As the Words on the Waves writers festival approaches, organisers have announced the first “author reveal”.
Joining the festival from Victoria will be acclaimed author and poet, Tony Birch.
Coming from Queensland, will be actor and now novelist Pia Miranda and historical fiction novelist Melissa Ashley.
And from closer to home, the Central Coast’s own MasterChef Julie Goodwin and Stella prize winner Charlotte Wood will make appearances.
These literary luminaries and more will be exploring the 2024 festival theme: past is present is future is always.
Tony Birch holds the Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature at Melbourne University.
He is the author of three novels, five short fiction collections and two poetry books.
His most recent book is the novel Women and Children.
Pia Miranda is one of Australia’s best-loved and critically acclaimed actors.
Since bursting on to the big screen in the much-loved film Looking for Alibrandi, she has become part of Australian film and television history, and a familiar face for generations of Alibrandi readers.
Her acting roles include Heat, Neighbours, the hit series The Secret Life of Us, Sea Patrol, Mustangs FC, and the acclaimed Foxtel female-driven prison drama Wentworth.
Miranda was the winner of Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders in 2019.
Finding My Bella Vita, a memoir, is her first book.
Melissa Ashley is author of The Naturalist of Amsterdam, The Bee and the Orange Tree and The Birdman’s Wife.
She has won the Queensland Literary Awards fiction prize and the ABA Booksellers Choice Award.
Ashley is passionate about uncovering historical women’s contributions to science and art in her writing.
She lives in Brisbane with her family.
Australia’s first MasterChef winner, Central Coast resident Julie Goodwin has been a household name in Australia since 2009 and has since made numerous TV and radio appearances.
In 2022 Goodwin burst back onto our screens in MasterChef Fans and Favourites and Australia fell in love with her all over again.
She has published several cookbooks and will talk about her novel Your Time Starts Now, the story of her life.
Charlotte Wood is the author of 10 books – seven novels and three non-fiction works.
She has won the Stella Prize and the Prime Minister’s Literary Award, among others, and her features and essays have appeared in The Guardian, New York Times, Sydney Morning Herald, The Monthly, Saturday Paper and others.
She lives in Sydney and is a frequent visitor to the Central Coast.
Each of these speakers will be appearing as part of the main program to be held at Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club and Umina Beach Surf Life Saving Club on June 1-2.
The festival will be held at various locations from May 29 to June 3, with Early Bird Weekend Passes available from March 6.
This will be the first time early bird discount opportunities are offered to festivalgoers, with the offer lasting until April 6.
For details go to wordsonthewaves.com.au