Brisbane Writers Festival 2023

It has been a pleasure this past weekend to attend the Brisbane Writers Festival, held predominantly at the State Library of Queensland. I signed up to 11 sessions this Festival, which tells you the quality of what was available!

One of the reason I love Writers Festivals is that they bring together people from across the country and across the community. Whether you write books, read books, borrow books, illustrate books…we all have a common love of great writing. Festivals have a diverse range of interest areas - fiction, non-fiction, memoir, YA, kids, politics, society, sport and more. There really is something for everyone.

On Thursday I attended a great session called Funny About That. This was a session that looked at serious topics that were told with humour. I chose this especially because it featured Sita Walker, the author of the great memoir The God of No Good (which I reviewed a few months ago). Sita was wonderful, alongside Alexandra Collier, Siang Lu and Gregory Lardner, interviewed by Jonathan O’Brien. Easily though, the highlight was fashion designer Lardner, who (when discussing the Instagram algorithms) said “I’ve got a ‘show-us-ya-tits’ algorithm”. I was in fits of giggles. I was thrilled to meet Sita afterwards in person for the first time (hopefully not the last!) and she signed my copy of her lovely book.

Friday brought a busy day.

The first session I attended was called IVF - a curious choice of session title, I have to say. The session was hosted by Bec Mac and featured Isabelle Oderberg, Ellidy Pullin and Alexandra Collier. Each woman spoke about how they had engaged with IVF - Collier as a single woman, Pullin as a new widow and Oderberg as originally a single woman but ultimately married but suffering many miscarriages. So while each woman utilised artificial insemination, their stories were really not about that - instead, they are each a reflection of the varying ways families can be created, sustained and/or lost. Each woman told her story beautifully.

I was especially excited by seeing my long time friend Isy Oderberg on the panel. Her book Hard to Bear is so brave - both personally and immaculately researched. I was truly so proud - Isy has been through so much on her way to having two gorgeous children, including seven miscarriages. Instead of hiding away, she is taking her story to the masses to get conversations happening about what is considered taboo and non-discussable. Its brave and bold - just like Isy.

I then listened to the fantastic Sandra Thom-Jones talking about her adult diagnosis of Autism. I plan on getting that book and reading it at some stage - Sandra was hilarious and insightful!

Next was the inimitable Grace Tame, in discussion with Carody Culver. Grace was ON…she is clearly angry about the way she has been treated by the media (and quite fairly so!) and about the way Australia is progressing. I loved her passion and she is really funny, but I do sometimes worry about the expectations on Grace, imposed by Australia and by Grace herself.

Finally on Friday night, I went to see another friend, Kylie Ladd, in conversation with Jane Sullivan and Rebecca Sparrow about her book, I’ll Leave You With This, which I read and loved several months ago. This was a fantastic session - again I was ridiculously proud to see my friend shining on stage at her first ever Festival appearance. The book ponders so many issues - death and grief, organ donation, surrogacy, sibling love and more. I really do love it.

I do have a gripe with the Festival at this stage. Competing against Kylie’s session were sessions that individually included Bryan Brown, Holly Ringland and Trent Dalton. I would have loved to have seen those sessions too - it seemed bizarre to me that they would program so many big name authors opposite each other. It felt unfair to those authors but especially those of us who attend. I’d really encourage the festival to consider this in future.

Saturday brought another full set of sessions. This began with How To Do Nothing…and Lunch featuring Jennie Odell and Sally Olds, moderated by Michael Ondaatje (not that one). It was a really interesting session; the discussion was around the busy lives we lead and the perception that somehow being busy makes us more productive or valuable as people. That’s just not true, and Odell particularly writes really well on this topic. Another book I plan to pick up at some stage.

This was followed by The Good Death with author and academic Caitlin Mahar and Scott Stephens. I have been reading this book, as it provides a social history of voluntary euthanasia. I have a strong history in this space, being an advocate for VAD during the Victorian legislative debate. The discussion was really interesting - not one I necessarily agreed with every aspect of, but it was a terrific opportunity to look at the issue from the historical perspective.

Next was a wonderful discussion in the Edge Auditorium with Tracey Lien, author of All That’s Left Unsaid. I read that recently too and did enjoy it, and listening to Tracey talk with Kate Evans, I felt a broader understanding of the book. I’m really glad I attended the session but the line was long for book signings so I missed out - never mind. The session was a really good one and I am glad I booked it as an extra.

Finally on Saturday, I went to another fantastic panel that was awkwardly named: Lit Girl Summit. Author Gabrielle Zevin, writer of the phenomenon that is Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow noted that, at 45, she is not a girl but a woman. She was spot on. Two of the other panelists, Sulari Gentill and Anne Casey-Hardy, are older than Gabrielle, and I am sure they too didn’t appreciate being reduced to being called “Lit Girls”. I’ve no doubt Katerina Gibson didn’t appreciate it either. There may be some pushback on this - perhaps the Festival were referring to the female characters they wrote about. That may be right, but those characters are women as well, not children.

The discussion was fantastic - I did not know the panellists other than Zevin before this but they were all wonderful. In particular, I loved Sulari Gentill so much, I told her at the end of the session she has a joyful face - when she smiles, the room lights up! I bought her latest novel too - and I am looking forward to it!

I was there for Gabrielle Zevin, though, and she didn’t disappoint. I am an unabashed fan of Tomorrow x 3 and I was excited that I could attend this session. I had Gabrielle sign my book afterwards - it was such a thrill!

At last, Sunday came and it was a quieter day - only two sessions. The first was This Sporting Life. - who doesn’t love to talk sport on a Sunday morning! The panel featured the incredible Nobel-prize winner Dr Peter Doherty, actor Aaron Fa’aoso and author Inga Simpson. This was such a great panel - Doherty having written about the history of tennis against the history of war in the 20th century Australia, Fa’aoso’s memoir which reflects partly on his career in Rugby League before becoming a successful actor, producer and director. And Simpson, the author of the novel Willowman, the first real novel about cricket in Australia. One of the things I loved about this panel was the clear belief that it is women’s sport where Australia has most succeeded over the past century.

Finally, the last session and…probably the one I most looked forward to!

Katherena Vermette, author of The Break and The Strangers was in Brisbane for the Festival and this session was all about The Strangers. These two books have had such an impact on me - and I tell so many about them and recommend them to everyone. The discussion with Kate Evans was fantastic - I really didn’t want it to finish!

I was also very excited to meet Katherena and tell her about my connection to Canada, how I found her books and about my nephew, who is Native Canadian. She was wonderful and she has a new book coming soon, called The Circle. I cannot wait. It was just the best way to wrap up a fantastic festival!

Overall, the festival was fantastic. I had a great time. I would ask the festival programmers to think a little more about putting several big name authors on at the same time in different venues - I think it is a missed opportunity. I’d also give session titles something a little more thoughtful and relevant - heck, ask the authors for some input!!

Finally, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t buy books - yes I had my existing books signed, but I had to pick up several new ones too. Prices at the festival were good - reasonable.

I cannot wait for 2024!