NEWCASTLE WRITER'S FESTIVAL 2025

 As always NWF 2025 is my weekend of the year, I am a Librarian after all!!

I have also always called it Mecca for Book Lovers.

It is pure joy, and so incredibly stimulating.

Here is my breakdown.

Opening Night: Benjamin Law in Conversation with Gina Chick

I have never missed an opening night, and whilst I didn't really know Gina Chick, that didn't stop me. I do however love Benjamin Law. I first came across him as a journo and columnist for various quality mags and newspapers. His book came across my way at work and I read it immediately recognising his name. And then I loved him even more.

I was lucky enough to meet and have a conversation with him at the Newcastle Young Writers Festival well over a decade ago. And remember him and his partner at Marieke Hardy's curated People of Letters Program at the 2014 SWF. I don't really get fanatical about performers, but I do love to share the love around, and Ben is one of them.

So I was keen. 

It was a great night. The usual chats and thanks from ever brilliant MC, Dan Cox, Uni VC, and our heroine of the moment, Festival director, Rosemarie Milsom.

Ben was Ben, charming and intelligent and hilarious. Gina Chick was entertaining, better than I thought. Whilst she poo-pooed Woo Woo and Hippyness, she was definitely a good smattering of both. Some of her stories were fascinating, others not so much. I didn't hate her, but definitely didn't mind her.

SATURDAY 5 APRIL

Saturday is the big day! It is not for amateurs, lol! I go all in on the Saturday, and for the past few years Andrew was with me, this year also. He loves the weekend as much as me now, which is kinda everything to me!

We arrived early, around 8.45am, to get breakfast from Olive Tree markets, and then head to our first session.

Breaking the news: the future of media 

Rick Morton and Eric Beecher were in conversation with Kylie Morris. Rick is a young and wonderful journalist for The Saturday Paper. His autobiography, One Hundred Years of Dirt, is remarkable. Eric Beecher is the editor of Crikey! Kylie Morris is a Foreign Correspondent, she is the wife of Bharat Nullari, director and show runner for Boy Swallows Universe.

They spoke about the media today, the future and all things Murdoch. Spoiler: they are not fans, lol! It was such an honest and glorious chat about their backgrounds, and past work, and work today. They have different styles, but clearly think similarly. These people that report honestly, are the heroes of today. Was a pure pleasure to be in their midst.

A wild life: Markus Zusak in conversation

This was a big one, you could feel the excitement in the air as people lined up outside the theatre at The Con. My history with Markus goes way back. When I was a new Library worker, I did a lot of kids and teen work and programming. He was a teen writer back then, and I had enjoyed his book, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, a book about boxing for tween boys.

I headed to a Teen Conference at the NSW State Library in the early 2000s and Markus was our guest speaker. He was there to talk about writing for teens, and his new book, yet to be published, The Messenger. He would have been in his mid to late 20s, but looked much much younger and was very good looking. You could feel the silent oohs of a room full of Librarians straighten up and sigh with a smile. He was either on his way to or from his publisher and showed us his manuscript for The Messenger, with playing cards taped in - just as they would be in the book when I read it later in the year.

You knew he would be a star.

How much of course, was beyond our wildest imagination.

So twenty years later I saw him again, and he was everything. Humble, funny, intelligent, warm, generous and engaging. He was in conversation with the lovely Dan Cox, and talking about his new book, a memoir of his dogs. He held the audience in the palm of his hand. He is the superstar of Australian writing. The author who struck gold. And yet, he was so available and open to everyone. He signed books for 3 hours after his session, ensuring every person got a good chunk of his time. His appearance was simply a gift to book lovers.   

I cannot wait to read his book and wish I had time to line up and tell him the above story, I think he would have loved it.                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                  

Theory and practice: Michelle de Krester

I was thrilled to see Michelle de Krester in conversation with Michaela Kalowski. I have loved her work since reading the epic Questions of Travel many years ago. Her books are highly philosophical and at times a little stream of consciousness. She plays with book format, and her latest is the perfect example. She wrote it as if it was non-fiction, it is a novel, and she purposely used many non-fiction tropes within it. I had read and enjoyed the novel, Theory and Practise, but struggled with it at times, this was when she changed the writing style. Had I known this going it I think I would have loved it more. I need to re-read it. 

She spoke about the research for the book, and whilst fiction, how much of it was based on her own time at Uni. She also went into behind the scenes of writing, her style, and especially her style in this latest book. She was exactly as I imagined, quietly spoken but strong of convictions, highly intelligent, lovely and beautifully presented.

After the voice referendum: Thomas Mayo in conversation

While I was at Michelle de Krester, Andrew went to Thomas Mayo in conversation with Clare Wright. He said it was an uplifting session, with a lot of hope. Very powerful and wonderful.

LUNCH

Breaks are important at festivals such as this, you need sustenance to keep you going and you run into friends. I love festivals for catching up with friends I have not seen in a while or close friends. This is one of the best aspects of the festival. We found a great Woodfire pizza near the Uni, especially for the festival, and enjoyed a nice pizza. This gave up time to debrief, see and chat to friends, and take five with some yummy food before going back into it. 

The men who killed the news: Eric Beecher in conversation

After lunch, we headed back into the media landscape. Eric Beecher again, this time in conversation with the goddess, Jennifer Bryne. They spoke about his latest book, which 'lifts the lid on the abuse of power by media moguls', and his grand career as a journalist. They had worked together, way back, and had a great rapport. Both Andrew and I have a big crush on Jennifer so it was great to see her there in front of us. I loved that Eric said the news of now and the future are podcasts and Substack, two things where I mainly get my news from now. Phew, I am not as old and backward as I have thought. This was a good session.

Stories with heart: Anita Heiss in conversation

Anita is a long-time friend, so seeing all her sessions was a must, and I will try not to be biased, lol. Anita was in conversation with Courtney Collins. Both had a great rapport, and the session was a sheer delight. Hilarious and insightful this was a cracking session. Anita talked about both her new books, Dirrayawadha, historical fiction about the frontier wars in Bathurst, and Red Dust Running, chick-lit. 

She had the audience in the palm of her hands, with her fabulous commentary, about love, life, Indigenous history, and behind the scenes of writing. She commenced the session with a call to country in indigenous language, which is a real treat. She spoke with Courtney about her work, she is prolific, and her new publishing company, and everything in between. Engaging, and generous, this was a fun and informative session.

DINNER

We had a few hours break before our last session, so jumped on a tram and headed up to the beach, then had a light dinner at Grain Store. We then headed back to the playhouse for the final session. While waiting, we got to see some of the authors arrive for the session. Andrew was thrilled with a small exchange with one of his faves, David Marr. I was thrilled to see Marieke Hardy, who looked amazing. We caught up with friends and excitement and buzz was in the house.

Better off said: eulogies for the living and dead

Better off said is Marieke Hardy's latest salon and it is a cracker. Her first was women (and sometimes men/people) of letters, where she would curate a group of women (men/people) to write a letter about a specified topic and they would give a live reading of it to an audience. I have been lucky enough to see a few Women of Letters, and they are always magnificent. My favourite was at SWF some years ago, and it was couples reading letters to each about how they feel about each other. Dr Karl and Zan Rowe, about working together, Ben Law and his long time partner, and so on. But the evening ended with David Williamson and his wife. She spoke first and about helping David through his recent stroke. Not a dry eye in the room, and when David took to the stage he was so emotional he couldn't go on and the night ended abruptly!

Better off said is similar, still a letter, but to someone or something you know or knew and things you wish you had said to them. 

The evening was hosted by Emilie Zoey Baker, under the watchful eye of Marieke. Zoey was the perfect host, quirky and funny, kind and welcoming.

The first author was Krissy Kneen with a hilarious but touching reach out to her ex best friend. Krissy was wonderful, a great start to the evening. Anita Heiss was next with a love story to her father, who passed 10 years ago. It was very warm, funny, but also not a dry eye in the theatre at the end of hers. She really rose the bar. Next up was Nikki Gemmell, with tribute to her recently passed father. Sulari Gentill told a great story about a lawyer who saved her bacon very early on in her law career. He was from the opposite side but still fixed her mistake and was an older, polished gent named Rolly. Hers was a thank you to him, and of course she named her main character in her series, Roland, after him.

David Marr rounded out the evening with a brilliant eulogy to Rupert Murdoch, who had passed on this very day at 108. It was eloquent, clever, sharp, political, and hilarious as only you can imagine. Marr at his finest, he had the audience in awe and laughing. It was a charming and lovely evening. I got to speak to Marieke on the way out, thanking her to her involvement in Broad Radio, which I love. She was really chuffed, genuinely too. I hate fangirling over people, it is so very uncool, but if I can think of something genuine to say and the timing is right, I find you get genuine back.

It was the perfect way to end a perfect day, we got home around 9.45!

SUNDAY 6 APRIL

After hitting our fave cafe for a big breakfast, we headed for Sunday, a much lighter day.

Culture and the creative spirit

We split up for session one. I was at Nardi Simpson and Anita Heiss in conversation with Kate Mildenhall. This was by far Anita's best session. I was there early, had a chance to chat to Anita and to listen to Nardi warm up. Nardi is a musician and poet, her songs are stunning. She was walking nervously around the room humming to herself. 

The session started with Nardi singing us a song in her language, one she had written earlier that morning while going for a walk at the beach. It was stunning. I have sung indigenous songs in choir, and they are always beautiful to sing, a lot of vowels which open the song up, and almost always in the minor key. So she had us all hooked in and a little teary. 

Both Anita and Nardi were differing writers, and personalities, and yet they complimented each other beautifully. They both spoke about country and writing about it, how they write, when they write and how creativity is sparked. Whilst they both spoke about their new books, it was more about writing, their heritage, and what they most want to convey with their words. This was great.

The correspondent: Peter Greste in conversation

While I was with Nardi and Anita, Andrew was with Peter Greste. He said it was pretty intense hearing about Peter's ordeal, but how he dealt with it then, and even now. He said Peter was quite commanding, but also humble and lowkey. He also was amusing, talking about the film coming out about his experience with Richard Roxburgh playing him. Sounded like a great session.

Pushing the boundaries: John Safran in conversation

Another biggie, we headed to Safran. We both fell in awe/love with Safran from Race Around the World. I had recently read his book and had very mixed feelings about it, mostly worried for his mental health. He was in conversation with his good friend Marieke Hardy, and it was a great conversation, they have great chemistry, and he indeed seemed ok. He spoke a lot about the book and why he did it but mostly the first half of the book, which I loved, and not so much about the later half. This was what I found concerning, so I guess spoilers. He was funny and Safran, the session was wonderful.

sidenote: Good friends were at the session, and then headed to Darby for lunch, he ended up at the same cafe. They chatted to him and he ended up heading to their place nearby. I saw a message from them as I was leaving the festival but was tired, I didn't read it properly until I arrived home. They had invited me over, I was stuffed so dumbly declined. They said he was lovely and quiet and interesting.

LUNCH

More catch ups and chats with people we knew, and lovely savoury crepes for a light lunch before Andrew headed home. He had a great weekend and had thoroughly enjoyed himself, how my heart swells at this. To know my partner in crime enjoys what I enjoy means everything to me.

About a boy: Helen Garner in conversation

And so to my final session, one of my all-time favourite writers, and easily Australia's best writer, Helen Garner. She was in conversation with Rosemarie and the theatre was packed. I was in the sort of front row. I had run into an ex-colleague and her family beforehand. I had not seen her in a long time, so was thrilled to see her, I took my seat right next to them, how perfect!

As soon as Helen and Rosemarie took to the stage, I teared up. I get so emotional with some people, Helen is one. She means so much to me and I know at 82, she is getting on. She certainly writes about it in her latest book, The Season. She was sharp and smart and funny as always, but you know, this might be the last time I see her IRL. I felt a little silly for getting weepy and hung my head a bit until I realised it might look like I was falling asleep lol. After I saw a close friend and they said they also teared up for the same reasons! Yes, I felt much less silly.

Anyway, Helen spoke about her book, her family, writing and everything. She was generous with her words and her time, and she had us all in awe of her genius. Rosemarie did ask her what was next, and she said she had nothing. This was dreadful to hear, I suspect she will write small things for serials and newspapers as she always had done, but The Season may be her last book.

It was the perfect way to end my festival, I mean, how can you top Helen Garner, I drove home for a long nap.

Huge thanks to everyone who pulls together this special weekend, I know it is a huge cast of behind the scenes people and volunteers. Just marvellous. But without the incredible vision of Rosemarie Milsom, there would be no festival. What an inspirational woman, thank you!!!

NEWCASTLE WRITERS FESTIVAL 2024

Newcastle Writers Festival is my favourite weekend of the year.

As a Bibliophile, word nerd, and a Librarian, this is my Mecca. 

The program had some tough choices this year, with sometimes 4 or 5 sessions on simultaneously I wanted to see but of course could not without cloning myself.

So choices were made, and they were all bloody magnificent.

As always, one of the very best things about the festival is who you run into! Close friends, colleagues, and friends I have not seen for a while. Those moments are truly amazing.

Opening night, Friday 5 April

Newsmaker: an evening with Leigh Sales in conversation with Indira Naidoo

As always, the erudite raconteur, Dan Cox was the MC, keeping the night flowing beautifully. Speeches were made, including an always rousing one by Rosemarie Milsom, founding director. What a legend, without her vision and the hard work of her team, there would be no NWF.

The main act was a great conversation with Leigh Sales about her new book, she was in conversation with the equally impressive Indira Naidoo and they were the perfect pair. The stories ranged from the sad to the funny, tips and techniques for interviewing and listening, and such an intimate and lovely conversation that you often felt like you were privy to friends talking. It was such a delight.

Leigh is very funny and intelligent, so is Indira, but she has a lovely warmth to her that I had forgotten, having not seen or heard her in recent years. I always loved her on Club Buggery. 

It was a night well worth heading out in that awful weather. Stormy, windy and heavy rain didn't stop a huge group of us enjoying opening night. After all, we haven't missed one since the beginning of the festival over a decade ago.

Saturday 6 April

Andrew has not done a full day of the festival, only the odd session here and there and this year we collaborated on our Saturday attendance. As a high school teacher he teaches History, Geography, Business, Legal Studies, and Society and Culture, so a lot of our choices were informed by Society and Culture.

We had a very full day with 6 sessions from 10am to 9pm, he loved every minute of it and came home as tired but thrilled as I do. To have a partner that shares in the things I love, because he loves them too, is absolutely wonderful.

We split our first session, and he headed to see David Marr, who he fanboyed over and came out of very excited. David spoke about his new book, Killing for Country, the subject matter is very traumatic, but the book itself sounds quite amazing. As only David Marr could be. It is about finding out his ancestors were part of the brutal frontier police. Andrew asked a question, (an actual question!) and got a lovely 10 minute answer. Well done!

Book of Life: Deborah Conway in Conversation

I commenced with one of my musical heroes, Deborah Conway. I purchased her book last year but it has been sitting on one of my many piles of To Read at Club Cathy. I love her voice, her ideas, her feminism, and her outspokenness. I have met her once a few years back and to be honest I was terrified. I needn't have been, but she is formidable.

She has been in the hotseat politically and culturally of late. If the reporting is correct, some of her comments about the Israel/Palestine conflict have been very unfortunate. So I was a little unsure about heading to this session. It was meant to be in the large hall at the conservatorium but had been moved to a much smaller room in the New University building. We arrived to a police presence and I was very anxious about the whole thing. I didn't want to end up on the news.

I needn't have worried, the whole session was handled beautifully. Deborah spoke beautifully about her book, a memoir of her life in music. It sounds terrific and I cannot wait to read it. She told us tales of writing songs, exploring music, performing, and how she navigated the music industry and being a parent to three teenage daughters. Her husband, Willy Zygier was with her in the audience, listening intently and lovingly. They performed a few songs.

In this intimate room, it was actually quite amazing, and very intimate. There was love in the room, which I think eased things significantly. After I headed to get my book signed. She looked exhausted, but was up for a chat. She signed my book and I admitted I hadn't yet read it. She was like I understand, my to read pile is quite large. I then asked her what she had been reading, and she had been getting into WWII history, and enjoying a biography of Winston Churchill.

Things we Don't Speak About: Class

This was a really interesting session. Jessie Stephens and Peter Polites discussed using class in their fiction. The session was hosted by Beejay Silcox, who really lifted the session with her own highly relevant input and humour. I was given a copy of Peter's first book a few years back and haven't had a chance to read it and I should. Whilst everyone was interesting, he engaged me the most. He spoke about coming from a Greek immigrant background and how that adds whole other levels of class.  

The In-between: Christo Tsiolkas in Conversation

This was my favourite session on Saturday. Whilst I have not read all of CT's books, the ones I have read I have always enjoyed or appreciated. I don't think anyone enjoyed The Slap, lol. Christos was in conversation with the great David Marr. They obviously know each other and had a great rapport. This took the session up a few levels. Christos spoke about his new book, writing, being gay, and many other things. I always find him a much gentler soul than his voice in words on paper. 

What I loved the most was two older gay men having a great conversation about life and being able to chat about their lives openly and freely with love in front of an adoring and appreciative audience. And I don't think that was lost on them. I could have sat there all day listening to them. It was just wonderful.

The Long Haul

The long haul was about long Covid. It had Rosemarie Milsom in conversation with Tracey Spicer and Dr Steven Faux. It was really interesting and quite frankly, really frightening. Tracey has long covid and her descriptions of her symptoms (everyone has different symptoms) which sounded quite awful. 

Dr Faux is amazing, his background was in rehabilitation for chronic diseases. Once Covid hit, he got a quite a few referrals from GPs and specialists who were unsure what was going on. It took a fair bit of research to have their initial diagnosis of long covid to be taken seriously and they are still trying to educate a lot of the medical profession and the general public on the disease.

Tracey spoke about being gaslit by her doctor who said she was depressed. There were a lot of people in the audience who were going through (or knew people who were going through) similar experiences. 

I don't know anyone with this, but it terrifies me. The whole Covid thing always has and I do not think very highly of anyone who is dismissive of it, it shows a serious lack of intelligence and empathy.

Welcome to Sex: Yumi Stynes and Dr Melissa Kang in Conversation

This was one of my favourite sessions of the day. Firstly, Dr Melissa Kang is Dolly Doctor. Boom!! I found out she was DD some years back, and I was thrilled and my mind blown. She is the most elegant, intelligent, and remarkable woman. Listening to her speak is some kind of mystical, magnetic experience. She has us all in the palm of her hands. Secondly, I love Yumi Stynes and her fierce passion. They were in conversation with Maeve Marsden, who was a tremendous host. 

They talked about sex and consent and their books, and it was wonderful. Serious and funny, informative and intelligent. They have a wonderful relationship, Melissa and Yumi, a seemingly odd couple but when you hear them talk, that is so far from the truth. We laughed a lot and were humbled by their knowledge and humanity. 

There was one awful moment, when the topic of Yumi being targeted, because people are dicks, she broke down. It was so upsetting to watch, the vitriol she suffered, the death threats, the threats to her children, it was absolutely infuriating. I felt so much for her, when all she was doing was being honest about sex in the most respectful way.

A Bloody Good Idea: Bryan Brown in Conversation

Bryan Brown is the real deal...in case you hadn't worked it out, lol!
He arrived on stage to great fanfare. He was exactly as you would imagine and had so many wonderful Australian tales to tell. You couldn't help but smile and feel in awe to be in his presence. 

He spoke about his writing process, that is pretty much he nails it in his first draft, which is a little annoying lol. He had some great ideas, and was writing them down, more for screenplay ideas as he does a lot of producing. Someone convinced him to turn them into short stories and he was published. Now he has written his first novel which sounds pretty good.

Mostly he just told us stories from his life in film. He said he does not think of himself as a writer or an author but a storyteller, and that he is. I particularly loved his story from Gorillas in the Mist, the first time he went up the mountain and how powerful and terrifying the gorillas were. I am sure one day there will be a brilliant memoir from him. It was the perfect way to end a very long and rewarding day.

Sunday 7 April

Only a few sessions today, and I was solo as Andrew had headed back to Sydney.

Lies My Mirror Told Me: Wendy Harmer in Conversation

This was a wonderful session, I could listen to Wendy talk all day. Her early life was quite tragic and she walks that lovely fine line between drama and comedy with it all. I always loved her, since the early Big Gig days. What a phenomenal women, leading all those wonderful comedians. She had the audience in awe with her tales, laughter and brilliance.

After I lined up to get my copy of her book signed. She was generous with her time and we chatted about The Big Gig and she said it was a wonderful experience but there would be no way something like that would be made again, which is spot on but sad. She doodled in my book as we spoke. I felt like I had unlocked meeting another one of my heroes, and it was a great feeling.

Boy Conquers Universe: Bharat Nalluri in Conversation

This was a phenomenal session, easily the best for Sunday and possibly the entire weekend. I was really lucky to get a ticket as it sold quickly. Rosemarie hosted Bharat and told the story of how she booked him for the session. She was about to hit send on the program when she got contacted by a friend asking if she has Bharat on the program. Rosemarie had never heard of him but found out he was seminal in getting Boy Swallows Universe on the screen for Netflix. She was interested but thought it too late but found out he lived in Newcastle!

Wait? What!?

So Bharat is an Indian born director/producer who has worked in the US and the UK. He married an Australian foreign correspondent, Kylie Morris, whilst in the UK and they came back to Australia for a short stay then Covid happened and they haven't left.    

 

Bharat has worked on Life on Mars, Torchwood, and Spooks amongst other shows and the movie, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. But he recently steered Trent Dalton's Boy Swallows Universe to huge success for Netflix. He spoke about meeting Trent and taking on one of Australia's favourite books and making into a mini series. There was a script already written when he came on board and he asked for it to be rewritten and it didn't have the heart of the book. He spent a lot of time with Trent in Brisbane, scouting locations and looking at photos of Trent's life so he could accurately showcase the book. 

Australia and the UK work on the same TV model, where a main director takes on the first couple of episodes and then employs other directors to finish the series while he oversees the production. He directed the first 2 episodes, but was involved with every aspect of the show, including the script, casting, production, music and so forth. He spoke about it with so much confidence and detail you could see why the series was so wonderful. 

He also confirmed what we already knew, that Trent Dalton is the nicest man in Australia. He also spoke at length about the casting (and looking after) of the 2 young boys cast as Eli and Gus. He spoke about getting series right like Boy Swallows Universe as Lightning in a Bottle, but hearing him talk, I was not so sure. He spoke with so much knowledge, care, and understanding, It couldn't have been anything but perfect.

Best Wishes: Richard Glover in Conversation

I do love Richard Glover, and this was a great way to end the weekend. Richard told tales from his life and new book. Hosted by the wonderful Dan Cox, Richard was like a great stand-up comic sharing his greatest hits. Once he gets going, you are on that ride with him and it is glorious. His upbringing was nothing short of horrific, but yet he is always sunny and uplifting. What a remarkable human being.

And so I headed home very weary, but my heart and soul and creative juices were flowing. And this is why it remains my favourite weekend of the year, I can live off that brilliance and creativity for a long time.

Finally, late Saturday, when we had a bit of a longer break, Andrew and i went all the way to the top of the Nu Space building to check out the stunning views over Newcastle. If you get the chance, you must do the same.