Kyogle once again welcomes world-class writers and poets on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 May for this year’s Literary Allsorts.
Organisers say, ‘The Festival kicks off on Friday afternoon at the Roxy Gallery with Celebrating Home Grown Talent, a panel discussion featuring local authors Leanne Murner, Annie Barrett and Diana Jarman, chaired by indyNR’s Susanna Freymark’.
‘From Stage to Page, Writing the Story of Drag Legend, Stan Munro, follows, with Stan and his co-author, William Brougham, and publisher, Leanne Murner, discussing the very long road to publication, sprinkled as it was with glitter and sequins.
‘Both of these panels show that with determination and a strong belief in their work, independent authors can get their stories published.
‘Kyogle audiences love poetry and poets Carlie Daley and Maria van Neerven will be reading from their latest books, in company with Sarah Temporal, just before the official launch of this year’s Festival at 6pm. The winners of this year’s ever-popular Kyogle Poetry Competition will also be featured during the evening.
‘Our Saturday programme in the KMI Hall will be as strong, enthralling and as diverse as past years have been.
‘For the first time we are offering what promises to be a fascinating panel on crime writing that we’ve called A Crime and a Place. Guided by acclaimed crime and mystery fiction author, Marele Day (Lambs of God), Lisa Walker (The Pact and Sex Lies and Bonsai), Georgia harper (What I Would Do to You) and Mike Burge (Tank Water and Dirt Trap) will explore the intersections of crime, society and landscape.
‘Multi-award winning author and long-time supporter of the festival, Melissa Lucashenko, will talk about her latest book, Not Quite White in the Head in conversation with ABC North Coast’s Bridie Tanner. This is Melissa’s first nonfiction work and the book is a collection of compelling essays and speeches that yes, embrace anger, but also hope and honesty.
‘Emeritus Professor of geography at the University of Melbourne, Leslie Head, will then talk about her latest book, Beyond Green, the Social Life of Australian Nature, with environmental historian and festival favourite, Nancy Cushing. Lesley’s book is a culmination of her lifetime of researching the overlap between nature, culture and society and she offers hope and optimism to deal with the very real challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.
‘Our final session Truth and Story – Identity in a Changing Country includes authors, Mirandi Riwoe (Stone Sky Gold Mountain and Sunbirds) and Tyree Barnette (Stolen man on Stolen Land) and poet, Maria van Neerven (Two Tongues), exploring notions of belonging and identity in contemporary Australia, with chair, Melissa Lucashenko.
‘Oh and for the kids, we are programming a fabulous workshop, Finding Your Inner Creature, at Kyogle Library on the Saturday morning, with Leanne Murner.
Sponsor
‘We are forever grateful for our wonderful sponsor: Kyogle Council, and to our supporters, Richmond-Upper Clarence Regional Library, Arts Northern Rivers, the Book Warehouse, Lismore and indyNR, for always believing in the great value of holding our very own readers and writers festival in Kyogle. And of course, the festival wouldn’t go on without the fabulous residents and visitors to the town for buying tickets and coming along to enjoy the magic that is created when writers get to talk about their books and readers get to ask them questions’.
For more info visit www.kraw.com.au.
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