In this insightful conversation, Susan Choi joins Beejay Silcox to discuss her 2025 Booker Prize–shortlisted novel and the themes that animate it – from the immigrant experience, to the complicated bonds between parents and children, to questions of memory, language and identity.    

A father’s mysterious disappearance. A mother harbouring a secret. A daughter searching for answers. Flashlight is both a tender family portrait and a gripping geopolitical thriller, set against the changing tides of 20th century history.     

In partnership with ARA.

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2026.

In this insightful conversation, Susan Choi joins Beejay Silcox to discuss her 2025 Booker Prize&ndash;shortlisted novel and the themes that animate it &ndash; from the immigrant experience, to the complicated bonds between parents and children, to questions of memory, language and identity. &nbsp; &nbsp;
A father&rsquo;s mysterious disappearance. A mother harbouring a secret. A daughter searching for answers. <a href="https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781529932515/flashlight--susan-choi--2026--9781529932515">Flashlight</a> is both a tender family portrait and a gripping geopolitical thriller, set against the changing tides of 20th century history. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
In partnership with ARA.
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2026.

Susan Choi: Flashlight

Telling the story of three generations of displacement, Fire in Every Directionrecounts Baconi’s grandmother’s flight from Palestine as a child, his family’s escape from Lebanon in the midst of civil war, and his own awakening as a queer man within a culture of silence in Jordan.

Balancing humour and loss, nostalgia and hope, this extraordinary book explores how queerness, shame, dispossession and desire intersect in one life – and how we can reclaim ourselves when the world teaches us to hide. 

In a world currently shaped by unease, fracture and division, PEN Melbourne looks to writers whose writing expands our horizons and speaks across borders.

In partnership with PEN Melbourne.

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2026.

Telling the story of three generations of displacement, <a href="https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781399754040/fire-in-every-direction--tareq-baconi--2025--9781399754040">Fire in Every Direction</a> recounts Baconi&rsquo;s grandmother&rsquo;s flight from Palestine as a child, his family&rsquo;s escape from Lebanon in the midst of civil war, and his own awakening as a queer man within a culture of silence in Jordan.
Balancing humour and loss, nostalgia and hope, this extraordinary book explores how queerness, shame, dispossession and desire intersect in one life &ndash; and how we can reclaim ourselves when the world teaches us to hide.&nbsp;
In a world currently shaped by unease, fracture and division, PEN Melbourne looks to writers whose writing expands our horizons and speaks across borders.
In partnership with PEN Melbourne.
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2026.

Tareq Baconi: Fire in Every Direction

Why do we make irrational political decisions? Can our stone-age brains process democracy in the digital age?

In an era overshadowed by income inequality, environmental catastrophes, terrorism, and the decline of democracy, the political decision-making process has never been more important. In fact, our survival may depend on it.

Together with host Sally Warhaft, Canadian writer, podcaster and political commentator David Moscrop explains what’s going wrong in today’s political landscape and why sound political decision making has never been more important.

In partnership with The Wheeler Centre.

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2026.

Why do we make irrational political decisions? Can our stone-age brains process democracy in the digital age?
In an era overshadowed by income inequality, environmental catastrophes, terrorism, and the decline of democracy, the political decision-making process has never been more important. In fact, our survival may depend on it.
Together with host Sally Warhaft, Canadian writer, podcaster and political commentator David Moscrop explains what&rsquo;s going wrong in today&rsquo;s political landscape and why sound political decision making has never been more important.
In partnership with The Wheeler Centre.
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2026.

David Moscrop: Too Dumb for Democracy?

In this panel, Antoun Issa (Deepcut News), Antoinette Lattouf (Ette Media) and Amy Remeikis (The Australia Institute) and host Osman Faruqi (Lamestream) discuss the rise of independent media in an era of mainstream media consolidation and declining public trust.

Drawing on their own experiences, they consider the possibilities and challenges of alternative platforms such as podcasts, social media, newsletters and reader-supported publications, and the benefits a greater plurality of independent voices can offer.

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2026.

In this panel, Antoun Issa (Deepcut News), Antoinette Lattouf (Ette Media) and Amy Remeikis (The Australia Institute) and host Osman Faruqi (Lamestream) discuss the rise of independent media in an era of mainstream media consolidation and declining public trust.
Drawing on their own experiences, they consider the possibilities and challenges of alternative platforms such as podcasts, social media, newsletters and reader-supported publications, and the benefits a greater plurality of independent voices can offer.
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2026.

Breaking News: The Rise of Independent Media

In this illuminating discussion, key figures involved in the creation of the Victorian Treaty – including 2023-26 Co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly Ngarra Murray, and CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, member of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria and Treaty Co-Convenor Nerita Waight – discuss this landmark event in our nation’s history.
 
A document, a framework, a promise: the Treaty is an opportunity to come to grips with the history we share – and together create a better and fairer shared future grounded in justice, understanding and unity.
 
Hosted and curated by Daniel James. 

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2026.

In this illuminating discussion, key figures involved in the creation of the Victorian Treaty &ndash; including 2023-26 Co-Chair of the First Peoples&rsquo; Assembly Ngarra Murray, and CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, member of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria and Treaty Co-Convenor Nerita Waight &ndash; discuss this landmark event in our nation&rsquo;s history. &nbsp; A document, a framework, a promise: the Treaty is an opportunity to come to grips with the history we share &ndash; and together create a better and fairer shared future grounded in justice, understanding and unity. &nbsp; Hosted and curated by Daniel James.&nbsp;
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2026.

Making the Victorian Treaty

One year on from the Federal Election, four of the country's most incisive political minds take stock. What’s the state of our national political climate and of the major and minor parties? What does the Albanese government stand for? How should we approach our relationship with the USA and other global superpowers? How can we address inequality in Australia?

Expect clear-eyed, frank and informed commentary from Sean Kelly, Amy Remeikis, Don Watson and host Barrie Cassidy as they discuss how the political decisions of the past have led us to this current moment.

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2026.

One year on from the Federal Election, four of the country's most incisive political minds take stock. What&rsquo;s the state of our national political climate and of the major and minor parties? What does the Albanese government stand for? How should we approach our relationship with the USA and other global superpowers? How can we address inequality in Australia?
Expect clear-eyed, frank and informed commentary from Sean Kelly, Amy Remeikis, Don Watson and host Barrie Cassidy as they discuss how the political decisions of the past have led us to this current moment.
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2026.

Political Year in Review

Pioneering Noongar doctor and medical researcher Professor Sandra Eades (co-author of First Knowledges Health: Spirit, Country and Culture) and Darumbal and South Sea Islander journalist Amy McQuire (Black Witness: The Power of Indigenous Media) explore the enduring, transformative role of First Nations knowledge in the fields of healthcare and media.

With host Cheryl Leavy, they'll draw on their combined decades of practical experience and intellectual rigour to reflect on the importance of self-determined practices that uphold cultural integrity and prioritise Aboriginal leadership, and how non-First Nations practitioners can respect and learn from these approaches. Curated by Nardi Simpson. 

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival.

Pioneering Noongar doctor and medical researcher Professor Sandra Eades (co-author of First Knowledges Health: Spirit, Country and Culture) and Darumbal and South Sea Islander journalist Amy McQuire (Black Witness: The Power of Indigenous Media) explore the enduring, transformative role of First Nations knowledge in the fields of healthcare and media.
With host Cheryl Leavy, they'll draw on their combined decades of practical experience and intellectual rigour to reflect on&nbsp;the importance of self-determined practices that uphold cultural integrity and prioritise Aboriginal leadership, and how non-First Nations practitioners can respect and learn from these approaches. Curated by Nardi Simpson.&nbsp;
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival.

First Knowledges First

In this stunning conversation, celebrated authors Emily Maguire (Rapture) and Josephine Rowe (Little World) cover the mundane, the miraculous and writing the ineffable. 

Hear them discuss their latest works exploring faith, fate and the nature of belief, with Jaclyn Crupi. 

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival.

In this stunning conversation, celebrated authors Emily Maguire (Rapture) and Josephine Rowe (Little World) cover the mundane, the miraculous and writing the ineffable.&nbsp;
Hear them discuss their latest works exploring faith, fate and the nature of belief, with Jaclyn Crupi.&nbsp;
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival.

Emily Maguire and Josephine Rowe: Are You There, God?

Santilla Chingaipe (Black Convicts: How Slavery Shaped Australia), Sita Sargeant (She Shapes History) and Steve Vizard (Nation, Memory, Myth: Gallipoli and the Australian Imaginary) come together to bring to light misunderstood, mythologised or lesser-known dimensions of Australian history.

From the global slave trade and Gallipoli to the women who shaped our country but were omitted from the history books, this discussion addresses how the stories we choose to tell – and those that are left out – shape our national identity.

Hosted by ABC Radio National's Natasha Mitchell. 

Supported by ARA.

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival.

Santilla Chingaipe (Black Convicts: How Slavery Shaped Australia), Sita Sargeant (She Shapes History) and Steve Vizard (Nation, Memory, Myth: Gallipoli and the Australian Imaginary)&nbsp;come together to bring to light misunderstood, mythologised or lesser-known dimensions of Australian history.
From the global slave trade and Gallipoli to the women who shaped our country but were omitted from the history books, this discussion addresses how the stories we choose to tell &ndash; and those that are left out &ndash; shape our national identity.
Hosted by ABC Radio National's Natasha Mitchell.&nbsp;
Supported by ARA.
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival.

The Past is a Foreign Country

Hannah Kent has won legions of fans with works like Burial Rights, The Good People and Devotion. Now, she presents her debut work of non-fiction – a tender, diaristic love letter to her muse, Iceland.

Always Home, Always Homesick is both a memoir of Kent’s experiences of living in Iceland, and a wider consideration of how literature forms the heart of the nation's culture and identity.

Speaking with ABC Radio National’s Richard Fidler, Kent explores distance and belonging, writing place and the self, and how Iceland has shaped the person she is today.

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival.

Hannah Kent&nbsp;has won legions of fans with works like&nbsp;Burial Rights,&nbsp;The Good People&nbsp;and&nbsp;Devotion. Now, she presents her debut work of non-fiction &ndash; a tender, diaristic love letter to her muse, Iceland. Always Home, Always Homesick&nbsp;is both a memoir of Kent&rsquo;s experiences of living in Iceland, and a wider consideration of how literature forms the heart of the nation's culture and identity. Speaking with ABC Radio National&rsquo;s&nbsp;Richard Fidler, Kent explores distance and belonging, writing place and the self, and how Iceland has shaped the person she is today.
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival.

Hannah Kent: Always Home, Always Homesick

Australia's boldest literary festival.

Melbourne Writers Festival

Conversations from Australia's boldest literary festival.

Conversations from Australia's boldest literary festival.

Melbourne Writers Festival

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