The Byron Bay Writers’ Festival is back in its 16th year with a smorgasbord of literary culture. Widely regarded as one of Australia’s premiere literary events, the festival will take place over three days from the 3-5 August with a program boasting plenty of home grown and international talent.
An event that draws together thousands of literary lovers for three days of intelligent discussion, passionate interaction and fun has been put together by Festival Director Jonathan Parsons. Bringing his own brand of literary curation to the Festival, Parsons and his team have been busy finalising the program which aims to bring a lively and dynamic mix of literary talent to inspire audiences as they showcase over 120 featured writers, readers and thinkers from around the globe.
On the eve of the program launch Parsons said he was delighted to shepherd one of Australia’s most loved literary events.
“It’s been an incredible privilege to immerse myself in Australia’s and the world’s literary cultures and curate a program that reflects where we are now in 2012.” he said.
Amongst the fresh and enticing line up are international guests including the best-selling Indonesian author of all time Andrea Hirata, U.S Pulitzer Prize winner Katherine Boo, cult writer Kiran Nagarkar from Singapore, environmental children’s author and crime writer Shamini Flint, ‘rambunctious, vulgar, funny and moving’ Mohammad Hanif from India, Australian girl done good Sarah Brennan from Pakistan and trans-global fiction writer Xu Xi from Hong Kong.
On home turf, bestselling author Elliot Perlman will wield enormous punch in conversation with lover of literature Mary Delahuntly. Michael Kirby and Darryl Dellora will be swapping notes on their views from the bench and Peter Doherty and Julianne Schultz will be among the guests asking ‘What is Australia for?’
Ready to tickle your funny bones is the hilariously provocative Andy Griffiths who will be vying for attention with Morris Gleitzman while he tries to save ten lives with a paperclip while iconic authors Gail Jones and Charlotte Wood swap notes on the literary life.
Sophie Cunningham, Niromi de Soyza, Denise Leith and Sally Neighbor will give us their hot tips on the art of survival whilst Alex Miller waxed lyrical on his lust for life and art.
Sexual anthropologist Bella Ellwood-Clayton and novelist Susan Johnson will examine the female desire as Michaela Mcguire and Susan Johnson pull the ‘F’ word apart as they discuss feminism in the here and now.
Rohan Wilson and John Baileys pioneering Australian explorers and thugs will contrast John Marsden’s Steiner and the Simpsons while stories of extreme journeys are compared by Anna Rose, Ailsa Piper and Jessica Watson.
The ‘bashed, sued, celebrated and revered’ former Parliamentary leader of the Australian Greens Bob Brown will share a conversation with Kerry O’Brien and Deb Cox, Lois while Geoff Gallop searches for the truth in politics.
Robyn Arianhod, Peter Doherty and Venero Armanno will demonstrate the benefits of slow simmering ideas whilst Stephen Sewell, Marc Fennel and Antony Funnell serve up a portion of digital bang bang. While Jane Caro and Mandy Nolan divulge their hottest tips on how to resuscitate your child’s guineapig, Jon Bell will be keeping the family together as they appease the Gods of Wheat Street.
What started with an audience of two hundred locals and fifty Australian writers in a single venue has grown to fill four huge marquees and venues around town and sells up to 45,000 individual tickets. This August is set to be huge with a combination of live radio broadcasts, readings, panel discussions, book signings, conversations, films, literary food events and book launches.
Festival passes are now on sale at the following prices:
3 day pass – members $210, non-members $245
2 day pass – members $170, non-members $200
1 day pass – members $90, non-members $110
Youth Pass – members $35, non-members $40 (Sunday for ABC3 marquee only)
For more information visit: www.byronbaywritersfestival.com or contact 1300 368 552
