Hindrum, Cameron

Cameron Hindrum lives, writes and works in Launceston. His first novel The Blue Cathedral was published in 2011 by Forty South Books and his second, The Sand, is nearing completion as part of a Doctorate in Creative Arts (Writing) through the University of Wollongong. Since 2003 he has coordinated the Tasmanian Poetry Festival and he has performed poetry at Festivals in Byron Bay, Brisbane, Darwin and Hobart. He has been a regular writer for Mudlark Theatre’s annual One Day Project and his first major play, I Am A Lake, premiered at the Unconformity Arts Festival on Tasmania’s west coast in October 2016, touring Tasmania in February/March this year. His second play, 101, is scheduled for production in Hobart with Blue Cow Theatre in 2019.

Ivanoff, George

George Ivanoff is a Melbourne author who’s written more than 100 books for kids and teens, including the Gamers trilogy, the interactive You Choose series, the RFDS Adventures, and his latest series, Other Worlds; as well as a ton of school readers and educational books. George’s books and stories have been shortlisted for numerous awards and he’s even won a few of them (including a YABBA). George drinks too much coffee, eats too much chocolate and watches too much Doctor Who. He has one wife, two children and an uncontrollable imagination.

Parkyn, Stephanie

Stephanie Parkyn had always wanted to write fiction, but a fascination with science and the environment led her to a PhD and a career as a freshwater ecologist. A move to Tasmania let her follow her dream of making art and storytelling, with short stories published in the 40 South Anthologies and shortlisted for the Scarlet Stiletto competition and RSNZ Manhire Award for Creative Science Writing. Her debut historical novel Into the World is published by Allen & Unwin and based on a true story discovered while living in Tasmania. She now lives in a remote, bush-clad valley in New Zealand.
Photo credit: Mel de Ruyter

Andrew, Ian

Ian Andrew, owner of the Book Reality Experience, an independent, hybrid publishing company that specialises in helping independent writers, is also the author of the Wright & Tran series of detective novels. The first of which, Face Value, was awarded the 2017 Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize.
Originally from Northern Ireland, Ian joined the Royal Air Force at 18 as an aircraft technician and subsequently served as an Intelligence Officer. He now lives in the rural south-west of Western Australia.
Having featured at numerous international festivals, this is his first visit to the Tamar Valley.  www.ianandrewauthor.com

Walker, Lisa

Lisa Walker’s debut young adult romantic comedy, Paris Syndrome (HarperCollins) and a climate change comedy, Melt (Lacuna) came out this year. Her other novels are: Liar Bird, Sex, Lies and Bonsai (HarperCollins, 2012, 2013) and Arkie’s Pilgrimage to the Next Big Thing (Random House, 2015).
Lisa’s writing has appeared in the Review of Australian Fiction, Griffith Review, and The Age. She was winner of the Byron Writers Festival Short Story Award in 2008 and finalist in the ABC Short Story Award in 2007. Her radio play, Baddest Backpackers was produced by Radio National in 2008. She was awarded the Varuna HarperCollins Award in 2011 and the Varuna Litlink Award in 2009 and 2015.

Riggall, Lyndon

Lyndon Riggall is a writer and trainee teacher from Launceston, Tasmania. After graduating from the University of Tasmania with First Class Honours in Creative Writing in 2012, he went on to win UK publisher Hot Key Books’ Young Writers Prize in 2013 for the manuscript of his first novel, Charlie in the Dark. He has been a national judge for the Children’s Book Council of Australia, and last year saw sold out performances of his first play ULG at the Junction Arts Festival. When not teaching English, Lyndon is currently engaged in an Arts residency with Arts Tasmania, and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, on his new children’s novel Wombat Overland, set between Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair.

Brumby, Monique

Monique Brumby is a multiple ARIA Award winning singer/songwriter. Her original works have been recognised by ARIA in the Best Female Artist and Song of the Year categories. Monique has been awarded the Tasmanian Arts Award for Young Australian of the Year and throughout her career has been a strong voice for women and minority groups. He literary works have been published in Paul Kelly’s 1999 ‘Don’t Start Me Talking’ book of lyrics as well as the very popular ‘Women of Letters’ book series. Her published songs have featured in film, television and across five albums of original work. Monique currently resides in Hobart and is working on her 6th studio album of original work.

www.moniquebrumby.com

Shield, Helen

Helen presents Your Afternoon on ABC Radio in Tasmania, something like the ultimate dinner party conversation with live, local music alongside.  It’s the daily reprieve from the news cycle – more a place for swimming echidnas, or stories about bumping into your Burnie hairdresser while you’re both in Sweden.

When she’s not on the radio, she can be found having actual dinner party conversations, road-tripping out into the wilds of Tasmania, at a live show, or embracing the joy of a nap.

Glickman, Ray

Ray Glickman is the Principal of management consultancy, From Left Field.  Ray is one of Perth’s most successful business leader with 25 years’ experience at CEO level and a strong reputation as a Board Chairman and Non-Executive Director. He has Master’s degrees in Business, Applied Social Studies and Psychology and Philosophy and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He’s also a commentator, presenter and author. Ray’s first novel, Reality was shortlisted in the WA Premier’s Book Awards 2016 in the Emerging Writers category. His second novel, frenzship, released in 2017, is achieving critical acclaim. Ray has presented at numerous conferences and festivals around Australia and internationally and has interviewed highly respected authors such as Robert Drewe, Hugh Mackay, DBC Pierre, and Jane Harper.
http://rayglickman.com/
https://fromleftfield.com.au/

Azar, Shokoofeh

Shokoofeh Azar was born in Iran just seven years before the Islamic revolution. Shokoofeh’s early interest in literature and art developed into a successful career in writing and art in Iran, including 14 years as an independent journalist. Her Companion in Writing and Editing Essays won The Best Book in Iran award in 1997. In 2004, Shokoofeh became the first Iranian woman to backpack and hitchhike along the Silk Road. In 2011, she was forced to leave Iran. She was accepted as a political refugee by Australia. The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree is Shokoofeh’s first novel to be translated into English.

Lewis, Catherine

Catherine Lewis founded Wild Dingo Press 10 years ago to bring more diverse voices to the Australian literary landscape, including those who have been silenced and disenfranchised. The first title released by WDP in 2008, was a best-seller. The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif, was widely acclaimed and on the VCE English Text List for study for four years. Many subsequent titles have been award-winners or shortlisted.  Previously she was Managing Director of the English textbook publishing company Insight Publications, a position she took up after a 20-year career as a lecturer in Sociology at Monash University, Melbourne.

Sharp, Lucinda

Lucinda has been a ballet dancer with The Australian Ballet (1974-1984), a rehearsal director for three dance companies, and a psychologist working in the performing arts (most notably at the Australian Ballet School where she led a world-renowned team of health professionals, and initiated a performance psychology curriculum). In 2012 Lucinda and her husband, Chris Champion moved to Hobart where they own and operate Forty South Publishing, the largest Tasmanian book publisher, and publishers of the iconic Tasmania 40° South. Lucinda runs the book side of the business, and project manages all aspects of production from submission through to distribution.

Page, Adam

When he isn’t performing his Rock ‘n’ Roll Show around Tasmania, Adam Page is writing stories on local people for his very popular Facebook page, Humans of Launceston. Adam is releasing his first book next year, which will focus on spotlighting the interesting lives and historical tales of elderly people in the Launceston region that have struck a nerve with readers all over the world, and created a real buzz in the local community.

McBride, Marc

Marc McBride’s first picture book was The Kraken in 2001 written by Gary Crew.
Since then, he has illustrated many books including the hugely successful Deltora Quest and Quentaris series, The Deltora Book of Monsters, Old Ridley, Journey From the Centre of the Earth and Tales of Deltora. His latest book is called World of Monsters.
He has also illustrated over 100 book covers, magazines, and produced artwork for advertising campaigns.
Marc loves demonstrating and discussing his airbrush techniques. He has spent seven years working on his current graphic novel which will be published by Scholastic.

King, Belinda

Belinda’s arrived in Tasmania in 2000 to work with Radio 7LA in Launceston, and subsequently Magic 107.3 in Hobart.

She is a founding member and Co-President of Encore and has directed their critically acclaimed productions of Les Miserables, Buddy, The Phantom of the Opera and the Tasmanian Premiere Season of The Boy from Oz.

Her background in media, communications and marketing has seen her work with various committees and organisations, including Encore Theatre Company, Westbury St Patrick’s Festival, Terrapin Puppet Theatre, the QVMAG, Launceston Benevolent Society and the State RSL.

Away from theatre she pursues her career in radio broadcasting and she currently enjoys waking people up (seriously!) at 5.30 am weekdays on ABC Local Radio 91.7 FM.

Nicholas, Glynn

Glynn Nicholas is an award-winning actor, presenter, keynote speaker, comedian, writer, director, teacher, producer and is the Director of Glynn Nicholas Group, based in Australia.

After 10 years as a street performer in Europe during the 70s and 80s he began performing on stage, first as a cabaret artist and then writing one-man and small ensemble shows for theatres. His shows toured Australia for several years and won several  awards. During the 90s nineties he shot to national fame as part of the ensemble in The Big Gig, as ensemble member, then host.

His company has created stage shows that include cabaret, drama, comedy, musicals and shows for cruise liners. One of his most successful shows, Certified Male, opens in New York in Spring 2019.

Evans, Louise

Allan, Louise

Louise Allan’s first novel, The Sisters’ Song, was published this year by Allen and Unwin. The manuscript had previously been shortlisted for the 2014 City of Fremantle—TAG Hungerford Award, and awarded a Varuna Residential Fellowship. Louise grew up in Launceston and attended the University of Tasmania, where she studied Medicine. In 2010 she ceased practising as a doctor and took up writing. Several of her short stories, essays and articles have been published in literary anthologies and medical journals. Louise now lives in Perth, Western Australia with her family and two dogs. Apart from writing, she also enjoys music, photography, walking and nature.

Arnott, Robbie

Robbie Arnott is the author of Flames. In 2015 he won the Tasmanian Young Writers’ Fellowship, and in 2014 he won the Scribe Nonfiction Prize for Young Writers. His writing has been widely published throughout Australia. He lives in Hobart.

Cole, Jessie

Jessie Cole grew up in an isolated valley in northern New South Wales, where she still lives today in her childhood home. Her first novel, Darkness on the Edge of Town, was shortlisted for the 2013 ALS Gold Medal and longlisted for the Dobbie Literary Award. Her second novel, Deeper Water, was released to much critical acclaim. Her work has also appeared in many Australian publications, including Best Australian Essays, Meanjin, Kill Your Darlings, Island Magazine, The Lifted Brow, Good Weekend, Big Issue, Daily Life and the Guardian. Jessie’s new memoir, Staying, is about the importance of home, family and forgiveness—and finding peace in a place of pain.

Collins, Paul

Paul Collins has written around 150 books. He is best known for The Quentaris Chronicles (The Spell of Undoing is Book #1 in the new series), which he co-edited with Michael Pryor, The Jelindel Chronicles, The Maximus Black Files and The World of Grrym trilogy in collaboration with Danny Willis. His latest book is Harry Kruize, Born to Lose. Paul has been short-listed for many awards and won the Aurealis, William Atheling and the inaugural Peter McNamara awards. He received the A Bertram Chandler Award for lifetime achievement in Australian science fiction. He has had several Notable Books in the CBCA awards. He has black belts in both ju jitsu and taekwondo – this experience can be seen in The Jelindel Chronicles and The Maximus Black Files.
Visit Paul’s websites: www.paulcollins.com.au, www.creativenetspeakers.com and www.fordstreetpublishing.com.

Corke, Dr Charlie

Dr Charlie Corke is one of Australia’s leading Intensive Care specialists and is currently President of the College of Intensive Care of Australia and New Zealand. He is the regional clinical lead for the Advance Care Planning program and is the originator of the MyValues approach to advance care planning. Dr Corke lectures widely on medical communication and end-of-life decision-making, was featured on the ABC in the film In the End, and is a regular contributor to radio.

Dando-Collins, Stephen

Stephen Dando-Collins is the festival’s founder, and the award-winning author of 41 books, both fiction and nonfiction, published around the world. At this year’s festival Stephen will be talking about Mr Showbiz his acclaimed 2017 biography of Australian impresario Robert Stigwood, and Heroes of Hamel, his latest book, published on the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Australian/American battle that changed the course of World War One.

Dryburgh, James

James Dryburgh writes essays about important things and shares stories. From working in a mine in Bolivia to discovering the uncanny parallels between Tasmania and Tierra del Fuego; from interviewing former guerrilla fighters in El Salvador, Colombian presidential candidates and the president of Kiribati to responding to the letters of a 14-year-old girl written from the Tarkine wilds and lost for a century. James’ experiences and encounters illuminate his writing. James Drybugh’s articles and essays have been published widely, and his books are Essays from Near and Far (Walleah Press) 2014 and The Balfour Correspondent (Bob Brown Foundation) 2017.

Edwards, Rachel

Rachel Edwards is the editor in chief of Transportation Press. A writer herself, she has been published in The Australian, The Mercury, Crikey and Island. She was the host of the long running Book Show on Edge Radio, in the guise of Paige Turner and is currently producing a radio documentary for national broadcast about Slam Poetry workshops for lower literacy inmates at Risdon Prison, where she was recently a writer in residence. She is a former editor of Island magazine and guest-edited a volume of the Review of Australian Fiction which featured Tasmanian authors exclusively. She runs a consultancy on the writing, editing and publishing processes, called Paige Turner.

Jacobson, Michael

Launceston-born Michael Jacobson is the author of two best-selling novels, Windmill Hill and Always East, both set in Tasmania. Over a long journalism career in Tasmania and Queensland, Michael won several awards and his weekly column for the Gold Coast Bulletin is one of the longest-running in Australia. After joining Griffith University in a communications role in 2012, Michael left to co-found his own company, Very Media, in 2018, based on the Gold Coast. As a writer, Michael is particularly interested in themes of family, belonging and Tasmanian life. He is married and has two children.

Johnson, Katherine

Tasmanian writer Katherine Johnson is the author of two novels: Pescador’s Wake (Fourth Estate) and The Better Son (Ventura Press), a novel set in the gothic landscape of northern Tasmania’s caves. Her third novel, Matryoshka, also set in Tasmania, will be published by Ventura Press in October. The new novel discusses post-war and contemporary refugee migration, maternal love, and family secrets. Katherine is completing her fourth novel as a PhD candidate (University of Tasmania). Her feature articles have appeared in Good Weekend magazine (Sydney Morning Herald/The Age), Living Planet, Ecos, Australasian Geo, and Australasian Science. Visit her at www.KatherineJohnsonauthor.com

Kaufman, Amie

Amie Kaufman is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of young adult fiction. Her multi-award winning work is slated for publication in 30 countries, and has been described as “a game-changer” (Shelf Awareness), “stylistically mesmerising” (Publishers Weekly) and “out-of-this-world awesome” (Kirkus). Her series include The Illuminae Files, The Starbound Trilogy, Unearthed and Elementals: Ice Wolves. Her work is in development for film and TV, and has taken home multiple Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, a Gold Inky, made multiple best-of lists and been shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards. Raised in Australia and Ireland, Amie has degrees in history, literature, law and conflict resolution, and once got to work as a storytelling consultant at NASA. She lives in Melbourne with her husband, their rescue dog, and an extremely large personal library.

Kerin, Jackie

Jackie Kerin is the author of two non-fiction picture books published by Museums Victoria. She has a third due to be published in late 2018, Four Find Gold! Jackie’s writing is informed by her practice as a storyteller working in the oral tradition Her love of language is clear especially when it’s playful and rhythmical and palpably connected to the spoken word. Phar Lap the wonder horse, illustrated by Patricia Mullins is an Eve Pownall CBCA Notable Book and Lyrebird! a true story, illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe, is a CBCA Honour Book and received a Whitley Awards Certificate of Commendation.

Kruckemeyer, Finegan

Finegan Kruckemeyer has had 85 commissioned plays performed on five continents and translated into six languages. His work has enjoyed seasons in 200 international festivals and at the Sydney Opera House (six works), DC’s Kennedy Center (three works), NY’s Lincoln Center (three works), Dublin’s Abbey Theatre and Shanghai’s Malan Flower Theatre. He and his work has received 36 awards over the past 13 years, including the 2017 Mickey Miners Lifetime Achievement Award for services to International Theatre for Young Audiences, 2015 David Williamson Prize for Excellence in Australian Playwrighting, six Australian Writers Guild Awards and an inaugural Sidney Myer Fellowship. He has spoken at conferences in nine countries, with papers published and works studied at international universities. Visit him at www.finegankruckemeyer.com

Lehman, Dr Kim

Dr Kim Lehman has an academic position at the University of Tasmania. He has an undergraduate degree in English Literature, an Honours degree in Politics and a PhD in Marketing. His research has been published in the Journal of Business Research, the Journal of Marketing Management, and Annals of Tourism Research. Kim is also a writer, curator and visual artist. As an artist he is represented by Gallery Pejean in Tasmania. He has been a finalist in a number of national art prizes and was the first video artist to be selected as a finalist in the Glover Prize for landscape painting (2015). He has a keen interest in exploring the intersections between artforms.

McAlister, Dr Jodi

Dr Jodi McAlister is the author of the Valentine series, a supernatural young adult series about smart girls and scary fairies in a small Australian town. The first two books in the series (Valentine and Ironheart) are currently available, and the third book, Misrule, will be available in February 2019. When she’s not writing, Jodi lectures in writing and literary studies at Deakin University in Melbourne. Her academic research focuses on love, romance, and popular fiction.

Mewburn, Kyle

Kyle Mewburn is one of New Zealand’s most eclectic and prolific writers. From multi-layered picture books – Old Hu-hu and Melu; to laugh-out-loud junior fiction series – notably Dinosaur Rescue and Dragon Knight; her titles have been translated into a dozen languages and won numerous awards including Children’s Book of the Year. She was Children’s Writer-in-Residence at Otago University in 2011 and President of the New Zealand Society of Authors from 2013-2017. Originally from Brisbane, Kyle lives with her wife, Marion, two cats and 24 chickens, in a house with a grass roof in the Deep South of New Zealand. Visit her at www.kylemewburn.com

Milne, Christine

Christine Milne is passionate about the environment, the climate and securing social justice. Over 25 years in the Tasmanian and Australian Parliaments, she worked for the World Heritage listing and protection of wild places and species in Australia and globally and for an end to discrimination against refugees and LGBTIQ people. Brought up on a dairy farm in NW Tasmania, she developed a deep love of the land which led her to campaign against both the Wesley Vale, and Gunns’ Tamar Valley pulp mills. She was a founding member of the Tasmanian and Australian Green Party and the first woman to lead a political party in Tasmania. She is now Ambassador for the Global Greens and a grandmother.

(Photo credit: Karen Brown Photography)

Osborne, Michael

Michael Osborne is the Editor of the national news agency Australian Associated Press. For almost 10 years Mike has steered AAP as Editor after serving as the agency’s Finance Editor, News Editor, Head of Sport and two stints as Foreign Correspondent in London and Beijing. Mike’s love of sport extends on and off the field. In addition to being a keen club cricketer and former Aussie Rules player, Mike has covered six summer Olympics, six Commonwealth Games, and he was AAP’s chef de mission at the 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, and 2012 London Olympic Games.

Patton, Dr Shirley

Dr Shirley Patton grew up in outback Western Australia and now lives in wine-growing country overlooking the beautiful Tamar River, northern Tasmania. A decade ago, she left an academic career as a published researcher of family violence and a lecturer in social work at University of Tasmania, to write fiction full-time. Since then, she obtained a Masters of Creative Writing, had several short stories published in a variety of literary publications, and her debut novel The Secrets We Keep, (HQ Harper Collins) was published in 2018. Prior to practising social work, Shirley worked in the media as a television newsreader and television chat show host.

Pos, Margaretta

Margaretta Pos is an author and freelance journalist. Mrs Fenton’s Journey: India and Tasmania 1826 to 1876 was published by Walleah Press in 2014. Shadows in Suriname was published by Forty South Publishing in 2016 and was long listed in the Tasmanian Premier’s 2017 Literary Awards. She has a BA from the University of Tasmania and an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University. Margaretta is a former English editor with Motilal Banarsidass Publisher in India, and Mercury Newspaper senior reporter and arts writer.  She lives in Hobart.

Stocker, Fiona

Fiona Stocker is an English writer living in the Tamar Valley of Tasmania. She is the author of a humorous travel memoir Apple Island Wife, about leaving the city and moving to Tasmania on a hunch, with a husband who wants to be an alpaca whisperer, and a feral cockerel for company. Apple Island Wife was published by independent UK-based publisher Unbound this year. Fiona freelances for lifestyle, food and travel magazines. In 2016 she judged the annual Tasmanian Short Story Competition. Her first book, A Place in the Stockyard, about women in the farming sector, was published in 2016.

Taylor, Rebe

Rebe Taylor is a historian with more than twenty years of experience researching and writing the histories of southeastern Australian indigenous peoples and of settlement. Her first book, Unearthed: the Aboriginal Tasmanians of Kangaroo Island (Wakefield Press), won the Victorian, and South Australian Premiers’ awards. Her latest book, Into the Heart of Tasmania: a Search for Human Antiquity (MUP) has won the Tasmanian Book Prize, the Dick and Joan Award for Tasmanian History, and the Queensland Premier’s award for history. She is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the College of Arts, Law and Education, University of Tasmania.

(Photo credit: Helen Morgan)

Thompson, Adam

Adam Thompson is an emerging Aboriginal (pakana) writer from Launceston, Tasmania. In 2016, Adam was the recipient of an Arts Tasmania mentorship grant. In the same year, he won the Indigenous short-story award at the Tamar Valley Writers Festival. In 2017, Adam was awarded the Indigenous writers prize at the Tasmanian Writers and Readers Festival. Adam has recently undertaken a First Nations Fellowship at the Varuna Writers House in the Blue Mountains, during which he finished off a collection of short fiction. Adam is passionate about the Aboriginal community and works full-time at the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. Adam and his wife, Shenna, are proud parents of a four-year-old boy.

Tuffin, Lindsay

Lindsay Tuffin has been a journo since 1969, mainly in Tassie apart from a couple of years wandering around Oz. The effect of too much booze, sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll on a fragile consciousness led him to becoming fundamentalist on a nudist beach on Mykonos in the Aegean Sea. Thus he spent a few years in Pomland where he edited ‘Buzz’, a magazine dealing with church and social issues, (beaten in audit bureau circulation only by Aero Modeller magazine!), and a stint as a Uni chaplain back in Tassie … These days he describes as still spiritual – whatever that means – but animist, buddhist, christian, pagan, hindu …

Thetford, Eloise

Melbourne based Folk/Blues/Americana artist Héloise is an eclectic song weaver who pens earnest music that warms the soul.
Héloise started her career aged 15 in Tasmania, playing countless local shows and eventually securing performances at The Festival of Voices, The Falls Festival, Junction Arts Festival and Party In The Paddock. The young songwriter officially debuted in 2013 with her EP ‘Birds In My Mouth’, which was warmly received by fans and media alike. Her music has been played on Triple J, ABC Radio and over 100 community radio stations throughout Australia. Héloise can be seen featured on routes 70 and 75 trams in Melbourne as part of Bank Of Melbourne’s ‘Meet The Maker’ campaign.

Chater, Lauren

Lauren Chater writes fiction with a particular focus on women’s stories. After working for many years in a variety of media roles, she turned her passion for reading and research into a professional pursuit. In 2014, she was the successful recipient of the Fiona McIntosh Commercial Fiction scholarship. In addition to writing fiction, she established The Well Read Cookie, a blog which celebrates her love of baking and literature. She lives in Sydney with her husband and two children. The Lace Weaver, her first novel, was published by Simon & Schuster in April 2018. She is currently working on her second novel, Gulliver’s Wife, and Well Read Cookies, a non-fiction book based on her popular blog.

Ayliffe, Tim

Tim Ayliffe has been a journalist for almost 20 years and is the Managing Editor of Television and Video for ABC News. He has also worked as TV News Editor for ABC News and the Executive Producer of ABC News Breakfast. Before joining the ABC in 2006, Tim worked in London for Sky News as a digital and television journalist. The Greater Good is the first book in a three-book series featuring John Bailey. When he’s not writing or chasing news stories Tim rides bikes and surfs.

Treasure, Rachael

Rachael Treasure is excited by soil microbe activity, and by beautiful storytelling. Combining her love for the land and the written word Rachael sparked a publishing boom in 2002 when her first novel Jillaroo woke up the world to contemporary women’s stories beyond the city lights. She’s mother to two teenagers, and is restoring farming landscape using regenerative farming practices. Rachael has been dubbed an agricultural activist, feminine change-agent and literary pioneer. She’s worked as a rural journalist, radio broadcaster, truffle sniffer-dog handler, professional wool classer, stock camp cook, drover, farm manager and working dog trainer. She is a State Ambassador for Riding for the Disabled, Tasmania. Find out more about Rachael on Facebook or at www.rachaeltreasure.com

Kearney, Neil

Neil Kearney is one of Australia’s most versatile journalists. He began as copy boy for The Examiner in Launceston and – at the age of 20 – wrote and published a book titled Tasmania’s greatest sportsmen. Curiously, the chosen sportsmen included a horse – the pacer Halwes, stabled for years at Hagley. Kearney crossed to The Sun pictorial in 1978 to ghost columns of football icons Ron Barassi and Lou Richards. He was a sports writer for two year, winning Victoria’s top media award in 1980. In the ‘80s he switched to television, firstly as a reporter for Channel Ten before roaming the world for Mike Willesee’s nightly current affairs show on Channel Nine. His next move was to become head of sport for the Ten Network. He finally settled in Melbourne to become a sports reporter and producer for the Seven Network. Neil has covered 10 Olympic Games – five summer and five winter – but the work he’s enjoyed most during his 47 years in the media has been telling the stories of ordinary Australians. His motto is: everyone has a story.

Hannan, Dr Terry

Dr Terry Hannan has been practising as a Specialist Physician for more than 43 years. During this time, he worked as a Palliative Care Physician for 12 years which included extensive experience in pain and end-of-life patient management. Since 2000 he has been involved in the development and implementation of electronic health systems in Low and Middle Income Countries. This project is an international success story that has been twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. A major focus of his work locally and internationally is patient empowerment in the management of their health.

Wilkins, Stephen

Stephen is a Mead Maker, Teacher, Librarian and writer. In schools and at Tafe he has taught everything from Drama, English and Ancient History through to Business and the Library Technician’s Diploma. As a Mead Maker he has developed the boutique meadery Wanderer Mead. He is fascinated by the folklore and legends that link people to their food and drink cultures. As an avid reader, he encountered Mead in many stories, and curiosity about how it tasted led him to start making it. He is currently developing stories associated with his brews.

Burnside, Julian

Julian Burnside is a Melbourne barrister.   He joined the Bar in 1976 and took silk in 1989.
He specialises in commercial litigation, and has acted in many very contentious cases – the MUA Waterfront dispute; the Cash-for-Comment enquiry; cases for Alan Bond and Rose Porteous – but has become known for his human rights work and has acted pro bono in many refugee cases. He is an outspoken opponent of the mistreatment of people who come to Australia seeking protection from persecution.

His latest book is Watching Out: Reflections on Justice and Injustice, (Scribe, 2017).

Plant, Andrew

Andrew is an Australian author and illustrator of over 70 children’s and educational books. He also designs and paints theatre sets and murals. His first picture book as author/illustrator was Could a Tyrannosaurus Play Table Tennis? He has since illustrated several CBCA Notable Books – Warambi, Puggle, Spark and Glitch. He also wrote and illustrated the CBCA Notable Book The Poppy. His latest release as author/illustrator is The Perfect Leaf. Andrew has presented his energetic, hands-on and occasionally slightly out-of-control sessions throughout Australia and overseas. He is passionate about inspiring kids to write, draw, create and love books.

Bird, Carmel

Carmel Bird grew up in Launceston. She has written over thirty books and in 2016 was awarded the Patrick White Literary Award. Family Skeleton is her most recent novel, and her latest collection of stories is The Dead Aviatrix, which is an e-book. Her website www.carmelbird.com dating from 1997, was the first website of an Australian author.

Andrews, Alison

Alison Andrews has been a journalist and writer since she started her cadetship at The Examiner Newspaper, Launceston, in March 1970. She has worked for a number of media organisations both locally and interstate, is a published author and has run her own media and public relations company. These days Alison owns and operates Northern Tasmanian country newspaper, The Northern Midlands Courier. She has also served on community boards and organisations including TasDance, and the Tasmanian Arts Advisory Board, and Eskleigh Foundation. A great storyteller and passionate advocate for Northern Tasmania Alison is equally comfortable interviewing the prime minister, local pastor, roustabout or student. The Festival offers a chance for her to tell her own fascinating story.

Courtney, Pip

Tasmanian-born Pip Courtney is a journalist and television presenter. She reports for and presents ABC TV’s Landline. Her 21 years with the program have made her one of country Australia’s most recognised and popular figures.

Pip was inspired to become a journalist by her father, Michael Courtney, The Examiner’s editor for 16 years until his retirement in 1992.

Biddulph, Steve

Steve Biddulph’s books have been popular for over 35 years, and are in four million homes
worldwide in 32 languages.  Yet he is a remarkably private and shy man – when not appearing on stage, when he is somehow transformed!  Steve funded and lead a human rights project to build a boat people memorial in Canberra, with over 300 schools involved, to the fury of the Howard Government. He continues an activist role and philanthropy for a survivable future.  The UK Guardian called him a “cross between Billy Connolly and Dr. Spock”.

Akle, Cheryl

Cheryl Akle has worked in the Australian book industry for over 30 years. Passionate about books, she is a strong advocate for Australian authors and a champion of reading. She is founder and director of Better Reading, a book recommendation community with 120k followers on Facebook and a weekly reach of 300k. Cheryl regularly interviews a broad mix of Australian and international authors via live interviews and podcasts. Recent interviews include Booker Prize-longlisted authors George Saunders and Colson Whitehead, as well Australian authors Tom Keneally, Monica Mcinerney and Tasmania’s own Heather Rose, and Katherine Scholes.