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.

4eb8366b-0379-4efc-8b5b-dc00bb0cb033 Don Watson ABOUT < VIEW ALL AUTHORS Don Watson Don Watson is the author of three Quarterly Essays and many acclaimed books, including Caledonia Australis, Recollections of a Bleeding Heart, American Journeys, The Bush, Watsonia, The Story of Australia, Death Sentence, Watson’s Dictionary of Weasel Words and The Passion of Private White. His most recent Quarterly Essay is High Noon: Trump, Harris and America on the Brink. PROGRAM SESSIONS WHAT: Conversation Circle: Navigating the Shifting Global Order DATE: Saturday 29th March TIME: 4.10pm-5.45pm WITH: Geraldine Doogue 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.

9d20a7da-357e-4ecc-815c-9aa7ceebd62f Helen Vatsikopoulos ABOUT < VIEW ALL HOSTS Helen Vatsikopoulos Helen Vatsikopoulos is a Professional Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney. She is a Walkley Award winning journalist who has worked with the Australian Broadcating Corporation, ABC the Special Broadcasting Service SBS and the Australia Network. She also taught journalism at UTS. Helen is the director of the UTS/ Greek Australian Writers Festival and editor of Hellenic Dreams. < 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.

3805e2eb-c416-487f-b478-8a042eafe585 Steve Cannane ABOUT < VIEW ALL HOSTS Steve Cannane Steve Cannane is a reporter with the ABC's Investigations Unit. From 2021-2024 he was the ABC's Europe Bureau Chief in London. He worked in the Investigations Unit from 2018-2021, and was Europe correspondent from 2016-2018. Prior to that, Steve was the host of The Drum and a reporter at Lateline. He is the author of Fair Game: The Incredible Untold Story of Scientology in Australia and First Tests: Great Australian Cricketers and the Backyards That Made Them. < 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.

Liz Foster, Catherine Greer, Kate Horan New Voices in Fiction I BUY TICKETS 2025 PROGRAM < VIEW ALL PROGRAMS New Voices in Fiction I DATE: Friday 28th March LOCATION: Darley Smith Building COST: $22 Discover the fresh voices shaping contemporary fiction in this engaging session with Liz Foster (The Good Woman’s Guide to Making Better Choices), Catherine Greer (Bittersweet Bakery Café), and Northern Beaches local Kate Horan (The Inheritance). Join them as they discuss their inspirations, creative processes, and what it means to bring new energy and ideas to the world of fiction. Host: Liz Deep-Jones 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.

Katherine Wiles 'Quiet Please, There's A Lady On Stage' (Peter Allen) BUY TICKETS 2025 PROGRAM < VIEW ALL PROGRAMS 'Quiet Please, There's A Lady On Stage' (Peter Allen) DATE: Sunday 30th March LOCATION: Manly Golf Club COST: $22 Katherine Wiles is not a household name, and that’s how she likes it, by choice. She has built a career by being part of the chorus of Opera Australia since 2007. And she writes about it in her memoir No Autographs, Please! balancing charming self-deprecation with professional style and confidence and in respectful homage to her chorus colleagues. 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.

7b292d63-d31d-4eb5-a1d7-8f003c471521 Sara Haddad ABOUT < VIEW ALL AUTHORS Sara Haddad Sara Haddad is an editor and writer who has worked in publishing for 35 years. A Lebanese Australian, she lives on Gadigal land with her husband and two children. She hopes that one day all Palestinians will be free to return to their country and live there without fear. PROGRAM SESSIONS WHAT: Reflections: Conflict in the Home of Your Heart DATE: Saturday 29th March TIME: 09.30am-10.30am WITH: Antony Loewenstein 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.

bb7c00f3-a7be-4115-8cc0-d201cd29cece Max Holzner ABOUT < VIEW ALL AUTHORS Max Holzner Max Holzner is a violinist, educator, and music software developer, co-founder and Chair of the Western Sydney Philharmonic (West Phil), Chair of the Sydney Eisteddfod and Deputy Chair of the Music Teachers’ Association of NSW. His musical background is as a violinist and educator, having studied violin with Josette Esquedin-Morgan and Barbara Jane Gilby. He is an alumnus of the University of Cambridge and the ANU. Over the years, Max has collaborated with many of Australia’s leading performers and professional orchestras, with chamber groups and in festivals across Australia and the UK, where he was assistant to the late Christopher Hogwood, Academy of Ancient Music. PROGRAM SESSIONS WHAT: 'Teach the Children Well' (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young) DATE: Sunday 30th 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.

Kerrie Davies, Sarah Gilbert, Josie McSkimming Trailblazing Women BUY TICKETS 2025 PROGRAM < VIEW ALL PROGRAMS Trailblazing Women DATE: Friday 28th March LOCATION: Darley Smith Building COST: $22 Regardless of the times, some women dared to be different. We speak with three authors of biographies about women who have blazed their own trail. In Miles Franklin Undercover, Kerrie Davies examines the little-known second decade of acclaimed author Miles Franklin, who was impoverished and in service in Australia and the US, and her advocacy for working women. In Unconventional Women, Sarah Gilbert speaks to women who were part of a closed convent in the 1960s during significant social upheaval. In Gutsy Girls, Josie McSkimming writes of the unpredictable family life on the Northern Beaches, generational trauma, and deep sisterly bonds between her and her two sisters, particularly her eldest sister, poet Dorothy Porter. Host: Victoria Haskins 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.

8906f17c-afd5-4325-932d-c32c0fb09c35 Richard Gosling ABOUT < VIEW ALL AUTHORS Richard Gosling Richard Gosling is a husband, father, and funeral director. Richard's time is either devoted to his work, to which he clocks way more hours than he should, or to his children and the occasional book in the back garden. Born in the UK, Richard moved to Sydney more than 20 years ago after marrying his Australian wife. Richard has been a funeral director for 10 years, appearing in the 2018 SBS documentary The Secret Life of Death. He has also been interviewed on ABC radio multiple times about his job and the profound satisfaction it brings him. PROGRAM SESSIONS WHAT: Holding On and Letting Go: Finding Strength Through Loss DATE: Friday 28th March TIME: 3.20pm-4.20pm WITH: Suellen Dainty 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.

Find answers to your questions about the Manly Writer's Festival 2025. Get information on tickets, event schedules, venue details, and more. Plan your visit today! OUR FAQ Do I need to buy an entry ticket before the event? There are many moving parts that go into hosting the Manly Writers' Festival that require advance preparation, so purchasing your ticket beforehand helps us optimise the festival experience. You can buy them online until the session is on or purchase a ticket at the festival by heading to the Concierge Desk on Level 1 of the Darley Smith Building. Can I get a refund if I change my mind? Full refunds, less transaction costs charged by the payment provider, will be given until midnight AEDT on 23rd February 2024. After that day, we are unable to provide a refund other than extenuating personal circumstances. If such circumstances arise, you can seek a refund by emailing us at hello@manlywritersfestival.com.au. If, for any reason, we cancel a session you will receive a refund in full. Is there an opportunity to ask questions of speakers? Yes. Questions are encouraged, and we believe it is an important feature of a writers' festival. Is there a dress code? Be comfortable. What is included in the price? For general sessions, it includes admission to the session. For special events, inclusions are detailed as part of the information about the special event. Where is the festival being held? The main venue for the Schools Program and the adult program is the Darley Smith Building, St Matthew’s Church, corner of Darley Road and The Corso, Manly. Other venues we’re using include: Hotel Steyne, Manly Manly Pacific MGallery Hotel, Manly Manly Spirits Distillery, Brookvale For detailed information and maps, check out our page on Venues. Are there author signing? Yes, there will be author signings after each session within Gleebooks which is located in the Ebbs Room off the ground floor courtyard. Books that are featured at the festival (and more) will be available for purchase. Where can I get coffee? Coffee is, of course, synonymous with books and reading! So we have an onsite Book Beans Cafe that is open from approximately 9am-4pm on Friday and Saturday, serving coffee, tea, and fresh juices. There are also many cafes, delis, pubs, and restaurants in the local area. What is your covid safe plan? We comply with the Covid Safe guidelines in place for events of this kind as required by the New South Wales Government. These are available on the NSW Health website. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 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.

38366894-027f-4d4f-af1a-968952a50173 Debra Oswald ABOUT < VIEW ALL AUTHORS Debra Oswald Debra Oswald is a playwright, screenwriter and novelist. She is a two-time winner of the NSW Premier's Literary Award and author of the novels Useful (2015), The Whole Bright Year (2018) and The Family Doctor (2021). She was creator/head writer of the first five seasons of the successful TV series Offspring.Her stage plays have been performed worldwide and published by Currency Press. Gary's House, Sweet Road and The Peach Season were all shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Award. Debra has also written four plays for young audiences—Dags, Skate, Stories in the Dark and House on Fire. She has written three Aussie Bites books and six children's novels, including The Redback Leftovers.Her television credits include award-winning episodes of Police Rescue, Palace of Dreams, The Secret Life of Us, Sweet and Sour and Bananas in Pyjamas. Debra performed her one-woman show Is There Something Wrong With That Lady? at the Griffin Theatre in 2021 and a month-long season at the Ensemble in 2023. PROGRAM SESSIONS WHAT: Change and Choice DATE: Saturday 29th March TIME: 4.10pm-5.10pm WITH: Anne Maria Nicholson 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.