Buda Historic Home and Garden and Northern Books are joining forces to host a ‘Spring Literary Festival’ at Buda Castlemaine this weekend, October 1 and 2.
Northern Books Kristin and Graham Gill are thrilled to welcome four extraordinary writers to Castlemaine, three of whom – Neela Janakiramanan, Jock Serong, Alice Pung – will be talking about their new books as part of massive event on Saturday, and one, Lee Kofman, who will be hosting a writers workshop on Sunday.
The pair said it is wonderful to once again be able to host face to face events.
“It was really challenging during covid but we really appreciated the support we continued to receive from the local community,” Graham said.
“We are thrilled to have been inundated with opportunities to bring writers to the local region and enable to to engage with local audiences,” he said.
Saturday’s event will kick off at 10am with Dr Neela Janakiramanan author of The Registrar in conversation with Kirstin Gill.
Dr Janakiramanan is a reconstructive plastic surgeon with particular expertise in complex hand and wrist surgery.
The Registrar offers a rare insight into the world of a surgeon-in-the-making from one who has survived it. Told with compassion, skill and emotional heart, this gripping and moving novel goes behind the headlines to reveal the human experience of being both doctor and patient in a medical system at breaking point.
This will be followed at 1pm by Jock Serong author of The Settlement in conversation with local writer and poet Andy Jackson.
In The Settlement, Serong reimagines in urgent, compelling prose the ill-fated exploits of George Augustus Robinson at the settlement of Wybalenna – a venture whose blinkered, self-interested cruelty might stand for the colonial enterprise itself.
Saturday afternoon enjoy cocktail hour with a glass of wine and canapes from 4.30pm as Alice Pung author of One Hundred Days, which was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award, appears in conversation with good friend and local author Sally Rippin.
The book tells the story of sixteen-year-old Karuna who falls pregnant. Not on purpose, but not entirely by accident, either. Incensed, Karuna’s mother, already over-protective, confines her to their fourteenth-storey housing-commission flat.
“Included in the ticket price are food, drinks and of course, fabulous conversation while we will also have a pop-up bookstore fully stocked with the authors’ books and a range of new releases for those keen to make a start on their Christmas shopping,” Kristin said.
Sunday budding writers can enjoy a writers workshop with The Writer Laid Bare author Lee Kofman from 11am-1pm.
In the short sharp session Kofman will seek to help writers master emotional honesty and fine tune their writer’s voice.
Kristin said they have a busy few months ahead with Northern Books also set to welcome Myf Warhurst as part of the Gold Sounds Festival and host events with Tricia Stringer and Alex Miller.
To book your tickets for this weekend’s event visit https://www.northernbooks.com.au/event-2
