Natasha Lester and Tara Moss - Bold Women

Bestselling authors Natasha Lester and Tara Moss draw on meticulous research and propulsive storytelling to reanimate overlooked lives. In this conversation with Jane Caro, they explore the remarkable women who inspire their historical fiction. From previously untold stories to unforgettable heroin…

Peter FitzSimons in Conversation - The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop

'Australia's favourite storyteller' Peter FitzSimons brings to life the gripping true story of Australian surgeon and POW Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop. Fitzy speaks to Corrie Perkin about the impact of Dunlop, who inspired fellow soldiers in the face of unimaginable hardship and forged a legacy that c…

Madeleine Gray, Alli Parker and Zoe Terakes - Writing Queer Literature

Join Madeleine Gray, Alli Parker and Zoe Terakes for a powerful, candid conversation about what it means to write – and live – queer stories today. Kaya Wilson speaks with the authors about identity, love, resistance, and representation in their most recent works of fiction. This conversation was …

Josh Bornstein, AC Grayling, and Antoinette Lattouf - Censorship and its Consequences

Against a backdrop of shifting laws, social media restrictions and legal and political pressure, Josh Bornstein, AC Grayling, and Antoinette Lattouf examine the impact of censorship – and what we stand to lose. They consider whose stories disappear first, and how silence reshapes culture. Hosted by…

Tyree Barnette, Brandon Jack and Andrew Pippos - Masculinity and Mental Health

Recent books by Tyree Barnette, Brandon Jack and Andrew Pippos offer insight into the complexities of men’s lives. They talk to Michael Williams about masculinity and identity, and the impact of men speaking openly– or not – about what hurts. This conversation was recorded at the 2026 Newcastle Wr…

Charlotte McConaghy in Conversation - A Vanishing World

Charlotte McConaghy’s third novel Wild Dark Shore opens with a woman washing up on a remote island halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica. Who she is and why she’s there is the mystery that propels the narrative. In her first festival appearance, Charlotte speaks with Courtney Collins about wri…

Words & Music 2025, featuring William Crighton, Melody Pool and more

From the page to the stage, Words & Music is a festival project in which songwriters are invited by Newcastle curator Nick Milligan to write and perform an original work inspired by the written word. Whether it be a novel, poem, short story or something unexpected, pre-existing prose is channelled …

Sunday 29 March 2026

Saturday 28 March 2026

Lead up festival events 22 to 27 March 2026