The full program has been announced for the 2018 Perth Festival Writers Week, which runs from 19-25 February.
Events at the festival include the pairing of ‘literary giants’ Kim Scott and Helen Garner in a discussion on ‘why literature matters’; a preview of Tim Winton’s forthcoming novel The Shepherd’s Hut (Hamish Hamilton); dining events, such as breakfast with Miles Franklin-winners Josephine Wilson, Michelle de Kretser and Sofie Laguna and lunch with UK writer Alan Hollinghurst; and writer and photographer William Yang’s closing address on his career working with words and images.
Architecture receives a special focus in this year’s program, including guided heritage walks and a retrospective of documentaries by filmmakers Ila Bêka and Louise Lemoine.
As previously reported by Books+Publishing, international guests attending the festival include UK authors Hollinghurst and A C Grayling, Canadian writer Louise Penny and US writer Cory Doctorow. They are joined by local authors Robert Drewe, Maggie Beer, Tex Perkins, Tim Rogers, Rachael Johns and Claire G Coleman and more than 100 other writers and artists.
Children’s events include mural activities with Indian small press Tara Books; family activities in the ‘Paper Bird Kombi’, run by Fremantle children’s bookshop Paper Bird; and the ‘Curated by Kids’ program, a series of sessions staged with the involvement of 10 guest curators aged 10-12.
The 2018 program is curated by West Australian literary editor William Yeoman, who was appointed guest curator following the departure of long-time program manager Katherine Dorrington in 2017. The event has been extended from four days to a full week, and will be based in a new hub located at the University Club of Western Australia, as well as extending to libraries and bars in Perth. Boffins Bookshop will be the official bookseller.
To see the program, click here.