SHwf 2024 Gallery
The 2024 festival took place on Friday 26th – Sunday 28th July at the iconic Empire Cinemas in Bowral. It featured some of Australia’s greatest writers, thinkers and performers including Mark Dapin, Monique diMattina, Andrew Ford, Posie Graeme-Evans, Steve Grant, Liz Hayes, Glen Humphries, Sam Lemann, Paula McLean, Catherine McKinnon, David Marr, Nicola Moriarty, Caroline Overington and Fiona Sweet.
A special shout-out to our official photographer Greg Jackson for capturing the Festival so beautifully. Enjoy the photos from this year.
Friday 26 July
Writer’s Boot Camp with Posie Graeme-Evans
Posie is one of Australia’s most respected television and film producers, as well as an editor, screenwriter, director and author. She led our inaugural Writers’ Boot Camp focusing on character development, story arc and writer’s block.
Catherine McKinnon
Catherine McKinnon is an author and Associate Professor at Wollongong University’s School of the Arts, English and Media. Her latest book, To Sing of War is a rich and thrilling novel of love, war and friendship.
Caroline Overington
Caroline is one of Australia’s most successful writers and journalists and currently the Literary Editor at The Weekend Australian. She chatted about her new novel Looking For Eden.
Stella - The Miles Franklin Story Panel discussion and live performance
Fiona Sweet, Paula McLean and Monique diMattina discussed the Stella Prize and the importance of championing Australian women writers. This was followed by an exclusive live preview of STELLA: The Miles Franklin Story with composer Monique diMattina and musicians Steve Grant and Sam Lemann.
Saturday 27 July
Glen Humphries
Journalist Glen Humphries chatted about his latest book, Aussie Rock Anthems - Top 40, revealing the stories behind some of Australia's best-known pop and rock songs.
Nicola Moriarty
Nicola Moriarty’s books have sold more than a quarter of a million copies worldwide. She chatted with Michaela about her latest gripping new thriller, Every Last Suspect. Unputdownable and arguably her best yet.
Liz Hayes
Journalist Liz Hayes has graced Australian television screens for more than four decades. She spoke about her highly anticipated, inspirational and candid bestselling new memoir, I’m Liz Hayes.
SUNDAY 28 July
Andrew Ford
Andrew Ford OAM discussed his latest book The Shortest History of Music, seeking to understand why humans are irresistibly drawn to making music.
Mark Dapin
We heard from journalist, author, screenwriter and historian Mark Dapin’s about his latest work, Carnage, dubbed a true crime cult classic in the making.
David Marr
Journalist and political commentator David Marr finished the the 2024 festival with his latest book, Killing for Country: A Family Story. A richly detailed saga of politics and power in the colonial world. It was a full house!
SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to the the wonderful team from the Empire Cinema, Bowral, Dave, James, and Gerard, we couldn't have done it without you.
A huge thank you to our Festival Partners including: The Bookshop Bowral; The Empire Cinemas; Highland FM (107.1); Southern Highland News; King Computers; Springfield; Powerpoint Music Centre; The Modern; Destination Southern Highlands; Highlife; Coffee Culture; The Fold; Fermento Bakery; Joadja Estate; Lynne Ainsworth and Mrs Oldbucks Pantry. 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 and 2IC), Saneia Norton (my brilliant Front of House Manager), Sarah Dowland, Rachel Armstrong and of course my mum Roz - 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!