The master of thrills and twists, international bestseller Chris Hammer discusses his latest book, The Valley, with ABC Radio Sydney’s Renee Krosch.

We are thrilled to welcome the inaugural winner of Alone Australia, rewilding facilitator and writer, Gina Chick, to deliver The Mick Dark Talk for the Future, our annual keynote address on the environment.

Join Varuna’s poetry circle, an annual institution that’s been running for more than 30 years. Share your own poem or simply listen to others in this celebration of community and words.

Join us for this timely conversation about US politics and its impact on Australia, with leading expert Bruce Wolpe, in conversation with host of ABC TV’s Planet America, John Barron.

Vulnerable and fierce, hilarious and heartbreaking, Queerstories celebrates the culture and creativity of the LGBTQI+ community one true story at a time. An institution around the country, Queerstories has played to crowds big and small, from Mudgee to Murwillumbah, Albury to Adelaide, Brisbane and beyond.

Join New Zealand poet, author and playwright Dominic Hoey as he discusses his impressive back-catalogue and bestsellers with artist, poet and frontman of Hip Hop outfit Horrorshow, Nick Solo.

With over 20 million copies sold worldwide, there’s no stopping Liane Moriarty. She discusses her latest novel, Here One Moment, with Kate Mildenhall.

Four writers deeply versed in the transformative power of poetry discuss class, community, collaboration and survival in their latest collections, each experimental in form and expansive in vision.

In Always Was, Always Will Be, bestselling author Thomas Mayo investigates ‘what's next?’ for reconciliation and justice in Australia after the failed October 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum. He is joined in conversation by local illustrator and proud Bundjalung woman Charmaine Ledden-Lewis.

Michelle de Kretser, winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award (twice!), discusses her new book, Theory and Practice, a mesmerising account of desire and jealousy, truth and shame.

With 48 books under his belt, Dr Karl has finally written a memoir! Join him to discover how a shy Polish immigrant kid evolved into the fabulously eccentric Dr Karl.

Festival favourite Nardi Simpson discusses her hotly anticipated new book, The Belburd, a masterfully woven novel about creation, belonging and the precious fragility of a life.

Explore the power of language, both as a tool for advocacy and activism, or as an intentional tool to do harm, in this vital conversation hosted by co-convenor of Western Sydney University’s Palestine Project Dr Souheir Edelbi.

Blending scientific inquiry with remarkable creativity, from the great forests to the far reaches of outer space, Ceridwen Dovey and Dave Witty discuss their beautiful new books with ABC Radio Sydney’s Renee Krosch.

‘If you found out you had less time to live than the average bear, how might you spend it?’ Beloved comedian Michelle Brasier and acclaimed writer and doctor, Peter Goldsworthy discuss turning to humour and creativity in the face of their own mortality, with ABC Radio Sydney’s James Valentine.

Bestselling novelist Pip Williams joins ABC Radio National’s Kate Evans for a wide-ranging conversation about life, books, history and writing.

Traversing class, culture, sexuality and history, this considered conversation about three brilliant books explores masculinity and maternal bonds with depth, love and humour.

Turning seemingly improbable futures into plausible inevitabilities, bending the boundaries of genre and sparking the reader’s imagination in thrilling ways, Siang Lu and Kate Mildenhall talk adventures and dystopias in this in-depth discussion of their latest books.

What is the place of morality in public policy? In his latest book, Mean Streak, journalist Rick Morton investigates the Robodebt debacle and what it tells us about our society.

Get ready for bed (pyjamas optional) as a collection of festival talent entertain and delight in the cosy surrounds of The Carrington, cup of hot chocolate (or whisky) in hand.

Bestselling novelist Pip Williams and award-winning author, poet and playwright Peter Goldsworthy chat rights, process and form in this focused discussion on the art of adaptation, with ABC Radio Sydney’s Sarah MacDonald.

What happens when the need to belong becomes an obsession? Consider family, religion, diet culture, sport and social media with these brilliant books by Lech Blaine, Ernest Price and Karen Viggers.

The ocean, unlikely friendships and the powerful possibilities of MDMA. Two acclaimed authors talk getting back to nature in the face of grief and trauma in this soul-searching conversation.

Weaving connections across oceans, lands and cultures, some of the world’s leading First Nations poets share their collaboratively conceived work.

Internationally bestselling author Markus Zusak discusses his new memoir, Three Wild Dogs and the Truth, a tender love letter to animals, and to our need for connection and chaos.

Peter Polites and Winnie Dunn discuss class, migration, identity and familial bonds in their brilliant novels, God Forgets About the Poor and Dirt Poor Islanders.

In The Year I Met My Brain, Matilda Boseley digs beyond the diagnosis to explore the impact of ADHD on identity, relationships, careers and self-esteem.

Don’t miss this chance to hear from Alexis Wright, the author of the first book to have received both the Stella Prize and the Miles Franklin, described as ‘the most ambitious and accomplished Australian novel of this century’ by the New York Times Book Review.

A master of character and observation, Tony Birch discusses his latest book, Women & Children, with ABC Radio National’s Kate Evans.

Hayley Scrivenor and Benjamin Stevenson talk clifftops, cablecars and wilderness as they discuss setting their latest crime fiction novels in the beautiful Blue Mountains.