Wednesday 6 May 2015

Lovers of literature to revel in Readers and Writers Festival

Those with a passion for writing can explore their love of literature at this year's Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival, from May 29 to 31.

The festival's schedule has been released and includes an aspiring and emerging writer's workshop on Friday May 29.

Authors headlining this year's festival include best-selling author John Marsden, Miles Franklin award-winning author Michelle De Krester, and stand-up comic Sami Shah.

CELEBRATING literature and promoting Margaret River and surrounds as destinations for the Autumn/Winter months are two of the aims for the Arts Margaret River 2015 Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival, which next year will carry the theme of ‘Seasons’.

The annual festival will be held over the May long weekend 29-31 to cater to Perth visitors.

In 2015 we focus on the environment, nature and the seasons of our lives. The theme `Seasons’ encapsulates all of those things, with Autumn in Margaret River a beautiful time. When Keats wrote that Autumn was the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ it almost seems like he wrote it for our region.

Every year the festival gets bigger, and in 2015, our seventh year, we have around 30 authors and presenters who have written everything from landscape design books to environmental poems, songs and love stories. From Tomorrow When The War Began’ author John Marsden to science fiction author Isobelle Carmody, comedian and authors Sami Shah, Justin Heazelwood and Luke Ryan to romance author Fiona Palmer, crime author Robert Gott, bookclub favourites Michelle de Kretser and Amanda Curtin to food/nature poet Susan Hawthorne and author/chef Sophie Zalokar, we have something for everyone.

In addition to a huge raft of amazing authors we also have a big line-up of journalists, authors and academics who will interview our guests on stage, including Subiaco Post editor Bret Christian, West Australian journalists Colleen Egan, Steve Butler and William Yeoman, community newspaper editor Michele Nugent, Fairfax journalist Doug Green and academics Dennis Haskell, Rosemary Sayer and Richard Rossiter. They are joined by garden tour operator and author Julie Kinney, author Laurie Steed, chef Ian Parmenter, author Ray Glickam and journalist Jacqueline Lang.

Festival tickets including 3 day, 2 day, 1 day and individual sessions are now available.

Schools wishing to book students to attend the Isobelle Carmody and John Marsden presentations on Friday, May 29 at the Margaret River Recreation Centre (cost $5 student) must book by emailing festival@artsmargaretriver.com.

An all-day workshop comprising or two sessions will be held for aspiring and emerging writers on Friday 29 May, 9.30am to 3.30pm.

The first session, run by Now Age Publishing proprietor Anita Revel will guide people through how to publish their own books both hard copy and online.

The second session will be conducted by Margaret River Press director Caroline Wood, Spinifex Press director Dr Susan Hawthorne and publisher Nicky Zubriski.

These publishers will accept the first chapter of emerging writers’ work and give them specific feedback on how to make sure their manuscript is noticed and gets the best chance of being published. The workshop numbers are limited to 40 and people must submit their chapters by the end of March to festival@artsmargaretriver.com.

The workshop cost is $150 and will be held at the Margaret River TAFE. Tickets can be booked online: artsmargaretriver.com or by phoning Arts Margaret River on 9758 7316.

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