BATEMANS BAY WRITERS FESTIVAL SET TO GO The Batemans Bay Writers Festival is all set to go for the June long weekend – and bookings are open. High profile Australian authors such as crime writer Gabrielle Lord, Sydney Morning Herald literary editor Susan Wyndham, author Linda Jaivin and self-‐publishing guru Nikki Cooper will present sessions, with plenty of opportunity for budding authors and avid readers to meet with and learn from the experts. Festival Director Marion Roubos-‐Bennett confirmed that the festival will open at the Coachhouse Marina Resort on the night of Friday 5 June, with a light hearted debate Technology brought to book! Bound books are better than e-books. “E-‐book publishing is a valid option for writers, particularly those just starting out,” Ms Roubos-‐Bennett said. “However, there is still a strong commitment to good, old-‐fashioned print publishing. “Our Friday night debate, ‘Kindlers versus Paperbackers’ will assemble a group of authors, readers and experts to debate the pros and cons of each. School students will have several opportunities to attend sessions free of charge, an opportunity for book-‐lovers and authors of the future to interact with some of Australia’s most prolific and successful writers. “Linda Jaivin is presenting a free session tailored to high school students on Sunday 7 June,” Ms Roubos-‐Bennett said. “Linda will talk about why writing matters, and how a budding writer can put their thoughts down on paper. “There are many issues that are important to young folk, such as climate change, conservation, LGBT, social equality and other political issues. Linda will show how writing is a way for students to find their voice.” Ms Roubos-‐Bennett said poet and comic performer Harry Laing will hold a writing workshop on Saturday 6 June, one that is sure to be engaging and informative. The workshop is for 16 years and over and is free for students. “Harry’s poetry presentations and workshops are always full of laughs, and students will enjoy his humour and vitality as they learn. He’ll use games and exercises to reveal talents that can be channelled into artforms such as monologue and rap.” School students can also attend a Creative writing, creative researching and creative interviewing workshop, and an author talk with James Bradley, author of the Australian history novel Wrack, which is on the HSC list for 2015. Tickets are available now, and range from full platinum passes to weekend tickets, day tickets and individual workshop sessions. For more information and bookings, visit www.batemansbaywritersfestival.com If you can’t book online phone 0417 267 771