All writers big and small

Google "about writers' festivals," and you get more opinions on what a writers' festival is than you do from a panel of economists pontificating on the state of the economy on Budget Night in Canberra.

Fortunately, we didn't Google that term before we invited authors and panel members to participate in the 2025 Manly Writers' Festival. If we had, frankly, we might still be putting the program together trying to satisfy all the opinions about what a writers' festival should be. While many have written thousands of words on the topic, we've got one.

Books.

We selected books that seemed like they would be good reads and that we and others we know would enjoy. Books full of information, ideas and entertainment.

Some of them were written by writers who are familiar names.

Blanche d'Alpuget. Peter FitzSimons. Jane Caro. John Maynard. Heather Morris. Steve Vizard. Debra Oswald. Lech Blaine. Emily Maguire. Tim Ayliffe.

Others are written by people who have excelled in other fields. For example, we have at least three Professors, we've lost count of how many PhDs, one former UK Minister, medical specialists, a junior doctor, a vet, nurses, psychologists, lawyers, a former Socceroo, and a scoop of journalists who cover everything from business to politics to sport.

There are writers who have a marvellous real or imaginary story to tell, a journey to recount, and life lessons to share.

There are full-time writers, part-time writers, and those who didn't even realise they were writers until their book appeared in print (because, yes, that is still our primary measure of a 'book').

And, while we've mentioned them before, another round of applause to the authors who have performed on stages from London's West End to Broadway to the Sydney Opera House and many points in between or who could sit in front of a piano right this second and play Rachmaninov's Concerto #3 without missing a beat (literally).

It doesn't matter if you go to a session headlined by someone well-known or an author or book you haven't heard of—which, after all, is part of the point of a festival—we want you to walk away feeling one or all of informed, inspired and energised.

So, with a little more than a week to go, what are you waiting for?!

Check out the program online or on our App and purchase your tickets.

80+ writers. 6 poets. 8 new books. 31 hosts. 18 proud locals. A jazz band. A trivia night. A string quartet. (And that's before we even mention the beach or the ferry 💅).

Manly Writers' Festival. A stage for big ideas. A place for real conversations.

Join us!