Don't miss our special event with Sally Hepworth on Tuesday evening! Sally will discuss her new novel, Mad Mabel, with #NWF program manager Amy Lovat 🎟️ Get your tickets at events.humanitix.com/nwf-sally-he...

Griffin Dunne sits down with festival director Rosemarie Milsom to discuss his memoir, The Friday Afternoon Club, his star-studded childhood, decades-long Hollywood career, and the glamour and tragedy of his larger-than-life family. Learn more and book at events.humanitix.com/nwf-griffin-...

For half a century, Bob Brown has been standing up to the powerful interests who would put profit before planet. In his new book Defiance, he draws on this experience to inspire a new generation of individual and collective action. Hosted by Rosemarie Milsom 🎟️ events.humanitix.com/nwf-BOB-BROWN/

Join journalists Eric Beecher and @squigglyrick.bsky.social as they shed light on the state of media and what it means for the future of democracy. Hosted by Kylie Morris at #NWF2025 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/podcasts/

Join us for an evening with US actor, director, producer and New York Times best-selling author Griffin Dunne. He will speak with festival director Rosemarie Milsom about his family memoir, The Friday Afternoon Club, and his career in film and television. 🎟️ events.humanitix.com/nwf-griffin-...

Helen Garner returns with her signature candour and wit in an exuberant new book The Season, an account from the sidelines of the highs and lows of her youngest grandson’s footy team. Helen spoke with NWF director Rosemarie Milsom at #NWF2025 🎧 www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/podcasts/

Submissions for the 2025 Fresh Ink Prize close 23.59pm AEST 8 September! Learn more and submit at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/2025-fresh-ink-prize/

Join us for an evening with best-selling writer Sally Hepworth, who will discuss her new novel Mad Mabel with #NWF program manager Amy Lovat. Learn more and book at events.humanitix.com/nwf-sally-he...

In his book Always Was, Always Will Be, @thomasmayo.bsky.social investigates 'what's next?' for reconciliation and justice in Australia after the failed Voice to Parliament referendum. He spoke with Clare Wright at #NWF2025. 🎧 Listen at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/podcasts/

Join us for the first event in our Spring Program, the launch of Newcastle poet Keri Glastonbury's 51 Alterities, a collection that satirically reimagines our era of chaos and chicanery. Hosted by poet and editor Chris Brown. FREE event. Learn more and book at events.humanitix.com/book-launch-...

High potential and gifted students in Stage 3 (years 5 & 6) are invited to join us at our upcoming Story Hunter workshops. Schools are encouraged to send a small group of up to 12 students accompanied by a supervising teacher or adult. Book online at events.humanitix.com/host/newcast...

For 25 years, award-winning author Michelle de Kretser has been dazzling readers with her novels. She spoke with Kate Evans about craft, creativity, and the enduring influence of Virginia Woolf at #NWF2025. 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/podcasts

We were thrilled to attend the launch of Salsa in the Suburbs by Alejandra Martinez, winner of the 2022 Fresh Ink Prize ✨ Emerging writers living in regional NSW are invited to submit to the 2025 Prize. Learn more and submit at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/2025-fresh-ink-prize/

From larger-than-life adventures to vivid and poignant tales of the imagination, no one tells a yarn quite like Jimmy Barnes. He spoke with Richard Glover at #NWF2025. 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/podcasts/

We are seeking a highly organised and proactive Festival Producer to support the presentation of the 2026 festival and other events. ‼️ Applications close 5pm AEST 1 September. Learn more and apply at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/festival-producer-role/

David Owen Kelly’s Host City fuses memoir with alternative history to spin a tale of joy and survival. He speaks with Keri Glastonbury. 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/podcasts/

We are delighted to announce a special Spring Program featuring an exciting lineup of Australian and international writers. Learn more and book tickets at collections.humanitix.com/2025-nwf-spr...

Courtney Collins, Hayley Scrivenor, and Jessie Tu open up to Amy Lovat about imposter syndrome, creative blocks, and debunk second-book blues. 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/podcasts/

In their most recent novels, Melanie Cheng, Raeden Richardson, and Molly Schmidt grapple with the turbulent relationship between love and loneliness. They speak to Steph Harmon about the complexities of grief. 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at bit.ly/4mPqnat

We are inviting emerging writers living in regional NSW to submit to the 2025 Fresh Ink Emerging Writers Prize ✨ Learn more and submit at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/2025-fresh-ink-prize/

‼️ Submissions for the 2026 festival, which will be held from 27 to 29 March, close at 5 pm on Monday Learn more at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/2026-program-submissions/

In the first episode of our 2025 #StoriesToYou podcast series, recorded at this year's festival, international bestseller Markus Zusak sheds light on the good, the bad, and the ugly moments in a life full of love, sorrow, and success. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at bit.ly/4mPqnat

Celebrate the launch of Amy Lovat's second novel, Big Feelings: An anti-romantic comedy, from 6pm on 17 July at Newcastle Library. Learn more and RSVP at bit.ly/449WKcH

Congratulations to Alejandra Martinez & Lucy Nelson on the launch of their debut books. Both were finalists in our 2022 Fresh Ink Prize for emerging regional NSW writers, with Alejandra winning $5K for professional development thanks to Elephant in the Room wines. This year's prize opens on 21 July.

We are welcoming submissions from published writers at all stages of their careers to participate in #NWF2026, which will be held from 27 to 29 March ✨📚 Learn more at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/2026-program-submissions/

We are welcoming submissions from published writers at all stages of their careers to participate in the 2026 festival, which will be held from 27 to 29 March ✨📚 Learn more at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/2026-program-submissions/

We are thrilled to announce that Newcastle Writers Festival has secured multi-year funding through the government’s arts body, Create NSW. Learn more about the funding and what it means for NWF at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/festival-secures-funding/

Our special event with Professor A. C. Grayling, scheduled for 7.30pm tonight at the University of Newcastle’s Brennan Room, will now be held at Newcastle Library. If you purchased tickets, please check your email for further updates. If you have questions email [email protected]

Join us for a compelling keynote on 20 May with eminent British philosopher @acgrayling.bsky.social, centred on his new book Discriminations: Making Peace in the Culture Wars. 🎟️ www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/grayling-special-event/

Throwback to Word & Music at #NWF2025 with these brilliant images captured by Perry Duffin 📸 This special event, curated by @nickmilligan.bsky.social, returned for its third year to celebrate music, literature and the nature of inspiration.

Shout out to Simone De Peak, who captured these moments at #NWF2025 📸 Want to see more photos from the festival? Head to the 2025 photo gallery page on our website www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/2025-photo-gallery/

Philosopher A.C. Grayling is coming to Newcastle! www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/grayling.../ @newwritersfest.bsky.social #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

We’ve been lucky to have Liam Driver capturing NWF since 2017 and it's always a pleasure to see the weekend through his lens 📸 Enjoy this collection of photos captured by Liam at #NWF2025

We are excited to welcome eminent British philosopher Professor @acgrayling.bsky.social to Newcastle for a special event on 20 May, centred on his new book Discriminations: Making Peace in the Culture Wars. 🎟️ Learn more at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/grayling-special-event/

Join us for a special evening event with acclaimed Irish novelist Colum McCann on 8 May at Newcastle Library. Colum will speak with festival director Rosemarie Milsom about his award-winning books, which include American Mother, Apeirogon, and the new novel Twist. 🎟️ bit.ly/3D6oF2G

We had an incredible team of photographers and videographers at #NWF2025 and couldn't wait to share their snapshots of the weekend! Reminisce with this collection of photos captured by Max Mason-Hubers 👏

Thanks @newwritersfest.bsky.social - it’s been a whirlwind x

So many familiar faces and new ones too! You never disappoint @newwritersfest.bsky.social 💛

They’re saying that Saturday’s Words & Music for @newwritersfest.bsky.social was the best yet. Maybe they’re right. So much hard work goes into this event. Thank you to everyone that attended, the incredible songwriters, authors and the AMAZING Conservatorium crew. More pics/vids to come. #BookSky

Thank you to the writers, hosts, volunteers, festival team, our sponsors and partners and everyone who joined us at #NWF2025 We value your feedback and would appreciate it if you could take 5 minutes to complete an online survey and tell us about your experience at the festival. bit.ly/3DYU9br

And that's a wrap on #NWF2025 We kicked off Sunday with the launch of I Live Here, the second anthology from our Story Hunter program, then explored ideas from poetry as protest to the state of democracy and the power of place. Thank you to everyone who helped make the festival a success 💛

And thus ends five days of @newwritersfest.bsky.social goodness. My soul is full. I feel honoured that so many extraordinary authors let us into their lives and minds. I've loved books for almost as long as I've lived and can I say, there's no better place for a bibliophile than a festival #NWF2025

Volunteering today with the Newcastle Writers Festival and I’ve landed in Melanie Cheng’s session. She’s talking about her book The Burrow to a completely full house. #NWF #nwf2025 @newwritersfest.bsky.social #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

Volunteering with Newcastle Writers Festival has again landed me in the right place at the right time - with some ‘Complicated Characters’! Lisa Kenway, Nicola Moriarty and Hayley Scrivenor are on stage now. #booksky @newwritersfest.bsky.social #diaryofacoastalbookseller

Meet three authors whose dream of being published was finally realised. Join me at the @newwritersfest.bsky.social as I chat with Zahid Gamieldien, @LisaKenway.bsky.social, and Natasha Rai on the highs and lows of debut author life. DETAILS: www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/events/date-...

The @newwritersfest.bsky.social is on all weekend in the Civic Precinct, Newcastle. Tickets are still available for tomorrow’s sessions. Visit newcastlewritersfestival.org.au #nwf2025

Also, the Newcastle Writers Festival bookshop is epic. It’s a highlight every year. Seriously good for my brain just not my bank balance. #books #writersfestival #nwf2025 @newwritersfest.bsky.social

Saturday at #NWF2025 was buzzing with ideas and stories and we have another huge day in store for you! Explore the program at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/events/ 📸 Max Mason-Hubers and Simone De Peak

‘F—k taboos!’ Gina Chick's response to the notion of taboo subjects at opening night of #NWF2025 Thank you to everyone who joined us and to @mrbenjaminlaw.bsky.social and Good Weekend Magazine for supporting the event. 🎟️ Explore the 2025 program at www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/events/

In an event which will be recorded for ABC radio and podcast, @mattbevan.bsky.social will incorporate music, sound, archival vision and witty writing to explain the key background behind some of the biggest news stories around the world. 🎟️ This is a free event. Learn more at bit.ly/447yLLx