AS the page turns from April to May this weekend, Clunes Booktown will return, celebrating writing, reading, publishing, bookselling, and knowledge-sharing.<\/p>\n
The historic town\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to give to the broader community something well-rounded that the whole family can appreciate and enjoy, and we\u2019ve got everything from antiquarian books, to academic writers, to fun fiction,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Founders of the Melbourne School of Discontent Jacqui Katona with Gary Foley are part of Booktown\u2019s opening discussion panel, and authors confirmed as attending include ABC Radio Melbourne\u2019s Jacinta Parsons, Jock Serong, JP Pomare, Eliza Hull, Don Watson, Sean O\u2019Beirne, Chloe Hooper, Fiona Scott Norman, and Arnold Zable.<\/p>\n
There will be plenty of book-signing opportunities, workshops, an entertainment precinct for children, food and drinks, and access to the town\u2019s shops.<\/p>\n