Emerging writers

We have been committed to elevating new and emerging writers since the festival’s beginnings, and this year is, of course, no different – we are lucky enough to have four brilliant emerging novelists taking to the stage for a Saturday afternoon discussion of their varied works and their experience of writing.

Rachel Leary gripping debut, Bridget Crack, hits shelves this month; a vivid imagining of convict escape and survival in the unforgiving wilderness of nineteenth century Van Diemen’s Land (review here). Returning to the festival is Meredith Jaffé, who has followed up her debut The Fence with the dark and deftly executed page turner of secrets and safety, The Making of Christina (review here). On the heels on Cate Shortland’s film adaption of her first novel, Berlin Syndrome, Melanie Joosten is back with Gravity Well, a story of family, friendship and star gazing (review here). And of course, Jenny Crocker, a quarter of the book club cum collaborative writing team by the nom de plume Alice Campion, takes us back to outback Wandalla in The Shifting Light, the sequel to The Painted Sky (review here).

This session has been sponsored by Berkelouw and Harry Hartog – our warmest thanks to them both for their support.