SHwf 2013 Gallery
The 2013 Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival took place on Friday 12th – Sunday 14th July at the iconic Gibraltar Hotel in Bowral. Additionally, the festival was launched in a May event, and transformed an empty shop shell into a Festival HQ. This second annual festival had over 700 festival-goers, 40 amazing authors, an action-packed FREE Kids’ Day, a sell-out Literary Dinner and an outrageously successful inaugural Fest Factor event. We also raised $1600 for Ian Thorpe’s Fountain For Youth Charity and the Literacy Backpack program through our raffle!
The festival featured some of Australia’s greatest writers, thinkers and performers including Lucy Abarcia, Anthony Ackroyd, Boyd Anderson, Jeff Apter, Angela Betzien, Jesse Blackadder, Ewan Burnett, Nick Cater, Shannon Curtis, Thomas Derricott, Ursula Dubosarsky, Irina Dunn, Anthony Earnshaw, Nigel Featherstone, Lisa Forrest, Richard Glover, Christine Howe, Rebecca James, Benjamin T. Jones, Paul Macdonald, Chris Mansell, Alasdair McGregor, Geoffrey McSkimming, Tommy Murphy, Belinda Murrell, Debra Oswald, Valerie Parv, Ron Pretty, Tohby Riddle, Paula Roe, Jillian Schedneck, Annabel Seargeant, Jorge Sotirios, Sydney Story Factory, Anne Summers, Mark Tredinnick, Sue Whiting and Wenee Yap. The literary dinner chef was Giovanni Pilu.
A special shout-out to our official photographers Dean Golja and James Norton for capturing the Festival so beautifully. Enjoy the photos from this year.
Wednesday 8 May
Program Launch
The official program launch featured Former Prime Minister the Honourable Mr. Kevin Rudd, along with the presentation of all the events and authors that would be featured at the festival this year.
Saturday 22 June
Shop & Vollies
Over the course of an intense 72 hours, the creative team and Casimir Ross transformed an empty shell of a shop into our Festival HQ. The shop displayed the books and bio of the featured authors. Festival-goers also had the opportunity to purchase their tickets at the shop in the weeks before the festival.
Friday 12 July
Make Your Own Book
The Sydney Story Factory conducted this Creative Writing workshop, where kids received intensive personal tutoring and left with their very own printed book.
Tohby Riddle
Award-winning cartoonist for the Sydney Morning Herald, Tohby Riddle read from his latest book Unforgotten in this Story Time event for kids. Unforgotten is shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards 2013.
Craft Time
In this crafting session, kids got the chance to create their own bookmarks and book covers.
Teach Your child to Read
Anthony Earnshaw and Annabel Seargeant from the I Can Read literacy program joined the festival to promote the literacy program, including Anthony wearing a big yellow bear mascot.
Geoffrey McSkimming
Geoffrey McSkimming, children's novelist and poet, read from his newly released Phyllis Wong series of mystery novels in this Story Time session. He was joined by special guest magician Sue Anne.
Ursula Dubosarsky
Ursula Dubosarsky is widely regarded as one of the most talented and original writers in Australia for both children and young adults. Ursula read from her new guinea pig detective series for this Story Time session.
Mark Tredinnick
Multi award-winning local poet Mark Tredinnick join Michaela for an up close and personal soiree for this opening night event.
Ron Pretty
What the Afternoon Knows is a collection of poems written by one of Australia’s best-loved poets Ron Pretty during a recent residency in Rome. Ron launched his new book at this opening night event. In celebration, this event included a glass of complimentary wine for festival goers.
Saturday 13 July
Geordie Williamson
Geordie Williamson is chief literary critic of The Australian newspaper. In his conversation with Jenny Strachan he reintroduced us to key Australian writers whose works we may have forgotten or missed altogether.
Wenee Yap & Thomas Derricott
Authors Wenee Yap and Thomas Derricott discussed the theme of vice in their works and other iconic works of fiction including American Psycho, Fight Club and Fifty Shades of Grey.
Nick Cater
Countries don't get lucky; people do. Half a century after Donald Horne named Australia "The Lucky Country" journalist Nick Cater was interviewed by David Smith, editor of Highlife magazine, on the new battle to define Australia.
Jorge Sotirios & Jillian Schedneck
These days newspapers, magazines and books are brimming with fabulous travel stories from all corners of the planet. Authors Jorge Sotirios and Jillian Schedneck have based their latest works on their own extraordinary travel adventures. They were interviewed by broadcaster Nick Rheinberger.
Anne Summers
After more than 40 years of fighting for women's rights, Anne Summers talked to journalist Lucy Palmer about rethinking what women need to do to achieve equality.
Paul Macdonald & Sue Whiting
Tony Earnshaw discussed the best books to read to kids with an esteemed panel including Paul Macdonald from the Children’s Bookshop and author and book publisher Sue Whiting.
The Teen Phenomenon
With the extraordinary success of The Hunger Games and Twilight series of books, Young Adult Fiction is riding high. In this panel this highly featured genre was discussed with authors Rebecca James, Sue Whiting and Lisa Forrest. Moderated by Thomas Derricott.
Seeking Horizons: Local Poets in Conversation
In this panel discussion, Rhiannon Hall talked to local poets about seeking horizons, including Mark Tredinnick, Ron Pretty and Chris Mansell.
Fest Factor
In this first ever edition of Fest Factor, comedian Anthony Ackroyd emceed the Southern Highland’s talent quest for poets, singer-songwriters, comedians and writers.
Literary Dinner
Giovanni Pilu
This year’s scrumptious dinner was prepared by multi-awarding winning, 2-hatted chef, Giovanni Pilu. Over the course of the dinner, ABC radio star and author Richard Glover discussed his latest book George Clooney's Haircut and Other Cries for Help and Olympian swimmer and author Lisa Forrest reflected on her fascinating career as an elite sportswoman and author.
SUNDAY 14 July
Benjamin T. Jones
Benjamin T. Jones’ latest work is Project Republic. He was in conversation with radio host Richard Glover about the book, and spoke plainly about Australia’s future as a republic.
Jesse Blackadder & Alasdair McGregor
Throughout history, Antarctica has captivated and inspired writers with its incredible landscapes, climate and isolation. Two of those writers, Jesse Blackadder and Alasdair McGregor were interviewed about this influence from the frozen Southern land by Jenny Strachan.
It’s All About Love
This panel discussion covered the fastest growing genre of the e-reading market: romantic fiction. Moderated by Kylie Matthews, this panel included authors Paula Roe, Shannon Curtis, and romance bookshop owner Lucy Abarcia.
State of Play
Australian theatre is at a turning point. Where do we go from here? Is the development of an export culture a viable possibility? With this expert panel of thespians, including Katherine Thomson, Craig Pearce, and moderated by Charlie Little, we debated this historic moment.
Valerie Parv
JInternationally acclaimed and bestselling romance author Valerie Parv provided practical how-to advice on the art and craft of writing romance. This session was moderated by Kylie Matthews.
Irina Dunn
Publishing guru Irina Dunn offered some important tips and insights on how you can get your writing career to take off. This session was moderated by Wenee Yap.
From script to Small screen
Film producer Ewan Burnett and Debra Oswald, creator and head writer of Channel 10’s Offspring were in conversation with Television Producer Colin McLennan on the ins and outs of writing for TV.
The Business of Writing
The path of pursuing the profession of a wordsmith is a difficult one. Irina Dunn discussed the ins and outs and ups and downs of the Business of Writing with authors Boyd Anderson, Shannon Curtis, and Belinda Murrell.
Wrap Up
SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to the wonderful team from the Gibraltar Hotel, we couldn't have done it without you.
A huge thank you to our Festival Partners including: Highlife Magazine, Southern Highlands News, 97.3 ABC Illawarra, Good Reading, Creative & Co., Berkelouw Books, Gibraltar Hotel, Alexandra Springett, I Can Read, The McLean Foundation, South Coast Writer’s Centre, Biota Dining, Catalyst Graphics, I-CRE8 Australia, Wilde About Jamberoo Writer’s Retreat, Highland Printing, King Computer Solutions, Inland Pictures, Andrew and Alex Stark, Pitt Street Poetry, Cuttaway Hill, Brooklyn Valley, and Fish Fine Music. Without your generosity, kindness and support the Festival could not continue.
Finally the biggest, most heartfelt thanks to my amazing little team of volunteers, James Norton (my incredible Art Director), Saneia Norton (my brilliant Front of House Manager), Kylie Matthews (my 2IC), Casimir Ross, and of course my mum and dad Roz and Len - you make the Festival a reality! Thank you for your time and extraordinary expertise in making the SHWF so unique, along with your grace and sensational good senses of humour!