Settle in, it’s time for a story: Brisbane Writers Festival (BWF) is back in 2023, with plot twists and page-turners aplenty.
There will be more than 150 live events in the programme including author talks, panel discussions, workshops, and all-new Literary Salons.
In 2023, BWF features a star-studded line-up of national and international guests, plus more than 60 Brisbane authors.
Australian headline authors include Stan Grant, Grace Tame, Tim Winton and Kate Morton. Meanwhile, overseas, there’s Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka, Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh and US author Gabrielle Zevin.
In 2023, the BWF Country Of Focus is South Korea. Guest Curator Sung-Ae Lee has developed a programme examining the nuanced, coded approach of South Korean authors who are tackling topics still culturally taboo in their homeland.
Lee will be joined by Guest Curators Daniel Browning (Aboriginal First Nations), Samantha Faulkner (Torres Strait Islander First Nations), Matthew Condon (Brisbane Stories), Megan Daley (Word Play) and Karen Lee (LoveYA).
“After a difficult time for many with fire, flood and plague, we’re looking to put the ‘festive’ in Festival,” BWF Artistic Director Jackie Ryan says.
“Festive means different things to different people, of course, so we’ve prepared a literary feast to suit all tastes: we’ve got spies, romance, politics, science, history, poetry, comedy, crime, philosophy, self-help, technology, social issues, monsters, performance, conflict and food – and that’s just the entrée!
Image © Josef Ruckli
“Your literary dishes will be served by some of the most acclaimed writers and emerging talents in their fields. Dig in.”
Irvine Welsh will return the BWF to talk about latest release ‘The Long Knives’ and reflect on his grungy modern class ‘Trainspotting’, 30 years later. He’ll also lend insight to the Blockbuster Crime panel.
Traditional storytellers will share culture, and spark connections, with panels and conversations. Featuring First Nations authors including Lionel Fogarty, Brooke Blurton, Alexis Wright and Lystra Rose.
Regurgitator’s Ben Ely reflects on the 30th anniversary of the iconic Brisbane band, and music aficionado Tony Wellington heads down memory lane, with Brisbane rock scholar Andrew Stafford.
Then, stepping on to set, Bryan Brown will talk about his noir-ish novel ‘Sweet Jimmy’, and joins Trent Dalton, Holly Ringland and Witi Ihimaera to discuss adapting books for the screen.
Literary Death Match returns, as well as an elegant Mother’s Day High Tea at Customs House, with special guest Holly Wainwright, interviewed by Frances Whiting.
Tickets are on sale 1 April.
Brisbane Writers Festival takes place 10-14 May.
