Lots of literature to love in Clunes

AS the page turns from April to May this weekend, Clunes Booktown will return, celebrating writing, reading, publishing, bookselling, and knowledge-sharing.

The historic town’s annual literary festival will run from Saturday, 30 April to Sunday, 1 May, closing off Fraser Street for a big outdoor book bazaar, and series of all-ages bookish events.

Writers, authors, storytellers, poets, publishers, and 50 specialist booksellers will flock to Clunes, as well as literacy lovers, for exhibitions, author presentations, panel discussions, workshops, book-signings, stalls, street performances, and of course, eclectic book sales.

After the challenges of the last 25 months, Clunes Booktown CEO Sue Beal said the 2022 festival will be one full of hope with something for everyone.

“We want to give to the broader community something well-rounded that the whole family can appreciate and enjoy, and we’ve got everything from antiquarian books, to academic writers, to fun fiction,” she said.

Founders of the Melbourne School of Discontent Jacqui Katona with Gary Foley are part of Booktown’s opening discussion panel, and authors confirmed as attending include ABC Radio Melbourne’s Jacinta Parsons, Jock Serong, JP Pomare, Eliza Hull, Don Watson, Sean O’Beirne, Chloe Hooper, Fiona Scott Norman, and Arnold Zable.

There will be plenty of book-signing opportunities, workshops, an entertainment precinct for children, food and drinks, and access to the town’s shops.

Clunes Booktown is a ticketed COVID-safe event. Visit clunesbooktown.com.au for more information and tickets.