Best-selling authors join Lake Macquarie’s Write Here Festival

newy.com.au – Best-selling crime writers Chris Hammer and Benjamin Stevenson will be among the headline guests at Lake Macquarie’s Write Here Festival, which will return from 15 to 17 May with a program celebrating reading, writing and the stories behind published work.

The authors, known for their popular crime thrillers, will appear at Windale Hub, bilyabayi on Sunday 17 May in conversation with moderator and fellow author Jaye Ford. The session will explore what makes a compelling crime novel, as well as Hammer and Stevenson’s own paths to writing bestselling genre fiction.

Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Arts, Culture and Tourism Jacqui Hemsley said the event would give audiences a closer look at one of the country’s most widely read genres.

“Expect wit, insight and behind-the scenes stories as they explore the massively popular genre of crime fiction,” Ms Hemsley said.

“This year’s festival is all about creating places for writers and readers to be inspired, whether they’re writing their own novels or simply yearning to know more about what goes behind the scenes to get a book to publication.”

The festival program will also feature Hunter-based natural history illustrator and author Sami Bayly, who will join a free panel at Windale Hub on Saturday 16 May examining how early childhood picture books are developed, from the first ideas through to publication.

Memoir writing will be the focus on Friday 15 May, when solo sailors Tony Mowbray and Ruth Boydell join trailblazing paramedic Alan Playford at Windale Hub for I finished my memoir!, a panel discussion about the motivations and challenges involved in committing a life story to print.

Other festival highlights include a writing cruise departing Booragul Jetty on Friday 15 May with writer and podcaster Magdalena Ball, appearances by acclaimed debut novelists George Kemp, Clare Stephens and Raaza Jamshed, and From Page to Stage, a panel on adaptation featuring Tanya Hennessy.

Some Write Here activities will be free, while others will be ticketed. Bookings are essential for all festival events, with more information and tickets available through Lake Macquarie Libraries.