Kyogle will host its Writers Festival in May with more than 60 authors and poets appearing at the event to be held at several venues in and around the area, with the theme Close to Home?
With a mixture of free, community-based and affordable events, the Kyogle Writers Festival aims to include the entire Northern Rivers community in its celebration of the spoken and written word.
Close to Home
Leveraging off the Close to Home? theme, the exciting programme includes Mullumbimby-based cooking writer, Belinda Jeffery; acclaimed novelists Melissa Lucashenko, Delia Falconer, Jessie Cole, Mandy Beaumont and Michael Burge; nature writers Harry Saddler and Ben Walter; and creative nonfiction author Patti Mills. Poets who will be performing and discussing their poetry include Richard Tipping, Gavin Yuan Gao, Stuart Cook, Ellen van Neerven, Chris Mansell and Uki children’s book author Tina Wilson.
Indigenous chef and SBS personality, Bundjalung man, Mark Olive, aka ‘The Black Olive’ will speak on cooking and culture on the Friday evening before the Festival’s official opening under the big marquee in Stratheden Sreet.
Many talented writers and poets
Creative Director, Paul Shields said that after all the challenges that the drought, fires, COVID-19 and the devastating recent floods have brought to the Northern Rivers, they are very excited to have put together a programme featuring so many talented writers and poets. ‘We really hope that people will come and enjoy the ideas, perspectives and insights that our writers will offer.’
Panels of authors will explore topics such as our relationships with nature, LGBTQI+ identities and notions of home, Indigenous writing, home cooking, and creativity after the fires. If you are keen to hone your writing skills, workshops are being offered on writing creative nonfiction/memoir, historical fiction and the sensual world as well as podcasting.
The Power of Words
A free session aimed at secondary students called The Power of Words, will feature youth climate action leader, Jean Hinchliffe, paramedic, author and film-maker, Ben Gilmour and creative writing teacher, Melaina Faranda.
Festival Ambassador, Mirandi Riwoe, says it will be a privilege to share her love of reading and writing in the beautiful setting of Kyogle. ‘Although it might be a small town, Kyogle sure packs a punch with the calibre of writers it attracts.’
On the Thursday evening prior to the Festival, a family fund-raiser movie night screening The Princess Bride at Kyogle Cinemas. Money raised will be donated to Arts Northern Rivers Flood Appeal.
The festival runs from May 13 – 15. For more information visit: www.kyoglewritersfestival.com.
