Join the Manly Writer's Festival as a volunteer and help us bring storytelling, creativity, and community together in Manly, Sydney. Enjoy an unforgettable experience and contribute to a cultural celebration. VOLUNTEER SIGN UP FOR 2026 We welcome volunteers for any or all of the days of the 2026 festival from 19-22 March. If you wish to be considered for a role for 2026, please complete the form below by 12 December 2025. We will be in touch with you by January 2026. First name* Last name* Email* Phone* Were you a volunteer with MWF in 2025? Yes No Preferred Role Preferred Day T-shirt Size* Sign up for news and updates Submit ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The Manly Writers' Festival acknowledges and thanks the original storytellers on the lands on which our events take place, the Gamaraygal and Garigal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge and respect their continuing connection and culture, and we pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present, as well as emerging leaders.

Manly Writers' Festival 19, 20, 21, 22 March, 2026 Stay up-to-date with our latest news Email* Subscribe I want to subscribe to your mailing list. Thomas Keneally Oration Announced 19 March 2026 We are honoured to welcome Thomas Keneally AO as the Orator for the inaugural Thomas Keneally Oration at the 2026 Manly Writers’ Festival. Read the full announcement → Get Tickets

Join the Manly Writer's Festival in 2025 for an exciting weekend of storytelling, author panels, workshops, and community events in Manly, Sydney. Connect with writers and thinkers. Experience the ManlyWritersFestival and immerse yourself in the world of literature. 19-22 MARCH 2026 STORIES ACROSS MANLY BUY TICKETS STORIES TO INSPIRE Beyond the world-famous Manly Beach and eponymous ferry, Manly has a literary life. Just like the entire city, Manly and the Northern Beaches is an area rich in cultural and linguistic diversity and creativity. This three day festival for readers, writers, and thinkers will bring together ideas and writing, and explore issues at a time of significant change in the world, as well as simply enjoy great stories. The Manly Writer's Festival will feed your heart and mind and aims to leave you energised, informed, and inspired. TICKETS OUR PROGRAM Sports Non-Fiction for Young Adults Sunday 30th March $12; Free for young people aged 13-18 Reading the Game: Inspiring Young Readers through Football Sunday 30th March $12; Free for young people aged 13-18 Masterclass: Navigating Copyright: Essential Insights for Authors and Publishers Friday 28th March $30 Creative Lives In Fiction: Stories Of Love, Ambition And Self-Discovery Sunday 30th March $22 VIEW ALL PROGRAM OUR AUTHORS Aarti Betigeri Alise Blayney Amanda Goff Amelia Lester Amy Hutton Amy Schembri Andrew Fowler Anthony Sobb Ariane Beeston Blanche d'Alpuget Brendan Morris Carol Lefevre Catherine Greer Catherine McKinnon Christine Newell Cocoa the Conscious Craig Semple Damian Collins David Dufty David Weiner Deborah Pike Debra Oswald Deep Gujral Dennis Glover Djon Mundine MEET OUR AUTHORS LATEST NEWS Announcing the Thomas Keneally Oration We are delighted to announce the Thomas Keneally Oration, a new annual keynote honouring one of Australia’s most influential and internationally acclaimed writers and Manly local, Thomas Keneally AO. Writing belongs to everyone We want to share the writers you will NOT see at another writers' festival within a two-hour commute of the northern beaches anytime soon. Download the Manly Writers' Festival App Our App is here! If you want to have the very latest information available at your fingertips, don't miss out on our App. OUR PROUD PARTNERS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The Manly Writers' Festival acknowledges and thanks the original storytellers on the lands on which our events take place, the Gameraygal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge and respect their continuing connection and culture, and we pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present, as well as emerging leaders.

Join the Manly Writer's Festival as a sponsor or partner. Support an event that celebrates storytelling and community in Manly, Sydney, and gain exposure for your brand. PARTNERS & SPONSORS The Manly Writers' Festival is possible only because of a visionary, diverse group of partners and friends. We’re here thanks to them. Let us introduce you to our partners for 2026. NORTHERN BEACHES COUNCIL Stretching from Palm Beach to Manly, the Northern Beaches boasts more than half of all the beaches in Sydney and a population of more than 266,000. Button FAIR PLAY PUBLISHING An independent publisher based in the Northern Beaches with three imprints specialising in non-fiction sport (Fair Play), fiction (Popcorn Press), and life (Pepper Press). TAG FAMILY FOUNDATION The TAG Family Foundation supports projects that help young people through education and sport, especially focusing on young people with autism. Button MULTICULTURAL NSW Multicultural NSW promotes community harmony and social cohesion in one of the most culturally diverse states in the world. Button GLEEBOOKS Gleebooks is Sydney’s leading independent bookseller, in business for over 40 years, and online since 1996. Button MANLY OBSERVER Manly Observer is an independent, hyperlocal news service covering the Northern Beaches in Sydney with a hyperfocus from Manly to Dee Why. Button ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The Manly Writers' Festival acknowledges and thanks the original storytellers on the lands on which our events take place, the Gameraygal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge and respect their continuing connection and culture, and we pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present, as well as emerging leaders.

Damian Collins, Julie Inman Grant AI and Social Media: Shaping Today BUY TICKETS 2025 PROGRAM < VIEW ALL PROGRAMS AI and Social Media: Shaping Today DATE: Saturday 29th March LOCATION: Darley Smith Building COST: $22 Join us for a discussion exploring the rapidly evolving digital landscape and its profound societal impact. From the transformative power of artificial intelligence to the dramatic shifts in platforms like X and Meta, this session will dive deep into the pressing questions of our time: • How is social media shaping our children’s lives? • What are the ethical challenges of AI and its role in our digital world? • How can parents and grandparents navigate this overwhelming new terrain to ensure safety, balance, and well-being? Featuring two of the world’s leading voices in the conversation: • Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner and a global advocate for online safety and digital responsibility. • Damian Collins, former UK Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy, and an expert in tech policy and regulation. Host: Steve Cannane BUY TICKETS < PREVIOUS NEXT > ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The Manly Writers' Festival acknowledges and thanks the original storytellers on the lands on which our events take place, the Gameraygal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge and respect their continuing connection and culture, and we pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present, as well as emerging leaders.

2586c2d0-6bf5-4725-ad11-51f71753fe2f Catherine McKinnon ABOUT < VIEW ALL AUTHORS Catherine McKinnon Catherine McKinnon is a writer and teacher of creative writing at the University of Wollongong. Her most recent novel, To Sing of War was released in May 2024 to critical acclaim and was Highly Commende’ in the HNSA ARA Historical Novel Award. Her novel Storyland (was shortlisted for the 2018 Miles Franklin Literary Award, the 2018 Barbara Jefferis Award, the 2018 Voss Literary Prize, longlisted for the 2018 Indie Book Award, and was named one of ABC TV’s The Book Club’s Five of the Best in 2017. Catherine is one of the multi-authors of 100 Atmospheres: Studies in Scale and Wonder (Open Humanities Press, 2019). She was co-winner of the Griffith Review: Tall Tales Short – The Novella Project 111 award in 2015. Her first novel, The Nearly Happy Family, was published by Penguin in 2008. Her plays have been produced nationally, and her play Hurt was nominated for an AWGIE award in 2017. Her short stories, reviews and essays have appeared in Text Journal, Griffith Review, Meanjin, Narrative, Sydney Review of Books, Island, Sydney Morning Herald, The Saturday Paper, and The Australian. PROGRAM SESSIONS WHAT: Australian Historical Fiction DATE: Saturday 29th March TIME: 2.50pm-3.50pm WITH: Victoria Haskins TICKETS < PREVIOUS AUTHOR NEXT AUTHOR > ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The Manly Writers' Festival acknowledges and thanks the original storytellers on the lands on which our events take place, the Gameraygal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge and respect their continuing connection and culture, and we pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present, as well as emerging leaders.

b0115087-5334-421f-a886-48663cf9311a Liz Deep-Jones ABOUT < VIEW ALL HOSTS Liz Deep-Jones Liz Deep-Jones is an author, journalist, producer, presenter, film maker, curator and the inaugural Freilich Arts/Media and Activism Fellow at the Australian National University. Her best-selling young adult novels, Lucy Zeezou’s Goal and Lucy Zeezou’s Glamour Game were re-released in 2023 for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Liz is a champion for human rights, inspiring young people to act through her mentoring role at the ANU in media and arts activism. < PREVIOUS HOST NEXT HOST > ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The Manly Writers' Festival acknowledges and thanks the original storytellers on the lands on which our events take place, the Gameraygal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge and respect their continuing connection and culture, and we pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present, as well as emerging leaders.

303c6f62-ba58-446e-b510-274ea395959d Sarah Gilbert ABOUT < VIEW ALL AUTHORS Sarah Gilbert Sarah Gilbert is a writer, producer and oral historian from Sydney. She began her career as a copy girl at News Ltd before moving to New York where she worked as a feature writer at the New York Post before moving to Buenos Aires, where she wrote for Lonely Planet and Time Out. Sarah’s writing has been published in the Sydney Review of Books, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Wall Street Journal and Marie Claire. She works as a writer/producer across documentary film, television and podcasting, with a particular focus on Australian history, and enjoys exploring the Oz lit back catalogue for her Books Revisited column at Galah magazine. Sarah lives in Sydney with her husband and their two children PROGRAM SESSIONS WHAT: Trailblazing Women DATE: Friday 28th March TIME: 11.20am-12.20pm WITH: Victoria Haskins TICKETS < PREVIOUS AUTHOR NEXT AUTHOR > ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The Manly Writers' Festival acknowledges and thanks the original storytellers on the lands on which our events take place, the Gameraygal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge and respect their continuing connection and culture, and we pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present, as well as emerging leaders.

13fe800f-8e9c-45f4-9d72-ae036c8514a4 Amanda Goff ABOUT < VIEW ALL AUTHORS Amanda Goff Amanda Goff trained as a journalist and worked in London and Sydney, before becoming Samantha X, Australia’s most high-profile escort; she also founded her own escort agency, hiring women over 40. Under her pseudonym, she wrote two bestselling memoirs, Hooked and Back on Top, and was the media’s go-to writer for articles about women’s sexuality after 40 and the emotional needs of men. Samantha retired from the adult industry at age 49, after a bipolar diagnosis and getting sober, to become Amanda again. PROGRAM SESSIONS WHAT: Bipolar Journeys: Stories Of Strength, Struggle, And Self-Discovery DATE: Friday 28th March TIME: 2.00pm-3.00pm WITH: Suzanne Leal TICKETS < PREVIOUS AUTHOR NEXT AUTHOR > ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The Manly Writers' Festival acknowledges and thanks the original storytellers on the lands on which our events take place, the Gameraygal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge and respect their continuing connection and culture, and we pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present, as well as emerging leaders.

79e2cbd0-e5d1-4ab2-b6ae-00163be82904 Zena Shapter ABOUT < VIEW ALL HOSTS Zena Shapter Zena Shapter writes from a castle in a flying city hidden by a thundercloud, reaching across age and genre into the heart of storytelling. A multi-award-winning author of science fiction, fantasy, speculative and contemporary fiction, she loves conjuring journeys into the beyond and unusual, and is the author of books such as ‘When Dark Roots Hunt’ (Finalist ‘Best Novel’ 2024 Ditmar Award), ‘When Dark Waters Burn’ (coming in 2025), ‘Towards White’, and co-author of ‘Into Tordon’. When not writing, Zena loves movies, frogs, chocolate, potatoes and living with her family among Sydney’s beautiful Northern Beaches. She’s travelled all around the world, visiting close to 50 countries, which inspire her to create worlds of her own. With her BA (Hons) in English Literature, Zena enjoys working as a mentor, editor and inclusive creativity advocate, teaching storytelling and writing at festivals, libraries and schools. She judges various literary awards and encourages everyone to value the importance of creativity. < PREVIOUS HOST NEXT HOST > ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The Manly Writers' Festival acknowledges and thanks the original storytellers on the lands on which our events take place, the Gameraygal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge and respect their continuing connection and culture, and we pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present, as well as emerging leaders.

4873c3a9-6627-409b-907b-02db0dd5256a David Weiner ABOUT < VIEW ALL AUTHORS David Weiner David Weiner is an award-winning content leader who has devoted much of his 15-year career to football. As editor of Fox Sports Football and Optus Sport, and then Director of Content at the A-Leagues, he has built and led digital brands that passionately told Australian football stories across written editorial, audio, social, video, broadcast and original content formats. Having been captivated by the global game in his teens, his career highlight, outside of covering Socceroos and Matildas at World Cups, was being part of bringing that joy to audiences through his work, especially on Champions League, Women’s World Cup, Euros and Copa America broadcasts. His first book, The Goals That Changed Australia - Stories from the biggest stage on earth, was encouraged and inspired by his son, who is a seven-year-old football fanatic. PROGRAM SESSIONS WHAT: Sports Non-Fiction for Young Adults DATE: Sunday 30th March TIME: 11.30am - 12.15pm WITH: Niav Owens TICKETS < PREVIOUS AUTHOR NEXT AUTHOR > ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The Manly Writers' Festival acknowledges and thanks the original storytellers on the lands on which our events take place, the Gameraygal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge and respect their continuing connection and culture, and we pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present, as well as emerging leaders.

13b23d14-321a-45f9-9ac7-c9e65aa7c562 Tracey Kirkland ABOUT < VIEW ALL HOSTS Tracey Kirkland Tracey Kirkland has spent more than 30 years as a journalist writing for broadcast and print. During COVID, she was the ABC’s national news-gathering editor and is now the continuous news editor for ABC News Channel. She is the co-author with Gavin Fang of Pandemedia (2023) which examines the impact of Covid-19 on the media and news-telling and Age of Doubt, a compilation of essays from prominent thinkers on the breakdown of trust in society. < PREVIOUS HOST NEXT HOST > ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The Manly Writers' Festival acknowledges and thanks the original storytellers on the lands on which our events take place, the Gameraygal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge and respect their continuing connection and culture, and we pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present, as well as emerging leaders.