So many of us remember adolescence with a confounding combination of nostalgia and discomfort, and our journeys into adulthood, into becoming, have long been inspiration for literary fiction. Join these three outstanding authors, in conversation 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.
In The Underworld, the much-anticipated new novel from the Miles Franklin-winning author, Sofie Laguna, we meet Martha, a shy young woman drawn to the Roman underworld, a place of refuge, escape, imagination and desire.
In bestselling New Zealand author Dominic Hoey’s 1985, we encounter a coming-of-age story for the underdogs, the disenfranchised and the dreamers. Obi and his best mate Al discover a map leading to unknown riches, and, after a childhood marked by poverty, Obi wonders if this could be the thing that turns his family’s fortunes around.
And, in Vijay Khurana’s The Passenger Seat, two teenagers seeking escape from their small-town existence impulsively drive north. Adam and Teddy hope to leave boyhood behind, but as the journey progresses, their friendship becomes a struggle to prove themselves.
Sofie Laguna has written four novels for adults which have won numerous literary awards including the Miles Franklin Award, the Colin Roderick Award and the Indie Award. She has also been shortlisted for the Stella Prize, the ALS Gold Medal, the Voss Award, the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award and the Prime Minister’s Literary Award, and longlisted twice for the Dublin IMPAC International Literary Award. Sofie’s many books for children have been published in the US and the UK and in translation in Europe and Asia, and been named Honour and Notable Books by the Children’s Book Council of Australia.
Vijay Khurana’s debut novel, The Passenger Seat, was shortlisted for the Novel Prize and was published by Ultimo Press in 2025. His short stories and essays have been published widely. Vijay was co-winner of the 2021 Griffith Review Emerging Voices Competition and has been shortlisted for prizes including the Galley Beggar Short Story Prize and the Bath Short Story Award. Vijay has also been a presenter on triple j and has published a children's chapter book, Regal Beagle.
Dominic Hoey is a poet, author and playwright. His novels Iceland and Poor People with Money were both New Zealand bestsellers, with Iceland longlisted for the 2018 Ockham Book Awards. Dominic is the founder of Learn to Write Good, a creative writing program that supports people with limited access to formal education. He also co-founded Dead Bird Books, a small press publishing marginalised writers.
Marieke Hardy is a curator, screenwriter, artist and producer. She has penned columns for The Age, The Drum and Frankie magazine, and written for many television shows. Marieke’s ABC comedy series, Laid, was the winner of several awards and recently adapted for the US market. She was co-curator of international literary salon Women of Letters and was a regular panelist on the ABC's Book Club for 11 years. She is a recipient of the 2015 Sidney Myer Fellowship and currently co-curates the monthly spoken word event Better Off Said.
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This event is part of the Main Program and included as part of Platinum, Gold, Silver and Saturday Bronze Passes.
Subject to availability, a limited number of single tickets may become available 9 September.
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This venue is wheelchair accessible. Please visit our Accessibility page or email hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au if you have any other accessibility requirements.