Before everyone knocks off for the festive season - literally and metaphorically - we just wanted to get in touch to let you know that the Manly Writers' Festival will be back - slightly bigger, hopefully even better - in 2025.
Next year's festival will be held over three days from 28-30 March. We are now deep into planning and assembling an incredible lineup of local, regional, interstate, and international authors.
The social events will include:
A book launch of a sizzling new novel from a well-known writer of non-fiction and fiction with host Jeremy Fernandez of the ABC on Friday, 28th March;
A Charity Literary Trivia Night in aid of NBCCC.org.au on Saturday 29th March, with quiz questions devised by one of the star English teachers at Mackellar Girls' High School and with MC Murray Shaw, Executive Producer at the Nine Network;
A High Tea on Sunday 30th March.
If you're a parent or grandparent, you'll be interested to know that we have invited all the secondary schools in the Northern Beaches to participate in our Schools Program, focusing on news-making. An interactive session will cover what’s ‘real’ and what’s ‘fake’, how to tell the difference, how to write news, how to fact-check, the responsibilities of journalists, and why credible news is vital to society and democracy. A workshop will focus on students developing a headline and news story from various scenarios.
We plan to launch the Festival program towards the end of January. Once the program is launched, tickets will be immediately on sale to Friends of the Festival for an exclusive period. If you wish to be a Friend of the Festival in 2025, the benefits include:
A priority booking period from program launch until tickets go on sale more widely;
10% discount to all festival sessions, other than the Schools Program and the Charity Literary Trivia Night;
NEW: 10% discount on all purchases from Gleebooks at the festival;
NEW: Exclusive access to the Friends of the Festival Lounge to relax between sessions (Friday and Saturday only);
NEW: Complimentary Literary Greats Journal.
You can find out more and join here at just $65.
If you don't want to become a Friend, but wish to support the Manly Writers' Festival, you can now make a donation via our new-look website. As a registered charity with the ACNC and ATO, all donations $2 and above are tax deductible.