Excitement is mounting as the Words on the Waves writers’ festival approaches.
To be held at various venues on the Peninsula and around the Coast on May 29-June 3, the festival has a full program of events, including author talks, book launches and the new program The Dip – to take place in a festival marquee adjacent Umina Beach Surf Club.
This year’s festival will feature nearly 100 authors, taking part in 70 sessions over five days.
From memoirs to mental health myths, contemporary culture to cosy crime, cookbooks to kids’ books, there will be something for everyone.
In addition to the main program, special events and literary cruise, 2024 will see the introduction of The Dip, a series of accessible, short-form author talks that are low-cost or free.
Running over two days, Saturday at The Dip focuses on engaging and fun sessions for adults and Sunday is a free family fun day with children’s authors and illustrators, face painting, craft and more.
The main program will explore the theme past is present is future is always, looking at the importance of story and memory sharing for ourselves, our culture and our country, and the importance of the arts in facilitating those conversations.
Festival director Angela Bennetts said by taking stock of what has come before, we can step more truthfully forward.
“At this moment in time we pause to gather our memories, consider our legacy and move from past to present to future,” she said.
“Our stories are being written, always.”
Some sessions will address the theme directly; actress Pia Miranda and former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty will both talk about how the past has shaped their present and their futures.
The panel session Back from the Abyss will chart how a wonderful future can rise from the ashes of a challenging past, and the session Trust Issues will look at how the lessons of the past shape us now.
Other sessions will allude to the theme more gently.
Bruce Pascoe, Lyn Harwood and Graham Creed will talk about the challenges and rewards of farm life and the challenges facing Australia’s farmers in the future.
Carla Wilshire and Toby Walsh will discuss the past, present and future of AI in the session AI Think Therefore AI Am?
Some of Australia’s top cosy crime writers will talk about how they plan a murder at the Saturday Murder Club.
Festival highlights will include: Chatting books with Bri Lee on May 29 at The Savoy, Long Jetty; an evening with Indira Naidoo on June 1 at the Naughty Noodle Fun Haus; Story Club on May 31 at Ocean Beach Surf Club; a literary cruise, Reading the Tide, on June 3 with James Bradley and Jeanine Leane; and Writing Up Stream, an all-day professional development day in partnership with Writing NSW and Faber Academy on June 1.
Day passes and weekend passes for June 1-2 are available.
Events will be held at Ocean Beach and Umina surf clubs and a range of venues around the Coast.
The full program is now online.
Immerse yourself in a festival of stories and ideas by booking tickets at https://wordsonthewaves.com.au/buy-tickets/