Brisbane Writers' Festival

  

  In September I had the very great privilege of attending the Brisbane Writers' festival as an author.  I appeared in a couple panels, met some fabulous writers and had an absolutely extraordinary time.  

To this festival I also took my boys.  They are so often excluded from my life as writer - it was really special to be there with them this time.  Edmund (my eldest) participated in the BWF's remarkable Wordplay program meeting  such wonderful writers as Freya Blackwood, Morris Gleitzman, Sue Whiting and Emily Rhodda.  It was amazing to watch my boy fall in love with books and worlds they lead to.  I cannot recommend the Wordplay program enough.

In the Greenroom I met (shamelessly namedropping here) the inspiring Canadian author of Beautiful Buttons, Catherine Ann as well as the very warm and lovely Sally Rippin (Angel Creek and much more).

I sat on panels with Paul French, Linda Jaivin and Stephen Lang (A Scandalous Past) and Dr. Maria Hill, Prof. John Carrol and Adjunct Prof. Susan Hawthone (A Greek Tragedy).  Both panels were fun and enlightening conversations. 

My magician of a photographer and dear friend, Jason Henry of Lime Photography lives in Brisbane and so we took a few "author photos" after lunch at the State Library Cafe.  Of course Jason is a professional and so he came with kit and set up at the festival entrance to take a few snaps of yours truly.  Embarrassing, but amusing to watch bypassers observe the lights, umbrella, the photographer rolling on the ground for the right angle and think "Ooooh....she must be famous".  It smacked of fraud but it was funny.

It was an honour to be invited back to my hometown for the festival.  I had a brilliant time.  Thank you to all involved, especially Jane O'Hara and her wonderful team.  Bravo!