I'm an honoured guest at the Brisbane Writers' Festival this year, and the schedule of events from September 5-9, 2013, is really spiffy, too! (Also, can we talk about how completely awesome their logo this year is? I love her, red octopus hair, fangs, and all.)
If you check out the Brisbane Writers' Festival website, there are MANY wonderful events this year, and I'm so excited to attend. If you click on the BWF schedule page, and then click on the “Romance” section (I'm sorry I couldn't isolate the URL) there are so many events focused on romance, including some featuring rural Australian romance, spoken word performances, and discussion panels.
PLEASE NOTE: Most of these events require a ticket and the cost of admission varies. Please check the BWF website for ticket information and availability.
Here are the events I'm participating in:
Friday 6 September 2013 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
The Genre Ghetto Storytelling Event
State Library of Queensland – The Edge
Stanley Pl
South Brisbane, Queensland
Tel: 07 3840 7666
Funny, personal and heartfelt stories about being genre nerds and being proud. Live storytelling from Matt Fraction, Sarah Wendell, Justine Larbalestier, Ben McKenzie and Stuart MacBride.
Saturday 7 September 2013 – 10:00 – 11:00am
Library Discussion at Fairfield Library, Queensland
Fairfield Library
Fairfield Gardens Shopping Centre
180 Fairfield Rd Fairfield, Queensland
Tel: 07 3403 8615
Author talk with Sarah Wendell, author of romance blog Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. To reserve your place please call Brisbane City Council Libraries on 07 3403 8888.
(NB: I hope you'll come and tell me what you're reading because I'm nosy and I also love to talk to romance readers!)
Saturday 7 September 2013 – 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Everything I Know About Love, I Learned from Romance Books
State Library of Queensland – Maiwar Green
Stanley Pl
South Brisbane, Queensland
Tel: 07 3840 7666
Antony Funnell asks Sarah Wendell, Helene Young and Amy Andrews what romance fiction can teach us about love, life and happy endings.
Please note: this event will be broadcast live by ABC Radio National. Also of note: I met both Helene and Amy at RWAustralia, and they are huge fun, so this event should be really entertaining.
Sunday 8 September 2013 – 1:00-2:00 pm
An Interview with Nalini Singh
State Library of Queensland – Auditorium 1
Stanley Pl
South Brisbane, Queensland
Tel: 07 3840 7666
Popular romance blogger and critic Sarah Wendell chats with Nalini Singh, the New York Times best-selling author of the ‘Psy- Changeling’ series, about getting steamy in dark underworlds.
Presented by Romance Writers of Australia.
NB: Nalini and I are mostly if not fully fueled by Nutella.
There are also some fantastic events during the Brisbane Writers Festival if you're at all intersted in romance – which, duh. I can't seem to figure out how to link to individual events on the BWF site (which is otherwise very spiffy), but here are two you might like to know about:
Friday 6 September 2013 – 2:00 – 3:00 pm
A Roll in the Hay: Rural Romance
State Library of Queensland – Auditorium 2
Stanley Pl
South Brisbane, Queensland
Tel: 07 3840 7666
Rachael Treasure and Charlotte Nash are part of a vanguard of Australian authors writing about rural women. Find out why they think it is so popular with readers and what they love about stories of life on the land. (NB: this panel also lists Anna Campbell as part of the discussion – woo!)
Presented by allclear print & signs
Sunday 8 September 2013 – 10:00 – 11:00 am
Reading: The 2013 Little Gems 'Sapphire' Anthology Debut!
State Library of Queensland – Red Box
Stanley Pl
South Brisbane, Queensland
Tel: 07 3840 7666
Romance Writers of Australia launch the 2013 Little Gems ‘Sapphire’ Anthology. Enjoy readings from this annual publication that celebrates the best romantic short stories.
No ticket required.
I hope you'll attend some of the events in Brisbane if you can – and if you do, please stop and introduce yourself!
Oh, the envy. It eats me alive.