Byron Writers Festival proves that the Northern Rivers region remains a creative hotspot in 2023 with more than 30 local writers, thinkers, artists and performers featured at this year’s festival including Marele Day (Reckless), Sally Colin-James (One Illumined Thread), Kayte Nunn (The Only Child), Hilton Koppe (One Curious Doctor), Amanda Reichelt-Brushett (Marine Pollution), Hakea Hustler and Carl Merrison (Diraarn) and many more.

“The Northern Rivers is home to an incredible array of writers and storytellers. This year at Byron Writers Festival we will celebrate the outstanding literary talent of our region, many of whom who have honed their skills and ideas in our year round program of activities for writers. I’m delighted to be presenting so many local authors and am particularly excited to be creating dedicated spaces and sessions for our local First Nations storytellers to share their craft and culture,” Zoe Pollock, CEO & Artistic Director said.
 
Acclaimed Northern Rivers based writer Marele Day will discuss her brilliant memoir Reckless with local writer, journalist and smash hit podcast producer Matthew Condon. Local educator, doctor, podcaster and now published author Hilton Koppe (One Curious Doctor: A Memoir of Medicine, Migration and Mortality) will reflect on some of life’s most challenging questions, with great clarity, affection, intimacy, and uncompromising honesty.

Debut novelist Sally Colin-James (One Illumined Thread) will join best-selling authors Anna Funder and Pip Williams to discuss language, power and privilege in what will no doubt be a hugely popular session on Friday. Kayte Nunn, author of the spine-tingling crime thriller The Only Child, will join authors Robbie Arnott and Ben Hobson in the session ‘Inner Wilds’ hosted by festival founder Chris Hanley to explore moments in their novels where base instincts are at work. Koori Mail CEO Naomi Moran will join Dan Etheridge, Director of the Living Lab Northern Rivers in Lismore and marine scientist and educator Amanda Reichelt-Brushett to discuss approaches to rebuilding and restoring community resilience post the 2022 floods.

Brilliant local poets Rebecca Rushbrook and Sarah Temporal will join some of the country’s finest poets and spoken word artists for the ‘Poetry Month Showcase’. Local theatre company NORPA will present contemporary Bundjalung stories on stage at the Brunswick Picture House with Bundjalung Nghari – Indigenise featuring theatrical readings of works by Kirk Page, Naomi Moran, Mark Olive and Grace Lucas-Pennington.

Beloved children’s author Zanni Louise and acclaimed storyteller and artist Lucas Proudfoot will each entertain and inspire kids as part of the popular Kids Big Day Out program, this year hosted by Tristan Bancks. Local First Nations authors, Hakea Hustler and Carl Merrison will be talking about their highly anticipated sequel to Black Cockatoo – Diraarn – at this year’s Primary Schools Day. 

The Festival will open with a ‘Calling to Country’ hosted by Traditional Owner Delta Kay and curated by Rhoda Roberts, that all Friday ticket holders are welcome to attend. During the festival, attendees are invited to sit down with Bundjalung elders and weavers in a ‘Weaving and Yarning Circle’ to celebrate the launch of the book Bulaan Buruugaa Ngali, We Weave Together with Arts Northern Rivers. The festival will close with voices raised in song with attendees invited to join in the joyous local community Shire Choir experience. 

As always, a large contingent of local writers, broadcasters and journalists will host numerous sessions at the festival including Mandy Nolan, Julianne Schultz, Russell Eldridge, Sarah Armstrong and Nell Schofield among many others.

See you there!

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Sessions accessible via a 1-Day or 3-Day festival pass, available to purchase at www.byronwritersfestival.com/tickets