Byron Bay Writers’ Festival launches 2015 program

The Byron Bay Writers’ Festival has launched its 2015 program.

International guests include English Pakistaki author Tariq Ali, US author David Vann and debut Nigerian author Chigozie Obioma (The Fishermen, Scribe).

The festival is also partnering with Griffith Review to bring to the festival ‘the best young writers in Asia today’, including Chinese author Sheng Keyi (Death Fugue, Giramondo), Philippine author Miguel Syjuco (Illustrado, Vintage) and Indian writer Annie Zaidi. Other international authors to appear are Jennifer Clement, Noah Rosenberg, Joanna Rakoff and Nury Vittachi.

As previously reported by Books+Publishing, Julia Gillard, Joan London, Helen Garner, Kate Grenville and Jackie French will headline this year’s festival. Other local authors participating in the festival are James Bradley, Robert Drewe, Peter Singer, Don Watson and Clare Wright.

Some of the festival highlights include Julia Gillard in conversation with Clare Wright, Tariq Ali with Kerry O’Brien and Helen Garner with Caroline Baum, and Kate Grenville with Rosemarie Milsom, while a new one-on-one series ‘30 Minutes with…’ will introduce readers to new and established authors including Stella Prize winner Emily Bitto (The Strays, Affirm), Man Asian Literary Prize winner Miguel Syjuco, artist Joshua Yeldham and bestselling authors Liane Moriarty and Michael Robotham.

The Kids Big Day Out also returns on the Sunday, featuring ‘the biggest line-up of children’s authors to date’, including Jackie French, Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton.

The Byron Bay Writers’ Festival runs from 7 to 9 August. To see the full program, visit the website here.

Category: Local news