Literary festival brings stories to life from Apollo Bay to Queenscliff

GEELONG Regional Libraries has unveiled the program for this year’s Local Word Writers Festival, a two-day celebration of creativity, connection and literature set to unfold across the region between August 22 and August 23.

With events spanning Apollo Bay to Queenscliff, the festival offers something for every kind of reader and writer, including hands-on workshops, panel discussions, author talks, live performances and exhibitions, designed to showcase storytelling in all its forms.

“We’re proud to present a program that is locally grounded and universally inspiring,” Geelong Regional Library Corporation chair and Surf Coast Shire councillor Liz Pattison said.

“The Local Word Writers Festival is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the power of storytelling in our communities. Whether it’s through poetry, memoir, pop music or fiction, this festival reflects the creative spirit of our region.”

Bellarine-based middle grade and young adult fiction author Melissa Wray will start a series of writers’ workshops on August 22, with a session focused on blending fact with fiction, inspired by her latest book The Lost Loot of Lima.

A guide to writing military history, and an exploration of Emily Dickinson and the unique world of envelope poems will follow, before guests don their sequins for Spinning Around – The Kylie Playlist, a glittering musical tribute to the 2024 anthology of the same name.

The event, a nostalgic look at the impact of Kylie Minogue’s music, will feature readings from contributing and local authors, while renditions of Kylie’s tracks will be provided courtesy of The Piano Bar’s Andy Pobjoy and Geelong entertainer and Kylie impersonator Angie Hilton.

The writers’ workshops will continue through August 23, while the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre will host three panel discussions across the day, the first notably placing debut Ocean Grove authors Luke Johnson and Kate Halfpenny, and emerging Torquay YA writer Miranda Luby in the spotlight with an exploration of their creative process and publishing journey.

Beyond the stage, the festival will, for the first time, present a free Local Authors Fair on August 23 on the ground floor of the Geelong Library, showcasing up to fifteen local, independent authors.

Meanwhile, Deakin University will hold a pop-up exhibition at its waterfront library from August 18-22 that features rate and historic examples of children’s literature from the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

For more information, head to grlc.vic.gov.au/localword