin Winner Shankari Chandran in Conversation
Saturday 6 April 2024
From being told her books ‘weren’t Australian enough’, to winning the 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award for her third novel Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens, Shankari Chandran’s writing journey has been anything but linear. She speaks with Ailsa Piper about family and memory, and the stories that shape who we become.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
Dark Places: Chris Hammer and Louise Milligan
Saturday 6 April 2024
After decades working as journalists, it might seem a natural progression for Chris Hammer and Louise Milligan to turn their attention to crime fiction. Chris covered international affairs and federal politics for more than 30 years, and Louise’s investigative journalism has most notably included high-profile child sexual abuse cases, such as the trial of Cardinal George Pell. They speak with Dan Cox about how their careers have influenced their fiction writing, and the dark places they draw from.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
Dark Places: Chris Hammer and Louise Milligan Livestream
Saturday 6 April 2024
After decades working as journalists, it might seem a natural progression for Chris Hammer and Louise Milligan to turn their attention to crime fiction. Chris covered international affairs and federal politics for more than 30 years, and Louise’s investigative journalism has most notably included high-profile child sexual abuse cases, such as the trial of Cardinal George Pell. They speak with Dan Cox about how their careers have influenced their fiction writing, and the dark places they draw from.
This event will be live streamed. Details for the Zoom event will be emailed to you after 8.00am AEST on the day of the event. If you have not received this information prior to the event please check your spam folder.
The In-Between: Christos Tsiolkas in Conversation
Saturday 6 April 2024
Can we meet each other halfway? This is one of the central questions in Christos Tsiolkas’ new novel The In-Between, which follows two heartbroken men in their early 50s who meet on a dating app. It’s a quiet, tender love story with faint echoes of the boldness and carnal desire that distinguished his debut, Loaded, almost 30 years ago. Hosted by David Marr.
NUspace X101, The University of Newcastle
The Responsibilities of Women
Saturday 6 April 2024
In Emily Perkins’ book Lioness, protagonist Therese Thorne asks, ‘Who are you if you’re not looking after someone?’ But what happens when women’s ambitions clash with responsibilities? Can we love other people’s children as if they were our own? Will the mental load ever be shared equally between the sexes? Kate Mildenhall, Kylie Needham and Emily Perkins explore these questions and more in their recent fiction. They interrogate womanhood, motherhood, and ‘otherhood’ with Anna Downes.
NUspace X207, The University of Newcastle
Author, Academic, Activist: Bri Lee in Conversation
Saturday 6 April 2024
'If you're doing work that you feel is important, it will be impossible to have everybody like you.’ Bri Lee first captured the literary world’s attention with her debut memoir Eggshell Skull, a compassionate and unforgettable interrogation of the injustices experienced by survivors of sexual assault. She’s since penned two more books and been shortlisted for a Walkley Award for her investigative journalism. Now, she’s turned her attention to fiction. Bri talks with Bridie Jabour about her novel, The Work, a story of love, vulnerability, and privilege in the world of art, set between Sydney and New York.
NUspace X101, The University of Newcastle
Crime Writer in Pink: Sally Hepworth in Conversation
Saturday 6 April 2024
Making her first festival appearance, New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth will speak about her stellar career, from writing her first novel on maternity leave and gaining interest from Hollywood heavyweights, to recently publishing her ninth novel, Darling Girls. Hosted by Amy Lovat.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
Crime Writer in Pink: Sally Hepworth Livestream
Saturday 6 April 2024
Making her first festival appearance, New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth will speak about her stellar career, from writing her first novel on maternity leave and gaining interest from Hollywood heavyweights, to recently publishing her ninth novel, Darling Girls. Hosted by Amy Lovat.
This event will be live streamed. Details for the Zoom event will be emailed to you after 8.00am AEST on the day of the event. If you have not received this information prior to the event please check your spam folder.
Writing the Lives of Writers
Saturday 6 April 2024
Bernadette Brennan, Catharine Lumby and Brigitta Olubas have recently written books about Helen Garner, Frank Moorhouse and Shirley Hazzard, respectively. They speak with Susan Wyndham about the challenges of literary biography and the extraordinary privilege of diving into the often-secret lives of writers.
NUspace X207, The University of Newcastle
Book of Life: Deborah Conway in Conversation
Saturday 6 April 2024
In 1991, Deborah Conway sang ‘It’s only the beginning / But I’ve already gone and lost my mind’, in a joyous anthem that belted from Australian radios. She won awards and charted in the top 20 across the world several times. Then a few short years later, she was off the radar – but not by her own choosing. Deborah talks to Linda Marigliano about her memoir, Book of Life, which dives into those iconic moments, sharing behind-the-scenes of the Australian music industry, and the rise, fall, and rise again of her epic career.
Room X201 NUspace, The University of Newcastle
Coming of Age in Middle Age
Saturday 6 April 2024
In their recent fiction, Emily Perkins, Megan Rogers and Christos Tsiolkas created characters at a crossroads, disrupting the traditional narrative of ‘coming of age’ as an experience of youth. They discuss belonging, change, and the perennial journey of ‘growing up’ with Ashley Hay.
NUspace X320, The University of Newcastle
Stop the Press
Saturday 6 April 2024
In an era when newsrooms are confronted with continuously evolving challenges in the face of dwindling resources and the demands of the 24-hour digital news cycle, have traditional media organisations lost their legitimacy? Daniel Browning, Antony Loewenstein, and Louise Milligan discuss the key issues shaping the way news is reported and received by audiences. Hosted by Kylie Morris.
NUspace X321, The University of Newcastle
Sustainable Living for a Kinder Future
Saturday 6 April 2024
What could our future look like if we reconnected with communities, found conscious ways to shop, cultivated resilient ecosystems, and made the effort to live like it matters? Permaculturist Kirsten Bradley, campaigner of climate solutions Claire O’Rourke, and Thanh ‘Fruit Nerd’ Truong chat with Dan Cox about taking small (or not!) steps towards big changes for our planet.
NUspace X301, The University of Newcastle
Workshop: Crafting Narrative Drive Ashley Kalagian Blunt
Friday 5 April 2024
Tension on every page is the key to narrative drive, whether you’re writing fiction, memoir or any narrative work. In this practical workshop, participants will learn why narrative drive is essential to storytelling and discover how properly structured, tension-filled scenes create story momentum. Participants will also have the opportunity to practice through a series of exercises, giving them the confidence to begin applying their new skills right away, whether they’re starting a first draft or in the midst of revisions.
There will be writing exercises in this workshop, so bring something to write on - either a laptop or paper.
Tickets $165.00. Limited to 15 places. Snacks provided.
Q Building 211, The University of Newcastle
Entanglement: A Storymaking Workshop
Friday 5 April 2024
What’s your story? Join Voices of Women artistic director Lliane Clarke for an open storymaking workshop exploring storytelling through spoken word and sound. We particularly encourage women from First Nations, CALD, and LGBTQI+ communities to participate. The facilitators encourage observation, storytelling, spoken word sharing, physical games and early character development.
There will be an opportunity to record a podcast, participate in readings or develop a short film. The workshop includes a screening of the short film, Entanglement.
Free but bookings essential.
Watt Space Gallery
Workshop: Poetry with Rico Craig
Friday 5 April 2024
Workshop: The Everyday Epic - A Poetry Workshop with Rico Craig.
This world is full of epic, otherworldly moments; clouds shifting, the hunt for new earrings, people changing car tyres. These everyday moments give poetry its texture and provide poets with an endless seam of inspiration for their writing.
In this workshop we’ll sift through the seemingly mundane, searching for the experiences we can expand to epic significance. We’ll bring our poetic vision to bear on the ordinary and look at the way our own inclination toward the poetic can be used to expand a reader’s perception of the worlds we share in our poetry.
There will be writing exercises in this workshop, so bring something to write on - either a laptop or paper.
Tickets $120.00. Limited to 15 places. Snacks provided.
Q Building 210, The University of Newcastle
Workshop: Writing Rom-Com with Melanie Saward
Friday 5 April 2024
There's no denying that romantic comedy is absolutely booming right now: walk into any bookshop and you'll be confronted by a wall of fun, cute illustrative covers and cutesy titles. But despite this, publishers in Australia are lagging in the current rom com boom, which means they’re desperately seeking on-trend romance in all areas. Come and learn the rules of writing rom com and how to leverage the genre's tropes to get the attention of publishers.
There will be writing exercises in this workshop, so bring something to write on - either a laptop or paper.
Tickets $120.00. Limited to 15 places. Snacks provided.
Q Building 205, The University of Newcastle
Literary Trivia hosted by Nick Milligan
Wednesday 3 April 2024
Our literary trivia night is back! Do you know the name of the suburb where Boy Swallows Universe is set? Can you name all three Sally Rooney novels? Who is Ivan ‘Loonie’ Loon? Great ‘literary’ prizes on offer including bundles of new books and festival tickets.
Teams are limited to 8 participants and solo competitors can be accommodated.
Please note - access to this upstairs venue is via stairs only. There is no lift.
Customs House Hotel
An Evening with Matthew Reilly
Wednesday 25 October 2023
Much-loved best-selling author Matthew Reilly returns to Newcastle for the first time in seven years to speak about his new novel, the epic historical thriller Mr Einstein's Secretary. Spanning 40 years, this is the thrilling tale of a young woman propelled through history's most dangerous times.
The conversation will be hosted by ABC Newcastle's Dan Cox.
Thank you to the University of Newcastle and Pan Macmillan for supporting this Newcastle Writers Festival event.
Brennan Room, University of Newcastle
Chanel Contos in Conversation
Saturday 16 September 2023
Newcastle Writers Festival is hosting a special event on 16 September with consent activist Chanel Contos at the University of Newcastle Conservatorium of Music. She will speak to journalist Maddison Connaughton about her new book Consent Laid Bare: Sex, entitlement and the distortion of desire.
In February 2021, Chanel asked on Instagram if anyone had been sexually assaulted while at school. Within 24 hours, more than 200 people had replied ‘yes’. She then launched an online petition to make consent education mandatory in Australian schools. It attracted 45,000 signatures. One year later, education ministers from around the country unanimously agreed.
Chanel’s actions spurred a movement to end rape culture in Australia.
There will be books for sale on the night thanks to MacLean's Booksellers.
This event is supported by the University of Newcastle's Schools of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, Pan Macmillan, and MacLean's Booksellers.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall - (Updated 26/6/23)
The Downfall of Ben Roberts-Smith
Friday 28 July 2023
Newcastle Writers Festival presents a special event with award-winning investigative journalists Chris Masters and Nick McKenzie on 28 July to launch their respective books which centre on the downfall of decorated soldier Ben Roberts-Smith.
Chris Masters (Flawed Hero: Truth, Lies and War Crimes, Allen & Unwin) and Nick McKenzie (Crossing the Line: The Inside Story of Murder, Lies and a Fallen Hero, Hachette Australia) will speak to festival director and former journalist Rosemarie Milsom about their investigations, which began in the battlefields of Afghanistan and led them to the frontlines of the Federal Court.
There will be a book signing at the conclusion of the event thanks to MacLean's Booksellers.
This event is supported by the University of Newcastle's School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences.
Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall
