Artists Archive - Newcastle Writers Festival 2025

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Sara Acton

Sara Acton is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books such as Runt by Craig Silvey.

Graham Akhurst

Graham Akhurst is a Kokomini writer. He is a Lecturer of Indigenous Australian Studies and Creative Writing at UTS. His debut novel is Borderland.

Richard James Allen

Richard James Allen’s most recent book, Text Messages from the Universe (Flying Island Books, 2023), reflects a lifelong engagement with Buddhist and Yogic philosophies.

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Dael Allison

Dael Allison writes fiction, poetry and essays and has submitted her PhD on the narratives of Newcastle.

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Sharlene Allsopp

Sharlene Allsopp was born on Bundjalung Country into the Olive mob. Her debut novel, The Great Undoing, was completed with a Wheeler Centre’s Next Chapter fellowship.

Elijah Amoss

Elijah aims to inspire his community and everyone who is open to connect to his drive, positive changes and emphasis on the power of self-transformation and love.

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Susie Anderson

Wergaia and Wemba Wemba woman Susie Anderson was a winner of the 2021 black&write! Fellowship and her debut poetry collection is ‘the body country’.

Liz Anelli

Liz Anelli returns to Newcastle to launch her latest Walker Books non-fiction picture book, ‘Seed to Sky, Life in the Daintree’, with author Pamela Freeman.

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Emma Ashmere

Emma Ashmere is the author of Dreams They Forgot and The Floating Garden, and winner of the open category of the 2024 joanne burns Microlit Award, a collaboration between Newcastle…

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Cassandra Atherton

Cassandra Atherton is an award-winning prose poet and international expert on prose poetry and microliterature. She recently edited the Remnants anthology for Spineless Wonders.

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Amal Awad

Amal is a writer, director and performer. She is the author of eight books, both fiction and non-fiction titles. Her latest novel is called Bitter & Sweet.

Julia Baird is a journalist and author of critically acclaimed titles including Media Tarts, Victoria and the multi-award winning Phosphorescence. Her latest book is Bright Shining: How Grace Changes Everything.

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Magdalena Ball

Magdalena Ball is a novelist, poet, reviewer, interviewer, vice president of Flying Island Books, and managing editor of Compulsive Reader. Her most recent book is, Bobish, a verse-memoir.

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Lucy Bell

Lucy Bell is an editor, music teacher and the author of popular kids’ book You Can Change the World. Her most recent book is Foodwise.

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Matt Bevan

Matt Bevan is writer and presenter of the ABC News podcast If You’re Listening, which in 2023 was expanded into a YouTube and TV series.

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Judith Beveridge

Judith Beveridge has published seven books of poetry. She was poetry editor of Meanjin for 10 years and also taught poetry writing for 16 years at post-graduate level at the…

Tony Birch

Tony Birch, a Fitzroy Blak, holds the Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature at Melbourne University. He has published novels, short fiction and poetry.

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Russell Blackford

Russell Blackford is a philosopher and the author of numerous books. His latest is How We Became Post-Liberal: The Rise and Fall of Toleration.

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Jenny Blackford

Award-winning poet Jenny Blackford writes poems and stories for people of all ages, often with a tinge of magic, science, or deep time. And animals.

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Anna Kate Blair

Anna Kate Blair is a writer from Aotearoa based in Naarm. Her first novel, The Modern, was published by Scribner in September 2023.

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Ashley Kalagian Blunt

Ashley Kalagian Blunt is the bestselling author of Dark Mode, an internationally published psychological thriller. Her earlier books are How to Be Australian and My Name Is Revenge.

Kirsten Bradley

Kirsten Bradley is a grower, writer and educator who is passionate about helping to create resilient households, communities and ecosystems by sharing skills for living like it matters.

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Bernadette Brennan

Bernadette Brennan is the award-winning biographer of Helen Garner and Gillian Mears. She is currently researching a literary biography of Drusilla Modjeska.

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Bryan Brown

Bryan Brown is known as an actor, having appeared in more than 80 films and television shows. The Drowning is his second book.

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Daniel Browning

Daniel Browning is an Aboriginal writer, journalist, broadcaster, documentary maker and sound artist. His anthology of collected writing, Close to the Subject, is published by the Indigenous-owned Magabala Books.

Kelly Burke

Kelly Burke is a UK actor who has narrated 100+ audiobooks — and has been thrilled to live for a while inside Helen Hopcroft’s beautiful prose.

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Piper Butcher

Unchained by age, Piper Butcher will give you shivers. Any performance of hers gives an insight into her unique sound and fresh style.

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Jane Caro

Jane Caro AM is a Walkley Award-winning columnist and author. Her novel, The Mother, is a bestseller. She’s writing another (bestseller, she hopes).

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Shankari Chandran

Shankari Chandran is the author of Song of the Sun God, The Barrier and Miles Franklin Literary Award-winning Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens (2023).

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Lliane Clarke

Lliane is a former book publisher, editor and journalist. She is currently artistic director of the award-winning Voices of Women storytelling program.

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Nadine J. Cohen

Writer and refugee advocate Nadine J. Cohen lives and works on Gadigal and Bidjigal land. Her debut novel, Everyone and Everything, is out now.

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Catharine Coleborne

Catharine Coleborne is a Professor of History at the University of Newcastle. Her work focuses on mental health and institutions.

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Katharine Coles

Katharine Coles’ ninth poetry collection is Ghost Apples (Red Hen Press, 2023). She is a Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Utah.

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James Colley

James Colley is a writer from Western Sydney and author of new romantic comedy The Next Big Thing from Pantera Press. James has an extensive history as the head writer…

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Maddison Connaughton

Maddison Connaughton is a journalist whose work has appeared in The Guardian, The New York Times, Foreign Policy, the ABC, The Sydney Morning Herald, and more.

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Jude Conway

Dr Jude Conway was born and bred in Newcastle. She specialises in researching and writing histories of women who stood out from the crowd in Newcastle and the Hunter region.

Deborah Conway

Deborah Conway has been a musician for more than 40 years. In 2023, she released her memoir Book of Life

Dan Cox

Dan Cox co-hosts Breakfast on ABC Newcastle from 5.30am to 9am each weekday.

Rico Craig

Rico Craig is a poet, writer and workshop facilitator. His collections include Bone Ink (2017), Our Tongues Are Songs (2021) and Nekhau (2022).

Cara Cross

Dr Cara Cross is a published Aboriginal historian with a particular interest in Indigenous histories and scientific cultural knowledges.

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Nancy Cushing

Nancy Cushing is Associate Professor of History at the University of Newcastle. She researches and writes about Newcastle, crime and human-animal histories.

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Natalie Damjanovich-Napoleon

Natalie Damjanovich-Napoleon is an Australian/American poet and musician based in Fremantle. Her latest poetry collection is If There is a Butterfly That Drinks Tears (Gazebo Books).

André Dao

André Dao is a writer, editor and researcher. His debut novel Anam was published in May 2023.

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Jackie Dent

Jackie Dent is an author and journalist. Her most recent book is The Great Dead Body Teachers.

Hannah Diviney

Hannah Diviney is an author, actress, disability advocate and editor-in-chief. Her debut book, I’ll Let Myself In, was published in 2023.

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Anna Downes

Anna Downes is an actor-turned-writer, born in the UK and now based on the NSW Central Coast. Her third novel, Red River Road, is due to be published in 2024.

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Winnie Dunn

Winnie Dunn is a Tongan-Australian writer and editor from Mount Druitt. She is also the general manager of Sweatshop Literacy Movement. Winnie’s debut novel is Dirt Poor Islanders (Hachette, 2024).

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Mark Dunn

Historian Mark Dunn has worked extensively in Newcastle and the Hunter. His book, The Convict Valley (2020), investigates Aboriginal and settler communities in the Hunter Valley.

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Karen Eastwood

Karen Eastwood is a storyteller, writer, podcast host and educator, as well as a member of Newcastle Writers Festival’s Story Hunter team, which takes writers into primary schools.

Sally Egan

Sally Egan lives on Awabakal and Worimi Country. She enjoys nature-writing and exploring the natural world. She has been published in a Hunter writing anthology.

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Helen English

Helen English researches how we use music for wellbeing and identity, both historically and today. Her recent book is Music and World-Building in the Colonial City (2022).

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Steven Faux

Steven Faux is a Professor of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney and co-leads one of the first Long Covid clinics in Australia.

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Hannah Ferguson

Hannah Ferguson is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Cheek Media Co. and the author of Bite Back.

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Joanna Atherfold Finn

Joanna Atherfold Finn is Port Stephens-based editor, English tutor, and author. Publications include Watermark and the co-authored Plastic Free.

Dan Flegg

Dan Flegg is an award-winning journalist, writer and one half of hard-rock act BAAM BAM.

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Clare Fletcher

Clare Fletcher is the bestselling author of romantic comedies Love Match (2023) and Five Bush Weddings (2022), both published by Penguin Random House.

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Chris Flynn

Chris Flynn is the author of four books, the latest of which is Here Be Leviathans.

Rowena Foong

Rowena Foong is one of three creative sisters behind High Tea with Mrs Woo – a design collaboration that champions sustainable ways to craft and wear clothing.

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Clementine Ford

Clementine Ford is a writer, broadcaster and feminist community builder living in Naarm/Melbourne.

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Pamela Freeman

Pamela Freeman is a multi-award-winning writer of books for children and adults.

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Meg Gatland-Veness

Meg Gatland-Veness is an Australian YA author of I Had Such Friends, When Only One and the upcoming novel What’s Murder Between Friends?

Zeny Giles

Her new novel Castellorizo to Woolloomooloo continues Zeny Giles’ exploration of migrants in Australia. When two children enrol in Plunkett Street Primary in 1924 a surprising story follows.

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Keri Glastonbury

Keri Glastonbury is an Associate Professor of English and Writing at The University of Newcastle. Her most recent book is Newcastle Sonnets (Giramondo, 2018).

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Richard Glover

Richard Glover’s most recent book is Best Wishes, a book about making the world a better, less annoying place, one wish at a time.

Clark Gormley

Clark is a singer/ songwriter and poet from Newcastle. He is one half of Nerds & Music.

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Madeleine Gray

Madeleine Gray is a writer and critic from Sydney. Green Dot is her first novel.

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Kate Grenville

Kate Grenville’s most recent novel is Restless Dolly Maunder, based on her indomitable grandmother, giving a voice to one of our silent foremothers.

Duane Hamacher

Duane Hamacher is Associate Professor of Cultural Astronomy in the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne.

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Chris Hammer

Chris Hammer is an award-winning Australian crime fiction author. His first novel Scrublands was an instant bestseller – his most recent book is The Seven.

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Ann Hardy

Ann coordinates the GLAMx Lab at Special Collections, University of Newcastle, supervises career-ready students and coordinates the Hunter Living Histories Initiative.

Wendy Harmer

Wendy Harmer is one of Australia’s most versatile and much-loved entertainers – broadcaster, author, journalist and stage performer.

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Jane Harrison

Jane Harrison (Muruwari) is an award-winning playwright and novelist. She is also the Festival Director of Blak & Bright First Nations Literary Festival.

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Victoria Haskins

Victoria Haskins is a historian of gender and colonialism at the University of Newcastle. Her books include Matrons and Maids, Living with the Locals, and One Bright Spot.

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Ashley Hay

Ashley Hay is an award-winning writer based in Brisbane. She also works as a mentor and facilitator and was editor of Griffith Review 2018–2022.

Deborah Van Heekeren

Deborah Van Heekeren is an anthropologist, writer, and visual artist currently living in Maitland, NSW, who will launch Helen Hopcroft’s new book at this year’s festival.

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Sally Hepworth

Sally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, most recently Darling Girls. Sally’s novels have sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide and have been translated…

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Paul Hetherington

Paul Hetherington has published 18 full-length poetry collections and has won or been nominated for more than 40 national and international awards and prizes.

Reece Hignell

Following his time on MasterChef Australia, Reece Hignell opened his own bakery, Cakeboi, in the Newcastle suburb of Hamilton.

Yvette Henry Holt

Yvette Henry Holt is a multi-award-winning poet, social photographer, editor, and publisher.

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Helen Hopcroft

Helen Hopcroft is an artist who lives in Maitland. Her erotic novella, The Nights, is published by Spineless Wonders.

Ivy Ireland

Ivy Ireland is the award-winning author of Incidental Complications (2007), Porch Light (2015), The Owl Inside (2020) and Tide (2023).

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Bridie Jabour

Bridie Jabour is co-host of the podcast Cool Story with Bri & Bridie. She is the opinion editor at Guardian Australia and author of the book of essays Trivial Grievances.

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Esmé Louise James

Esmé Louise James is a PhD Candidate and viral digital creator. Kinky History was published by Pantera Press in 2023, and is set for publication worldwide in 2024.

Melissa Kang

Melissa is a medical doctor specialising in adolescent health, an academic and the longest serving medical writer behind the Dolly Doctor column.

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Catherine Keenan

Catherine Keenan is executive director and co-founder of Story Factory, a not-for-profit creative writing centre for young people in Sydney. She was formerly a journalist.

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Jean Kent

Jean Kent is a Lake Macquarie poet. Her new collection, Paris Light: A Personal Plan de Paris, combines poems about Paris with paintings by Martin Kent.

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Martin Kent

Martin Kent lives at Lake Macquarie. His paintings appear in Paris Light: A Personal Plan de Paris, a collaborative work with his wife, the poet Jean Kent.

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John Kinsella

John Kinsella’s recent books of poetry include Cellnight: a verse novel (Transit Lounge, 2023), Inlandica Argonautica (Vagabond, 2023) and Spirals: Vol 3 Collected Poems (UWAP, 2024).

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Jessica Kirkness

Jessica is the author of The House With All The Lights On, a memoir about her relationship with her deaf grandparents. Jessica has a PhD in Life Writing and Deaf…

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Linsay Knight

Linsay Knight has worked in the publishing industry for almost 40 years as a writer, editor, and publisher. She and her husband launched the dynamic publishing imprint Pitt Street Poetry…

Nam Le

Nam Le is the author of 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem, On David Malouf and The Boat. He lives in Melbourne.

Bri Lee

Bri Lee is the multi-award-winning author of Eggshell Skull, Beauty, and Who Gets to Be Smart. Her debut novel, The Work, was published in April 2024.

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Steph Lentz

A former advertising writer and teacher, Steph Lentz came to public attention in 2021 after she was sacked from her job because of her sexuality.

Rosemary Lewis

Rosemary Lewis published her first book, the memoir Life’s Not a Paragraph, in 2023. She lives in Newcastle in an expanding universe.

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Antony Loewenstein

Antony Loewenstein is an independent journalist, filmmaker and author of The Palestine Laboratory.

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Simon Longstaff

Dr Simon Longstaff AO is Executive Director of The Ethics Centre which works to bring ethics to the centre of everyday life.

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Amy Lovat

Amy Lovat is the Newcastle Writers Festival program manager and founder of Secret Book Stuff. Mistakes and Other Lovers is her debut novel.

Melissa Lucashenko

Melissa Lucashenko is a Goorie (Aboriginal) author of Bundjalung and European heritage. She is a Miles Franklin Literary Award and Walkley Award-winner and a founding member of human rights organisation…

Melissa Luckman

Melissa Luckman is the Communications and Publicity Manager for Walker Books Australia. She has collaborated on campaigns for leading powerhouse theatre productions, art exhibitions and fiction and non-fiction book titles.

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Catharine Lumby

Catharine Lumby is a Professor of Media at the University of Sydney, and author of 12 books including a recent biography of Frank Moorhouse.

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Vidya Madabushi

Vidya Madabushi is an Indian writer living and working on the traditional lands of the Darramuragal people. The Days Toppled Over is her Australian debut.

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Mark Mahemoff

Mark Mahemoff is an Australian poet, critic and psychotherapist. His work is represented internationally in journals and anthologies. His latest book is Beautiful Flames (Flying Islands, 2023).

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Adam Manning

Adam Manning, a Kamilaroi Custodial Descendant, is a versatile artist, musician, and researcher at the University of Newcastle.

Linda Marigliano

Linda Marigliano is one of Australia’s most popular and respected personalities. From radio & TV, to her award-winning podcast Tough Love and critically-acclaimed memoir, Love Language.

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David Marr

David Marr is a journalist, commentator and biographer whose latest book is Killing for Country, a personal reckoning with Australia’s frontier wars.

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Maeve Marsden

Maeve Marsden is a writer and theatremaker, the curator of national storytelling project, Queerstories, and the Creative Director of Varuna and the Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival.

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Dan Marshall

Dan Marshall is a Newcastle graphic designer, illustrator and writer. His most recent book for children is Eww Gross.

Sophie Matterson

Sophie Matterson is the author of The Crossing, a memoir about her adventure solo trekking 4,750km across the width of Australia with her five camels.

Brenda Matthews

Brenda Matthews is a proud Wiradjuri woman, author, speaker, film director and more.

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Margaret McBride

Margaret McBride, is a practicing artist and writer. Her latest publication is Early Visions: Women Artists from Newcastle and Hunter Region from Colonial Period to 1969.

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Katrina McKelvey

Katrina McKelvey has written 14 children’s picture books including My Heart, and three Healthy Harold big books for the Life Education Australia Early Years program.

Ben Mckelvey

Ben Mckelvey is a best-selling biographer and modern historian. His latest book is the memoir A Scar is Also Skin.

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Kate Mildenhall

Kate Mildenhall is the author of SKYLARKING (2016) and THE MOTHER FAULT (2020) and most recently, THE HUMMINGBIRD EFFECT (2023). She co-hosts The First Time podcast – conversations with writers….

Louise Milligan

Louise Milligan is a multi-award-winning investigative journalist for ABC TV’s Four Corners. Pheasants Nest is Louise’s first novel.

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Nick Milligan

Nick Milligan is a Newcastle-based author, event curator, entertainment journalist, ABC Newcastle film critic and weekly trivia host.

Rosemarie Milsom

Rosemarie Milsom is a former journalist and the founding director of Newcastle Writers Festival, which is in its eleventh year.

Pia Miranda

Pia Miranda is one of Australia’s best-loved and critically acclaimed actors. Finding My Bella Vita, a memoir, is her debut book.

Jim Moginie

Jim Moginie was raised in Sydney’s Northern Beaches and is a founding member, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player in Midnight Oil. The Silver River is his first book.

Jazz Money

Jazz Money is a Wiradjuri poet and artist working across print, installation, digital, performance and film. Jazz’s second poetry collection will be released with UQP in 2024.

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Kylie Morris

Kylie returned to Newcastle in 2019, after reporting for the BBC and Channel Four News UK in London, Gaza, Afghanistan, Bangkok and Washington. She is currently the gendered violence writer…

John Morrissey

John Morrissey is a Kalkadoon writer raised in Melbourne.

Paula Morrow

Paula has six qualifications and has been arrested six times. Her most recent book is Alternatives! A Memoir. One of its themes is environmental activism.

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Fiona Murphy

Fiona Murphy is an award-winning writer and critic based in the Blue Mountains. Her memoir, The Shape of Sound, explores her experiences of deafness.

Natalie Murray

Natalie Murray writes romance with all the feels and swoons. Her debut contemporary romance, Love, Just In, was published by Allen & Unwin in January.

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Nerds and Music

Nerds & Music are two Newcastle word-nerds delivering quirky satire in the form of original songs.

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Indira Naidoo

Indira Naidoo is one of Australia’s most popular broadcasters and authors. Her most recent book is the best-selling The Space Between The Stars about the healing powers of nature.

Bharat Nalluri

Bharat Nalluri is a BAFTA and Emmy-nominated director based in Newcastle, NSW. Bharat directed the recent Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe, which is based on Trent Dalton’s bestselling novel.

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Krystal De Napoli

Krystal De Napoli is a Gomeroi astrophysicist, science communicator and co-author of Astronomy: Sky Country, winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards’ People’s Choice Award (2023).

Kylie Needham

Kylie Needham is an award-winning screenwriter. She holds Masters degrees in English Literature and Creative Writing. Girl in a Pink Dress is her first novel.

Ellen van Neerven

Ellen van Neerven is an award-winning writer of Mununjali Yugambeh and Dutch heritage. Their latest book is a non-fiction title, Personal Score: Sport, Culture, Identity.

Faye Neilson

Dr Faye Neilson is the Coordinator Arts and Culture for Singleton Council and oversees the operations of the Singleton Arts + Cultural Centre.

Adam Newling

Independent Australian singer/songwriter Adam Newling capped off 2023 with the stunning release of his eight-track EP, Dorothy Painted Portraits.

Karin De Novellis

Karin De Novellis worked in mental health and now writes to support those living with dementia. In Oct 2023, her poem ‘The Fall’ was shortlisted for the King Lear Poetry…

Claire O’Rourke

Claire O’Rourke is an author, environmentalist and advocate who has spent two decades working in journalism, communications and campaigns across Australia and around the world.

Brigitta Olubas

Brigitta Olubas is professor of English at UNSW Sydney, where she researches and teaches in Australian literature. She is Shirley Hazzard’s authorised biographer.

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Shelley Parker-Chan

Shelley Parker-Chan is the award-winning author of the USA Today bestseller He Who Drowned the World. They live in Melbourne.

Emily Perkins

Emily Perkins is an award-winning writer from Aotearoa New Zealand. Her most recent novel is Lioness (Bloomsbury).

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Ailsa Piper

Ailsa Piper is a writer. She also narrates audiobooks. Her next book – For Life – will be published in July 2024.

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Peter Polites

Peter Polites’ latest book is a bio-fictive novel about his Greek mothers migration and her trauma. It’s called God Forgets About the Poor.

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Clare Press

Clare Press is sustainable fashion expert and the presenter of the much-loved Wardrobe Crisis podcast.

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Jerry Ray

Jerry Ray is a multi-disciplinary storyteller, artist and creative writing teacher. His first book of short illustrated stories Lonely Beasts was published in 2021.

Charlotte Ree

Charlotte Ree is an obsessive food lover and avid home cook and recipe developer. Charlotte’s latest book is Heartbake: A Bittersweet Memoir.

Mirandi Riwoe

Mirandi Riwoe is the author of Sunbirds, Stone Sky Gold Mountain, The Burnished Sun and The Fish Girl.

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Alison Rogers

Alison Rogers, PhD, is a writer, consultant, academic, and bookseller. Her first book was on the non-profit sector and her upcoming book is on effective everyday activism.

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Megan Rogers

Megan’s bestselling debut novel The Heart is a Star was published in 2023. Her second novel The Anatomy of Tears will be released late 2025.

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Nina Romeru

Nina Romeru is a Mulubinba/Newcastle-based neo-soul artist. Nina’s soulful vocals and background of classical training contribute to a gentle and emotive sound.

Lyndall Ryan

Lyndall Ryan is a historian of colonial Australia. Her most recent book is Aftermaths: Colonialism, Violence and Memory in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

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Jeanne Ryckmans

Jeanne worked in television and as a book publisher for two decades before co-founding literary agency, Key People. Trust: A Fractured Fable is her third book.

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Sara M Saleh

Sara M Saleh is an award-winning Arab-Australian author of Songs for the Dead and the Living, and The Flirtation of Girls.

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Leigh Sales

Leigh Sales AM is one of Australia’s most respected journalists and authors. Her latest book is Storytellers.

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Amy Sambrooke

Amy Sambrooke was the Creative Director of Varuna the National Writers’ House from 2017 – 2023, and the founding Artistic Director of the Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival.

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Kirli Saunders

Kirli Saunders (OAM) is a proud Gunai Woman, award-winning author, multidisciplinary artist and consultant who creates to connect to make change.

Melanie Saward

Melanie Saward is a proud descendant of the Bigambul and Wakka Wakka peoples. Her debut novel Burn was published by Affirm Press in 2023.

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Elfy Scott

Elfy is an award-winning journalist, presenter, and author of The One Thing We’ve Never Spoken About, which focuses on the experiences of people living with complex mental health conditions.

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Michele Seminara

Michele Seminara is a writer, poet and editor. She has published two chapbooks and two full-length poetry collections, her most recent being Suburban Fantasy.

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Saman Shad

Saman Shad’s writing credits span mediums, including screen and theatre. Her debut novel The Matchmaker is published through Penguin Australia.

Jonathon Shannon

Jonathon Shannon is a Sydney-based writer and creative director. Bound to Happen is his debut novel.

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Ellen Shelley

Ellen Shelley’s writing speaks of a diverse range of struggles. Raised in a mixed family, she soon learnt the art of resilience and the importance of finding her own voice.

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Beejay Silcox

Beejay Silcox is a writer, literary critic and Artistic Director of Canberra Writers Festival. She is currently serving as the chair of the Stella Prize judging panel.

Alecia Simmonds

Alecia Simmonds is an award-winning writer and academic. Her most recent book is Courting: An Intimate History of Love and the Law (Black inc/La Trobe Press)

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Hazel Smith

Hazel Smith is a poet, performer, multimedia artist and academic. She is an Emeritus Professor in the Writing and Society Research Centre, Western Sydney University.

Tracey Spicer

Tracey Spicer AM is a multiple Walkley Award-winning author, journalist and broadcaster who has anchored national programs for ABC TV, Network Ten and Sky News.

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Josh Stenberg

Josh Stenberg is the author of the poetry collection, Nibs & Nubs, and a teacher and translator of Chinese fiction and poetry.

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Jessie Stephens

Jessie Stephens is a podcaster, broadcaster and author of the bestseller, Something Bad Is Going To Happen, and international bestseller Heartsick.

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Yumi Stynes

Yumi Stynes has endured death threats and abuse for her co-written book Welcome To Sex. It’s the fourth in a series of sex-ed books for teens with co-author Dr Melissa…

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Ghillian Sullivan

Ghillian Sullivan is a retired international operatic soprano, with more than 40 roles in her repertoire. She lived and worked in Europe for many years and later was reigning star…

Sunbiirds

Sunbiirds are a Newcastle-based instrumental group performing improvised long-form ambient music.

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Uncle Warren Taggart

Uncle Warren Taggart is a respected Wonnarua Elder and knowledge holder. In 2021, Uncle Warren and his team published Spirit of Place: Aboriginal Sites of the Hunter Region.

Hedley Thomas

Hedley’s true-crime podcasts have been downloaded more than 100 million times. He is an investigative journalist and the author of two books including The Teacher’s Pet

Lucy Treloar

Lucy Treloar is the award-winning author of short stories, essays and the novels Days of Innocence and Wonder, Salt Creek and Wolfe Island.

Thanh Truong

Thanh ‘The Fruit Nerd’ Truong’s book Don’t Buy Fruit & Veg Without Me! is revolutionising how we see and enjoy fresh produce.

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Christos Tsiolkas

Christos Tsiolkas is a novelist, playwright, screenwriter and film critic. His most recent novel is The In-Between.

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Nick Wasiliev

Nick Wasiliev hosts the Date With A Debut podcast on Words & Nerds. His debut novel When Men Cry was published in 2020.

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Rob Waters

Rob Waters is a Gomeroi man from the North West of NSW. He is the 2023 Australian Poetry Slam Champion, storyteller and cultural educator.

Clare Weeks

Clare Weeks is a photomedia artist and exhibitor in the Wh!P Collective’s ‘Stories of Light’ exhibition at Watt Space Gallery.

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ali whitelock

Ali whitelock is a Scottish poet and memoirist. ‘a brief letter to the sea about a couple of things’ is her 4th book.

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Iona Winter

Iona Winter (Waitaha/Kāi Tahu) is a poet, essayist, storyteller and editor. She has three published collections, and her next two books are due in 2024.

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Charlotte Wood

Charlotte Wood is the award-winning author of ten books, most recently Stone Yard Devotional.

Laura Elizabeth Woollett

Laura Elizabeth Woollett is the author of three novels and a short story collection. Her latest book is West Girls (2023).

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Susan Wyndham

Susan Wyndham is a journalist, author and former literary editor. She is co-editor of Hazzard and Harrower: The Letters which will be published by NewSouth Books in May.

THE ARTISTS