Two giants of Australian crime fiction, Garry Disher and Candice Fox, reveal the secrets to sustaining a series - from researching cases and generating fresh ideas, to crafting communities that feel authentic and storylines that defy expectations.

Six big thinkers fight for the future in a great debate for our times inspired by the legacy of Blue Mountains environmentalist Mick Dark. Drawing on backgrounds in science, technology, journalism, mathematics and literature, two teams go head-to-head on whether we really are heading for doom.

Literary critic Beejay Silcox joins acclaimed novelist Christos Tsiolkas and debut author Steve MinOn in conversation as they reflect on their latest novels, exploring themes of desire, masculinity, ageing, class and queerness.

Craig Silvey in conversation with Nicole Abadee about the two bestsellers he wrote ten years apart, his skill for writing outcasts and misfits, and the impact of success on his craft and career.

Join Festival Creative Director and Queerstories Producer Maeve Marsden, along with some of her favourite LGBTQI+ writers from the program, as they share their own work, unexpected tales of pride, prejudice, resilience and resistance.

A timely discussion with three of the country’s leading academics Melissa Phillips, Carl Rhodes and Sam Roggeveen on the tumultuous state of democracy, expertly facilitated by Beejay Silcox.

An intimate look inside women's love lives and pursuits of pleasure, All Women Want tackles the truth about why straight women aren't satisfied in the bedroom – and what to do about it.

Join the Arts Law Centre of Australia for an overview of Australian defamation law and recent cases, as well as tips on how to balance defamation risk and expression as a writer in Australia.

Craig Reucassel in conversation with authors Walter Marsh and Royce Kurmelovs on their books that defy crime genre conventions despite technically being true crime.

Honour the profound musical and cultural legacy of Archie Roach – a Gunditjmara, Kirrae Whurrong/Djab Wurrung and Bundjalung man – and Ruby Hunter – a Ngarrindjeri, Kokatha and Pitjantjatjara woman, with stories, personal reflections, musical performances and poems by four powerful Indigenous voices.

Whether you’re a seasoned poetry lover or someone who has always found this form a little intimidating, this event with Willo Drummond, James Jiang and David Stavanger will offer new ways to listen, interpret and connect with the written word.

What powers of perception, reflection and remembering are needed to craft a truly great memoir? And what tools can life writers use to extend memoir beyond memory to create literature that challenges, inspires and speaks to our times?

Join the Arts Law Centre of Australia (Arts Law) for this workshop focused on practical tips for writers wishing to avoid scandals or other legal pitfalls.

What does it really take to break into the creative industries when you’re still finding your voice? How can writing build connection, community and change in a world that feels like it’s shifting every day?

Multi-award winning author Hannah Kent reflects on her recent memoir Always Homesick, Always Home with Amy Sambrooke to share the stranger-than-fiction story behind her bestselling debut Burial Rites.

Beyond statistics and stereotypes, an individual’s experience of ageing is deeply personal. Three brilliant women Vivian Blaxwell, Maxine Beneba Clarke and Debra Oswald interrogate the myths and truths about growing older, and discuss how they address these issues through their work.

Three outstanding authors Dominic Hoey, Vijay Khurana and Sofie Laguna chats with Marieke Hardy, as they reflect on our timeless fascination with youth, the epic nature of teenage narratives, and the art of writing fiction about young adults for grown-up readers.

Without a superyacht or spaceship, what options remain for those wishing to escape the end times? Antony Loewenstein and Carl Rhodes are joined by Walter Marsh, the author of Young Rupert: the Making of the Murdoch Empire to tackle just how bad things have become and, most importantly, what we can do about it.

Part cooking class, part writing workshop, this special three-hour experience with poet Sean Wai Keung offers tasty morsels for the ears, the taste buds, and the heart. Learn to make your own dumplings from scratch, then share a communal meal during which you'll use those same dumplings as a spark for new pieces of writing.

Drop in for a relaxed day of zine making, live music and open mic zine readings in the café courtyard at the Cultural Centre. Make your own zine, contribute to the mega-zine – the world’s longest zine – or settle in on cushions and picnic rugs for open-mic readings.

Three award-winning authors Randa Abdel-Fattah, Hasib Hourani and Jumaana Abdu discuss the fiction and poetry of the Palestinian diaspora and its role in evoking empathy, building solidarity and effecting change, with writer and human rights lawyer Sara M Saleh.

Join international sensation Candice Fox for a dynamic and practical workshop designed for aspiring crime writers. Generate fresh ideas from real-world cases while sharpening your narrative skills. Consider character development, research techniques, tools for building tension, and how to work both with and against the tropes of the genre.

Acclaimed writer Drusilla Modjeska sits down with Nicole Abadee to discuss her richly illustrated book A Woman’s Eye, Her Art which focuses on six extraordinary female artists of the 20th century and why their work still matters.

What does it take to include ghosts or spirits in your story, without risking your novel making its way onto the horror or fantasy shelves? Join debut novelists Steve MinOn and Natasha Rai as they discuss form, story and character, and the spirits haunting their work.

Three of the contributors from Words to Sing the World Alive, an exquisite celebration of First Nations languages, honour languages from across the continent, each penning an homage to their favourite and most significant words.

Join writers Inga Simpson, Jessica White and Jane Rawson in conversation with Brain on Nature’s Sarah Allely, as they discuss the many ways they connect with the environment. Set deep in the rainforest of the Jamieson Valley, accessed via the  Scenic World Cableway.

Celebrating words, stories, and human experiences, Better Off Said  is an evening of words it’s time to air, thoughts and reflections for the living and dead. Hosted by Emilie Zoey Baker and Marieke Hardy with Osher Günsberg, Vijay Khurana, Cadance Bell, Ruby Jackson, Sara M Saleh and Tasma Walton.

How do you ignite adrenaline on the page? From gripping thrillers to madcap adventures, authors have long sought ways to get their readers’ eyes wide and heart pumping. Candice Fox and Walter Marsh all write about risky business, albeit in very different ways.

To stand on the shoulders of one’s ancestors is to carry both responsibility and legacy. Join poet Anne-Marie Te Whiu, playwright S. Shakthidharan, and author-mathematician JM Field as they discuss their incredible new books, and the living relationship they feel with their past.

When award-winning playwright and actor Toby Schmitz set his mind to writing his first crime novel, he couldn’t bear to follow the predictable tropes of the genre. What better place to dig into this mind-bendingly clever whodunnit than an unconventional venue like the Scenic World Skyway?