Big names revealed for Writers Fest

THE region’s biggest celebration of authors, books, and the conversations they create will return from Thursday, 12 May.

Tickets to the Bendigo Writers’ Festival will go on sale on Thursday, 3 March and director Rosemary Sorensen said this year’s event is coming together well.

“We’re very optimistic at this stage,” she said. “It’s got the range we always aim for and the use of all our wonderful venues. We had a smaller version last year, so it looks as though that was a good trial run.”

While last year’s festival was slightly compressed, visitor numbers were strong with people flocking to see the likes of Louise Milligan and Fiona O’Laughlin.

Ms Sorensen revealed this year’s guest list includes health commentator and journalist Norman Swan, who will speak in person.

Author of Soil, farmer Matthew Evans will be appearing, as well as Sunday Times bestselling author of Sorrow and Bliss, Meg Mason.

“Matthew Evans is all about not just paddock to plate, but soil to plate,” Ms Sorensen said. “It’s brilliant stuff and he is such a terrific man, a lovely speaker.

“Meg Mason is internationally adored, she’s a hugely admired novelist. Her novel tackles the really interesting topic of mental illness with such humour.”

The festival will also international guests appearing via video link, including Elizabeth Gilbert, author of novel Eat, Pray, Love, Big Magic and City of Girls.

“Elizabeth Gilbert is obviously a real coup, she hasn’t spoken in Australia like this before,” Ms Sorensen said.

“She’s been generous to give us her time, she’s highly sought right across the world.”

Hong Kong activist, politician and author of Freedom: How We Lose It and How We Fight Back, Nathan Law will tell his story, and award-winning author of Why We Kneel, How We Rise, former West Indies cricketer Michael Holding rounds out the international guests.

According to Ms Sorensen, the festival has something for everyone, and it’s not limited to avid readers.

“We know that sharing the ideas that come out of books is the bonus of all this,” she said.

“It’s not just about books, it’s the fact that the best kind of thinking goes into books and then it’s available to all of us.

“They’re just the start of the conversation and it’s the best start you can get.”

For more information on the festival, head to bendigowritersfestival.com.au.