Headlining this year’s festival is Shankari Chandran, winner of the prestigious 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award for Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens.
Shankari’s journey is as captivating as her writing. Raised in Canberra, she spent a transformative decade in London, where she worked as a lawyer dedicated to social justice. Upon returning to Australia, Shankari shifted her focus from legal advocacy to the art of storytelling. Through her writing, she delves into themes of dispossession and the quest for community; crafting narratives that resonate with profound insight and empathy. Her work not only reflects her rich personal experiences but also contributes significantly to contemporary literary discussions on identity and belonging.
Joining Shankari, Sally Hepworth, Kirsty Manning, and Karina Kilmore are several other highly regarded, award-winning Australian authors:
• ANNE BUIST Chair of Women’s Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and author of the Natalie King crime fiction series and psychological thrillers like The Glass House.
• CHRISTOS TSIOLKAS Melbourne-based author of nine novels including The Slap, Barracuda, and Damascus, and a winner of multiple prestigious literary awards.
• GARRY DISHER Award-winning crime writer known for titles such as Day’s End and Sanctuary.
• GRAEME SIMSION author of the acclaimed The Rosie Project, which has sold over five million copies and is set for a Hollywood adaptation.
• JACK RONEY former police officer and author known for his authentic and gripping crime fiction.
• JOY DAMOUSI distinguished historian and Dean of Arts at the Australian Catholic University.
• MELISSA ASHLEY award-winning writer, poet, and academic, known for her novel The Birdman’s Wife.
• NICK EARLS author of 28 books, with multiple adaptations for theatre and film, including 48 Shades of Brown and Perfect Skin.
Their participation solidifies the Whitsundays Writers Festival as a must-attend literary event, marking a significant cultural moment.
WHAT: Whitsundays Writers Festival
WHEN: Friday 6-8 September 2024
WHERE: Main venue Whitsunday Sailing Club, Airlie Beach
REGISTRATION: Session only tickets start from $21 from www.whitsundayswriters.com
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