Halo. Nama saya Amanda.
Well, that’s about as much Bahasa Indonesia as I’ve managed to master so far for next week’s Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, but there’s still time to learn a few more helpful phrases!
This year’s festival (28 October – 1 November) features 165 authors from 25 countries, and a packed program of panels, readings, conversations, workshops and special events.
Elemental, with its main character Meggie Tulloch travelling from a tiny island at the top of the world to a large one at the bottom, meshes well with the festival’s theme, 17,000 Islands of Imagination. I’m thrilled to be participating in three events and very much looking forward to meeting the writers involved:
Why Write? 29 October: Panel discussion chaired by Rebecca Harkins-Cross, with Mireille Juchau, Okky Madasari, Nam Le, Amanda Curtin.
Make History, 30 October: Panel discussion chaired by Tory Loudon, with Avi Sirlin, Isa Kamari, Amanda Curtin.
Long Table Dinner, 31 October: literary dinner with Afonso Cruz, Anne Buist, Graeme Simsion, Haresh Sharma, Dorothy Tse, James Shea, Eka Kurniawan, Endy Bayuni, Andreas Harsono, Todung Mulya Lubis, Amanda Curtin.
Festival Facebook page
Twitter @ubudwritersfest
looking up/looking down 
Great to see that you’re on the program. I’m sure you’ll make the most of it. Best wishes for a great festival.
Thanks, Ian. I think it will be a fabulous experience.
I will be at your 29 Oct session Amanda. Would love to say hey and meet you!
Lovely! Looking forward to meeting you, Jenny. And I’ve marked your book launch on my program.
I’m leaving today, at airport now so see you there! Exciting.
Ah, getting in early for some R&R! Good plan 🙂 See you there!
Have a fantastic time, Amanda. I’ve read, and been completely overwhelmed, by Elemental, and feeling not a little abashed that I haven’t written to you about it. Such a clever, wonderful book! More later. For now, enjoy the festival (and tell me, some time, how one comes by such a cool gig!) x
Thank you, Robyn. I’m so pleased that you liked Elemental. The Ubud festival IS a cool gig, isn’t it—I feel very fortunate indeed 🙂
Have a brilliant time. I love the British cover for Elemental but I adore the Australian one xxx
Thanks, Rae. Many of my friends have told me they prefer one or the other! Lucky me that they’re both lovely in their own way. 🙂
Have a wonderful time. You’re such a terrific ambassador for the arts, Amanda, that I know you’ll lift the stature of the festival even higher. xx
Ah, that’s very sweet of you, Marlish, but I’m just pleased to be part of it 🙂