Brisbane Writers Festival (BWF) is bigger and better in 2024, with a programme of plot twists and page-turners.
The 2024 offering brings more than 150 live events including author talks, panel discussions, special events, and workshops. . . From more than 60 Brisbane authors, starring alongside a line-up of national and international guests.
Most events will be held in the Festival Hub at State Library Of Queensland.
From our own backyard are the likes of Melissa Lucashenko, Julia Baird, Kate Ceberano, Chris Hammer, and Trent Dalton. From across the waters, there’s Booker Prize-shortlisted author Paul Murray, bestselling crime writer Michael Connelly, fantasy legend Naomi Novik, English novelist and screenwriter Louise Doughty, and superstar fantasy author Samantha Shannon.
This year, BWF is joined by guest curators Melanie Saward (Aboriginal First Nations) and Lenora Thaker (Torres Strait Islander First Nations).
Plus, the authors of Sing Lit Station join the proceedings.
Image © Willem Van Den Broek
“Our slogan is ‘Have we got a story for you’,” BWF Artistic Director Jackie Ryan says. “And it’s a promise we’re keen to deliver on — whether your appetite is for culture, science, sport, literature, politics, espionage, music, health, comedy, romance, performance, crime, history, poetry – or a combination of the above.”
“We’re serving up a veritable buffet of writers and subject interests in 2024 and have set the conversational table with fine panel and chairing combinations for audiences to feast on.”
“It’s an intellectual all-you-can-eat.”
Michael Connelly will make his BWF debut, discussing his latest release ‘Resurrection Walk’. He’ll also lend insight to the International Crime panel alongside crime fiction luminaries Louise Doughty and Dann McDorman, and a panel with local stars Bryan Brown and Dinuka McKenzie.
Australia’s traditional storytellers share culture and spark connections, with panels and conversations featuring First Nations authors including Daniel Browning, Jackie Huggins, Melissa Lucashenko and Anita Heiss.
Image © Morgan Roberts
Naomi Novik will make her first appearance in more than ten years, discussing her latest work, the ‘Scholomance’ trilogy.
Elsewhere internationally there’s novelist and screenwriter Lexi Freiman on ‘The Book Of Ayn’, crime writer Jake Adelstein on ‘The Last Yakuza’, and current Women’s Prize longlister Sarah Ogilvie, on ‘The Dictionary People’.
Queensland faves include Trent Dalton, William McInnes, Anna McGahan, Samuel Wagan-Watson, Matthew Condon, Hedley Thomas, Laura Jean McKay, Simon Cleary and Clare Christian.
Fans of music and fashion can check out illustrator extraordinaire Megan Hess, as well as musical legends Kate Ceberano, Ed Le Brocq, and Stuart Coupe.
Fiona Crawford will be examining how Sam Kerr and Australia’s Matildas have changed the game, and the profile of women’s sport.
The four-day BWF will also see the return of the Marion Taylor Gala Dinner at the Queensland Art Gallery’s Water Mall, with bestselling English author Louise Doughty delivering the keynote.
Tickets for the festival are on sale now.
Brisbane Writers Festival is on from 30 May-2 June.
