Perth Writers Week

Perth Writers Week (19–25 February) is coming up soon, and I am looking forward to some fabulous sessions.

I’m delighted to have the opportunity to talk to Chris Womersley about his fascinating novel of 17th-century France, City of Crows, on Sunday 25 February, 11am. 

If you’re keen to see recent 2, 2 and 2 guests Louise Allan and Michelle Johnston, they will be in conversation in a free session, ‘Doctors’ Writing Club’, on Saturday, 12.30pm. Michelle will also be talking about Dustfall on Sunday, 4.30pm; and Louise’s session on The Sisters’ Song is on Saturday, 9.30am.

I have booked a ticket for the ‘How to Read a Dress’ High Tea and Fashion Show on Saturday afternoon. Some years ago, I attended a talk on what vintage fashion can tell us about history, and I’m hoping to learn more from Lydia Edwards, author of How to Read a Dress: A Guide to Changing Fashion from the 16th to the 20th Century, in conversation with Natasha Lester.

I’ve also booked the following sessions:

• ‘Why Literature Matters’, with Kim Scott and Helen Garner (the session has already sold out)
• ‘Late Style’: Alex Miller, Robert Dessaix and Liz Byrski on creativity in later life
• ‘Ornament as Crime’: A.C. Grayling and Alan Hollinghurst on aesthetics as transgression
• ‘Words & Image: An Evening with Master Storyteller William Yang’

And I’m hoping to catch some of the free sessions:

• Michelle de Kretser on The Life to Come
• Announcement of this year’s Dorothy Hewett Awards
• Laurie Steed on You Belong Here
• Odette Kelada on Drawing Sybilla

Other festival authors include Josephine Wilson, Heather Rose, Sofie Laguna, Rose Michael, Cory Doctorow, Tim Winton, Robert Drewe, Richard Fidler, Alan Carter, Deb Fitzpatrick…It’s very hard to make choices from such a wonderful program of offerings! Congratulations to Guest Curator Will Yeoman.