Reading and writing with a glass of wine - the Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival

A good book and a glass of wine never fail to disappoint, and plenty of fun (and wine) was had at this year’s Margaret River Readers and Writers festival (Thursday 3 – Sunday 6 May 2012), with an impressive line-up featuring some of Australia’s most exciting writers.

Among those were UWAP’s Stephen Scourfield (Unaccountable Hours) and Amanda Curtin (Inherited, The Sinkings), who were both kept busy over the festival weekend with writing workshops, panel discussions and book signings.

One of the most popular events was Scourfield’s ‘Writing on the Road’ workshop, attended by an audience that included readers and writers alike and provided a fantastic insight into the world of the travel journalist. The three-hour workshop was informative, offering a rare glimpse into the pleasures and pitfalls of writing on the road: led by a dynamic host, Scourfield reminded us all why he is an award-winning writer with stories of his own travels (including a race through the jungles of Borneo with a very disgruntled Orangutan in hot pursuit).

Amanda Curtin entertained guests in her workshop, ‘Stories to Tell’, which was presented by local writer Nicole Sinclair. The two authors discussed the nature of narrative and the inspiration behind a story in a lively and thought-provoking debate.

Other guest writers included the enigmatic Judy Nunn and Bruce Venables, who joined Mark Greenwood and Frane Lessac in ‘Between the Sheets’, a searingly frank and funny rummage through the lives of four married authors.

In ‘An Audience with Judy’, the world-reknowned author led a full audience through her extensive writing and acting career, and ‘The First Saturday Book Club’, with playwright Margot Edwards in the hot seat as Jennifer Byrne, discussed in riveting detail Dickens’ Great Expectations and Peter Docker’s Waterboys with energy and enthusiasm.

Organised by a team of dedicated book-enthusiasts, including the indefatigable Danielle Haigh and Heather Locke, the weekend went off without a hitch and a great time was had by all. We look forward to next year!

Charli Newton

UWAP work experience Intern