We publish books that matter — narrative and literary nonfiction on important topics, and the best of local, international, and translated fiction.

Join Laura Jean McKay — author of Gunflower and The Animals in That Country — and Walter Marsh — author of Young Rupert — at this year’s Byron Writers Festival.

Exploring Narrative Voice

Thursday 8 August 2024
12:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Byron Community Centre

Like a writer, fiction has its own voice – a voice that can be hard to find. Join Laura Jean McKay to explore narrative voice – the author’s voice, the story’s voice and the character’s voice.

Becoming Murdoch

Friday 9 August 2024
8:45 AM - 9:45 AM
Lilly Pilly marquee (Festival site)

The Murdoch media empire and its patriarch have global influence on markets and politics. But how did it all start, and how did Murdoch become the man he is today? Join journalist and critic Walter Marsh and Crikey owner and ex-News Corp and Fairfax editor Eric Beecher for an exploration of the man behind the empire. With Julianne Schultz.

History: Facts & Fictions

Friday 9 August 2024
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
A&I Hall (Festival site)

How much of what we think we know about history is incomplete, and what if the dominant story isn't the facts? Join writers and historians Sarah Percy, Kate Fullagar and David Marr to delve into the true stories that shape who we are and the way we understand our world. With Walter Marsh.

Powerful Short Stories

Friday 9 August 2024
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Lilly Pilly Marquee, Festival site

How do writers create whole, absorbing worlds within the slightest word counts? And what can short stories do that novels can't? Delight in the economy and profundity of the short form with award-winning short story writers Yumna Kassab, Laura Jean McKay and Mykaela Saunders. With Sana Qadar.

Re-writing Colonials Myths

Friday 9 August 2024
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Lilly Pilly marquee (Festival site)

How do writers approach the stories of this continent when so much of its colonial history has been missing or distorted? Join Melissa Lucashenko (Edenglassie) and Kate Fullagar (Bennelong and Phillip) for a discussion of the writing and re-writing of history in literature. With Walter Marsh.

Animals, Us and Them

Saturday 10 August
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Hakea Marquee, Festival site

Whether as pets, companions, aids, property, or food, animals are deeply linked to human beings. Join prize-winning novelists James Bradley (Deep Water), Laura Jean McKay (Gunflower) and ethicist Peter Singer to discuss how we depict animals in literature and value them in our lives. With David Roland.