Clunes Booktown Presents Turn The Page

What works and what does not with running book clubs. Chaired by Jennifer Hutchison, author and publisher Panelists: Pam Kershaw, book club veteran, and Shay Leighton, founder and director, Tough Guy Book Club Includes results of the first national book club survey.

Join us for the first national symposium to explore how book clubs connect us with ideas, books, and each other. On May 29 & 30 we will celebrate the power of book clubs; share stories and experiences; discuss the best ways to run different types of clubs; and look at how clubs interact with authors, libraries, the publishing industry, and local communities. Full program on website. Tickets include morning and afternoon tea and a Saturday evening reception with drinks and nibbles.

Learn about how book clubs and authors can connect more for mutual benefit in a discussion led by Toni Jordan novelist, with Vikki Petraitis, true crime author and successful podcaster, and Lindy Cameron, author and independent publisher, Clan Destine Books.

Sleuthing while speed dating with others in the audience, wrangled by Heather Horrocks of the Book Clubs Hub Steering Committee

One of our aims is to think about how Book Clubs can help bring culturally diverse communities together. In this panel you will hear about working with older Australians, why there was a need to set a book club for south Asian women and how the vision impaired benefit from Book Club membership. Be inspired by our panellist stories, which include:Richard Freadman, Daizy Maan, Sarah Bloedorn, Nathalie Jones Chaired by Maryanne Vagg.

Sharing stories found during the sleuthing. Hear about the weird, wonderful and huge range of experiences of book clubbers from around the country

Commercially run book clubs and their place in the book ecosystem. Maryanne Vagg, reviewer, programmer and librarian Panelists: Angela Crocombe, manager of Readings Kids, and Bill Collopy, Manager, Council of Adult Education Book Club Operations

What libraries and book clubs can do for each other

Where to from here? How can we best support and encourage book clubs around Australia? Audience Discussion led by Cora Trevarthen, member of the Book Clubs Hub Committee

Culture is Life. Renowned Aboriginal photographer Wayne Quilliam discusses his stunning new book in conversation with Sue Lawson.

Writer and historian Robyn Annear and author and ‘Modern Mender’ Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald will discuss the fickle nature of fashion and whether what goes around does or should come around again?

Writer, columnist and social commentator, Monica Dux shares her frank attempt to exorcise her religious upbringing in conversation with Sue Lawson.

Best-selling authors, Maya Linnell, Alli Sinclair and Fiona Lowe talk to Maryanne Vaag about their contemporary tales of love and loss that have struck a chord with readers of all ages.

Renowned thinkers and writers Ross Garnaut and Bill Bowtell explore the politics and economics of the COVID-19 pandemic. Who got it right and where to from here?

Katherine Kovacic, Sandi Wallace, and Lyn Yeowart talk about why rural and remote communities are ideal scenes of the crime with Maggie Baron. Presented by Sisters In Crime.

Gardening expert Stephen Ryan (3CR) and Director of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Tim Entwisle explore our response to the unique Australian climates and seasons and discuss what to plant and grow.

Ramona Koval discusses the journey of her beautifully wrought latest release in conversation with Elizabeth McCarthy.

Adrian Tame and Derryn Hinch reminisce with Leslie Falkiner-Rose about the good, bad, and often hilarious days of gripping gossip, the Truth newspaper, tabloid TV and their resonance in news today.

Debut author Madeine Ryan talks to Andrew Fuller about the searingly honest moments of her brilliant new novel.

The poetry of Margaret Hickey and prose of Rosalie Ham and JP Pomare resonate deeply within their settings. Join this insightful discussion with Robert Gott.

Murder, Mystery and Criminally Good Stories! Join Robert Gott, Garry Disher and Karina Kilmore as they reveal their crime writing secrets to Jane Sullivan.

Is short always better? Sean O’Beirne, Scot Gardner and Leah Swann share their insights into the unique craft of short story writing with Elizabeth McCarthy from Triple RRR

FREE EVENT. Mature and Marvellous? Older and Awesome? Join us & celebrate literary forces behind mature writers with Natalie Conyer who, at age 70+, won prestigious Best Debut Crime Novel in the 2020 Ned Kelly Award, Jennifer Hutchison, an author and independent publisher who champions mature writers & Emeritus Professor Richard Freadman, an international expert on biography and autobiography, who now works with older people to help them tell their stories

Join polymath Dr Karl Kruszelnicki as he takes us on a Surfing Safari through Science, in conversation with Paul Fleckney, Clunes author. A former roadie, taxi driver, TV weatherman, car mechanic, film maker, labourer and doctor at a children's hospital, Karl has qualifications in science, maths, engineering, medicine and surgery. He is the author of over 40 books, including his latest book for everybody, ‘Surfing Safari through Science’ released in October 2020.

Join Tony Birch, 2020 NSW Premier's Literary Awards – Indigenous Writers' Prize Winner, in conversation with Clunes Booktown on Sunday. In The White Girl, Miles-Franklin-shortlisted author Tony Birch shines a spotlight on the 1960s and the devastating government policy of taking Indigenous children from their families.

In this Clunes Booktown online Sunday event, Chris Hammer, a leading Australian crime fiction novelist and author of international bestsellers Scrublands and Silver joins Book Clubs Hub chair, Leslie Falkiner-Rose, to chat about his new book, Trust. Set in a Sydney riven with corruption and nepotism, privilege and power, Trust is the third riveting novel from the award-winning and internationally acclaimed writer.

Clunes Booktown celebrates Australia’s literary forces behind young adult fiction in Knowing Me & Meeting You, a special online conversation with authors Michael Earp, Nina Kenwood and Nova Weetman. In this Clunes Booktown on Sunday event, three leading young adult fiction writers discuss coming out, coming-of-age, connections and stories of family, friends, lovers and strangers.

Join Keith Banks, one of Queensland's most decorated police officers, in conversation with Leslie Falkiner-Rose. Keith Banks was in the Queensland Police Force for twenty years (1975-95), going undercover during the premiership of Joh Bjelke-Petersen and Terry Lewis' time as police commissioner, the most notoriously corrupt period in Queensland history.

Writing for Children (A Panel for Grown-ups) with Leigh Hobbs, Andy Griffiths, Ann James. Chaired by Dan Nixon Presented by Melbourne Young Writers’ Studio

When it comes to fashion, we didn’t always have a fetish for newness. Join historian Robyn Annear and mending advocate and author of Modern Mending, Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald for an afternoon of fickle fashion! Chaired by Chris Gordon Presented by Readings

Jane Sullivan is a Melbourne-based writer specialising in literary journalism. She has worked for The Age as a reporter, feature writer and editor. Jane won the inaugural Australian Human Rights Award for journalism. Join Jane in conversation with Tess Brady.

Andy Griffiths Climbs A Tree - Andy Griffiths is one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors. He and illustrator Terry Denton have collaborated on more than 30 bestselling books since their first title, Just Tricking, was published in 1997. Their much-loved Treehouse Series has been embraced by children around the world and is now published in more than 35 countries. This is a free event but space is limited so booking is advised to avoid disappointment

Growing It - Sprinter and Sprummer. Spring starts on the first day of September, right? Not if Dr Tim Entwisle, director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne and the author of 'Sprinter and Sprummer', has anything to do with it. Here he argues we should scrap the European approach and adopt a five season model. Join Tim Entwisle in conversation with Angus Stewart.

In pursuit of an already self-isolating career is the rural writer further disadvantaged? Panel Discussion with Kirsten Alexander (Riptides), Maya Linnell (Wildflower Ridge), J P Pomare (In the Clearing) Chaired by Robert Gott

Join award winning children's and YA author, Nova Weetman for a fun and informative workshop on Kids Writing Workshop. (9-14 year olds)

Drawing Stories with Leigh Hobbs. Leigh Hobbs is an artist and author best known for his children’s book characters Old Tom, Horrible Harriet, Mr Chicken and Mr Badger. This is a free event but space is limited so booking is advised to avoid disappointment

All the Ways to Write the Truth with Sean O’Beirne (A Couple of Things Before the End: Stories) Chris Flynn (Mammoth) and Bruce Venables (Eureka Run) Chaired by Jane Sullivan

Sunburnt Country – Regenerative Farming. 200 years of clearing and mechanisation has had a serious impact on Australia's agricultural land. Regenerative agriculture practitioners seek to repair that through agricultural practices. Join us for a topical panel discussion with Charles Massy and David Pollock. Chaired by Chris Pollock

Garry Disher has published fifty titles across multiple genres. His last standalone novel, Bitter Wash Road, won the 2016 German Crime Prize, a prize he has previously won twice. In 2018 he received the Ned Kelly Lifetime Achievement Award. Join Garry Disher in conversation with Andrew Masterson.

Creating Characters with Leigh Hobbs. Leigh Hobbs is an artist and author best known for his children’s book characters Old Tom, Horrible Harriet, Mr Chicken and Mr Badger. This is a free event but space is limited so booking is advised to avoid disappointment

On the day that became known as Black Saturday, one man deliberately lit two fires near the small town of Churchill, Gippsland, then sat on the roof of his house and watched the flames. The Arsonist, by the acclaimed author of The Tall Man, is the story of that man, the fire he lit, and the people who were killed. Join author Chloe Hooper in conversation with Caleb Cluff Presented by the Ballarat Courier

Celebrating Women’s Crime Writing Since 1991, join Sisters in Crime Leah Swann & Anna George for a talk about how the passions surrounding motherhood can range from deep love, self-sacrifice and intense protectiveness to murderous rage – and why it has been such a fertile (and deadly) theme for crime fiction. Chaired by Anne Buist Presented by White Ribbon Ballarat

Historical Fiction Judy Nunn in conversation with Bruce Venables Chaired by Kerrie O’Brien

A warm, moving and revealing collection of stories and memories about Bob Hawke from across the nation, edited by his eldest daughter Sue Pieters-Hawke. Chaired by Catherine King MP

Sally Rugg is an LGBTIQ rights activist, writer and public speaker. She is Executive Director at political activist group change.org, and was previously Campaign Director at GetUp where she lead the campaign for marriage equality for five years. Join Sally in conversation with Chloe Hooper

Coming out, coming-of-age, connections and stories of family, friends, lovers and strangers with Michael Earp, Nina Kenwood and Alison Evans Chaired by Hilary Harper (ABC Life Matters)

Eminent economist and climate change expert Ross Garnaut discusses emission reduction, low carbon opportunities with environmental scientist Paul Hardisty. Chaired by Mark Ogge

Don Watson's books, articles and essays have been widely acclaimed. His bestselling titles include Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: Paul Keating Prime Minister, which won the Age Book of the Year and Non-Fiction Prizes, the Brisbane Courier Mail Book of the Year, the National Biography Award and the Australian Literary Studies Association's Book of the Year. Join Don in conversation with critic Sean O'Brirne.

Professor Christina Twomey joins Chris Flynn to talk about the practicalities and pitfalls of book reviewing. Chaired by Peter Rose Presented by ABR