Holding on to the light
The Byron Writers Festival will once again be treated to the delights of author and journalist Trent Dalton, who will be featured at the Jonson Street Stage on Saturday evening, 15 August, as well as throughout the event. Celebrating its 30th year, the Byron Writers Festival will, for the first time, be taking place around the town of Byron Bay from 14 to 16 August, with a mix of free and paid events.
Speaking to The Echo, Dalton recognised the danger of picking his favourite writers’ festival, though he admitted that the Byron Writers Festival is ‘up there’.
For Dalton, his books often have an autobiographical element, as he has previously explained about Boy Swallows Universe, which talks to his childhood, and his latest book Gravity Let Me Go is no exception.
Gravity Let me Go ‘is a cautionary tale for myself’, he told The Echo.
‘It’s about a journalist who becomes a writer, and his need to keep telling stories comes at the risk of destroying everything he cares about, namely, his beautiful wife and family. It’s me reminding myself, don’t ever become this much of a dick,’ he says with a laugh.
‘I’m always reminding myself why I am doing it, where I’m coming from, who’s behind me. My wife, my kids, my mum – I’m constantly thinking of her because she went through hell, and I wrote a book about that (Boy Swallows Universe). I only ever got anywhere because I drew on these really dark and beautiful things that are kind of sacred. I’m always thinking, you just got kind of lucky that you found a way to use the things that were the toughest parts of your life, so don’t think you’re too clever.’
While Dalton uses many of his life experiences in telling his stories, he also recognises that there are times when there are parts of stories and experiences that, if shared, can be harmful. He will be discussing this with Richard Glover on Saturday, 15 August, both from his own perspective and that of a journalist who has been given many personal stories to share for his Saturday feature pieces in The Weekend Australian.
‘It is the thing that makes journalism so tricky, people can hurt themselves and sometimes it’s the job of the writer to protect that person.’
Dalton says he has ‘always drifted towards socialism, social equity, social equity journalism. I weirdly wrote so many stories about domestic violence because I was trying to work out why the men did the things they did to my mum, why she had to endure that shit. Then I went and did stories on homelessness. The bigger picture is, honestly, this might be the cheesiest thing you’ll hear, but please hold on to the light in your inevitable periods of darkness, hold on to the light, because it’s real, and it often comes from the people who love you.’
For inspiration, honesty, and plenty of imagination, make sure you get to this year’s Byron Writers Festival and listen to Dalton, as well as the amazing line-up for local and international writers who will be gracing the stage.
Tickets on sale now at byronwritersfestival.com.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
