80 writers, academics, journalists, publishers, thinkers and creators are primed to storm the Beaches this 14-16 March.
Kicking off Thursday evening 14 March with Manly icon Thomas Keneally at Hotel Steyne. Continuing Friday morning at Manly Pacific Hotel, a hearty LOLA (Love Our Local Authors) Breakfast fuels the day, celebrating the Beaches’ great literary talent. Julia Baird’s asks what grace means to you. Catherine Fox AM is joined by Michael West, reflecting fifty years on from Helen Reddy’s polemic call-to-action I am woman, hear me roar, and Neuroscientist Dr Sarah McKay explores the lessons learned about women’s brain health through the neurological transitions of puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.
The Accidental Historian, Professor John Maynard, who happen-chanced into history when he visited the University of Newcastle to help with some family research on his grandfather, Fred, a high-profile Aboriginal activist of the 1920s, discusses his research into the intersections of Aboriginal political and social history, and contributions to the research fields of Aboriginal, race relations and sports history. Friday concludes with The Manly Literary Salon, and the launch of Jill Valentine’s debut novel High Heels and Low Blows.
The power of storytelling resumes Saturday. For lovers of fiction, every genre is covered; real life, historical, romance, comedy, literature, and thrillers, and celebrated writers Genevieve Gannon, Robert Gott, Miranda Jagger, and Tim Ayliffe. The program also comprises travel, memoirs, true crime, the Matildas, Jewish life, Trump’s America, NSW politics, the media, the myth surrounding Ned Kelly, and the winner of the Prime Minister’s 2023 Literary Non-Fiction award.
Olympic boycotts, death threats, doping, and a Cold War more your speed? Don’t miss Michelle Ford, author of Turning the Tide, and 1980 Moscow Olympics 800m Swimming Gold Medal winner. Michelle relives competion amidst death threats, wilful blindness, sexism, and the most ferocious, systematic, state-sponsored doping ever. Sports continues as Lucas Gillard and Jason Goldsmith – authors George Best Down Under – and John Maynard, Patrick Skene and Michael Cain examine sport as a microcosm of society.
16-time Walkley award winner Nick McKenzie talks about his work investigating Ben Roberts-Smith. Michael Brissenden’s Q&A-style session on Geopolitical Dynamics closes the Festival, featuring Walkley Book of the Year winner Antony Loewenstein, and foreign policy experts Allan Behm, Professor Mark Edele, Edward Acton Cavanough, and Dr Lachlan Strahan.
The festival also includes nine sessions for young people from school years 3 to 10 inclusive, featuring local authors Pip Harry and Zena Shapter, Liz Deep-Jones, Ursula Dubosarsky, Carla Fitzgerald and Will Kostakis.
Staging such an ambitious event is only possible with fantastic sponsors. A huge thank you to John Cunningham and Cunninghams Real Estate, instrumental in bringing the festival to life. “As a long-term supporter of local initiatives, we’re thrilled to see the addition of a writers’ festival to Manly’s vibrant cultural scene,” says John.
The festival is also proudly supported by Northern Beaches Council, investment firm TGI Holdings, and leading independent bookseller, Gleebooks.
All ticket sale profits will be shared between the Aboriginal-led Literacy for Life Foundation and the Northern Beaches Community Cancer Charity.
Head to manlywritersfestival.com.au to secure tickets.
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