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.

Join the Arts Law Centre of Australia for this workshop that will outline some practical tips for writers in avoiding scandals or other legal pitfalls.

Pairing bestselling books with an award-winning brew? It’s a no-brainer. Kick back for Sunday arvo beers, and chat knotty topics and big ideas with your favourite authors, at Mountain Culture Brewery.

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.

Pairing bestselling books with an award-winning brew? It’s a no-brainer. Kick back for Sunday arvo beers, and chat knotty topics and big ideas with your favourite authors, at Mountain Culture Brewery.

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.

Hone your editing skills and learn new editing strategies in this hands-on workshop with Sydney novelist Peter Polites.

What is the value of arts criticism and what is its future in times of increased funding pressures? Don’t miss this free festival event with contributors to Critic Swallows Book, a collection from Sydney Review of Books that brings together 22 essays, demonstrating the eclecticism of Australian criticism.

Let the students and staff of Story Factory provide healing and literary nourishment to soothe whatever ails you.

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.

Discover your inner artist, or your inner child, and create beautiful illustrations to accompany your own writing, with illustrator Sami Bayly.

Lift your work from the mundane into an immersive, sensual, whole-body experience, bringing your memoir to life for your readers.

Take a heart-starting morning ride on the steepest railway in the world, before meandering through the ferns and eucalypts to the Scenic World Rainforest Room, where writers Viki Cramer, Dave Witty and David Lindemayer will share their knowledge of the trees that tower above.

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.