Literati 2013
Friday 17 - Saturday 18 May
A fabulous feast of authors at Gold Coast libraries
Anna Campbell
Michael Jacobson
Angela Slatter
John Hughes
Lisa Walker
L.A. Larkin
Katherine Howell
Kári Gislason
Paula Weston
Matthew Condon
Helene Young
M.K. Hume
Keri Arthur
Jessie Cole
Alex Adsett
Author Biographies
KERI ARTHUR has won the
Romantic Times Career
Achievement Award for urban
fantasy and several of her 28
novels have been nominated
for the Best Contemporary
Paranormal category of the
RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards.
She is best known for her New
York Times bestselling Riley
Jenson Guardian series, and
much prefers being a full time
writer to being a clerk for the
Bureau of Meteorology. Find
out more at www.keriarthur.
com.
ANNA CAMPBELL writes hugely
popular historical romances –
in fact the Australian Women’s
Weekly said “no-one writes big,
bold, gutsy historical romance
like this Australian author.” As
well as many other awards,
she has been voted Favourite
Australian Romance Writer four
years in a row by the Australian
Romance Readers Association.
Her books have been
translated into 11 languages –
because it’s love that makes
the world go around!
More on Anna at
www.annacampbell.info.
JESSIE COLE saw her debut
novel, Darkness at the Edge
of Town published in 2012,
after winning a HarperCollins
Varuna Award for Manuscript
Development in 2009. She
received a Varuna Fellowship
to work on her second novel,
and has had several stories and
articles published – read many
of them at jessiecolewriter.
wordpress.com.
MATTHEW CONDON is a prizewinning Australian novelist
and journalist who began his
writing career with the Gold
Coast Bulletin more than 30
years ago. His latest books are
Three Crooked Kings, about
Terry Lewis; and The Toe-Tag
Quintet, a collection of crime
stories recounting the trials of
a Sydney police officer who
retires to the Gold Coast.
KÁRI GÍSLASON is a senior
lecturer in creative writing and
literary studies at QUT, and
the author of The P
romise of
Iceland, a memoir of growing
up between two cultures and
under the weight of a promise
of secrecy. It was shortlisted
for the 2012 Queensland
Literary Awards. When he is
not working on his next book,
he records his thoughts on
travel, place and writing home
at aremyfeetintheway.blogspot.
com.au.
KATHERINE HOWELL worked as
a paramedic for fifteen years,
for much of which time she
was also studying writing.
Having mastered the art of
writing suspense, she has
now produced six best selling,
award winning, edge-of-yourseat crime novels featuring
Detective Ella Marconi – the
latest, Web of Deceit, was
released in February 2013.
To find out more go to
www.katherinehowell.com.
JOHN HUGHES’ writing explores
themes of family, culture and
belonging. The experiences
and influence of his Ukrainian
mother’s family informed his
first book of autobiographical
essays, The Idea of Home,
which won the National
Biography Award in 2006.
The Remnants, published in
2012, saw John lauded as “one
of Australia’s unsung literary
treasures”. He is currently
Senior Librarian at Sydney
Grammar School.
MICHAEL JACOBSON was born in
Tasmania, and the island state
lured him back as the setting
for his two best selling novels.
After more than 30 years as a
journalist he retired from the
Gold Coast Bulletin in 2012,
having produced countless
metres of column space and
interviewed everyone from
John Cleese to Princess Diana.
He is once again writing fiction.
M.K. HUME is a retired teacher
with a life-long fascination
for history and the Arthurian
legends. She studied them
and wrote a trilogy of books
about King Arthur, and another
trilogy about Merlin. The final
Merlin book, Web of Deceit,
was published in January 2013.
Two more books are promised,
about Arthur’s heir, and Merlin’s
child, Taliesin. Delve into
Marilyn’s richly detailed writing
at www.mkhume.com.
won a 2010 Aurealis Award
communication half of design
for Best Collection, and The
consultancy pH creative.
Coffin-Maker’s Daughter won
Read extracts and more at
the 2012 British Fantasy Award
paula-weston.com.
for Best Short Story. Midnight
and Moonshine, a collection of
interwoven tales co-written with
Lisa L Hannett, was published
in late 2012. She teaches writing
workshops at the Queensland
Writers Centre. Find interviews,
writing tips and more at
www.angelaslatter.com.
HELENE YOUNG is a
contemporary romantic
suspense author. Her first
book, Wings of Fear, won the
Romance Writers of Australia
Romantic Book of the Year (in
the romantic elements category)
in 2011, and Shattered Sky
took out the same prize in
LISA WALKER has worked as
2012. Helene lives in North
an igloo builder and wilderness
Queensland and works as a
guide, which are useful
captain with Australia’s largest
skills when writing romantic
regional airline - she draws
comedies. Her first novel, Liar
on her local knowledge and
Bird, was published in 2012,
experiences to create realistic
and her second, Sex, Lies &
scenarios in her Border Watch
Bonsai, was released in January
series. Find out more at
this year. She has won several
www.heleneyoung.com.
L.A. LARKIN loves thrillers, writes
thrillers and teaches others how
to write them. Her first novel,
The Genesis Flaw, drew reviews
that placed it alongside the best
work of Michael Crichton and
John Grisham. Thirst, set in the
driest continent of Antarctica,
was published in late 2012.
For reviews and news visit
www.lalarkin.com.
writing awards, presented at
ANGELA SLATTER is a talented
writer of dark fantasy and
horror. The Girl With No Hands,
writing festivals and works at
the Northern Rivers Writers
Centre. Find out more at
www.lisawalker.com.au.
ALEX ADSETT is a publishing
industry insider offering
business and contract advice
to authors and publishers.
With fifteen years of
PAULA WESTON is passionate
experience in the publishing
about a lot of things, not the
and bookselling industry in
least of which is writing. The
Australia and overseas, her role
first of her gritty young adult
as a consultant combines her
paranormal novels, Shadows,
industry understanding with her
was published last year,
background in legal research.
and Haze is due in June. As
She now also acts as a literary
well as writing the Rephaim
agent for genre fiction. Read
series, she is the professional
more at alexadsett.com.au.
City of Gold Coast presents
Literati 2013
For writers Friday 17 May 2013
Session times
Auditorium
Noon – 1pm
A working lunch with Alex Adsett Upper Coomera Library & Community Centre
Library meeting room
EVENT CODE W01
Serious about being a published author? Bring your lunch and find out the facts about literary agents, contracts and the publishing process from an
experienced publishing consultant and agent.
1pm – 2pm
Everybody hurts
EVENT CODE W02
Memories and emotions - Kari Gislason and Jessie Cole talk about writing
memoirs and gritty fiction from the heart, avoiding sentimentality, and still
making readers cry.
2pm – 2.30pm
Coffee break, book signing and sales
2.30pm – 3.30pm
Recipe for romance
EVENT CODE W04
Learn the truth about writing romance novels from Anna Campbell and
Helene Young – is there really a simple formula and can love conquer all
(even the scary stuff)?
3.30pm – 4pm
Coffee break, book signing and sales
4pm – 5pm
Critical fictions - reading to write
A place for everything
EVENT CODE W03
Sometimes the setting looms large enough to be a character in the tale. John
Hughes and Michael Jacobson discuss some of the places they have been,
and how they work a sense of place into their writing.
Character care and upkeep
EVENT CODE W05
How do you write characters that readers care for? Paula Weston and Lisa
Walker discuss the creation and maintenance of characters that are worth
reading about, for one book or across a series.
EVENT CODE W06
When you read an enjoyable book, do you know why you like it? Do you understand the elements of the novel – the themes, structure, character arcs and
language? Find out about critical reading and dissecting fiction, and how that understanding can improve your writing.
Writers’ master classes (Please note venues)
Friday 17 May
1.30pm – 4.30pm
Numbers strictly
limited
For readers
Nerang Branch Library EVENT CODE MC1
Corner Price & White Streets, Nerang
Elanora Branch Library EVENT CODE MC2
The Pines Shopping Centre, Guineas Creek Road
Glued to the page with Katherine Howell. What do all writers want? Best foot forward with Angela Slatter. Need some polish? Be sure
Readers who can’t put their work down. Learn the essential elements your
work needs, and how to develop them, regardless of genre.
Saturday 18 May 2013
Session times
Auditorium
9am – 10am
A course of true love to submit your best work to competitions, magazines and publishers.
Discover how to pick up the problems with your work that you are just
not seeing.
Upper Coomera Library & Community Centre
Library meeting room
EVENT CODE R01
Wake up, and get all loved up, with our gorgeous panel of romance writers. Anna Campbell, Lisa Walker, Helene Young, and Keri Arthur will be talking
about true love - historical, hysterical, suspenseful and fantastic - on the page, and in real life.
10am – 10.30am
Coffee break, book signing and sales
10.30am – 11.30am
All that glitters EVENT CODE R02
From Night at the Pink Poodle to The ToeTag Quintet, Matthew Condon
has had some intriguing and provocative things to say about the Gold
Coast. Find out why as he chats with a local.
11.30am – noon
Coffee break, book signing and sales
Noon – 1pm
Dissecting crime
EVENT CODE R04
L.A. Larkin and Matthew Condon put crime writing under the microscope
– it’s full of grungy, violent and disturbed characters doing despicable
things… why do we love it so much?
1pm – 2pm
Lunch, book signing and sales
2pm – 3pm
The great Literati debate
Master class revisited
EVENT CODE R03
Missed out on yesterday’s master classes? Want to know what they were
all about? Catch the highlights from both sessions with Katherine Howell
and Angela Slatter.
Becoming human
EVENT CODE R05
Paranormal and fantasy characters offer us another way to explore what
it is to be human. Join Keri Arthur, M.K. Hume and Paula Weston as they
discuss the Other, and what it reveals about us.
EVENT CODE R06
Six speakers. Five minutes each. One simple proposition – that it doesn’t matter what you read, only that you read. Do you agree? John Hughes,
Michael Jacobson, Kári Gislason, L.A. Larkin and M.K. Hume will argue the cases for and against, for the audience to decide.
3pm – 3.30pm
Final opportunity for book signing and sales
3.30pm – 5pm
Friends of the Library readers’ rendezvous EVENT CODE R07
Wrap up the day with a relaxing chat about books with other book lovers, over wine and cheese. Discover how to find fabulous books that you will love,
all about the benefits of being part of a book club, and how to set up and run a book club. Be inspired to get more from your reading passion.
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All events are FREE of charge
Book online at Literati2013.eventbrite.com.au or phone 07 5581 7441 and quote the event code for the session you
wish to attend.
Literary Feast
Meet the Literati
14 of Australia’s most delectable authors – and enjoy a deliciously
literary experience.
The Arts Centre Gold Coast
6.30pm Friday 17 May 2013
Share an evening of intimate conversation and fine dining at
this year’s Literary Feast, the signature event of Gold Coast City
Council’s Literati program.
Enjoy three delicious courses, and different authors to complement
each one.
With 14 authors sharing the stories behind their stories, there’s
something for every taste!
Book your ticket now for this very special event.
Tickets $70 (includes three course dinner and drinks)
To book visit theartscentregc.com.au or phone 07 5588 4000
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