Clunes Booktown Presents Turn The Page

Each looking to make a new start, Zoe and Martin set out independently to walk two thousand kilometres from Cluny in France to Santiago in Spain, in the footsteps of pilgrims who have walked the Camino—The Way—for centuries. The Camino changes you, it’s said. It’s a chance to find a new version of yourself. But will these two very different people find each other? Join us for an afternoon conversation with Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist chatting to Maryanne Vagg.

This is the true story of Keith Banks, one of Queensland’s most decorated police officers and his experience as a Tactical Operations Specialist Officer in the eighties. After Keith left deep undercover duty - as told in his bestselling first book - Drugs, Guns and Lies - he continued to seek the adrenaline and rush of the sharp end of policing.

FREE EVENT. While most Book Clubs organise themselves, there are still many organised for them. Hear about the experiences of the Council for Adult Education, which started its book club to address isolation on solider settlements after World War II & now has thousands of members. Booktown partner, Readings, has run books club for many years out of its bookstores & have a wealth of knowledge to share on running Book Clubs. Join Maryanne Vagg in conversation with Angela Crocombe & Bill Collopy.

FREE EVENT. 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 from Daizy Maan, Richard Freadman and Sarah Bloedorn. Chaired by Maryanne Vagg.

FREE EVENT. Connecting Authors and Book Clubs. 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. Book Clubs Hub has set up a searchable author register where book clubs can seek out authors that are happy to meet with them in person or online. This talk will explore what more can be done.

FREE EVENT. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Book Clubs. Book Clubs each have their own personality and with that comes myriad positive and negative challenges. Hear from those with long standing book club experience. The aim of this amazing talk is for you to come away with great tips on how to set up, run and/or market your book club better. Join Chair Jennifer Hutchison in conversation with Pam Kershaw, book club veteran, and Shay Leighton, founder and director, Tough Guy Book Club.

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.

Many Book Clubs are run out of libraries. How does that benefit both the libraries and the readers? State Library of Victoria CEO, Kate Torrney, will address this question through her Key Note Speech, followed by an audience Q+A. Leading us into: The Book of Tomorrow 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.

While most Book Clubs organise themselves, there are still many organised for them. Hear about the experiences of the Council for Adult Education, which started its book club to address isolation on solider settlements after World War II and now has thousands of members. Booktown partner, Readings, has run books club for many years out of its book stores and have a wealth of knowledge to share on running Book Clubs. Maryanne Vagg will be joined by Angela Crocombe and Bill Collopy.

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 and Nathalie Jones. Chaired by Maryanne Vagg.

Life in the Fast Lane Book Clubber Heather Horrocks, part of our Book Clubs Hub Steering Group, will wrangle those in the room so they can quickly learn about each other and then share the stories discovered as Tale From The Trenches…… Tales From The Trenches Hear about the weird, wonderful and heart-warming range of experiences of book clubbers from around the country.

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. Book Clubs Hub has already set up a searchable author register where book clubs can seek out authors that are happy to meet with them in person or online. This talk will explore what more can be done – all good ideas most welcome.

Book Clubs each have their own personality and with that comes myriad positive and negative challenges. Hear from those with long standing book club experience. The aim of this talk is for you to come away with great tips on how to set up, run and/or market your book club better. Please come prepared with your juicy questions for the panellists. Chaired by author, Jennifer Hutchison. Panelists: Pam Kershaw, book club veteran, and Shay Leighton, founder and director, Tough Guy Books Club.

Benefits of your annual membership are - funding to support our Literacy in Schools program & Booktown on Sunday - 10% discount on all ticketed events - 10% discount on all books purchased at Booktown on Sunday - invitations to the annual Booktown welcoming event & post Booktown Party - acknowledgement by name in the annual Booktown program

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

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