For those of you who don’t know—and I’m sure most of you do—Margaret River is a world-acclaimed food and wine region in the South West of Western Australia, and one of Australia’s most beautiful and vibrant tourist destinations. It is also home to a fabulous writers festival, and I’m delighted to be taking part in this year’s Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival, 3–5 May, at Voyager Estate.
The festival theme is Wild, Weird & Wonderful, and I like to think there’s a bit of all three in all of us.
I’m in very good company this year. Among those on the very long list of authors and presenters are Germaine Greer, Anna Funder, Kim Scott, Liz Byrski, Susan Midalia, Sarah Drummond, Ian Parmenter, Dave Warner, Michael Leunig and William McInnes.
I’ll be talking about Kathleen O’Connor of Paris with chair William Yeoman (Friday, 9.30–10.30am, Main Stage), and about Elemental in a session entitled ‘Salt, Sleet and Wild Seas’, with Sarah Drummond, author of The Sound, and chair Rashida Murphy (Friday, 2–3pm, Main Stage). You can view the full program here.
If you’re going, please come and say hello!
Need a reminder of just how glorious Margaret River is? Here are a few of my favourite photo-memories…
Margaret River resident and all-round treasure Ian Parmenter
looking up/looking down 
Sheesh. Thanks for reminding me I won’t be there (as if I actually needed reminding). Last year’s Margies Fest was excellent, and this year’s looks like it will be even better. Anyone wanna float me a plane ticket for the weekend?!
Oops, sorry, Glen. Good luck with that! 🙂
*flaps arms madly while leaping off Mt Gillen, trying to achieve take-off*
Keep practising that flapping action 🙂
You temptress you! I have yet to visit Margaret River, and this line up looks great, but I don’t think I can make it this year. Have a wonderful time.
Oh, Sue—you’d love it!
I knoooow!
You must get down there one day, Sue, if you’ve never been…
I certainly recognise the writing on the Tangelo Marmalade jar, Amanda. See you very soon… XX
And I wish I had that handwriting, Ian 🙂 Yes, looking forward to it! xx