Now in its third year, the Words on the Waves Writers Festival is set to welcome an impressive gathering of Australia’s best authors and journalists to the region from Wednesday, May 31, to Monday, June 5.
Close to 75 speakers across 65 free and ticketed sessions will explore the theme The Mind Swims.
The theme implies a state of restless inquiry, of roving exploration, both real and metaphysical.
It speaks to transitions: the rise and fall of the tides; from one phase of life to the next; from one way of being to another and playfully gestures at the human urge to move and explore.
Some festival highlights will include Robert Drewe talking about his book Nimblefoot and founder of the Kindness Factory Kath Koschel sharing tales from her epic trip around Australia relying on the generosity of strangers.
Frontier cameleers are tracked by Ryan Butta (The Ballad of Abdul Wade) and we follow refugee advocate Om Dhungel’s journey From Bhutan to Blacktown.
Bestselling author Pip Williams (The Dictionary of Lost Words, One Italian Summer), humourist Todd Alexander and Rachael Mogan McIntosh (Pardon My French) are all on the program.
Attendees will shift from present to imagined futures with the work of Claire G. Coleman and Inga Simpson, and from one stage of life to the next with lauded poet Sarah Holland-Batt.
They will swim through Sydney’s underbelly with acclaimed playwright Louis Nowra and award-winning novelists Mandy Sayer and Fiona Kelly McGregor (Iris).
They will also ponder the human capacity for change despite immense hardship with Miles Franklin Award-winning author of Bodies of Light, Jennifer Down.
Other speakers will include: actor Heather Mitchell on her superb new memoir, Everything and Nothing; author of Jasper Jones and Honeybee Craig Silvey; music lovers Bertie Blackman and Jonathan Seidler and Holly Throsby each sharing insights into their latest releases; Burruberongal writer of Benevolence Julie Janson taking attendees into the world of her Indigenous crime fiction; and thriller writers JP Pomare, Dinuka McKenzie and Petronella McGovern keeping everyone on the edge of their seats.
The opening address will be held at The Art House, Wyong from 7pm to 8pm on Wednesday, May 31, featuring Claire G. Coleman (Enclave), Diana Reid (Love & Virtue) and Tracey Spicer (Man Made) speaking to the festival theme.
Festival highlights will include: Story Club at Ocean Beach Surf Lifesaving Club from 7.30pm on Friday June 2; day and weekend passes for two full days of author talks on Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4 at Ocean Beach and Umina Beach surf clubs; a Professional Development Day In Partnership with FABER
ACADEMY and WRITING NSW at Jasmine Greens on Saturday, June 3; and a conversation with Craig Silvey at the Naughty Noodle Fun Haus from 8pm to 9pm on Saturday, June 3.
A Family Fun Day will be held at Everglades Woy Woy on Sunday, June 4, including storytelling, author presentations, book launches and roving performers.
Words on the Waves is a not-for-profit literary festival, the first of its kind for the Central Coast region.
Its mission is to deliver an immersive annual festival of stories, ideas and connection to enrich the cultural landscape of the region year-round.
For full festival details go to https://wordsonthewaves.com.au/.
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Words on the Waves Writers Festival