Sydney Writers' Festival 2008 - Online Program
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ALL | Mon 19 | Tue 20 | Wed 21 | Thu 22 | Fri 23 | Sat 24 | Sun 25  May 2008
• Thursday, May 15 2008 •
18 : 00
1: Launch: Westside 08
A showcase of young writers, artists and photographers of Western Sydney. 		Bankstown Town Hall
18:00 to 20:00		Free Event
Fiction Launch  More Info
• Monday, May 19 2008 •
10 : 00
352: 42 books about art
A new exhibition by artist David Sequeira. 		University of Sydney, Art Gallery
10:00 to 16:30		Free Event
New Media Exhibition  More Info
13 : 00
12: The Ernies Book
Meredith Burgmann and Yvette Andrews talk about 'The Ernies Book' with Anne Summers. 		The Mint
13:00 to 14:00		Free Event
Nonfiction, Current Affairs, Culture & Heritage In Conversation  More Info
18 : 00
16: Linda Jaivin at Kings Cross Library
Linda Jaivin discusses her work, the writing process, and the question of inspiration. 		Kings Cross Library
18:00 to 19:00		Free Event
Fiction Author Talk  More Info
• Tuesday, May 20 2008 •
13 : 00
28: Great Australian Eulogies
Richard Walsh shares some of the best examples of this intriguing oral tradition. 		The Mint
13:00 to 14:00		Free Event
Culture & Heritage, History Lecture  More Info
18 : 30
31: Right Down to the Plumbing: Speculative Fiction and World-building
D.M. Cornish, David Kowalski and Stuart Mayne discuss speculative and fantasy fiction writing. 		Blacktown City Max Webber Library
18:30 to 19:30		Free Event
Fiction, Children & Young Adults Panel  More Info
19 : 00
33: Exploring Multilingual Spaces – Auburn
Readings by members of Auburn Poets and Writers Group. 		Auburn Council Town Hall
19:00 to 22:00		Free Event
Culture & Heritage, Fiction, Poetry Reading  More Info
• Wednesday, May 21 2008 •
13 : 00
42: If Trees Could Speak
Trees all have stories they could tell. Bob Beale discusses the part they have played in forming our heritage. 		The Mint
13:00 to 14:00		Free Event
Culture & Heritage, History, Science & Environment Lecture  More Info
18 : 00
45: Readings from the New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards
Geraldine Doogue in conversation with nine of the winners of this year's awards. 		The Mint
18:00 to 19:30		Free Event
Fiction In Conversation  More Info
18 : 30
48: Jan Wong at Ultimo Library
Jan Wong shares the story of her journey to Beijing to search for a woman she betrayed. 		Ultimo Library
18:30 to 19:30		Free Event
Culture & Heritage, Nonfiction, Life Writing Author Talk  More Info

46: Writers as Readers
Matthew Condon, Gail Jones and Samuel Wagan Watson discuss their literary education with Mary Kostakidis. 		Riverside Theatres, Lennox Theatre
18:30 to 19:30		Free Event
Culture & Heritage, Fiction, Nonfiction Panel  More Info
• Thursday, May 22 2008 •
10 : 00
58: Chris Masters: Jonestown & the Nieman Conference
Chris Masters speaks about his 2007 Walkley winning expose on Alan Jones. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 2/3
10:00 to 11:00		Free Event
Current Affairs In Conversation  More Info

52: Nightwriting Poetry Installation
An exhibition that encourages you to bring all your senses to the exploration of poetic language. 		Pier 4/5
10:00 to 17:00		Free Event
Poetry, New Media Exhibition  More Info

341: From Pen to Reader
Leading international and Australian publishers Will Atkinson, David Davidar, Jane Palfreyman and Nikki Christer discuss publishing trends and what it takes to get noticed. 		Sydney Philharmonia Choir Studio
10:00 to 11:00		Free Event
Industry Panel  More Info

351: Adrian Cook: Portraits. Sydney Writers’ Festival 2007
An exhibition of black and white portraits taken by Adrian Cook at Sydney Writers’ Festival’s 10th Year Anniversary in 2007. 		Pier 2/3, Downstairs
10:00 to 17:00		Free Event
New Media Exhibition  More Info
10 : 30
62: Dying Words
Join Mark Wakely for an honest discussion about death, dying and the funeral industry. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 1
10:30 to 11:30		Free Event
Culture & Heritage Panel  More Info

61: The University of Notre Dame New Writers
Readings and performances from students of the University of Notre Dame, Sydney. 		Bangarra Theatre
10:30 to 11:30		Free Event
Fiction, Poetry Reading  More Info

63: Poking About in Libraries
Carol Wilkinson and Michael White discuss the importance of research to their work. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 4
10:30 to 11:30		Free Event
Industry Panel  More Info
11 : 00
64: The Sydney Readings: Urban Stories I
Poets Jennifer Maiden, Kate Lilley and Peter Boyle discuss Sydney’s rich variations of perspective and narrative. 		Bangarra Mezzanine
11:00 to 12:00		Free Event
Poetry Reading  More Info
11 : 30
67: Just Words: Australian Authors Writing for Justice
Bernadette Brennan explores the relationship between writing and justice with Frank Brennan, Anita Heiss and Gail Jones. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 2/3
11:30 to 12:30		Free Event
Current Affairs, Culture & Heritage, Indigenous Panel  More Info

342: Publishing Fiction for Children and Young Adults
Leading children’s book publishers discuss what they look for in their children's books and share tips for those wishing to write for younger readers. 		Sydney Philharmonia Choir Studio
11:30 to 12:30		Free Event
Industry Panel  More Info
12 : 00
73: Diggers of Fromelles
Patrick Lindsay discusses one of the great unsolved mysteries of the First World War. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 4
12:00 to 13:00		Free Event
Culture & Heritage, History In Conversation  More Info

70: trope: Promoting New Writing in Second Life
trope's creators and writers discuss the intersection between literature and new media. 		Bangarra Theatre
12:00 to 14:00		Free Event
New Media Panel  More Info
12 : 30
74: Launch: As We Draw Ourselves
Five Island Press launches Barry Hill’s new collection of poems. 		Bangarra Mezzanine
12:30 to 13:30		Free Event
Poetry Launch  More Info
13 : 00
82: Re-imagining Australia
Chris Wallace and Megan Lewis explore Australian symbolism and imagery. 		The Mint
13:00 to 14:00		Free Event
Culture & Heritage, History, Indigenous Panel  More Info

79: Secrets and Lies
Malcolm Knox, David Brooks and Virginia Duigan discuss their novels filled with secrets that demand to be addressed. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 2/3
13:00 to 14:00		Free Event
Fiction Panel  More Info

343: Do I Need An Agent?
Australian publishers and agents discuss what an agent’s role is, where they fit into writers' careers and how to improve your chances of getting on their books. 		Sydney Philharmonia Choir Studio
13:00 to 14:00		Free Event
Industry Panel  More Info
13 : 30
84: Tales of Obsession
David Davidar, Vicki Hastrich and Toni Jordan consider the thrall of obsession in their novels. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 4
13:30 to 14:30		Free Event
Fiction Panel  More Info

83: Scar Tissue
Tanya Levin and Kathleen Stewart discuss their formative years. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 1
13:30 to 14:30		Free Event
Nonfiction, Life Writing Panel  More Info
14 : 00
86: Gayle Kennedy at Liverpool Library
Gayle Kennedy shares stories from 'Me, Antman & Fleabag'. 		Liverpool Central Library
14:00 to 15:00		Free Event
Indigenous, Fiction Author Talk  More Info

85: Stories of Assimilation
Anna Haebich and Kathleen Mary Fallon discuss assimilation from an historical and personal perspective. 		Bangarra Mezzanine
14:00 to 15:00		Free Event
Indigenous, Culture & Heritage, History Panel  More Info
14 : 30
92: Cities on the Edge
Chris Womersley, Sally Breen, Marcus Westbury and Gabrielle Gwyther discuss how urban environments give rise to creativity. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 2/3
14:30 to 15:30		Free Event
Culture & Heritage, Current Affairs, History Panel  More Info

87: Courage
Maria Tumarkin and Sabina Wolanski consider the different forms of boldness found in the human heart. 		Bangarra Theatre
14:30 to 15:30		Free Event
Nonfiction Panel  More Info

88: The Honey Spinner
Grace Pundyk discusses her sticky road trip to uncover the truth behind the ‘food of the gods’. 		Museum of Contemporary Art
14:30 to 15:30		Free Event
Science & Environment, Nonfiction, Travel Author Talk  More Info

344: The Future of Reading
Leading publishers discuss the talks about some of the trends in digital publishing. 		Sydney Philharmonia Choir Studio
14:30 to 15:30		Free Event
Industry Panel  More Info
15 : 00
95: Writing for Young Adults
Doug MacLeod, Michael Gerard Bauer and Matt Costello discuss the challenges of writing for a YA audience. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 1
15:00 to 16:00		Free Event
Industry Panel  More Info

96: Matthew Condon in Conversation with Mary Kostakidis
Matthew Condon discusses his stunning epic 'The Trout Opera' which was 10 years in the writing. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 4
15:00 to 16:00		Free Event
Fiction In Conversation  More Info
15 : 30
97: Identity
Tom Gilling and Kevin Rabalais discuss the theme of identity in their novels. 		Bangarra Mezzanine
15:30 to 16:30		Free Event
Fiction Panel  More Info
16 : 00
99: Poetry International
A selection of readings from Singapore, Scotland, Britain, the US and Australia. 		Bangarra Theatre
16:00 to 17:30		Free Event
Poetry Reading  More Info

102: Grit
Philippe Claudel, Cherie Dimaline, Merlinda Bobis and Rhyll McMaster discuss writing a sordid reality. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 2/3
16:00 to 17:00		Free Event
Fiction Panel  More Info

345: Fact, Fiction or Fake?
From Ern Malley to Norma Khouri Australia has a fine tradition of literary hoaxes. What can publishers do? How can they tell? 		Sydney Philharmonia Choir Studio
16:00 to 17:00		Free Event
Industry Panel  More Info
16 : 30
105: Princesses and Pornstars
Emily Maguire discusses women’s rights in the era of mainstream porn, botox and the celebrity diet. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 1
16:30 to 17:30		Free Event
Current Affairs, Nonfiction In Conversation  More Info

106: Remembering A.D. Hope and Patrick White
Vrasidas Karalis and Catherine Cole provide new perspectives on two great Australian writers. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 4
16:30 to 17:30		Free Event
Life Writing, Nonfiction, Culture & Heritage Panel  More Info
17 : 30
107: Launch: Poetry Without Borders (Picaro Press)
Picaro Press launches 'Poetry Without Borders', with readings from contributors. 		Bangarra Mezzanine
17:30 to 19:00		Free Event
Poetry Launch  More Info
18 : 00
111: Celebrating the Voice 8 – Wollongong
Readings by some of Australia’s finest indigenous writers. 		Wollongong City Gallery
18:00 to 20:30		Free Event
Indigenous, Culture & Heritage Reading  More Info

108: Writers as Readers
Helen Garner, Luke Davies, Christos Tsiolkas and Samuel Wagan Watson discuss their literary education with Mary Kostakidis. 		Pier 2/3, Downstairs
18:00 to 19:30		Free Event
Culture & Heritage, Fiction, Nonfiction Panel  More Info

110: Screenplays that Sell
Michael Hauge discusses how emerging writers can market their scripts and get them read by people in power. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 4
18:00 to 19:00		Free Event
Scriptwriting, Industry In Conversation  More Info
18 : 30
120: An Unimagined Evening with Imran Ahmad in Parramatta
Imran Ahmad speaks about his memoir 'Unimagined' with Randa Abdel Fattah. 		Riverside Theatres, Lennox Theatre
18:30 to 19:45		Free Event
Life Writing, Current Affairs Author Talk  More Info

113: Call Me Mum
An affecting and resonant film exploring the human cost of black/white race relations in Australia. 		Bangarra Theatre
18:30 to 20:30		Free Event
Scriptwriting, Life Writing, Indigenous Film  More Info

116: Spacefarers of the New Millennium at Glebe Library
An all ages exploration of the Solar System with Fred Watson. 		Glebe Library
18:30 to 19:30		Free Event
Children & Young Adults, Science & Environment Author Talk  More Info

112: Mo Hayder and Kathryn Fox at Ashfield Town Hall
Two queens of crime talk about their terrifying tales. 		Ashfield Town Hall
18:30 to 19:30		Free Event
Crime Panel  More Info

118: Sara Knox at Newtown Library
Sara Knox discusses her debut novel, 'The Orphan Gunner'. 		Newtown Library
18:30 to 19:30		Free Event
Fiction, History Author Talk  More Info
• Friday, May 23 2008 •
10 : 00
130: Blubberland
Elizabeth Farrelly asks why we find it so hard to abandon habits we know to be destructive. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 2/3
10:00 to 11:00		Free Event
Current Affairs, Science & Environment In Conversation  More Info

127: Design Outlook: Australian Book Designers and their Visions
Book designers discuss creating Australian books that stand out in a crowd. 		Bangarra Theatre
10:00 to 11:00		Free Event
Nonfiction Panel  More Info

131: Gregory Day in Conversation
Gregory Day speaks about 'Ron McCoy's Sea of Diamonds', his follow-up to 'The Patron Saint of Eels'. 		Sydney Philharmonia Choir Studio
10:00 to 11:00		Free Event
Fiction, Science & Environment In Conversation  More Info
10 : 30
136: Reviving Rhetoric: Neil James and James O’Loghlin in Conversation
Neil James and James O’Loghlin talk about the need to revive the classical crafts of communication. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 4
10:30 to 11:30		Free Event
Nonfiction In Conversation  More Info

135: Unlikely Love Stories
Toni Jordan, Laurence Fearnley and Fiona Capp discuss finding love in unexpected places. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 1
10:30 to 11:30		Free Event
Fiction Panel  More Info
11 : 00
137: The Sydney Readings: Urban Stories II
Poets Andy Kissane, Joanne Burns and David Brooks respond to Sydney’s city and Western and Eastern suburbs. 		Bangarra Mezzanine
11:00 to 12:00		Free Event
Poetry Reading  More Info
11 : 30
141: Behind the Scenes
Lisa Forrest and Patrick Lindsay shed light on two events of Australian history. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 2/3
11:30 to 12:30		Free Event
Current Affairs, Nonfiction Panel  More Info

138: The Secret Life of Backpackers
30 days, 30 nights, 30 hangovers. Barry Divola discusses his insights into backpacker culture. 		Bangarra Theatre
11:30 to 12:30		Free Event
Travel, Life Writing In Conversation  More Info

142: Both Sides of the Coin
Three literary critics-turned-writers discuss being on the other side of the table. 		Sydney Philharmonia Choir Studio
11:30 to 12:30		Free Event
Industry Panel  More Info
12 : 00
146: Women Going Bush
Robyn Davidson and Megan Lewis discuss living and creating art with remote indigenous communities. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 4
12:00 to 13:00		Free Event
Culture & Heritage, Indigenous, Nonfiction Panel  More Info

145: Finding the Words to Speak (and Write) about Music
Putting music into words with ABC Radio National’s The Music Show. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 1
12:00 to 13:00		Free Event
Music, Nonfiction Panel  More Info
12 : 30
147: The Earth That Sustains Us
Gregory Day and Forrest Gander discuss the natural and cultural textures that sustain us in life. 		Bangarra Mezzanine
12:30 to 13:30		Free Event
Science & Environment, Culture & Heritage, Poetry, Panel  More Info
13 : 00
154: Paydirt
Kathleen Mary Fallon performs excerpts from her deeply affecting novel, 'Paydirt'. 		Sydney Philharmonia Choir Studio
13:00 to 14:00		Free Event
Indigenous, Fiction, Culture & Heritage Performance  More Info

157: Van Diemen’s Land
James Boyce discusses his landmark history of Tasmania. 		The Mint
13:00 to 14:00		Free Event
Culture & Heritage, History, Indigenous Lecture  More Info

152: Personal Journeys
Kate Jennings and Virginia Lloyd discuss the catharsis found in unexpected places. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 2/3
13:00 to 14:00		Free Event
Life Writing Panel  More Info

149: Chasing Bohemia and Finding Nino
Carmen Michael and Marc Llewellyn talk about making new lives in far flung places with Claire Scobie. 		Bangarra Theatre
13:00 to 14:00		Free Event
Travel, Nonfiction, Life Writing Panel  More Info
13 : 30
159: Small Stories, Big Politics
Jan Wong, Merlinda Bobis and Naldo Rei discuss writing personal stories within big political narratives. 		Sydney Dance Company, Studio 4
13:30 to 14:30		Free Event
Nonfiction, Fiction, Life Writing