Australia’s largest regional writers festival explores the theme ‘From the ground up’ Featuring 160 writers including Trent Dalton, Richard Flanagan, Jane Harper, Melissa Lucashenko, Charlotte Wood, Bruce Pascoe, Bob Brown, Julia Baird, Nam Le, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Lynette Noni, Bryan Brown, Tony Birch, William McInnes, Chigozie Obioma, Caoilinn Hughes, Tayi Tibble, Meena Kandasamy, Louise Milligan, Kim Williams, Kerry O’Brien, and many more.
Here are four ways you can support Byron Writers Festival:
View or download the full Byron Writers Festival 2024 print program.
View or download the session grids for Friday, Saturday & Sunday
See session details by day in dropdown menus below.
Program session changes will be listed here. Please check back for updates.
9.00am – 10.00am | Acacia
Join award-winning author Tony Birch to discuss his fifth novel, Women & Children, a story about the love and courage between two sisters, and a sudden loss of childhood innocence, from one of this country’s most loved and clear-eyed storytellers. With Grace Lucas-Pennington.
9.15am – 10.15am | Hakea
Acclaimed historical fiction writers Meg Keneally (Free) and Victoria Purman (The Radio Hour) discuss their latest novels inspired by historical figures and actual events – with women at their heart. With Mary Spongberg.
Supported by Southern Cross University.
8.30am – 10.00am | Melaleuca
Candice Fox, Kate Fullagar, David Lindenmayer, Melissa Lucashenko, and William McInnes.
8.45am – 9.45am | Lilly Pilly
The Murdoch media empire and its patriarch have global influence on markets and politics. But how did it all start, and how did Murdoch become the man he is today? Join journalist and critic Walter Marsh (Young Rupert) and Crikey owner and ex-News Corp and Fairfax editor Eric Beecher (The Men Who Killed the News) for an exploration of the man behind the empire. With Julianne Schultz.
Supported by Greenstone Partners.
9.00am – 10.00am | A&I Hall
Delve into the murky underworld of true crime with intrepid journalists and authors Matthew Condon and Gideon Haigh. What drew Gideon to the disappearance of nineteen-year-old nurse on an ocean liner in 1949? And what revelations have followed in the decade since Matthew’s incendiary Three Crooked Kings? With Nell Schofield.
10.00am -11.00am | The Coolamon
Learn from the wisdom of the Elders in this special festival event. Join Arakwal custodian Delta Kay and proud Nyikina man and author Wayne Bergmann in an interactive cultural conversation, led by Muruwari writer Jane Harrison.
Supported by Blak & Bright.
10.15am – 11.15am | Acacia
In her latest poetry collection, Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You, Indian writer and activist Meena Kandasamy explores sex, desire, family and issues of caste, refugees, and freedom of expression with grace and defiance. With Claire Nichols.
Supported by Vasudhara & ABC Radio National’s The Book Show.
10.30am – 11.30am | Hakea
How can communities take environmental and social justice causes to the courts – and win? Hear from experts Merinda Dutton, David Lindenmayer and Isabelle Reinecke about navigating the justice system to fight for our rights. With David Heilpern.
Supported by Southern Cross University.
10.00am – 11.30am | Lilly Pilly
In writing one’s life, where do you begin and what – if anything – is concealed? Join memoirists Kris Kneen, William McInnes and Nova Weetman for an intimate exploration of putting their life on the page. With Alan Close.
Supported by Byron Homestead.
10.15am – 11.15am | A&I Hall
From chosen families to finding our personal village, how have families and communities changed over time? Authors Kon Karapanagiotidis, Marina Kamenev and Molly Schmidt discuss the ways that we make and find our closest kin. With Rosemarie Milsom.
Supported by Byron Shire Council.
11.30am – 12.30pm | Acacia
Songs for the Dead and the Living is a coming-of-age tale played out across generations and continents, from Palestine to Australia. Join acclaimed writer and human-rights activist Sara M Saleh to discuss her breathtaking portrait of the fragilities and flaws of family in the wake of war, and the love it takes to overcome great loss. With Tony Birch.
11.45am – 12.45pm | Hakea
Join bestselling fantasy authors Lynette Noni (The Prison Healer) and Lili Wilkinson (Deep Is the Fen) for a journey through their latest worldbending books, centred on powerful female protagonists working against systems of corruption. With Rhianna Patrick.
11.00am – 12.00pm | Melaleuca
In her stunningly inventive and thought-provoking collection Always Will Be, Mykaela Saunders poses the question: what might country, community and culture look like in the Tweed if Gooris reasserted their sovereignty? With Daniel Browning.
11.15am – 12.15pm | Lilly Pilly
Is there a way to get your story out there without a traditional publisher? Learn how to publish your own books with self-published author Jessica Mudditt in conversation with Anna Featherstone.
Supported by IngramSpark.
11.30am – 12.30pm | A&I Hall
How much of what we think we know about history is incomplete, and what if the dominant story we’ve been told isn’t strictly the facts? Join writers and historians Sarah Percy, Kate Fullagar and David Marr to delve into the true stories that shape who we are and the way we understand our world. With Walter Marsh.
12.45pm – 1.45pm | Acacia
Join three superstars of the festival to discuss the influences on their work and the way gender, race and class struggles inform their literary practice. Through fiction and poetry Caoilinn Hughes, Meena Kandasamy and Melissa Lucashenko address some of the most pertinent social and political issues today. With Ashley Hay.
Supported by Vasudhara.
1.00pm – 2.00pm | Hakea
Drawn from the internationally acclaimed play, Prima Facie is a propulsive, raw look at the price victims pay for speaking out and the system that sets them up to fail. Join author and playwright Suzie Miller in conversation with Guardian culture editor Steph Harmon.
12.15pm – 1.15pm | Melaleuca
One day in January 1788, seven Aboriginal men gather as newly arrived ships are sighted in the great bay. What will be the men’s response to these visitors? Join award-winning novelist and playwright Jane Harrison to discuss her powerful re-imagining of a crucial moment in Australia’s history. With Karen Wyld.
12.30pm – 1.30pm | Lilly Pilly
What are the ethical considerations when making fiction out of the darkest days in people’s lives? How far is too far to go in the name of research? Acclaimed writers Matthew Condon, Candice Fox and Benjamin Stevenson discuss how they manage moral complexities to write great, gripping fiction. With Rosemarie Milsom.
1.00pm – 2.00pm | The Coolamon
Join literary agent Alex Adsett and Pantera Press publisher Lex Hirst for a behind-the-scenes look at the publishing industry. From slush piles to royalties, gain an insider’s guide to getting published. With Victoria Purman.
12.45pm – 1.45pm | A&I Hall
Join Kon Karapanagiotidis at his table in A Seat at My Table: Philoxenia, a beautiful and inspiring Greek vegetarian and vegan cookbook. Featuring more than 100 recipes passed down through the generations, this book will teach you to cook with community at your heart. With Nell Schofield.
2.00pm – 3.00pm | Acacia
Beginning at a love hotel by Japan’s Inland Sea and ending by a river in Tasmania, Question 7 is about the choices we make about love and the chain reaction that follows. Join Booker Prize-winning author Richard Flanagan to discuss this love song to his island home and to his parents, in a melding of dream, history, place and memory. With Jill Eddington.
2.15pm – 3.15pm | Hakea
Celebrate national Poetry Month with this exciting performance event. Hear from acclaimed poets Sara M Saleh, Jazz Money, Anne-Marie Te Whiu, Luka Lesson, Ella Bancroft, Ali Cobby Eckermann, and Tayi Tibble (NZ). Hosted by Nicole Smede.
Supported by Red Room Poetry.
1.30pm – 2.30pm | Melaleuca
Join two of the festival’s brightest debut authors, Graham Akhurst (Borderland) and Steph Tisdell (The Skin I’m In), about their beautiful and complex Young Adult novels. Telling stories of Indigenous identity, and cultural and personal expectations, discover a new world of fiction about growing up and discovering who you are. With Amy Lovat.
Supported by Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.
1.45pm – 2.45pm | Lilly Pilly
How do writers create whole, absorbing worlds within the slightest word counts? And what can short stories do that novels can’t? Delight in the economy and profundity of the short form with award-winning short story writers Yumna Kassab, Laura Jean McKay and Mykaela Saunders. With Sana Qadar.
2.30pm – 3.30pm | The Coolamon
Byron Bay is known internationally for our beautiful beaches, culture, and lifestyle – and is the inspiration for numerous books. Join Annika Johansson (Downstream) and P.A. Thomas (The Beacon) for an insightful discussion about their latest homegrown novels. With Mick O’Regan.
2.00pm – 3.00pm | A&I Hall
In Home to Biloela, Priya Nadesalingam shares her story of fleeing war-torn Sri Lanka and making a new life in Australia, only for the government to attempt to deport the family in 2018. But the people of Biloela wouldn’t have it. Priya is joined by journalist Rebekah Holt who recounts the fight to keep them home. With Nadine J. Cohen.
3.15pm – 4.15pm | Acacia
Saba is a child when he flees the fighting in the Soviet Republic of Georgia with his brother and father for England. Two decades later, all three struggle to make peace with the past. Join Leo Vardiashvili to discuss Hard by a Great Forest, a powerful and hopeful novel about the trauma of war, and the indomitable spirit to survive. With Jennifer Byrne.
Supported by Greenstone Partners.
3.30pm – 4.30pm | Hakea
The ocean has shaped and sustained life on Earth from the beginning of time. Explore the deepest recesses of our natural world, and its role in humanity’s and our planet’s future, with author James Bradley, climate scientist Joëlle Gergis, and oceanographer Daniel Harrison. With Courtney Miller.
Supported by Southern Cross University.
2.45pm – 3.45pm | Melaleuca
How does a child survive years of unimaginable abuse? She splits. And splits again. And again. Join Maggie Walters for an insightful discussion about her memoir, Split – A Life Shared: Living with Multiple Personality Disorder. With Anna Featherstone.
Supported by Bold Authors.
3.00pm – 4.oopm | Lilly Pilly
How do writers approach the stories of this continent when so much of its colonial history has been missing or distorted? Join Melissa Lucashenko (Edenglassie) and Kate Fullagar (Bennelong and Phillip) for a discussion of the writing and re-writing of history in literature. With Walter Marsh.
3.15pm – 4.15pm | A&I Hall
Join ethicist Clive Hamilton and investigative journalist Louise Milligan as they examine the elite private school and the role these powerful institutions play in Australian society as a training ground for tomorrow’s leaders in government and business. With Erik Jensen.
4.30pm – 5.30pm | Acacia
Discover the new fiction title from bestselling author Bruce Pascoe. In Imperial Harvest, Yen Se has lost everything to the Khan’s brutality. Left with one eye and one arm, he moves across Europe with the men and women who dare to dream of peace. With Grace Lucas-Pennington.
4.45pm – 5.45pm | Hakea
In The Men Who Killed The News, Crikey owner and ex-News Corp and Fairfax editor Eric Beecher lifts the lid on the abuse of power by media moguls – from William Randolph Hearst to Elon Musk – and on his own experience of working for (and being sued by) the Murdochs. With John Lyons.
Supported by The Echo.
4.00pm – 5.00pm | Melaleuca
How does an editor curate a collection of stories and poems? How is a singular vision, or multiplicity, realised? Delve into two beautiful anthologies featuring First Nations writers, with The Rocks Remain, edited by Karen Wyld, and This All Come Back Now, edited by Mykaela Saunders. With Anne-Marie Te Whiu.
4.15pm – 5.15pm | Lilly Pilly
Sisters are rich ground for novelists, offering complex and compelling dynamics to explore familial and romantic relationships, social and political issues, and time periods. Join Caoilinn Hughes (The Alternatives) and Nadine J. Cohen (Everyone and Everything) to discuss the roles of literary siblings in their works and the canon. With Sarah Armstrong.
4.00pm – 5.30pm | The Coolamon
Australian Poetry Slam 2024 invites you to cheer, snap, and hold-up scorecards in this nation-wide celebration of spoken-wordsmiths. Judges, chosen from the audience, will send two poetic messengers to represent Byron in the NSW State Final! Are you the next APS Champion?
Hosted by Miles Merrill. Featuring current APS Champions Rob Waters & K.J. Hayward.
4.30pm – 5.30pm | A&I Hall
Byron Writers Festival is thrilled to present the launch of Sassafras!
Renowned sociologist and author Rebecca Huntley didn’t know what ailed her, but she knew it was embedded deep within her mind – and her past. Sassafras is the story of Rebecca’s quest to overcome trauma via the use of MDMA treatment that is now legal, yet still controversial. Join Rebecca Huntley for the launch of Sassafras with Steph Harmon.
9.00am – 10.00am | Acacia
Join Charlotte Wood to discuss her latest novel Stone Yard Devotional – longlisted for the 2024 Miles Franklin Award – a deeply moving novel about forgiveness, grief, and what it means to be ‘good’, from the award-winning author of The Natural Way of Things and The Weekend. With Jill Eddington.
Supported by Elements of Byron.
9.15am – 10.15am | Hakea
Whether as pets, companions, aids, property, or food, animals are deeply linked to human beings. Join prize-winning novelists James Bradley (Deep Water), Laura Jean McKay (Gunflower) and ethicist Peter Singer (The Buddhist and the Ethicist) to discuss how we depict animals in literature and value them in our lives. With David Roland.
9.00am – 10.00am | Melaleuca
Shirley Hazzard and Elizabeth Harrower met in person in 1972, six years after they began a correspondence that would span decades, exchanging letters between Harrower’s home in Sydney and Hazzard’s apartments in New York, Naples and Capri. Edited by Brigitta Olubas and Susan Wyndham, Hazzard and Harrower is an extraordinary account of two literary luminaries. Brigitta Olubas is in conversation with Suzy Freeman-Greene.
Supported by The Book Room.
8.45am – 9.45am | Lilly Pilly
Join talented novelists Sarah Sasson (Tidelines), Jessie Tu (The Honeyeater), and Karen Viggers (Sidelines) to discuss the ways that families inspire and bind us. Whether between mothers and daughters, siblings, or parents, family relationships help us understand ourselves, our pasts and futures, and our worlds. With Zacharey Jane.
8.45am – 9.45am | A&I Hall
Start your Saturday at the festival over coffee and the week’s news with journalists and authors Clive Hamilton (The Privileged Few), Marina Kamenev (Kin: Family in the 21st century), and Royce Kurmelovs (Slick: Australia’s Toxic Relationship with Big Oil). With Erik Jensen.
Supported by The Saturday Paper.
9.00am – 10.00am | The Coolamon
Good Mourning is the straight-talking top podcast, community, book and movement making life after loss a little easier. Join Imogen Carn and Sally Douglas in conversation about their mission to provide a compass for post-loss living. With Sana Qadar.
10.30am – 11.30am | Hakea
In this festival highlight, join award-winning poet Ali Cobby Eckermann (She is the Earth), Booker Prize-winning novelist Richard Flanagan (Question 7), ecologist David Lindenmayer (Forest Wars), and local Greens MLC Sue Higginson for a conversation about the environment and the urgent need to care for the natural world. With Bob Brown.
Supported by The Book Room.
10.15am – 11.15am | Melaleuca
Conjured by the senses, coloured by emotion, recalled consciously or involuntarily and, at times, fallible, lost or false, memory is rich ground for literary writers. Join Tony Birch (Women & Children), Sara M Saleh (Songs for the Dead and the Living) and Leo Vardiashvili (Hard by a Great Forest) for an exploration of the role of memory in their works. With Russell Eldridge.
10.00am – 11.00am | Lilly Pilly
Join journalist, author and polymath Gideon Haigh for an intimate discussion of his latest works, including the moving memoir My Brother Jaz, true crime investigation The Girl in Cabin 350, and biography The One Indiscretion of His Life. Widely known as Australia’s favourite cricket writer, Haigh is one of our most prolific and insightful writers today. With Chris Hanley.
10.00am – 11.00am | A&I Hall
Join Lech Blaine (Quarterly Essay: Bad Cop) and frequent QE contributor David Marr for an in-depth analysis of the Australian Liberal Party’s membership and leadership issues, its changing international influences, and where to next for the party.
Supported by Quarterly Essay.
10.15am – 11.15am | The Coolamon
From climbing the Salathe Wall on El Capitan, to crash landing a hot air balloon in Tibet, after over-flying Mt Everest, Chris Dewhirst’s Everest, Guns & Money is a page-turning political thriller and deep-dive memoir, written by a man who has lived life on the edge. With Madelaine Dickie.
11.30am – 12.30pm | Acacia
In January 2024, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced media executive Kim Williams as the next chair of the ABC. Join Kim in conversation with Kerry O’Brien to reflect on his new role at the beloved national broadcaster and to share his vision for its future, as well as his thoughts on the current state of Australian media and the arts.
11.45am – 12.45pm | Hakea
Bighearted, gritty, magical and moving, Lola in the Mirror is the irresistible new novel from international bestselling author of Boy Swallows Universe and All Our Shimmering Skies, Trent Dalton. Join this festival favourite in conversation with Julia Baird.
Supported by Crystalbrook Byron.
11.30am – 12.30pm | Melaleuca
How do writers bring lightness and humour to even the darkest subjects? Join some of our wittiest authors, Melissa Lucashenko (Edenglassie), Benjamin Stevenson (Everyone on This Train is a Suspect) and Steph Tisdell (The Skin I’m In), for a panel about the balancing act between tragedy and comedy, and the importance of laughter in tough times. With Sana Qadar.
11.15am – 12.15pm | Lilly Pilly
The media’s treatment of Indigenous issues, including Black deaths in custody, legacies of the NT intervention, and treaty negotiations, shows we have a long way to go to accessing justice. Join talented writers and experts Wayne Bergmann (Some People Want to Shoot Me), Amy McQuire (Black Witness) and Rob Waters (2023 Australian Poetry Slam Champion) to explore how we can hold power to account and make the world a more equitable place. With Merinda Dutton.
11.15am – 12.15pm | A&I Hall
The Thea Astley Address, named in honour of one of Australia’s most influential and distinctive novelists, has been presented annually at the Byron Writers Festival since 2005. This year, join acclaimed author James Bradley to deliver the 2024 Address on the wonder and plight of our oceans, following his latest book, Deep Water. With Ashley Hay.
11.30am – 12.30pm | The Coolamon
In Karkalla at Home: Native Foods & Everyday Recipes for Connecting to Country, chef, author and proud Bundjalung woman Mindy Woods features stories and profiles on more than 40 of the continent’s most readily available native ingredients. With Annabelle Hickson.
12.45pm – 1.45pm | Acacia
Set in 1960s Nigeria, The Road to the Country is the epic story of a university student conscripted into the breakaway Biafran army and forced to fight a war he hardly understands. The story of a young man in a country on fire, Chigozie Obioma’s novel is an odyssey of brotherhood, love, and unimaginable courage. With Claire Nichols.
Supported by ABC Radio National’s The Book Show.
1.00pm – 2.00pm | Hakea
In Woven, poets weave words across lands and seas, gathering collaborative threads and shining a light on First Nations poetry from Australia and across the globe. Join Ali Cobby Eckermann (She is the Earth) and Jazz Money (Mark the Dawn) for conversation and readings from this remarkable collection. With editor Anne-Marie Te Whiu.
12.45pm – 1.45pm | Melaleuca
Pain, in all its forms, is felt acutely in private. So how do we write this experience for readers? Join authors Sally Douglas (Good Mourning), Ailsa Piper (For Life), and Sarah Sasson (Tidelines) for a discussion on the ways we feel and write about pain, as well as healing, resilience, and the power of community. With Ashley Hay.
12.30pm – 1.30pm | Lilly Pilly
David Marr was shocked to discover forebears who served with the brutal Native Police in the bloodiest years on the frontier. Killing for Country is the result – a soul-searching history of a war still unresolved in today’s Australia. With Rebecca Huntley.
Supported by Greenstone Partners.
12.30pm – 1.30pm | A&I Hall
What changes when writing a story from the stage to the page? Explore the creative process of adaptation with two skilled and award-winning playwright-turned-authors, Jane Harrison (The Visitors) and Suzie Miller (Prima Facie). With Julian Louis.
Supported by NORPA.
12.45pm – 1.45pm | The Coolamon
Rainforest Warriors is the story of extraordinary cultural change in the Byron hinterland in the 1970s and how that led to Australia’s first ever fight against environmental destruction – a fight that resulted in undreamt of success – the creation of national parks down the spine of the state. Join author Stephen Wyatt for the launch of Rainforest Warriors with John Lyons.
2.00pm – 3.00pm | Acacia
In 2023, the psychedelic drugs psilocybin and MDMA became legal in Australia for treatment of depression and PTSD, yet their use remains controversial. Join authors Tim Baker, James Bradley and Rebecca Huntley for an insightful discussion on how psychedelics are transforming mental health therapies. With Chris Hanley.
2.15pm – 3.15pm | Hakea
Fifteen years after his best-selling, award-winning collection of stories The Boat, Nam Le returns to his great themes of identity and representation in a virtuosic debut book of poetry. 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem is scathing, hilarious, and desperately moving. With Caoilinn Hughes.
Supported by The Book Room.
2.00pm – 3.00pm | Melaleuca
Murder, drugs, liaisons and lies are stirring up a small coastal town. Join Bryan Brown in conversation about his latest novel, The Drowning, in his characteristic laconic storytelling that is humorous, tough and suspenseful. With Jennifer Byrne.
1.45pm – 2.15pm | Lilly Pilly
Yumna Kassab’s Politica is a captivating literary journey that delves into the intertwined lives of a town, its people, and a region shaped by revolution. From the acclaimed author of The House of Youssef and The Lovers comes a powerful new novel that asks if it’s possible to measure the personal cost of war. With Karen Wyld.
1.45pm – 2.45pm | A&I Hall
A great wealth transfer is seeing the fortunes of Baby Boomers passed onto Gen X, Millenials and Gen Y – but not everyone will benefit. Join young writers Lech Blaine, Bri Lee and Steph Tisdell to discuss class inequality and the growing divide between those with or without family assets. With Isabelle Reinecke.
Supported by The Saturday Paper.
2.00pm – 3.00pm | The Coolamon
Join festival guests Dylin Hardcastle (A Language of Limbs), Kay Kerr (Love & Autism), and Jessie Tu (The Honeyeater) for an intimate discussion on the myriad and changing forms of social and romantic relationships, and what it means to love and care for another. With Carody Culver.
3.15pm – 4.15pm | Acacia
Following the phenomenon of his bestselling Dark Emu, Bruce Pascoe and his partner Lyn Harwood invite us to imagine a different future for Australia, one where we can honour our relationship with nature and improve agriculture and forestry. With Ashley Hay.
Supported by Southern Cross University.
3.30pm – 4.30pm | Hakea
Have you ever behaved like a drongo? Added mayo to a story? Lost your Reg Grundies? Join bestselling author and acclaimed actor William McInnes to discuss Yeah, Nah! – a collection of hilarious memories and moments inspired by Australia’s way with words. With Marieke Hardy.
Supported by Rochdale Accounting & Advisory.
3.15pm – 4.15pm | Melaleuca
In 2024, almost 50% of the global population in over 60 countries will head to the polls in national elections. From India to the USA, join journalists Nick Bryant, Meena Kandasamy and John Lyons to discuss the results and the consequences to come. With Misha Ketchell.
Supported by The Conversation.
3.00pm – 4.00pm | Lilly Pilly
When her husband doesn’t answer his phone, Ailsa Piper knows something is wrong. For Life is an unforgettable and moving insight into loss, hope and starting again, aided by the incredible healing power of nature and a community of unexpected angels. With Charlotte Wood.
Supported by Honey Bee Homes.
3.00pm – 4.00pm | A&I Hall
In 2010, Nyikina man Wayne Bergmann has just received a death threat. He is chief executive of the Kimberley Land Council during the controversial James Price Point gas hub negotiations that will tear the Broome community apart. Join Wayne in conversation with co-writer Madelaine Dickie for this tale of resilience, determination and optimism, and what it takes to be an Aboriginal person walking in two cultures in a country where racism runs deep.
3.15pm – 4.15pm | The Coolamon
Explore the natural beauty and poetic pathways of the festival site in this walking tour featuring performances by acclaimed poets Tony Birch, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Luka Lesson, Nicole Smede, and hosted by Emilie Zoey Baker.
Supported by Australian Poetry via funding from the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.
4.30pm – 5.30pm | Acacia
From the bestselling author of Phosphorescence, Julia Baird, comes Bright Shining, a beautiful and timely exploration of that most mysterious but necessary of human qualities: grace. With David Roland.
Supported by Vasudhara.
4.45pm – 5.45pm | Hakea
Who inspires the icons? Join AFL legend and memoirist Nicky Winmar and creative powerhouse Rhoda Roberts AO, writer of My Cousin Frank about Australia’s first Aboriginal Olympian, for this uplifting celebration of stories about heroes in the sporting world. With Naomi Moran.
Supported by First Nations Australia Writers Network FNAWN.
4.30pm – 5.15pm | Melaleuca
When someone dies, your whole world stops – but what do you do when it keeps turning for everyone else? Join festival guests Imogen Carn (Good Mourning), Gideon Haigh (My Brother Jaz) and Molly Schmidt (Salt River Road) for this moving exploration of death, loss, and how we keep moving. With Nova Weetman.
4.15pm – 5.15pm | Lilly Pilly
Join critically-acclaimed autistic author Kay Kerr (Love & Autism) and sexologist and counsellor Jodi Rodgers (Unique: What Autism Can Teach Us about Difference, Connection and Belonging) for a joyful discussion about neurodivergent love, and a deeper look into the lives of autistic Australians. With Kris Kneen.
4.15pm – 5.15pm | A&I Hall
Byron Writers Festival is thrilled to present the launch of Slick!
Investigative journalist Royce Kurmelovs’ Slick is a riveting expose of the global oil industry’s multi-decade conspiracy to undermine efforts to address environmental devastation. It tells the stories of fire and flood survivors, and the activists engaged in a fight for the future of Australia. Join Royce Kurmelovs for the launch of Slick with Isabelle Reinecke.
9.00am – 10.00am | Acacia
What are the books that shaped our culture? The cultural touchstones of old were mostly written by dead white men. But a new canon has emerged written by diverse authors. Join writer and farmer Bruce Pascoe, biographer Brigitta Olubas, and novelist Meg Keneally about the books that wield influence today. With Suzy Freeman-Greene.
Supported by The Conversation.
9.15am – 10.15am | Hakea
Join Bri Lee and Jessie Tu for an exploration of their compelling new releases. Lee’s The Work is the debut novel about art, power, love and money from the bestselling author of Eggshell Skull, while Tu’s The Honeyeater is the follow up to acclaimed bestseller A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing. With Courtney Miller.
Supported by Vasudhara.
9.00am – 10.00am | Melaleuca
The Forever War: America’s Unending Conflict with Itself tells the story of America’s extreme polarisation 250 years in the making. Nick Bryant explains how the hate, divisiveness and paranoia we see today are a core part of America’s story. With Chris Hanley.
Supported by First National Byron.
9.00am – 12.30pm | Lilly Pilly and The Coolamon
Kids Big Day Out returns with a stellar line-up of stories and music. A perfect outing for the whole family, kids can get involved in interactive sessions in our workshop space.
9.00am – 10.00am | A&I Hall
To curb the climate crisis, there can be no more oil, gas or coal. Yet governments around the world, including Australia, are approving new fossil fuel projects. Climate scientist Joëlle Gergis (Highway to Hell) and investigative journalist Royce Kurmelovs (Slick) analyse the government paralysis around ending fossil fuels and provide a roadmap for taking action. With Julianne Schultz.
Supported by The Saturday Paper.
10.15am – 11.15am | Acacia
Two international festival guests Chigozie Obioma (The Road to the Country) and Leo Vardiashvili (Hard By a Great Forest) discuss their stunning new novels following brothers and family separation, set in times of civil war – the Biafran War in Nigeria, and in post-Soviet Georgia. With Kerry O’Brien.
Supported by Greenstone Partners.
10.30am – 11.30am | Hakea
Join bestselling author Lynette Noni in conversation about her dark, thrilling YA fantasy, The Prison Healer, about a girl forced to heal prisoners and wager her life in a series of deadly elemental trials, all to save the rebel forces queen. With Sarah Armstrong.
10.15am – 11.15am | Melaleuca
Being creative is good for the soul – and our mental health. It reduces stress and calms our nervous system. It’s also part of being human. Join beloved Australian musician Kate Ceberano (Unsung) and Creative First Aid authors Caitlin Marshall and Lizzie Rose for an inspiring discussion on the power of creativity. With Mandy Nolan.
Supported by Organic India.
10.15am – 11.15am | A&I Hall
Fat child, self-denying adolescent, hungry young woman. A body burgeoning uncontrolled into middle age. Kris Kneen has borne the usual indignities: the clothes that won’t fasten, the mirror that affronts, the stranger whose gaze judges and dismisses. Join Kris in conversation about this frank, beautiful and triumphant ode to self-respect. With Amy Lovat.
11.30am – 12.30pm | Acacia
Join acclaimed and award-winning writer and journalist Louise Milligan in conversation about her stunning and surprising thriller with a gigantic heart: a gripping, propulsive and brilliantly original debut crime novel, Pheasants Nest. With Jan Fran.
11.45am – 12.45pm | Hakea
Join one of Ireland’s most gifted storytellers, Caoilinn Hughes, in conversation about her latest book. Described by writer Anthony Doerr as ‘a massive talent,’ Hughes’ The Alternatives is the story of four brilliant Irish sisters, orphaned in childhood, who scramble to reconnect when the oldest disappears into the Irish countryside. With Bri Lee.
Supported by Greenstone Partners
11.30.am – 12.30pm | Melaleuca
In Balcony Over Jerusalem: A Middle East Memoir, foreign correspondent John Lyons draws from his years living in Jerusalem to give context to the devastating war between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza. Beyond the politics and headlines, Lyons explains the Middle East through everyday life and the conversations with friends on their balcony overlooking it all. With Julianne Schultz.
11.30am – 12.30pm | A&I Hall
Join Jane Harper, author of the international bestsellers The Dry, Force of Nature, The Lost Man and The Survivors, for an in-depth discussion of her latest book, the New York Times bestseller, Exiles. With Zacharey Jane.
12.30pm – 1.30pm | The Coolamon
Creativity meets mental health in this empowering and playful guide to self-care and wellbeing, with Caitlin Marshall and Lizzie Rose. This workshop will involve live creative “prescriptions” including drawing, writing, storytelling and movement, as well as content on mental health and well-being, how our nervous system works, what happens when we do something creative, and how this supports good mental health. The workshop is designed for adults and teens (accompanied by a guardian).
12.45pm – 1.45pm | Acacia
In The Buddhist and the Ethicist, philosopher and professor of bioethics Peter Singer joined forces with Venerable Shih Chao-Hwei, a Taiwanese Buddhist monastic and social activist to share unique perspectives on contemporary issues and reveal how we can all move toward making the world a better place. With Courtney Miller.
Supported by Vasudhara.
1.00pm – 2.00pm | Hakea
For 50 years, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player Jim Moginie was a driving force behind iconic rock band Midnight Oil. Threaded with vivid recollections of childhood, behind-the-scenes stories of band life and insights into his creative process, The Silver River is a moving and inspiring memoir of families lost and rediscovered. With Marieke Hardy.
Supported by The Sunseeker.
12.45pm – 1.45pm | Melaleuca
Close to the Subject is the collected works of one of Australia’s most accomplished media personalities. Chronicling his career since 2007, join Daniel Browning to reflect on his stellar career as a journalist, radio broadcaster, critic and interviewer. With Rhianna Patrick.
Supported by Koori Mail.
12.45pm – 1.45pm | Lilly Pilly
Join acclaimed writers Bryan Brown (The Drowning) and Dinuka McKenzie (Tipping Point) for a riveting discussion about their novels inspired by the NSW North Coast and the Northern Rivers. With P.A. Thomas.
12.45pm – 1.45pm | A&I Hall
Griffith Review 85: Status Anxiety grapples with the fallout of our status anxiety and explores what happens when we don’t measure up. Join contributors Shahar Hameiri and Haruko Koga. With Carody Culver.
Supported by Griffith Review.
2.00pm – 3.00pm | Acacia
In Living Hot: Surviving and Thriving on a Heating Planet, Clive Hamilton argues that it’s time to make Australia resilient to intensifying climate extremes. If we prepare well, we can preserve some of the best of what we have, build stronger and fairer communities, and find ways to thrive. With Misha Ketchell.
2.15pm – 3.15pm | Hakea
For the 2024 Mungo MacCallum Panel, join acclaimed journalists Nick Bryant (The Forever War), Amy McQuire (Black Witness) and Louise Milligan (Pheasants Nest) for an exploration of the state of media freedom in Australia and around the world, including emerging threats and what needs to be done to ensure a robust and independent media. With Julianne Schultz.
2.00pm – 3.00pm | Melaleuca
In Unsung: A Compendium of Creativity, Kate Ceberano muses on the people and experiences that have inspired her, humbled her, what hurts and what sustains. A powerful woman in her prime, she is a reflective, romantic and vulnerable artist making sense of the universe. It’s proof of a lifetime lived in music. With Chris Hanley.
Supported by First National Byron
2.00pm – 3.00pm | Lilly Pilly
Join creative powerhouses and Bundjalung women Bronwyn Bancroft and Ella Noah Bancroft, authors of Sun and Moon, for an intimate exploration of our relationships with, and as, mothers. With author of Yanga Mother, Cheryl Leavy.
2.00pm – 3.00pm | A&I Hall
In Unique, beloved star of ABC TV’s award-winning Love on the Spectrum and disability rights advocate Jodi Rodgers shares stories from her three-decade career working with the autistic community and calls for a more inclusive and accepting society. With Mandy Nolan.
2.00pm – 3.00pm | The Coolamon
Francis ‘Frank’ Roberts spent his entire life fighting. A boxing champion, he was the first Aboriginal Olympian. Outside the ring, he fought tirelessly for his family and culture. Join Rhoda Roberts AO as she shares tales about the making of her one-woman-show about her first cousin Frank. With Julian Louis.
Supported by NORPA.
3.15pm – 4.15pm | Acacia
Thirty years after creating one of the most memorable moments in sporting history, Indigenous AFL legend Nicky Winmar tells his story in a moving and compelling memoir, giving rare insight into his life. With Gideon Haigh.
3.30pm – 4.15pm | Hakea
How do poets craft powerful messages with wit and wisdom, making every word count? Join acclaimed poets Nam Le (36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem) and Tayi Tibble (Rangikura) for a discussion on their creative practice. With Anne-Marie Te Whiu.
3.15pm – 4.00pm | Melaleuca
Nova Weetman’s unforgettable memoir Love, Death & Other Scenes reflects on experiences of love and loss from throughout her life, including losing her beloved partner, playwright Aidan Fennessy, during the 2020 Covid lockdown. With Sarah Armstrong.
3.15pm – 4.00pm | Lilly Pilly
Regional Australia has so much more going on than droughts, floods and fires. Join journalist and author Madelaine Dickie (Some People Want to Shoot Me) and musician and memoirist Jim Moginie (The Silver River) in discussion about their regional lives. With Annabelle Hickson.
Supported by Galah Press.
4.15pm – 4.45pm | Melaleuca
Join us to close the 2024 Byron Writers Festival with the Shire Choir. Directed by Melia Naughton and produced by Sally Schofield, all are invited to participate in this rousing pop-up choir event, featuring special guest, Midnight Oil’s Jim Moginie (The Silver River). All voices are welcome, no experience required.
Our festival bar will be open for events in the A&I Hall. Books will be available for purchase and signing at all feature events.
Be ignited and inspired by a powerful lineup of poets and performers from Aotearoa/New Zealand, India and Australia. From stories of culture and identity, politics and activism, to relationships and desire, be immersed in rhythm and language in this cabaret-style feature event. Featuring festival stars Jazz Money, Nam Le, Tayi Tibble (NZ), Meena Kandasamy (India), Mitch King, and winners from the Poets Out Loud Slam and Australian Poetry Slam heats, with music by Nicole Smede.
Their dynamic voices and beats will bring fire to Byron Writers Festival, and light up the night. Hosted by Mandy Nolan.
Supported by Kassa-Miller Giving
Nourish your mind with big ideas to change our world at the annual Byron Writers Festival gala!
Hosted by ABC First Tuesday Book Club’s Jennifer Byrne, high-profile guests of the festival will grace the stage of Byron Theatre to deliver powerful and entertaining talks inspired by the 2024 festival theme ‘From the Ground Up’. Featuring twice-Booker Prize shortlisted Nigerian author Chigozie Obioma, new ABC Late Night Live host David Marr, Four Corners investigative journalist Louise Milligan, Parramatta’s inaugural literature laureate Yumna Kassab, and Indigenous journalist Amy McQuire.
See some of the brightest thinkers of the festival in one night.
Supported by Greenstone Partners
Join Bob Brown, former senator and parliamentary leader of the Australian Greens, for an intimate evening of discussion. What prompted Bob to write a young adult ‘novelette’, and what can it teach us about engaging young people in the fight for Earth’s future?
Bob Brown’s list of book titles is as long as his list of arrests for environmental action. His most recent book, Thera, is his first work of fiction, but why was it rejected by four publishers? Bob says there is a new revolution in the air and young people are the hope of the Earth. His motto: ‘Don’t get depressed, get active.’ Bob will be joined in conversation by Jan Fran.
Better Off Said: Eulogies for the Living and Dead is a spoken-word salon celebrating words, stories and human experiences. Produced by ABC First Tuesday Book Club’s Marieke Hardy and hosted by acclaimed poet Emilie Zoey Baker, experience moving and hilarious letters written and read by high-profile festival artists.
Festival guests, award-winning First Nations poet Ali Cobby Eckermann, actor and memoirist William McInnes, Midnight Oil’s Jim Moginie, First Nations comedian and author Steph Tisdell, and Georgian novelist Leo Vardiashvili will speak to the phrase “The words I wish I’d said” and deliver a Living Eulogy to someone or something still of this earth, to celebrate the best in our lives while we’re here to hear it.
Supported by Vasudhara
We are continually aiming to improve access to Byron Writers Festival and enhance the experience of patrons of all abilities. Please contact us on [email protected] if you require any further information or advice in regards to the below.
Selected sessions from the main program will be Auslan interpreted. These will be noted on our festival program webpage and at the Info Booth at the festival.
Patrons can also bring their own interpreters on a free carer’s pass to the festival and request a seat in the front row of sessions as required.
The Festival site is located at Bangalow Showground. The terrain is largely flat and grassy, but there are sections with trees, and natural inclines that can become more difficult to navigate in a wheelchair after periods of rain. We advise to use a wheelchair with large wheels if possible.
There are wheelchair accessible toilets at the festival site.
Festival marquees have allocated seating for wheelchairs. Please make yourself known to the marquee supervisor and you will be ushered to an accessible seat.
Festival feature events and satellite events take place in various venues across the Northern Rivers. If you require a wheelchair accessible seat at any of our feature or satellite events, please call the office on (02) 6685 5115 or email [email protected] to make the necessary arrangements.
Dedicated accessible parking is available. A drop-off / pick-up zone is located close to the festival entrance. Our parking volunteers can assist and direct you accordingly. Please clearly display your disability parking permit.
Parking at Bangalow Showground is $5 per day. You will need to purchase a parking pass along with your ticket to the festival. The car park opens at 7.30am each day.
Accessible parking at feature events and satellite events is dependent on council parking regulations in and around the selected venue.
Byron Writers Festival is a participant of the National Companion Card scheme, offering patrons with disability who hold a current companion card a second ticket for their accompanying companion at no charge.
When you arrive, please make your way to the festival box office and present your National Companion Card, along with your festival ticket, to our friendly staff. You will be allocated a corresponding complimentary pass for your companion. There is a limit of one companion pass per person per day. For further information please visit the NSW government companion card webpage.
Assistance animals are welcome at the festival site. If you are blind or have low vision and want to attend an event at Byron Writers Festival, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT can provide you with free training on how to travel safely from any location to your event at the festival. Call 1800 804 805 to discuss your travel needs.
As an iconic event within our community, Byron Writers Festival is striving to become an environmental leader in the arts with our approach to sustainability.
We are committed to working with artists, suppliers, crew, volunteers, donors, sponsors and audiences who share our environmental values and are passionate about preserving our region for future generations.
You can join us in our vision to reduce our impacts by following these tips and guidelines.
Byron Writers Festival and our food and coffee vendors are working to reduce landfill wherever possible.
What you can do:
This year we have three student writing prizes:
Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize – Years 9 – 11 students
Susie Warrick Young Writers Award – Years 7 & 8 students
The Jesse Blackadder Prize – Years 4 – 6 students
Entrants of all competitions must live within the Byron Writers Festival footprint, from Taree in the south, Kyogle in the west and Tweed Heads in the north.
Click on the headings below for prize details. Scroll to the bottom of the page for key dates, application guidelines and links.
The Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize, proudly supported by Southern Cross University, aims to stimulate and showcase youth thinking and writing around the future and our place in it.
The Brief
Write an original piece of creative or journalistic writing of up to 500 words on the theme Transforming our World.
Who can enter
Years 9 – 11 students
Prizes
Applications for Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize have closed.
Winners notified on Tuesday 16 July 2024.
Presentation of Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize at Byron Writers Festival Secondary Schools Day on Thursday 8 August, 2024.
Proudly supported by Southern Cross University
Click image to download PDF Poster
In memory of Susie Warrick, this award celebrates the art of the short story and supports emerging young writers in furthering their career.
The Brief
Write an original short story up to 500 words on any theme.
Who can enter
Years 7 – 8 students.
Prizes
Winner will receive
Applications for Susie Warrick Young Writers Award have closed.
Celebrating creativity and imagination in young writers, The Jesse Blackadder Prize was created in 2020 in memory of Jesse Blackadder, much loved Board member, author and founder of Byron Writers Festival’s StoryBoard program.
The Brief
Write an original short story of up to 500 words on any theme.
Who can enter
Year 4 – 6 students
Prizes
Winner receives
Applications for Jesse Blackadder Prize have closed.
1. Write and polish an original piece of writing.
2. Include the title in the header of your story and in the file name.
3. Submit your story as a word document or PDF (Arial 12-point font preferred).
4. Submissions are judged anonymously. Your name should not be included anywhere on your story or filename – it should only be entered in this submission form.
5. Entries are limited to one submission per person.
APPLY HERE FOR SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY STUDENT WRITING PRIZE
The Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize, proudly supported by Southern Cross University, aims to stimulate and showcase youth thinking and writing around the future and our place in it.
Susie Warrick was a much loved staff member at the Northern Rivers Writers Centre (now Byron Writers Festival). The Susie Warrick Young Writers Award was established to honour her memory, celebrate the art of the short story, and to support emerging young writers in furthering their career.
The Jesse Blackadder Prize was created in 2020 in memory of Jesse Blackadder, much loved Board member, author and founder of Byron Writers Festival’s StoryBoard program.
Prizes are generously sponsored by Southern Cross University, the Warrick Family, Hilarie Dunn and the Byron Writers Festival Jesse Blackadder Memorial Fund.
If you have any enquires, please email [email protected]
For some valuable tips on entering Writing Competitions click here.
Through engaging sessions, students will be invigorated by rich conversations about writing and storytelling, fantasy worlds and outer space, inner demons and strange spirits, human reckonings and inspiring futures.
Featuring YA authors Lili Wilkinson and Graham Akhurst, comedian Steph Tisdell, astrophysicist Lisa Harvey-Smith and short story writer Mykaela Saunders, students will enjoy their own Byron Writers Festival experience with author signings, books available to buy, as well as food and drink options.
Learn among the trees at the Bangalow Showgrounds for Byron Writers Festival’s Secondary School Day, tailored for high school students of any grade level.
Thursday 8 August 2024
Bangalow Showground
10am – 2pm
| Time | Activity |
| 9:15am – 10:00am | Arrive at venue |
| 10:10am – 10:40am | Graham Akhurst in conversation with Rhianna Patrick |
| 10.40am – 11:10am | Lili Wilkinson |
| 11:10am – 11:30am | Morning tea break and book signings with Graham and Lili |
| 11:30am – 11:45am | Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize presentation |
| 11:45am – 12:15pm | Steph Tisdell in conversation with Merinda Dutton |
| 12:15pm – 12:45 pm | Lisa Harvey-Smith |
| 12:45pm – 1:00pm
1:00pm – 1:30pm 1:30pm – 1:45pm 2:00pm |
Afternoon tea break and book signings with Steph and Lisa
Mykaela Saunders in conversation with Rhianna Patrick Book signing with Mykaela Buses depart festival |
Secure your spot for Schools Day now! Simply book and pay with your credit card or request invoice at checkout.
Pricing
Students – $25 per student (plus booking fee).
Teachers – Free (1 per 10 students).
Additional Adults/Parents – $35 (plus booking fee).
Limited subsidised places are available for eligible schools. Please get in touch to find out more via [email protected]
Lili Wilkinson is the award-winning author of nineteen books for young people, including The Erasure Initiative and A Hunger of Thorns. Lili has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and is a passionate advocate for YA and the young people who read it, establishing the Inky Awards at the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria. Her latest book is Deep is the Fen.
Graham Akhurst is a Kokomini writer who grew up in Meanjin. He is the author of Borderland published by UWAP. As a Fulbright Scholar, Graham took his love for writing to New York City, where he studied for an MFA in Fiction at Hunter College. He is the Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Indigenous Knowledges at UTS.
Lisa Harvey-Smith is an award-winning astronomer, science communicator and Professor at the University of New South Wales. In 2018 she was appointed as the Australian Government’s Ambassador for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). She is the author of The Secret Life of Stars, Little Book, BIG Universe, Aliens and Other Worlds, When Galaxies Collide and best-selling children’s book Under the Stars.
Steph Tisdell is a proud Ydinji woman. Her warmth and wit has been a hit with audiences and critics alike ever since she won the 2014 Deadly Funny National Grand Final. Her award-winning shows always sell out and she’s a regular on mainstream television shows such as Hughesy We Have a Problem and The Project. Her debut novel is The Skin I’m in, a hilarious, poignant, feisty YA novel.
Mykaela Saunders is the author of Always Will Be (UQP 2024), which won the David Unaipon Award, and the editor of This All Come Back Now, the Aurealis Award-winning, world-first anthology of blackfella speculative fiction (UQP 2022). Mykaela has won other prizes for fiction, poetry, life writing and research, including the Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize and the Oodgeroo Noonuccal Indigenous Poetry Prize.
Secondary Schools Day is proudly supported by:
These popular educational events showcase some of Australia’s most beloved children’s authors to foster a passion for reading and writing – and to produce the writers of the future.
Students will enjoy their own Byron Writers Festival experience, with learning resources made available, books available to buy, as well as food and drink options.
Learn among the trees at the Bangalow Showground for Byron Writers Festival’s Primary School Sessions, tailored for primary school students of any grade level.
Choose one of our two program options, below.
THIS SESSION IS NOW SOLD OUT – PROGRAM 2 IS STILL AVAILABLE
Wednesday 7 August 2024
Bangalow Showground
10:00am – 12.00pm
Learn about the solar system with Lisa Harvey-Smith and how to create your own funny stories with Matt Stanton.
Receive a personal tour through the wonders of the universe from astrophysicist Lisa Harvey-Smith. Explore comets and meteors, stars, planets and moons. Find galaxies and glowing gas clouds. Spot supernovae and enjoy eclipses. Learn everything you need to know about binoculars, telescopes and photographing the stars. You will never look up at the stars in the same way again.
Then get an insight into the mind of Funny Kid creator, Matt Stanton, the author of the mega-bestselling series that has everyone laughing! Since Matt burst onto the children’s publishing scene in 2002, he has quickly made his presence known with eighteen original titles, four bestselling series and over half a million books sold.
| 9:00am – 09:45am | Arrive at Festival |
| 10:00am – 10:45am | 1st Session |
| 10:45am – 11:15am | Snack break |
| 11:15am – 12:00pm | 2nd Session |
| 12:00pm – 1.00pm | Book signing and buses depart Festival |
Secure your spot for Schools Day now! Simply book and pay with your credit card or request invoice at checkout.
Students – $18 per student (plus booking fee).
Teachers – Free (1 per 10 students).
Additional Adults/Parents – $25 (plus booking fee).
Limited subsidised places are available for eligible schools. Please get in touch to find out more via [email protected].
Lisa Harvey-Smith is an award-winning astronomer, science communicator and Professor at the University of New South Wales. She is the author of The Secret Life of Stars, Little Book, BIG Universe, Aliens and Other Worlds, When Galaxies Collide and best-selling children’s book Under the Stars.
Matt Stanton is a bestselling children’s author and illustrator who has sold more than one million books in Australia. He has twenty picture books to his name, including the #1 Australian kids’ book series Funny Kid, the award-winning Books That Drive Kids Crazy! and Fart Monster series, and is the creator of The Odds, and the Bored novels. Fluff is his latest series.
Wednesday 7 August 2024
Bangalow Showground
11:15am – 1:15pm
Meet novelist Anton Clifford-Motopi and award-winning dynamic duo Kate & Jol Temple.
Learn about how to become a writer with Kate and Jol Temple, the internationally awarded authors of over 26 hilarious books for kids, from smash hit picture book series Bin Chicken to action-adventure graphic novels like Frog Squad and The Underdogs! Kate also writes her own dark fantasy series, The Dangerous Business of Being Trilby Moffat.
Explore identity, family and friendship with Anton Clifford-Motopi and his debut novel To and Fro, which follows a young boy learning to understand what it means to be black in this cheeky and funny Australian story.
| 10:15am – 11:00am | Arrive at Festival |
| 11:15am – 12:00pm | 1st Session |
| 12:00pm – 12:30pm | Lunch break |
| 12:30pm – 1:15pm | 2nd Session |
| 1:15pm – 2.00pm | Book signing and buses depart Festival |
Secure your spot for Schools Day now! Simply book and pay with your credit card or request invoice at checkout.
Students – $18 per student (plus booking fee).
Teachers – Free (1 per 10 students).
Additional Adults/Parents – $25 (plus booking fee).
Limited subsidised places are available for eligible schools. Please get in touch to find out more via [email protected].
Anton Clifford-Motopi enjoys writing stories that make children laugh. His stories explore themes of self-identity, family relationships and friendship, drawing from his experiences of being mixed race, growing up in a large adoptive family and raising four children. To and Fro is his debut novel.
Kate and Jol are internationally awarded authors of over 26 hilarious books for kids, from smash hit picture book series Bin Chicken to action-adventure graphic novels like Frog Squad and The Underdogs! Kate also writes her own dark fantasy series, The Dangerous Business of Being Trilby Moffat.
Byron Writers Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW
If you are a kid who loves books, then Byron Writers Festival’s Kids Big Day Out is the ultimate event for you!
On Sunday 11 August the Lilly Pilly marquee transforms into a giant immersive storytelling arena where authors and illustrators take to the stage to entertain, inspire and delight. These interactive presentations are extremely popular entertainment for kids and parents alike.
As well as the action onstage, kids can explore the StoryBoard space at The Coolamon where our famous StoryBoard bus and tipi village comes alive with free drop-in workshops for aspiring young writers and illustrators.
Check out the program schedule below.
Kids Big Day Out Pass: $55 (1 child + 1 adult), $20 for each additional child
Includes one child 6-12 years old and one accompanying adult. Children gain access to the Kids Big Day Out venues only and must be accompanied by at least one adult at all times. Children under 6 are free.
9.00 — 9.30am
Ella Noah Bancroft is a Proud Bundjalung woman, artist, author, and mentor. Ella will discuss the inspiration of her family in her work – including Sun and Moon, written by Ella and illustrated by her mother, Bronwyn Bancroft.
9.30 — 10.00am
From Bin Chickens to fearless frogs that are ready to save the world Kate and Jol have created hilarious animal characters to fill their books. What inspired these silly characters? What do they have to tell us? And why do Kate and Jol have the worlds’ largest pair of undies? And how can they be used to defeat an organisation of evil toads! Come and join the fun.
10.00 — 10.30am
In this workshop author and illustrator Peter Carnavas will share his top drawing tips to help children create memorable characters, including people, animals and aliens. It’s easy – just circles, lines and dots!
10.30 — 11.00am
Matt Stanton is a bestselling and award-winning children’s author/illustrator who has sold more than one million books in Australia. He will be discussing his new series Fluff, about an imaginary giant fluffy bunny with ATTITUDE!
11.00 — 11.30am
Award-winning author Nova Weetman has published 19 books for children and young adults, including Sick Bay and The Jammer. Explore characters from these beloved novels and join Nova in creating a character live.
11.30am — 12.00pm
Bob Brown – environmentalist, former Parliamentarian, and author – says there is a new revolution in the air and young people are the hope of the Earth. His motto: ‘Don’t get depressed, get active!’ In this special session for young people, Bob will be sharing stories of beautiful Tasmanian animals.
12.00pm — 12.30pm
Prize presentations for the Susie Warrick Young Writers Award and The Jesse Blackadder prize, and readings of the winning stories.
Kids Big Day Out is hosted by Zanni Louise
Zanni Louise is an internationally published author of over 40 kids’ books. Her latest release is Cora Seen and Heard.
9.00 — 9.30am
Award-winning writer Cheryl Leavy will present an interactive session for young readers and storytellers, featuring a reading of her beautiful picture book Yanga Mother. Written in Kooma and English, Yanga Mother is about a grey kangaroo and her joey, and the unbreakable bonds of family. Children will be invited to create their own books.
9.30am — 10.00am
Nicolla Hemi-Morehouse, known on YouTube as Miss Nicky Says, celebrates her Māori culture, language, and heritage through song. Her debut picture book is Because I’m Māori. This fun session will feature an introduction to Te Reo Māori (the Māori language) through song.
10.00am — 10.45am
Megan Daley is a Teacher Librarian, bestselling author, speaker, and co-host of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast, who inspires a lifelong love of reading. Her latest book, The Beehive, celebrates the role of bees in our local environment.
11.00am — 11.45am
In this workshop, children will learn top drawing tips to create memorable characters, including people, animals and aliens. It’s easy – just circles, lines and dots!
Byron Writers Festival is Australia’s largest regional writers festival. This year’s vibrant program is packed with high-profile literary luminaries and new voices exploring the theme “From the ground up”.
We welcome you to join us over three days from 9-11 August on beautiful Bundjalung Country in the hinterland town of Bangalow, 15 minutes from Byron Bay. The festival also offers writing workshops, book launches, an engaging program for children, and events across the Northern Rivers region.
The festival experience is designed for discovery and delight. There are six venues to explore – marquees, Hakea, Acacia, Melaleuca and Lilly Pilly, a smaller conversational tent, The Coolamon, and the A&I Hall. Your festival pass includes access to all festival sessions.
Enjoy food stalls, coffee carts and bars, browse our artisan markets, sculpture walk and festival book shop. Meet your favourite writers and have your books signed after festival sessions.
Featuring 160 writers including Trent Dalton, Richard Flanagan, Jane Harper, Melissa Lucashenko, Charlotte Wood, Bruce Pascoe, Bob Brown, Julia Baird, Nam Le, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Lynette Noni, Bryan Brown, Tony Birch, William McInnes, Chigozie Obioma, Caoilinn Hughes, Tayi Tibble, Meena Kandasamy, Louise Milligan, Kim Williams, Kerry O’Brien, and many more.
Wondering which pass to buy? Here’s the scoop…
With our 3-Day Pass, you can enjoy over 100 sessions spanning Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Wander between all 5 programmed venues and enjoy the natural surrounds, food and market stalls, browse the book shop, meet your favourite authors at book signings and explore our curated sculpture walk.
If you prefer a shorter visit, we offer 1-Day passes which allow you full festival access to attend all sessions on your nominated day.
Festival Workshops and Feature Events are sold separately and are available from 19 June once the full program is released. These usually sell out, so get in quick!
Please note that if you intend to park onsite at Bangalow Showground, you will need to purchase a parking pass. Byron Writers Festival is committed to environmental sustainability. Help us by carpooling or taking our free shuttle bus service to and from the festival.
3-Day Pass $315.00 (General) / $275.00 (Members) + booking fee
With our 3-Day Pass, you can enjoy over 100 sessions across five venues from Friday to Sunday, enjoying the natural surrounds, food and market stalls, book shop, author book signings and curated sculpture walk.
Byron Writers Festival members will receive an additional discount on the 3-Day Pass price, simply enter your membership number at time of booking.
1-Day Passes $140.00 (General) / $125.00 (Concessions) / $110.00 (Members) / $80.00 (Youth) + booking fee
1-Day Passes will be available with our full program release on 19 June. Friday, Saturday or Sunday 1-Day Passes can be purchased individually for the day/s of your choice.
Single day passes allow access to all five venues on your nominated day, as well as food and market stalls, book shop, author book signings and sculpture walk.
Byron Writers Festival members will receive an additional discount on the 1-Day Pass price, simply enter your membership number at time of booking.
We offer Concession rates for pensioners and Government concession card holders, and are pleased to introduce a Youth Pass for 25 years or under to encourage younger audiences to experience the festival. Please note that minors under 18 years of age will need to be supervised by an adult onsite.
Kids Big Day Out (Sunday) $55.00 (1 Adult + 1 Child) / $20.00 (Additional Children) + booking fee
Kids Big Day Out Sunday Passes will be available with our full program release on 19 June. Get ready for a day of family fun! Kids Big Day Out passes are priced at just $55.00 for one adult and one child. Additional child tickets may be purchased for $20.00 each.
Please note: These passes are exclusively for the Kids Big Day Out half-day program, and do not include access to the main festival sessions. That’s why they’re so well-priced, the supervising adult can attend KBDO for free.
If you plan to check out the main festival or bring an extra adult, please purchase an additional Sunday 1-Day Pass. Remember – children must be supervised by an adult aged 18+ at all times.
MobTix
Byron Writers Festival honours and acknowledges the Arakwal People of Bundjalung Nation as Traditional Owners of the land where we gather. We offer MobTix for 3-Day, 1-Day and Kids Big Day Out festival passes. Please contact us via [email protected] to book.
Parking
Parking at Bangalow Showground is $5 per day. You will need to purchase a parking pass along with your festival pass. We encourage carpooling! Alternatively, you can hop on our free shuttle bus service (see Travel page for details).
Ticket booking fees are charged by Humanitix and not by Byron Writers Festival. Humanitix contributes 100% of profits from booking fees towards solving the world’s most pressing issues.
Festival site map
This workshop explores how theme, plotlines, point of view and voice work together to create the story design and determine the relationship between reader and narrative.
Discover easy and innovative ways to market yourself and your writing so you can reach a wider audience, land more projects, deals, grants and opportunities, and sustainably sell your works.
Want to set your stories free? Australian Poetry Slam champions, Rob Waters and K.J. Hayward will help you migrate your thoughts to the page, become an eagle-eyed editor and take flight on stage.
Explore children’s writing and publishing with Matt Stanton, an award-winning author who has published 45 books for children and sold more than a million books in Australia and around the world.
Join award-winning poet, Sara M Saleh, in this workshop on the ways in which a poem can serve as an archive of personal and political hauntings and history.
In this memoir workshop you will reach across different timelines, weaving strands of your personal story united by common themes, making meaning through temporal layering techniques.
Like a writer, fiction has its own voice – a voice that can be hard to find. Join Laura Jean McKay to explore narrative voice – the author’s voice, the story’s voice and the character’s voice.
So you think you’re ready to submit your manuscript to agents and publishers? Get feedback on your work and discuss next steps with an industry expert.
‘Attention is the beginning of devotion.’ – Mary Oliver
Devotion to a writing project requires attention that is not ‘ordinary’. Join Ailsa Piper to expand your writerly observational skills.
So you think you’re ready to submit your manuscript to agents and publishers? Get feedback on your work and discuss next steps with an industry expert.
Slow, listen, observe and reflect. This is a writing workshop to ignite relationality and imagination. Sit with Country and hear the sounds of silence, write and observe your surroundings.
Hosted by Friends of the Library
Featuring K. J. Hayward
Hosted by Sarah Temporal
Featuring K.J. Hayward, Rob Waters
Hosted by Word Travels
Featuring Rob Waters
Hosted by David Hallett
Rebecca Huntley in conversation with Steph Harmon.
Sociologist Rebecca Huntley didn’t know what ailed her, but she knew it was embedded deep within her mind – and her past. Sassafras is the story of Rebecca’s quest to overcome her intergenerational trauma, and trauma in her own life, via the use of MDMA treatment that is now legal yet still controversial.
Royce Kurmelovs in conversation with Isabelle Reinecke.
In Slick, journalist Royce Kurmelovs investigates what the Australian fossil fuel industry knew about climate change, and how they learned to wield influence and insert themselves into all facets of public life – putting the survival of our planet and our democracy at stake.
9-11 August 2024
Bangalow Showground, Bangalow NSW 2481 (Google map)
Australia’s largest regional literary festival explores the theme ‘From the ground up’
Byron Writers Festival is Australia’s largest and leading regional meeting place of storytelling, literature and ideas. The festival features more than 160 international and Australian writers and experts who share their stories, inspirations and insights with audiences.
Byron Writers Festival is renowned for its relaxed atmosphere and for delivering a diverse program of panels and conversations that celebrate storytelling in all its forms. The festival also offers writing workshops, an engaging program for children, and events across the Northern Rivers region.
Byron Writers Festival 2024 will be held on beautiful Bundjalung Country at the Bangalow Showground in the hinterland town of Bangalow, 15 minutes from Byron Bay. Free shuttle buses operate daily from Byron Bay.
www.byronwritersfestival.com
May 1: Earlybird 3-Day passes on sale
June 13: Sunday Locals’ passes on sale
June 19: Full program announced – all tickets on sale
August 9-11: Byron Writers Festival Weekend
Follow and share posts via facebook and instagram @byronwritersfestival, and twitter (X) @bbwritersfest. Our festival hashtag is #byronwf2024
Web-ready images can be viewed and downloaded from our Website Gallery. Please credit and tag Byron Writers Festival for all online applications. High res images available on request.
Clare McGregor Publicity
[email protected]
M: 0418 192 524
Thank you for your interest in Byron Writers Festival. Media accreditation is strictly reserved for members of the media – print, photo, radio, TV, film, news agencies and online – who represent a legitimate media organisation and must be committed to publishing event coverage.
Find links to accommodation providers in the area. Due to increasing demand for holiday accommodation in Byron Bay and surrounds, we suggest you research accommodation options early including minimum night stays.
Please note the new festival site is located at Bangalow Showgrounds, Bangalow (approx 15min drive from Byron Bay). A frequent shuttle service will run between Byron Bay CBD and the festival site.
An internationally award-winning resort with world-class facilities, Elements of Byron is an exceptional Byron Bay location, ideal for a comfortable and relaxing Writers Festival stay.
Situated on 22 hectares in an unspoiled beachside environment, the resort has 202 standalone private villas, each designed to celebrate its locale’s four ecologies: rainforest, dunal, eucalypt and wetlands; and its abundant native flora and fauna.
During your stay explore temperature-controlled pools, diverse dining experiences, beachfront sunrise yoga, guided rainforest tours and signature treatments at the on-site Osprey Spa.
Take a 5-minute train ride to the centre of Byron for local shopping, restaurants and more.
For more information: elementsofbyron.com.au
To make a booking call 02 6639 1500
Nestled in 45-acres of magical subtropical rainforest, Crystalbrook Byron is a celebration of nature, responsible luxury and the local environment. Offering 92 guest suites, each with its own front and rear Verandah, the resort works with its surrounding landscape to offer guests an immersive experience in nature. Featuring signature restaurant, Forest, Eléme Day Spa, daily yoga classes, tennis court and infinity pool, Crystalbrook Byron is proud to offer sustainable luxury loved by locals and travellers alike.
For more information: crystalbrookcollection.com/byron
Byron Homestead Farm is a historic 1900 Federation estate perched on 12 acres of pristine emerald pasture. Just minutes from the beaches and café culture of Byron Bay and the historic village of Bangalow, Byron Homestead has everything you need to escape and unwind.
Nestled on the beautiful hills of Ewingsdale. Byron Homestead is just 5kms from Byron Bay centre and 8 kms from Bangalow, and just a short stroll to the much-loved ‘The Farm at Byron Bay’. With incredible views, and a range of country cottages and homesteads, Byron Homestead is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing getaway in the Byron hinterland.
The Sunseeker, Byron Bay is ‘80s brick motel nostalgia reimagined in every way into a boutique accommodation experience for the modern conscious traveller. Hidden behind the magnificent beaches of Byron Bay, on Bundjalung Country, The Sunseeker is nestled just out of the hustle and bustle of the main town. With beautifully considered rooms, bungalow-style stays, poolside lounging and lush tropical gardens, The Sunseeker offers a secluded holiday hideaway for the most discerning travelling. A portion of every stay at The Sunseeker supports 1% for the Planet.
Use code WRITERSFEST24 for a 10% discount on stays booked over Byron Writers Festival weekend from 9 – 11 August, 2024.
The Bank House Bangalow accommodation is a luxurious heritage home located centrally in the iconic Bangalow township. Step up off the main street and walk into the European-inspired secret garden where the outside world rushes by and time stands still. The Bank House Bangalow accommodation features three bedrooms, a private studio, a European inspired outdoor space with an entertaining patio, chef’s kitchen, pool and award-winning gardens. The bedrooms, dining room and living room are curated with hand-selected furnishings, sumptuous linens and beautiful artworks. The perfect luxe getaway in the heart of Bangalow.
Relaxed coastal living meets mid-century design, Bask & Stow is a proud sponsor of the Byron Writers Festival.
Created by award-winning local architect Harley Graham, the light-filled, minimalist suites and lush gardens allow guests to relax, restore, and unwind.
Other holiday letting providers
The festival site is located at Bangalow Showground, Market Street, Bangalow (approximately 15min drive from Byron Bay).
Vehicle entry is via Market St and pedestrian access via Station Lane, Bangalow. We encourage you to hop on our free shuttle bus or carpool with friends. Carpark opens at 7.30am and festival gates open at 8.00am each day.
A free festival shuttle bus will be operating between the Byron Bay Interchange (Butler St), Cavanbah Centre (Ewingsdale Rd) and the festival site from Friday 9 – Sunday 11 August. Free car parking is available at Cavanbah Centre for shuttle bus patrons.
The bus will depart from the Byron Interchange every hour from 7.30am, stopping at Cavanbah Centre 5 minutes later. Final departure from the festival bus stop is at 6pm. See timetable below.
Onsite car parking is available for $5 per day. Please pre-purchase your car pass along with your festival pass, print and display on your dashboard.
Carpark opens at 7.30am, please park as directed by attendants. Accessible parking is available, please display your disability parking permit and park as directed.
There will be a dedicated parking area for bicycles onsite.
Pedestrian access to the festival, including shuttle bus passengers, is via Station Lane.
Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is the closest to Byron Bay (30 min drive). Other airports include Gold Coast Airport (approx 45min drive) and Brisbane International (approx 1h45min drive).
For transfer options from Ballina Byron Gateway, head to ballinabyronairport.com.au/transport
For transfer option from Gold Coast Airport, head to Byron Bay Express
For transfers to and from Brisbane Airport, please visit brisbane2byron.com
Countrylink provides a rail/coach transfer service to Byron Bay everyday. For reservations and information, visit Transport for NSW Regional website
Byron Bay is serviced daily by interstate coaches. For information contact Greyhound or Premier.
Byron Writers Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.
Vasudhara is committed to supporting the arts : when our world is doing it tough, the power of the arts to inspire us; to give us hope; is ever more important. Vasudhara is delighted to support the Byron Writers Festival.
Stay at the award-winning Elements of Byron during Byron Writers Festival. Nestled on 22 hectares of pristine beachside, this resort offers 202 private villas inspired by rainforest, dunal, eucalypt, and wetland ecologies. Experience world-class facilities and a serene, natural setting perfect for relaxation and inspiration
Organic India Tulsi Tea, Every Sip Makes a Difference. Experience true wellness with every sip of Organic India Tulsi Tea. Grown with love, regeneratively and organically, by our very own farmers, the entire range contains the purest herbs, with all blends supporting holistic wellbeing for a healthier you and a healthier planet.
Byron Homestead Farm is a historic 1900 Federation estate perched on 12 acres of pristine emerald pasture, with incredible views and a range of country cottages, a pool, pavilion and bbq. Byron Homestead is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing getaway in the Byron hinterland for individuals, couples and group bookings.
Nestled in 45-acres of magical subtropical rainforest, Crystalbrook Byron is a celebration of nature, responsible luxury and the local environment. Offering 92 guest suites, each with its own front and rear verandah, the resort works with its surrounding landscape to offer guests an immersive experience in nature.
The Bank House is a heritage gem, thoughtfully curated featuring four bedrooms and a studio, located in the heart of Bangalow. Over a century of memories have been created within her walls. Step up from the main street and walk into your own European inspired abode with secret garden, where the outside world rushes by and time stands still.
The Sunseeker, Byron Bay is ‘80s brick motel nostalgia reimagined in every way into a boutique accommodation experience for the modern conscious traveller. With beautifully considered rooms, bungalow-style stays, poolside lounging and lush tropical gardens, The Sunseeker offers a secluded holiday hideaway for the most discerning travelling.
The Bangalow Herald is a monthly not-for-profit magazine dedicated to the community of Bangalow and surrounding villages. With historical links going back more than 100 years, the Herald continues to be the focus for cultural, social and environmental concerns of the 2479 community. It is proudly independent and produced mainly by local volunteers.
Proudly the Voice of Indigenous Australia, the Koori Mail is Australia’s leading fortnightly national newspaper dedicated to reporting on the issues that matter to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Established in May 1991, Koori Mail has been long committed to giving First Nations Australians a voice missing in mainstream media.
The Weekend Edition is your go-to source for planning the perfect weekend, delivering the best of Brisbane, the Gold Coast and surrounds straight into your inbox every Thursday morning. Whether you’re on the hunt for a new restaurant, cafe or bar, eager to know what events are happening or looking for local travel inspiration, The Weekend Edition has you covered. Get your weekly dose of local goodness online.
Australian Poetry, the national poetry body, runs an extensive calendar of publications and festival events. Here, we partner directly with major and emerging literary festivals where many of these poems are then published by AP. These events are presented in partnership via funding from the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.
First Nations Australia Writers Network (FNAWN) is the peak body for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writers, poets and storytellers, advocating and lobbying on their behalf, supporting ongoing development opportunities, in order to sustain and enhance First Nations Australia writing and storytelling. We believe in the sovereignty of First Nations writers and their communities, and work to foster writing from around the continent.
Established in 2001, Quarterly Essay presents the widest range of political, intellectual and cultural opinion, and aims to foster debate. It offers a forum for original long-form investigations, profiles and arguments. Each issue contains a single long-form essay, followed by correspondence on previous essays
Bask & Stow exudes an aura of calm, their suites designed with a chic, yet laid-back vibe. Bright interiors spill onto private decks with lush gardens and a plunge pool to leave you feeling utterly restored. Relaxed coastal living meets mid-century interior design, Bask & Stow luxury guesthouse embodies the ever-charming Byron Bay lifestyle.
Rochdale Accounting & Advisory are all about helping you build a truly successful business. In addition to being reputable accountants in Bundaberg and the Northern Rivers, they are also business strategists and coaches—committed to empowering you with the tools and knowledge needed to achieve lasting growth.
T Fizz ♥️
Scott Malcolm & Jane Taylor
Kassa-Miller Giving
Shirley Nelson & Nan Pulsford
Wildwood Family Foundation
Bob & Patti Lowry
Chris Hanley & Dawn Standfield
John & Melissa Hertzberg
ABC Radio National’s The Book Show
Bangalow Park Trust
Basq House
Brian Warrick
BvK Solicitors
Byron Bay Chocolate Co.
Byron School of Art
Christopher & Lynda Dean
Consulate General of Ireland
Delta Kay
Dr. Bronner’s
fallen BROKEN street
Fremantle Press
Hilarie Dunn
JTS
Marele Day
Ninbella
Simon & Schuster
Spaghetti Circus
The Cellar
Writers SA
Plus all the publishers who assisted in creating the 2024 Byron Writers Festival Program
Byron Writers Festival is a 3-day celebration of storytelling, literature and big ideas covering everything from fiction, memoir, the environment, politics and social issues.
We have a purpose-built festival site at the beautiful Bangalow Showground, with five main venues filled with conversations, panels, readings, lectures and performances running concurrently. Most sessions are 45 min – 1 hour in length, and you can sit and listen for an entire session or wander between venues as the fancy takes you.
There’s coffee, food and market stalls as well as a splendid bookshop run by The Book Room Collective. Most authors will be in the book signing area after their sessions. On Festival Sunday, one marquee is turned over to children’s authors and the kids can have a special day meeting their favourites. In the evening, you can enjoy additional feature events in the A&I Hall and satellite events around the region.
No. Seats in marquees are on a first come best dressed basis.
Yes. Once we scan your ticket, you will receive your wristband. You must wear your wristband at all times while at the festival and you may be checked as you enter various venues.
