Canberra Writers Festival starts early (and yes, it’s worth crossing the border for)
Look, we all know how this works.
You say, “I’ll wait until October for the Canberra Writers Festival.” October rolls around. You’re suddenly double-booked, mildly feral from the year and somehow miss the one event you actually wanted to see.
Good news: problem solved.
For its 10th birthday, the festival has decided waiting is overrated and is rolling out a year-long program of events across autumn and winter. Meaning you can get your culture fix now.
And before you say it – yes, it’s technically “Canberra”. But it’s also 15 minutes over the border, parking is (mostly) civilised, and you were probably going to Fyshwick anyway.
So expect to leave feeling smarter, slightly unsettled and possibly carrying more books than you intended to.
Lisa Wilkinson: The Titanic (and no, we’re not doing the ‘Jack could have fit on the door too’ debate)
There are few voices in Australian media more recognisable than Lisa Wilkinson, and she’s heading to the National Library of Australia on 30 April.
Her latest book, The Titanic Story of Evelyn, dives into the life of Australian nurse Evelyn Marsden – one of the Titanic’s lesser-known survivors. It’s part history, part human story, and thankfully not another rehash of whether Jack could have fit on the door.
Wilkinson will be in conversation with Amy Remeikis, which pretty much guarantees a sharp, engaging chat with just the right amount of bite.
Get tickets to Lisa Wilkinson here.
Sarah Wilson: Existential crisis, but make it enlightening
If you’ve ever had a small (or large) spiral about the meaning of life while folding laundry, Sarah Wilson has written a book for you.
She’ll be at The Street Theatre on 8 May launching I Eat the Stars, continuing her deep dive into anxiety, modern life and how we’re all coping (or not).
Wilson’s events tend to feel less like a standard author talk and more like a collective group chat where everyone leaves thinking, “Well … that was confronting, but in a good way.”
Get tickets to Sarah Wilson here.
Rosalie Ham: Getting old … and a perfectly valid excuse for cake
Rosalie Ham – author of The Dressmaker (yes, the one with Kate Winslet looking fabulous and vengeful) – is bringing both stories and snacks to Canberra.
First up: a conversation at the National Library on 1 May.
Then: a Dressmaker-inspired high tea at Hyatt Hotel Canberra on 2 May.
Expect sharp observations, a bit of sass, and a reminder that wine, cheese and a healthy dose of gossip are all part of ageing gracefully.
Honestly, we’re mostly here for the cake. But the literature helps.
Get tickets to the National Library event here.
Night of the Bookers: for when your Book Club chat gets literary
If your ideal night out involves internationally acclaimed authors instead of … literally anything else, Night of the Bookers is for you.
Held at the National Library on 12 May, it brings together Booker Prize winner David Szalay and shortlisted author Susan Choi, in conversation with Canberra’s own Nigel Featherstone.
Szalay’s Flesh and Choi’s Flashlight both tackle big, chewy questions about identity, ambition and modern life: so expect to leave feeling smarter, slightly unsettled, and possibly compelled to buy more books than you can realistically read.
For more info on all events head to the Canberra Writers Festival website.
About the Author: Kristen Zotti
Kristen Zotti is a Canberra-based storyteller and founder of PR agency Zotts & Co, working across some of the capital’s biggest cultural moments. She loves singing, a good dancefloor, broadway tunes and has a well-documented soft spot (bordering on advocacy) for Queanbeyan. She’ll also tell anyone who will listen about trying to manifest her way into a band.
