Newcastle Writers Festival

Much-loved singer/songwriters Clare Bowditch discusses her heart-breaking, wise, and inspirational memoir. Host / Sarah Macdonald If you would like to buy a copy of Clare’s book Your Own Kind of Girl, which is published by Allen & Unwin, go to www.macleansbooks.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Leser discusses the origins of misogyny, the impact of the #MeToo movement, and proposes a new map for masculinity with host, Rosemarie Milsom If you would like to buy a copy of David’s book Women, Men & the Whole Damn Thing, which is published by Allen & Unwin, go to www.macleansbooks.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For six years Miriam Lancewood lived off the grid throughout New Zealand’s wilderness areas where she learnt to hunt and forage. She shares her experience with Rosemarie Milsom If you would like to buy a copy of Miriam’s book A Woman in the Wilderness, which is published by Allen & Unwin, go to www.macleansbooks.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behrouz Boochani speaks from New Zealand about life after Manus Island, the impact of his award-winning memoir No Friend but the Mountains, and the enduring power of literature to change the world. Host / Michael Byrne If you would like to buy a copy of Behrouz’s book No Friend but the Mountains, which is published by Pan Macmillan, go to www.macleansbooks.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Against the backdrop of World War II and its far-reaching fallout, Suzanne Leal and Favel Parrett’s compelling novels explore the impact of betrayal and the meaning of home. Host / Meredith Jaffé If you would like to buy a copy of Suzanne’s book The Deceptions, which is published by Allen & Unwin, or Favel’s book There was Still Love, which is published by Hachette, go to www.macleansbooks.com.au...

Throughout history, anger has fuelled surges in female-led activism, but is it having an impact where it matters now - and if not, why not? With Jane Gilmore, Ruby Hamad and Trisha Pender If you would like to buy a copy of Jane’s book Fixing the Headlines: Violence and the Representation of Women in the Media, which is published by Viking or Ruby’s book White Tears/ Brown Scare, which is published...

Charlotte Wood discusses her critically acclaimed novel The Weekend, which centres on the intricacies of female friendships and the impact of ageing with host, Ailsa Piper If you would like to buy a copy of Charlotte’ book The Weekend, which is published by Allen & Unwin, go to www.macleansbooks.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newcastle writer David Owen Kelly discusses his darkly funny and confronting memoir State of Origin, which explores loyalty, misguided love and loss. Host / Ed Wright If you would like to buy a copy of David’s book State of Origin, which is published by Puncher & Wattman, click here https://www.macleansbooks.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From heavy wipe-outs to heaving crowds, soulful road trips to flow states, Ash Grunwald provides insight into the lives of surfing legends who also happen to be brilliant musicians. Host /Nick Milligan If you would like to buy a copy of Ash’s book Surf by Day, Jam by Night, which is published by Pantera Press, go to www.macleansbooks.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah Macdonald and Cathy Wilcox share their straight-talking, laugh-out-loud survival guide to raising teenagers with host, Meredith Jaffé If you would like to buy a copy of Sarah and Cathy’s book So … You’re Having a Teenager, which is published by Murdoch Books, go to www.macleansbooks.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when the person you love conceals their true identity? Susan Francis and Stephanie Wood discuss the devastating fallout with host, Suzanne Leal If you would like to buy a copy of Susan’s book The Love that Remain, which is published by Allen & Unwin or Stephanie’s book Fake, which is published by Penguin Books Australia, go to www.macleansbooks.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

This year’s award, held in collaboration with Spineless Wonders, encouraged writers to use microlit to explore physical, psychological, environmental and historical scars. Hear readings by writers included in the Scars anthology. Host / Cassandra Atherton Featuring: The Ocean Has Made Promises - Shaynah Andrews, Shot Through - Nadine Schofield, Affinity - Susan McCreery, Discussing Pain [and the t...

Explore the craft of poetry and the inspiration behind Hunter Region author Gillian Swain’s book, My Skin its Own Sky in this virtual book launch with host, Magdalena Ball See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claire Albrecht and Hera Lindsay Bird discuss the pitfalls and occasional positives of anxiety in the poetic process with host, Bastian Fox Phelan. If you would like to buy a copy of Claire's book Pinky Swear, which is published by Puncher & Wattman, go to www.cupletpoetry.com/purchase/pinky-swear-by-claire-albrecht See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Explore the craft of poetry and the inspiration behind Hunter Region author Morgan Bell's book, Idiomatic, for the People in this virtual book launch. Host / Magdalena Ball See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gabrielle Jackson and Lee Kofman explore what it’s like to live in a body that deviates from the ‘norm’: from the complexity of self-image to the minefield of medical intervention. Host / Caroline Baum If you would like to buy a copy of Gabrielle’s book Pain and Prejudice: A Call to Arms for Women and their Bodies, which is published by Allen & Unwin or Lee’s book Imperfect, which is published by...

Sophie Hardcastle, Nicola Redhouse and Maria Tumarkin discuss how they have challenged literary boundaries to explore trauma. Host / Magdalena Ball If you would like to buy a copy of Sophie’s book Below Deck, which is published by Allen & Unwin, Nicola’s book Unlike the Heart: A Memoir of Brain and Mind, which is published by UQP or Maria’s book Axiomatic, which is published by Brow Books, go to w...

Sophie Hardcastle's new novel Below Deck is a work for anyone who has felt the sting of misogyny or the consequences of assault. She speaks to Magdalena Ball. If would like to buy a copy of Sophie’s book Below Deck, which is published by Allen & Unwin Books go to www.macleansbooks.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria Tumarkin reads from her award-winning non-fiction book Axiomatic, which is part reportage, part philosophical meditation and part storytelling. She interrogates conventional wisdom about the role of the past in shaping the present. Hosted by Magdalena Ball. If would like to buy a copy of Maria’s book Axiomatic, which is published by Brow Books, go to http://www.macleansbooks.com.au See omnys...

Anna Meares is one of Australia's most successful athletes. She was the first Australian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in track cycling and the only Australian to win a medal in an individual event at four Olympic Games. Her career is marked by dramatic highs and lows, both on and off the track. She speaks to Newcastle Writers Festival director Rosemarie Milsom about her new book Anna Meares:...

With her novel Wolfe Island, Lucy Treloar joins a growing number of writers whose fiction explores anthropogenic catastrophe. She discusses the thin line between the present and a dystopian future. Host / Susan Wyndham If would like to buy a copy of Lucy’s book Wolfe Island, which is published by Picador, go to http://www.macleansbooks.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this session, which was recorded at the 2019 Newcastle Writers Festival, Rosalie Ham, Holly Throsby and Christian White discuss the big drama of small towns. Hosted by Meredith Jaffe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this session, which was recorded at the 2019 Newcastle Writers Festival, Jane Caro discusses the generation of women that changed everything but didn’t plan to. She explores the achievement of these revolutionaries - those aged over 55. Hosted by Meredith Jaffe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of us will experience at least one traumatic event, but why and how do certain people cope more effectively with personal tragedy? With Meera Atkinson, Heather Morris and Rick Morton. This session was recorded at the 2019 Newcastle Writers Festival and was hosted by Annabel Smith. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kon Karapanagiotidis is the founder of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. At the 2019 Newcastle Writers Festival he spoke to Felicity Biggins about his perspective and experience of the global refugee crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.