2018 Festival
14-16 September
2018 Festival
14-16 September
As one of the biggest writers festivals outside a capital city, we will again attract nationally known authors and critics and embrace genres as diverse as popular romantic fiction, politics, crime, biography, comedy, songwriting, and film and television.
They will jostle for space with bloggers, critics, sports writers, and wordsmiths from the world of food and wine.
And, of course, a special place will be reserved for the best in Tasmanian writing and for new and emerging talent – a highlight of the past two Festivals.
Our theme for 2018 is ‘Tasmania on the Global Page’. This can be interpreted to include diverse topics such as Tasmania’s convict history to the rapidly growing interest in genealogy; to education, and its challenges for Tasmania; to the best in Tasmanian writing.
Young readers flocked to the first two festivals because of the jam-packed Schools Program and a list of high-profile children’s authors. We promise an exciting line-up again in 2018 for children, parents and teachers.
Are you looking to be considered as one of our guest writers, presenters, poets, comedians, songwriters, scriptwriters, speech writers? If this sounds like you please submit a short bio, a brief sample of your work, and contact phone number. Before submitting your application please remember our theme for 2018 is: ‘Tasmania on the Global Page’.
Expressions of interest will be accepted until 5 pm, Thursday, November 30, 2017. Apply to: writers@tamarvalleywritersfestival.com.au
Selection will be finalised by February 28, 2018.
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.
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.
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.
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 retirement in 1992.
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”.
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, Katherine Scholes.
