WRITERS' FESTIVAL
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November 7-9: A great line-up for the Snowy Mountains Writers' Festival at Thredbo. Well-known Canberra journalists and authors Chris Uhlmann and Steve Lewis will be guest speakers at the Sunset Festival Dinner and over the weekend you can catch up with Peter Fitzsimons (Gallipoli), Karen Viggers (The Grass Castle), Omar Musa (Here Come the Dogs), Biff Ward (In My Mother's Hands), Sulari Gentill (A Murder Unmentioned), Anna George (The Beauty of Stone), David Leser (To Begin to Know – Walking in the Shadows of my Father), poet Victoria McGrath, and others. There will also be writing workshops, discussions with authors, a high tea, literary lunch and a celebration dinner on the Friday night. Details: snowymountainswritersfestival.org
CREW DINNER
November 8: The Australian Literacy Educators' Association and the ACT Association for Teachers of English are holding a literary dinner with young adult-fiction writer Gary Crew. 6.30pm at the National Press Club. Cost: $100 members, $120 institutional members, $140 non-members. Book online: alea.edu.au/events/category/act or by email: actaleatreasurer@gmail.com
DESTINY STONE
November 8: Paperchain Bookstore Manuka presents the launch of the children's book Destiny Stone by Linda-Marie Catto, the first in the series The Sinbad Legacy. Gregory's father is missing, and so is the Hope Diamond! Before Gregory knows it, he and his family are whisked away to stay with his crazy Aunt Ness, where he learns of an ancient legacy and discovers a mysterious gemstone which may hold the key to finding his lost father. It's on at 1.45 for 2pm.
YA FICTION WORKSHOP
November 8: Award-winning young adult and children's author Kaz Delaney will lead a workshop on how to write successfully for young adults. She will discuss tone, markets, audience, agents, selling across two continents and popular culture in the context of the YA novel. Participants will have the opportunity to create their own compelling YA protagonist and be encouraged to dig deep to find the story that drives them. ACT Writers Centre, $110 members, $170 non-members. Bookings: 6262 9191 or actwriters.org.au
BARRIE CASSIDY
November 11: Barrie Cassidy's dad Bill survived more than four years as a prisoner of war in World War II. Back home, Myra too was a prisoner of sorts, with her own secrets. Then, 50 years after the war, unhealed wounds unexpectedly opened for Bill and Myra, testing them once again. Private Bill: In Love and War is a classic heart-warming story – as told by their son – of how a loving couple prevailed over the adversities of war to live an extraordinarily ordinary, happy life. Barrie Cassidy will be in conversation with Paul Daley at Paperchain Bookstore Manuka at 5.45 for 6pm. RSVP 6295 6723.
ANZAC STORY
November 9: Just before Remembrance Day, popular speaker and well-known historian Michael McKernan will give a talk at Tuggeranong Homestead, where C.E.W. Bean wrote The Anzac Story. His topic: Writing about the Great War 100 years later. 2pm. Cost: $15 entry, pay at the door, includes afternoon tea. Bookings essential: 6231 4535 or robhorsfield@bigpond.com
PETER STANLEY
November 11: Professor Peter Stanley will give a lecture, 'The finest type of coloured men': Indians and Anzacs, 1915, in the conference room at the National Library of Australia at 5.30pm. Admission free. Bookings: nla.gov.au/bookings or 6262 1271.
PETER FITZSIMONS
November 11: Peter Fitzsimons, with his trademark vibrancy and expert melding of writing and research, recreates, in his new book Gallipoli, the disaster as experienced by those who endured it or perished in the attempt. A Canberra Times/ANU Meet the Author event. 6pm. Manning Clark Lecture Theatre 1. Bookings: events@anu.edu.au or 6125 8415.
BARRIE CASSIDY
November 11: Melbourne University Publishing and Paperchain Bookstore invite you to join Barrie Cassidy, author of Private Bill: In Love and War, in conversation with Paul Daley. Private Bill is a classic heart-warming story – as told by their son – of how a loving couple prevailed over the adversities of war to live an extraordinarily ordinary, happy life. 5.45 for 6pm. RSVP 6295 6723 or info@paperchainbookstore.com.au
WRITING ON THE BODY
November 15: From noon to 5pm. Discover how developing a sense of "the body" can take your writing to a new level. Explore the exhibition Pulse: Reflections on the body, at Canberra Museum and Gallery, through writing, with Sarah St Vincent Welch and a group of fellow writers.
Website: actwriters.org.au/events/upcoming-workshops-events.shtml#sarahstvincentwelch
PUBLISHING PICTURE BOOKS
November 22: This workshop with Tania McCartney from 10am to 4pm is designed for those seeking to both create and produce children's picture books. Website: actwriters.org.au/events/upcoming-workshops-events.shtml#taniamccartney2
PAUL MALONE
December 1: Is it only the Orang-utans that matter? Australian journalist Paul Malone will talk about his new book The Peaceful People – The Penan and Their Fight For the Forest. Asia Bookroom, Lawry Place, Macquarie. 6pm. RSVP by November 30 to books@asiabookroom.com or 6251 5191 Entry by gold coin donation to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
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