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04-10-24

Poet Selina Tusitala Marsh in Newcastle

Pasifika poet Selina Tusitala Marsh will be in Newcastle on Friday 11 October for a free lunchtime event hosted by the University of Newcastle. The Queen and I: A Poetic…

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28-09-24

2024 Fresh Ink Prize Winner

Newcastle writer Acey Monaro has been awarded the 2024 Fresh Ink Emerging Writer Prize, which includes $5000 for professional development and a week-long residency at Varuna in the Blue Mountains….

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18-09-24

Waterfront poetry salon

Join us on 5 October for an afternoon of poetry readings by the harbour featuring a lineup of nationally recognised poets as part of City of Newcastle’s New Annual festival….

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12-09-24

Kasey Chambers special event

Acclaimed country music artist Kasey Chambers will be the special guest at a Newcastle Writers Festival event on November 2 at the University of Newcastle’s Conservatorium of Music from 4pm….

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11-09-24

2024 Fresh Ink Prize Shortlist

Two Hunter region residents are among four writers shortlisted for the 2024 Fresh Ink Prize. This is the fourth year Newcastle Writers Festival has offered the prize, which is open…

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06-08-24

Festival videos out now

Due to popular demand, we are excited to publish video recordings of eight sessions from this year’s festival. The stellar line-up includes: Bryan Brown in conversation with Anna Downes Sally…

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05-08-24

Artist callout

We are seeking a talented Hunter region artist/graphic designer to create the main image for the 2025 festival. This year, the wonderful Caelli Brooker created a vibrant series of images…

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01-07-24

Jodi Picoult event

Tickets are now on sale for a special event with bestelling US writer Jodi Picoult on 24 October. Jodi will speak with Jessie Stephens about her brilliant new book, By…

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01-07-24

2024 Fresh Ink Prize now open

Newcastle Writers Festival is inviting emerging writers living in regional NSW to submit to the 2024 Fresh Ink Emerging Writers Prize. The prize seeks to elevate marginalised voices and acknowledges…

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31-05-24

Tim Winton event

We are thrilled to announce a special event on 19 October with award-winning Australian writer Tim Winton in partnership with the University of Newcastle and supported by Penguin Random House. …

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12-05-24

2025 Program Submissions Now Open

PROGRAM SUBMISSIONS FOR 2025 ARE NOW CLOSED We are welcoming submissions from published writers at all stages of their careers to participate in the 2025 festival, which will be held…

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22-04-24

2025 joanne burns Microlit Award

Newcastle Writers Festival and publisher Spineless Wonders are excited to announce the launch of the 2025 joanne burns Microlit Award. Melbourne writer and academic Cassandra Atherton and Canberra-based poet and…

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18-04-24

Story Hunter Historical Fiction Masterclass

One early Wednesday morning, 55 excited children gathered outside Newcastle Museum, ready to flex their writing skills, meet new friends, and dive a little deeper into history. Ranging in age…

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05-04-24

Weather Update for NWF2024

A severe weather system is expected to generate heavy rain in Newcastle until Sunday but we won’t let that dampen your festival experience. There will be plenty of space to…

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23-03-24

2024 Festival Box Office

Need assistance buying tickets for the festival? Maybe you prefer to buy them in person, or you have accessibility requirements? Our ticketing manager Melissa Chandler will be available to assist…

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A vibrant artwork by Caelli Brooker featuring a yellow background with repeated illustrations of a character reading a book while lying on a towel, bin chickens, a runner reading with Nobbys lighthouse in the background, and a variety of buildings such as a rustic house and a series of terraces.
18-02-24

Caelli Brooker Designs the 2024 Festival Program

The artwork for the 2024 Newcastle Writers Festival program was designed by Caelli Jo Brooker, a Newcastle artist and designer with cultural ties to Wangaaypuwan and Kawambarai Country in Central…

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16-02-24

2024 program out now

The 2024 Newcastle Writers Festival program is the largest since the Covid disruption and features 150 writers across 95 free and ticketed events from April 5 to 7 in Newcastle’s…

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23-01-24

Writing Place: Creative Writing Short Course

Newcastle Writers Festival and The University of Newcastle’s School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences are collaborating to offer a month-long intensive creative writing short course in April 2024….

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17-01-24

Volunteer with us

Volunteer registration is now open for the 2024 festival. We’ve been very fortunate to have wonderful volunteers since the inaugural festival in 2013, and every year we welcome both reliable…

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12-12-23

First Guest Writers Announced for 2024 Festival

Miles Franklin Literary Award winner Melissa Lucashenko, New York Times bestseller Sally Hepworth, and journalist David Marr are among 125 writers participating in the 2024 Newcastle Writers Festival from April…

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An image of Leanne Paine, 2023 Fresh Ink Prize winner, reading her extract from Lemons.
15-10-23

2023 Fresh Ink Prize Winner

Newcastle writer Leanne Paine has been awarded the 2023 Fresh Ink Emerging Writer Prize, which includes $5000 for professional development and a week-long residency at Varuna in the Blue Mountains….

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29-09-23

2023 Fresh Ink Prize Shortlist

Three Hunter region residents are among the six writers shortlisted for the 2023 Fresh Ink Prize. This is the third year Newcastle Writers Festival has offered the prize, which is…

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28-09-23

joanne burns Microlit Award finalists

Seven writers from the Hunter region have been announced as finalists in the 2024 joanne burns Microlit Awards. Entrants were asked to respond in 200 words or less to theme…

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12-09-23

Special event with Behrouz Boochani

Award-winning Kurdish-Iranian journalist, writer, filmmaker, and human rights activist Behrouz Boochani will speak about his most recent book Freedom, Only Freedom from 4.00pm on 3 December at a special event. …

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24-08-23

NWF seeking new Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteers are at the centre of the success of Newcastle Writers Festival and we are seeking a team leader who can oversee the administration, recruitment, training, and onsite management of…

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31-07-23

An evening with Matthew Reilly

Matthew Reilly will visit Newcastle for a special event on Wednesday 25 October at 7pm to speak about his new novel, the epic historical thriller Mr Einstein’s Secretary. The event…

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24-07-23

2023 Schools Day Out Bookings Open

Newcastle Writers Festival are thrilled to announce that bookings for our 2023 Schools Day Out are now open. We can’t wait to return for our first live presentation for primary…

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19-07-23

2023 Fresh Ink Prize

Newcastle Writers Festival has launched its third annual Fresh Ink Emerging Writer Prize for those living in regional New South Wales. The winner will receive $5000 prize money provided by…

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02-07-23

Microlit Writing Workshop at Newcastle Library

Love to write but find it hard to find the time? Why not try microlit?! This workshop will help you write, edit and then submit a microlit piece (200 words…

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28-06-23

Special September event with Chanel Contos

Newcastle Writers Festival is hosting a special event on Saturday, 16 September, at 7.30pm with consent activist Chanel Contos at the University of Newcastle Conservatorium of Music. She will speak…

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26-06-23

Award-winning investigative journalists Chris Masters and Nick McKenzie in Newcastle

Award-winning investigative journalists Chris Masters and Nick McKenzie will visit Newcastle on Friday 28 July for a special Newcastle Writers Festival event to launch their respective books, which are centred…

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20-06-23

Getting into Character: Story Hunter Workshops

We recently invited Newcastle-based writer Ada Lester to observe one of our Story Hunter workshops at Caves Beach Public School. Flushed faces stream into the school hall. Recess has finished…

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16-06-23

2023 Schools Program Announced

Join Newcastle Writers Festival on 28 August for our first live Schools Program in four years! The program is part of this year’s Book Week celebrations and draws on the…

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06-06-23

Special Book Week Program for Primary Students

The Newcastle Writers Festival is thrilled to be presenting its first live Schools Program in four years. We can’t wait to welcome primary students back in August! Special guests include…

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01-06-23

2024 Program Submissions Now Open

We are welcoming submissions from published writers at all stages of their careers to participate in the 2024 festival, which will be held from April 5 to 7. Ideally, you…

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A head-and-shoulders photograph of a young white woman with wavy blonde hair
31-05-23

Book launch – Amy Lovat

Newcastle Writers Festival and Pan Macmillan invite you to celebrate the launch of Amy Lovat’s debut novel Mistakes and Other Lovers from 7pm on Friday, July 14, at Fort Scratchley…

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19-05-23

Join the NWF Board

Our dedicated secretary of 10 years, Jenny Blackford, is stepping down at our AGM on 20 June and we are eager to find a replacement. This is a voluntary role….

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09-05-23

joanne burns Microlit Award now open

We are looking for ‘remnant’-themed writing for the 13th annual joanne burns Microlit Awards. Co-hosted by Newcastle Writers Festival and specialist microliterature publisher Spineless Wonders, this award offers cash prizes…

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13-03-23

2023 Microlit Award Winners

Judge Cassandra Atherton has selected the winners in the 2023 joanne burns Microlit Awards. The winner of the National category is Marion May Campbell for her entry Ania Walwicz’s Dance…

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29-01-23

Volunteer with us

Volunteer registration is now open for the 2023 festival. We’ve been very fortunate to have wonderful volunteers since the inaugural festival in 2013, and every year we welcome both reliable…

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07-12-22

First writers announced for 2023 festival

Award-winning and much-loved Australian writers Craig Silvey (pictured) and Pip Williams, as well as debut authors Mawunyo Gbogbo, Andrew Quilty, and Amy Thunig, are among 100 artists participating in the…

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05-12-22

joanne burns Microlit Award finalists announced

Judge Cassandra Atherton has announced the finalists in the 2023 joanne burns Microlit Awards in which eight writers from the Hunter region have been named. They are: Magdalena Ball, Helen…

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17-11-22

New creative writing program for schools

Newcastle Writers Festival launched Story Hunter, a new creative writing program for Hunter region primary school students, on Thursday, 17 November, at Mayfield West Demonstration School. Story Hunter is a…

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20-10-22

Special event with Kevin Rudd

Join us on Tuesday 22 November for a wide-ranging discussion between former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the ABC’s Matt Bevan about geopolitics, media, and the health of democracy. As…

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16-10-22

Seeking a treasurer

Newcastle Writers Festival is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from people who are qualified and interested in becoming our Board Treasurer. This is a voluntary position. NWF is one of…

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16-10-22

2022 Fresh Ink Prize Winner Announced

Blue Mountains writer Alejandra Martinez has been awarded the 2022 Fresh Emerging Writers Ink Prize and receives $5000 for professional development and a week-long residency at Varuna. “I have been…

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29-09-22

2022 Fresh Ink Prize Shortlist

Judges Magdalena Ball, Winnie Dunn, and Andrew Pippos have selected five writers for the 2022 Fresh Ink Emerging Writer Prize shortlist. “These shortlisted writers are connected through their strong themes,…

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13-09-22

Special event with Jennifer Robinson

Join us on October 22 for a special evening event with internationally respected human rights and media lawyer Jennifer Robinson. Journalist Maddison Connaughton will host this conversation, which will centre…

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25-07-22

2022 Fresh Ink Prize

Newcastle Writers Festival is inviting emerging writers living in regional NSW to submit to the 2022 Fresh Ink Emerging Writers Prize. The prize seeks to elevate marginalised voices and is…

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23-07-22

Work with us

We are seeking to hire six people to be part of the Story Hunter program, an exciting new initiative that will increase creative writing opportunities for children in the Hunter…

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12-06-22

2023 program submissions now open

We are welcoming submissions from published writers at all stages of their career to participate in the 2023 festival, which will be held from March 31 to April 2. Ideally,…

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05-05-22

joanne burns Microlit Award now open

Newcastle Writers Festival and publisher Spineless Wonders are excited to announce the launch of the 2023 joanne burns Microlit Award. Celebrated poet joanne burns and Melbourne writer and academic Cassandra…

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24-04-22

Work with us

The new position of Youth Creative Writing Program Coordinator will be pivotal in helping Newcastle Writers Festival establish Story Hunter, an exciting new program for primary school students. The program…

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23-03-22

Festival book drive

Festival book donation drive We will be holding a book drive during the festival weekend on April 2 and 3 to help flood-affected libraries in northern NSW rebuild their collections….

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08-03-22

Newcastle Writers Festival launches 2022 program

The Newcastle Writers Festival launched its ninth program on Thursday night, March 3, with a special event at Newcastle City Hall featuring much-loved gardening identity Costa Georgiadis and hosted by Paul West.

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Fresh ink - $5000 Emerging Writers Prize
30-10-21

Winner of Inaugural Fresh Ink Prize

The Newcastle Writers Festival Stories To You podcast is a continuation of our 2020 digital program, which was created in response to Covid-19.

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16-09-21

Fresh Ink Emerging Writers Prize Shortlist

Fresh Ink Emerging Writers Prize Shortlist Congratulations to Alex Chalwell, Rebecca Chaney, Lorina Mason and Nate McCarthy who have been shortlisted from 80 emerging regional NSW writers for the inaugural…

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26-08-21

Longlist announced for inaugural Fresh Ink Emerging Writers Prize

Yes, we know we were supposed to announce a shortlist today but the judges felt the quality of the entries warranted a longlist. Congratulations to: Jackie Bailey, Austinmer, for Sublime:…

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28-07-21

Festival update

Due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney, we have decided to postpone our September event until 2022. While we are not in lockdown in Newcastle, there…

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17-07-21

Festival Guest Curators

Join us in welcoming four guest curators to the festival team. They will collaborate with director Rosemarie Milsom to help shape the 2021 program: Kirli Saunders is the First Nations curator….

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Fresh ink - $5000 Emerging Writers Prize
06-06-21

NWF launches $5000 prize for an emerging writer

Newcastle Writers Festival launches $5000 prize for an emerging writer Newcastle Writers Festival has launched the Fresh Ink Emerging Writers Prize for those living in regional New South Wales. The…

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31-05-21

2022 NWF joanne burns Microlit Award

Submissions of up to 200 words on the theme of ‘travel’ are sought for the 2022 NWF joanne burns Microlit Award. Now in its 11th year, the award is co-hosted…

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03-02-21

Julia Gillard: Women & Leadership

UPDATE: THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT Newcastle Writers Festival and City of Newcastle present Julia Gillard: Women and Leadership 6pm-7pm Sat 13 February, The Arena NEX Tickets $30 (plus fees…

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31-01-21

Work with us

NWF is thrilled to have received Create NSW funding to appoint three guest curators in 2021: First Nations Curator; Poetry Curator; and an Emerging Curator. There is scope for the…

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10-01-21

2021 NWF/JOANNE BURNS MICROLIT AWARD WINNERS

Spineless Wonders and Newcastle Writers Festival are delighted to announce the names of the finalists in the 2021 NWF/joanne burns Microlit Award selected by Professor Cassandra Atherton. We warmly thank all entrants to…

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11-12-20

New Dates for 2021

The Newcastle Writers Festival has announced new dates – 24 to 26 September, 2021. The ninth event will run alongside the first weekend of City of Newcastle’s New Annual arts…

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29-08-20

Richard Flanagan in conversation with Jennifer Byrne

Newcastle Writers Festival is delighted to present Richard Flanagan: The Living Sea of Waking Dreams in conversation with Jennifer Byrne The Living Sea of Waking Dreams is an ember storm of…

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16-04-20

The joanne burns microlit award now open

The 2021 joanne burns Microlit Award is now open. Entries of 200 words should be inspired by the theme ‘pulped fiction’. The award is a collaboration between Newcastle Writers Festival…

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31-03-20

Newcastle Writers Festival takes program online

#NWFstoriestoyou Leading writers who were due to appear at the Newcastle Writers Festival this weekend (April 4 and 5) will feature in a new free online program: NWF Stories to…

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30-03-20

2020 Festival Cancellation

It has been a challenging couple of days and the festival team has been focused on the job of winding down this year’s festival. It is a surreal and heart-breaking…

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27-01-20

Volunteers

Registration and training for volunteers has been cancelled for this year, as a result of the cancellation of the Newcaste Writers Festival 2020. Please note that none of the planned…

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18-12-19

First guests announced for 2020 festival

We are thrilled to announce that Helen Garner, Ash Grunwald, Archie Roach and Sally Rugg will be among 150 writers attending next year’s festival from April 3 to 5. Their…

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18-12-19

State government announces festival funding

The Newcastle Writers Festival has been successful in securing funding from Create NSW via the first round of the Arts and Cultural Funding Program. This cements the state government as…

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18-12-19

Farewell to Jill Emberson

The Newcastle Writers Festival has lost one of its most treasured supporters. Much-loved ABC Newcastle presenter Jill Emberson died last night surrounded by her loved ones after a determined struggle…

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13-09-19

An evening with Tony Jones

Friday 8 November // 7.30pm // The Playhouse, Hunter Street, Newcastle Tony Jones is best known as the host of ABC TV’s political panel program Q&A. He is also an…

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21-07-19

Small Days and Nights: An Evening with Tishani Doshi

The Newcastle Writers Festival is thrilled to host a special event with award-winning Indian poet, novelist and dancer Tishani Doshi. This intimate evening will include dance inspired by Tishani’s most…

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31-05-19

The Perfect Crime: homegrown thriller writers

On 1 August, Newcastle Writers Festival and Newcastle Library will present a panel of critically acclaimed and bestselling writers who will together unravel the mystery of what makes a great…

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13-05-19

The 2019 Newcastle Writers Festival/ joanne burns Microlit Award

The 2019 joanne burns Microlit Award is jointly sponsored by the Newcastle Writers Festival and publisher Spineless Wonders. We are looking for writing (up to 200 words) that responds imaginatively…

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07-05-19

Submissions for NWF2020

Program submissions for the 2020 Newcastle Writers Festival opened on 20 May, 2019 and closed at midnight, 31 July 2019. The festival is a high quality literary event held within…

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03-05-19

Double poetry book launch: DH Lawrence edition and David Musgrave 13 May

Invitation to a Joint Book Launch You are invited to attend a joint launch of D. H. Lawrence‘s The Poems, Volume III: Uncollected Poems and Early Versions, edited by Christopher…

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14-04-19

Share your festival experience

Each year we try harder to make the festival experience as enjoyable as possible. We are a small team and value your feedback so we can continue to improve how…

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14-04-19

Snippets from across the 2019 festival weekend

We won’t get change without quotas. You can change attitudes but that doesn’t mean you will change behaviour. Quotas are the random breath testing of equality – Jane Caro Australians hate…

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14-04-19

2019: That’s a wrap!

Wow! What a festival. It is hard to believe that just over a week ago we were in the midst of the Schools Program and getting ready for the opening…

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25-01-19

Call for Volunteers

Volunteer registration for this year’s festival is now open! Each year we’ve had a wonderful team of volunteers, praised by writers and audiences alike, and we couldn’t run the festival…

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19-01-19

First guests announced for 2019

We are thrilled to announce the first of 120 guests for the 2019 festival, which will be held from April 5 to 7 in the Civic Precinct. The full program will be…

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19-01-19

2018 Newcastle Writers Festival/ joanne burns Microlit Award finalists announced

The finalists in the 2018 NWF/joanne burns MicroLit Award have now been announced. Two of these finalists will go on to win the joanne burns Microlit Award for the National…

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01-07-18

2018 Newcastle Writers Festival/ joanne burns Microlit Award now open

The 2018 Newcastle Writers Festival/ joanne burns Microlit Award is open. Co-presented by Spineless Wonders Short Australian Stories, the award is seeking writing across any genre of up to 200…

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13-06-18

Anne Summers in Newcastle Sunday 4 November

Respected journalist, editor, policy maker and feminist Anne Summers will visit Newcastle on 4 November to discuss her new memoir Unfettered and Alive. Anne has influenced and often shaped the…

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13-06-18

International double bill in August

Join us for Rebels with a Cause, a very special event at Newcastle Region Library on 6 August featuring the North Korean defector and human rights activist, Hyeonseo Lee, and…

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04-06-18

Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton – SECOND SHOW

Due to overwhelming demand a second event featuring much-loved Australian children’s author Andy Griffiths and his illustrator sidekick Terry Denton has been announced for Newcastle at 4.30pm on Sunday, July…

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08-04-18

Thank you!

What an inspiring and thought-provoking weekend! The 2018 Newcastle Writers Festival has been blessed with wonderful conversations, audiences and weather. We couldn’t do it without the support and encouragement from…

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23-03-18

Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton in Newcastle

Join Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton in their stupendous 104-storey treehouse!  They’ve added 13 new levels including a stupid-hat level, a refrigerator-throwing level, a bun-fighting level, a tangled-up level and…

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18-03-18

Special accommodation deal

Our friends at Quest Newcastle West are offering a discount to festival-goers. Book direct by phoning 02 4920 3400 or email ne***********@qu*************.au NEWCASTLE WEST ACCOMMODATION Quest Newcastle West has serviced apartments including Studios,…

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22-02-18

Special event with Jacqui Lambie

25 February 2018 // 3pm at NEX (cnr King and Union Streets) Newcastle Writers Festival presents Jacqui Lambie in Conversation. Jacqui will discuss her autobiography, Rebel With a Cause. Thanks to MacLean’s…

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19-01-18

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

The Newcastle Writers Festival team is excited to announce that the following award-winning writers will be participating in the 2018 program: * Bruce Pascoe, whose award-winning Dark Emu challenges the…

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05-12-17

2018 Schools Program

It’s here! The 2018 Newcastle Writers Festival Schools Program includes a wonderful line-up of Australian writers and illustrators, including Children’s Laureate Leigh Hobbs, Tristan Bancks Author, Yvette Poshoglian Author, Gregg…

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23-10-17

Jimmy Barnes Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories and Songs – SORRY, SOLD OUT

SORRY, THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT We are thrilled to announce that Jimmy Barnes will be our opening night guest on Friday, 6 April 2018, in the Civic Theatre…

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28-06-17

Donate before EOFY!

Make a tax-deductible donation to help NWF to keep providing a large number of free and local events. Newcastle Writers Festival is a not-for-profit organisation with official DGR status endorsed…

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26-06-17

The 2017 Newcastle Writers Festival joanne burns Microlit Award

The Newcastle Writers Festival and publisher Spineless Wonders are excited to announce the launch of the 2017 joanne burns Microlit Award. Melbourne writer and academic Cassandra Atherton will judge the…

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14-06-17

Special August double bill

Join us for a very special event at the University of Newcastle’s Conservatorium of Music featuring Professor of Philosophy Emrys Westacott and award-winning British journalist and best-selling author Christina Lamb….

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20-05-17

Mark Colvin

Everyone involved with the Newcastle Writers Festival is deeply saddened by the death of Mark Colvin. His brilliant journalism, ideas and insight have helped shape healthy debate about a number…

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02-05-17

2017 Program Highlights

Newcastle Writers Festival director Rosemarie Milsom outlines some of this year’s program highlights. Thanks to our major sponsor Newcastle City Council. Watch the video!

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10-04-17

Newcastle Herald wrap-up of NWF17

Thanks to the Newcastle Herald for their wrap up of the 2017 Newcastle Writers Festival. Scott Bevan writes: “If a picture really is worth a thousand words, then war photographer…

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09-04-17

Save the date: 6-8 April 2018

A message from festival director Rosemarie Milsom: “What an extraordinary weekend. I am so thrilled that our fifth festival was such a success. Just over 9000 people joined us to…

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09-04-17

Even more Poetry – at the Pub

Poetry at the Pub – a wonderful Newcastle institution – will hold a special session on 10 April to wrap up NWF17, with Festival guest poets John Foulcher and Melinda…

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16-03-17

Newcastle Writers Festival 2017: revel in the poetry

It is the fifth year for Newcastle Writers Festival, and the poetry program is bigger and better than ever. Over the three days of the Festival, 7-9 April 2017, there…

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01-03-17

NBN interviews NWF Director Rosemarie Milsom

NBN news interviewed the NWF Director, Rosemarie Milsom, about Newcastle Writers Festival’s 2017 spectacular line-up. Watch the video here!  

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01-03-17

Launch of 2017 Newcastle Writers Festival Program

The launch of the 2017 Newcastle Writers Festival program was held at Newcastle Region Library. Festival director Rosemarie Milsom thanked sponsors, including Arts NSW, Newcastle City Council, The University of…

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01-03-17

Michael Sala’s The Restorer

Newcastle writer and 2017 festival guest Michael Sala is receiving positive reviews for his debut novel, The Restorer.  Set in Newcastle East during the late 1980s, the book explores the…

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20-12-16

First guest writers announced for NWF17

In the December 2016 NWF newsletter, Rosemarie Milsom announces, I have finalised the program for next year’s Festival and am thrilled to announce that Nick Earls and Tara Moss are…

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17-12-16

Newcastle Writers Festival 2017 School Program

The Newcastle Writers Festival is proud to be presenting a school program in 2017 in partnership with Newcastle Region Library. Bookings open 6 February 2017, via Ticketek.  DOWNLOAD THE 2017…

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24-11-16

2017 Newcastle Short Story Award

The 2017 Newcastle Short Story Award, which is organised by the Hunter Writers Centre, is now open for entries of up to 2000 words. Submission are open to all Australians…

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15-11-16

Matthew Reilly

What a fantastic event with Matthew Reilly. He was such a warm and humble guest. After his chat with festival director Rosemarie Milsom during which he revealed there will be…

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26-10-16

Email maintenance 27 October

The NWF email system was down for maintenance on Thursday 27 October 2016. We apologise for any inconvenience. During maintenance any emails sent to NWF email addresses may either have…

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21-10-16

NWF/joanne burns MICRO-LIT AWARD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to the Newcastle category finalists: Dael Allison for Breakwall and Amanda Berry for As We That Are Left. Congratulations also to the national category long-list finalists: After the Storm,…

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02-09-16

Matthew Reilly event 16 November

From self-publishing his first book to best-selling writer: Matthew Reilly will speak to Newcastle Writers Festival director Rosemarie Milsom about his brilliant career, hero Jack West and life in LA….

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04-07-16

William Finnegan’s Barbarian Days

Newcastle Writers Festival is thrilled to be hosting its first international guest – New Yorker journalist William Finnegan, whose memoir Barbarian Days was awarded the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Biography….

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12-06-16

Looking forward, looking back

Newcastle Writers Festival is proud to be working with The Lock-Up on a special panel discussion on Saturday, 16 July, to tie in with the exhibition, It’s Timely Too. Panellists…

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12-06-16

The 2016 NWF/Joanne Burns Award for Microlit

UPDATE: ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST We are very excited to announce that the 2016 Joanne Burns Award for Microlit will be jointly sponsored by the…

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05-06-16

If you missed Kerry O’Brien…

No cause for panic if you missed seeing journalist Kerry O’Brien in conversation with David Leser about former PM Paul Keating at the 2016 Newcastle Writers Festival.  

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05-06-16

If you missed Richard Glover…

No need to stress if you missed seeing Richard Glover and Rosie Waterland talking to Meredith Jaffe at the 2016 Newcastle Writers Festival about balancing family obligation and the urge…

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05-06-16

If you missed seeing Stan Grant…

Don’t despair if you missed the fantastic session with Stan Grant and Jill Emberson at NWF16 in April 2016 – we have footage!

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02-05-16

Robert Gott’s Good Murder

Our friends at Newcastle Theatre Company have been working hard on an exciting new production that will appeal to readers of crime novels. Local theatre stalwart Stewart McGowan has adapted…

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17-04-16

The Killing Season Uncut

Not only is Sarah Ferguson one of our top journalists, but she can recite Keats. Festival director Rosemarie Milsom will discuss poetry and more with Sarah during a special out-of-festival…

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06-04-16

What a weekend!

Festival Director Rosemarie Milsom writes: On every level, this year’s festival was an overwhelming success. Tickets sales increased by 40 per cent, our free sessions were at capacity, the weather…

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06-04-16

Biggest ever writers’ festival

Tim Connell writes, in the Newcastle Herald Monday March 28 2016: A PROGRAM stacked with speakers who seem on the cusp of their “moment” is partly down to timing, says…

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28-03-16

Herald Weekender: Little Things Worth Noticing

Elvira Sprogis writes, in the NEWCASTLE HERALD Saturday March 26, 2016: SMALL things matter to author Mark MacLean [one of our NWF guests]. He gathers observations and bits of information…

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26-03-16

intouch magazine: Passion for the written word

Michelle Meehan writes, in intouch magazine #09: Very few authors enter into a life of writing realistically expecting their endeavours to end in fame and fortune. They simply do it…

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17-02-16

A conversation with Peter Garrett

On Thursday, 22 October, iconic Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett strode into Newcastle City Hall for a special event to mark the release of his autobiography Big Blue Sky. He…

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10-02-16

Lunch with Olympian Leisel Jones

The festival is thrilled to announce a special event with Olympic gold medallist Leisel Jones on the opening day of the festival, Friday 1 April. From the gold medal dais at…

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09-02-16

Inaugural NWF Microlit Competition Winners

The festival launched its inaugural Hunter Region Microlit Competition late last year in partnership with Spineless Wonders. The four finalists are Amanda Berry, Kelli Hawkins, Jodi Vial and Karen Whitelaw….

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01-02-16

2016 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT

Newcastle Writers Festival is thrilled to announce that Tim Flannery, Charlotte Wood and Rosie Waterland are among the 140 writers who will be participating in this year’s festival from 1…

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30-01-16

Regional Emerging Writer Residency

The Newcastle Writers Festival is delighted to announce that Alice Springs writer Michael Giacometti has been selected for the inaugural Regional Emerging Writer Residency, offered in partnership with The Lock-Up…

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17-12-15

A night with Magda Szubanski

A night with Magda Szubanski  The wonderful Magda Szubanski entertained a full house on Saturday night at a special out-of-festival event at Watt Street ARC. Newcastle Writers Festival director Rosemarie…

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16-09-15

Special Reading by poet Les Murray – 25 July

  Poet Les Murray drove himself to Newcastle from Bunyah on Saturday, 25 July, and brought the sunshine and his incisive wit with him. Forced to withdraw from a scheduled…

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16-09-15

Peter Garrett in Conversation – 22 October

On Thursday, 22 October, well-known Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett will be the star attraction at a special event at Newcastle City Hall. Peter will discuss his autobiography Big Blue…

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16-09-15

Magda Szubanski in Conversation – 10 October

On Saturday, 10 October, the much-loved comedian will visit Newcastle to discuss her new memoir Reckoning. Festival Director Rosemarie Milsom will be speaking to Magda about her extraordinary book, which…

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14-09-15

NWF 2015 Recap

The Newcastle Writers Festival is now over for 2015, and exceeded all expectations. Thank you to our guest writers, volunteers, hosts, sponsors and, most importantly, our enthusiastic audiences. Special thanks…

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16-07-15

MEDIA RELEASE: Special reading by poet Les Murray

One of Australia’s greatest poets, Les Murray, will read from his new volume of poems, Waiting for the Past, at a special event on Saturday, 25 July, at Newcastle Region…

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01-07-15

MEDIA RELEASE: New residency opportunity for an emerging regional writer

The successful applicant will be given two weeks’ accommodation in a self-contained apartment at The Lock-Up, a contemporary inner-city arts space in the historic East End, as well as a…

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04-05-15

Launch of The River Cottage Australia Cookbook

BOOK LAUNCH – The Edwards, Friday 24 April, from 4.30pm Chef Paul West grew up in the Hunter and turned his back on haute cuisine to become an advocate for sustainable farming and…

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23-03-15

This House of Grief – Helen Garner

Helen Garner: “I would have given anything to be convinced he was innocent – and not because I ‘believed in him’, whatever that meant, but because, in spite of everything I…

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16-03-15

NWF15 attracts high-calibre authors

AWARD-winning Australian author Helen Garner is among 130 writers set to inspire and challenge audiences at the third annual Newcastle Writers Festival. The full program for the 2015 event, which will…

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16-03-15

Generous grant from ArtsNSW for NWF

Just 10 days out from the third Newcastle Writers Festival, the event has received a significant state government grant.  Festival director and Herald journalist Rosemarie Milsom received news about the $50,000…

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15-03-15

Radical Newcastle

We are delighted that The University of Newcastle is a major Festival Partner, and many of their graduates, staff and students will be taking part in NWF15, in events including two University of Newcastle Professors Talks, The…

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15-03-15

Australia’s Heart of Darkness

Read about the astonishing journey of our guest, surgeon Munjed Al Muderis, in a major article in the Sydney Morning Herald. Hear him talk at the NWF about The Treatment of Asylum Seekers: Australia’s…

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14-03-15

Not Your Typical Mothers’ Group

The Bad Mothers’ Pledge: “We acknowledge we are all bad mothers. We don’t organise play dates. We don’t chop food into small pieces and carry it around in case someone gets…

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22-04-14

At the Newcastle Writers Festival – by Ryan O’Neil

Last week I appeared on a panel at the Newcastle Writer’s Festival with Maria Takolander and Abbas El-Zein to talk about short stories. The panel was called ‘Nowhere to Hide’…

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22-04-14

1233 ABC Radio interview with Paul Beva

For this very special Newcastle Writers Festival edition of Finally Friday Paul Bevan is joined by: *Wendy Harmer, broadcaster, author, journalist and stage performer *Kate Forsyth, writer, storyteller and novelist…

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22-04-14

Family Festival Hub at Newcastle Writers Festival – The Mummy Project

The Kids Program of the Newcastle Writers Festival finished on a high yesterday with the Family Festival Hub. Loads of families turned out to enjoy stories and art in and…

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22-04-14

Newcastle Writers Festival by Lizzie Wilcock

The second Newcastle Writers Festival has just wrapped up and it has been amazing! The organizers did a fabulous job and provided so much variety in content. As someone who…

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22-04-14

Newcastle Writers Festival 2014 appetite for local – The Newcastle Herald

The organiser of the city’s burgeoning writers festival may increase Newcastle-focused sessions next year after recognising a hunger for local content, authors and poets over the weekend. The second annual…

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22-04-14

Philip Nitschke tips a full house at Newcastle Writers Festival – The Newcastle Herald

Exit International director Philip Nitschke will demonstrate emerging techniques that allow the elderly and seriously ill to achieve a peaceful death, at a workshop in Newcastle on Monday. Dr Nitschke…

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22-04-14

Wendy Harmer: Newcastle Writers Festival ‘a place to commune’ – The Newcastle Herald

With the current political debate “pretty boring” and church halls “abandoned”, Wendy Harmer says there is something pretty special about writers festivals. Yesterday the Newcastle Writers Festival kicked off its…

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22-04-14

Newcastle Writers Festival 2014 – Angela Savage

The days go by so fast,’ my eight-year-old said tonight as we observed a Blood Moon over Melbourne. ‘The nights, too,’ she added sagely. I know she’s got a point when I glance at my…

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28-03-14

Writers emerge to chat – Port Stephens Examiner

Visitors to the second Newcastle Writers Festival next month will have access to a host of accomplished authors, and Boat Harbour’s Joanna Atherfold Finn will be among them. At the…

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26-03-14

Newcastle Writers Festival returns in 2014 – Australian Writer’s Centre

Where can you find a buzzing cafe and bar scene, beautiful beaches, plenty of boutique shopping and a celebration of Australian literature? From Friday 4 to Sunday 6 April 2014,…

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27-02-14

Your guide to Newcastle by Linda Drummond

Linda Drummond: Appearing at The Newcastle Writers Festival has written a guide to getting around Newcastle. Find out her top places to grab some food and get a coffee by…

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24-02-14

MEDIA RELEASE – 2014 Newcastle Writers Festival Line-up a Feast of Talent and Id

Lovers of literature hungry to tap into the hearts and minds of their favourite authors will be inspired by the diverse mix of writers attending the 2014 Newcastle Writers Festival….

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03-02-14

Newcastle Writers Festival Newsletter – January 2014

2014 is already off to an intense start for the NWF committee as we finalise logistics for the second festival in April. Click here to view the newsletter

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30-01-14

Expanded program will inspire and delight Hunter kids at the 2014 Newcastle Writers Festival

Hunter region children from preschool to primary school will be delighted by a dedicated Kids Program that forms an entertaining and educational prelude to the second annual Newcastle Writers Festival….

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20-08-13

AUDIO: Hear Miriam Margolyes’ speech at the Newcastle Writers Festival

Miriam Margolyes presents the Newcastle Writers Festival opening night address, ‘Why Words Matter’, at the University of Newcastle Conservatorium, April 5. Hear audio on the Herald website

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20-02-13

Newcastle Writers Festival turns the page on a new era Media launch and release of ticketed events

The first chapter of what organisers expect to be an annual success story will be written in April when more than 50 Australian writers participate in the inaugural Newcastle Writers…

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18-02-13

A blogger’s take on the Newcastle Writers Festival

Have you seen that local blogger Pink Patent Mary Janes was at Newcastle Writers Festival launch last week and here is here thoughts about the upcoming event. Click Here

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17-02-13

Festival draws writers to the Hunter – Newcastle Herald

Celebrated writers from around Australia will head to the Hunter for the inaugural Newcastle Writers Festival. Topics and genres such as crime, climate change, romance and history will be explored…

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17-02-13

Newcastle gives author top-selling location – Newcastle Herald

By Helen Gregory THE city of Newcastle is one of the most talked-about characters in crime author Jaye Ford’s chilling suspense novels about women who survive terrifying assaults. ‘‘The ‘exotic…

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