Write Around the Murray

This is an audio recording of a panel talk about historical fiction with authors Julie Janson (Compassion), Katrina Kell (Chloe) and Emily Gale (Outlaw Girls) that occurred as part of Write Around the Murray on Sunday 15 September 2024. Moderated by Nova Weetman, the three writers talked about their experiences working between historical truth and fiction. Write Around the Murray is a 5 day literary festival held in Albury every September. The festival welcomes 5,000+ attendees across venues in Albury and Wodonga and author Aimee Chan is the Festival Director. To find out more about Write Around the Murray visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠writearoundthemurray.org.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This is an audio recording of a panel talk with author Katrina Kell and sculptor and visual artist Andrew Whitehead. Moderated by curator Sophie Gerhard from the National Gallery of Victoria, the two creatives discussed how the artworks Chloe by Jules Lefebvre (currently house at Young and Jacksons pub in Melbourne) and Shearing the Rams by Tom Roberts influenced their storytelling. The discussion occurred on Saturday 14 September 2024 was part of Write Around the Murray. Write Around the Murray is a 5 day literary festival held in Albury every September. The festival welcomes 5,000+ attendees across venues in Albury and Wodonga and author Aimee Chan is the Festival Director. To find out more about Write Around the Murray visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠writearoundthemurray.org.au⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This is an audio recording of an in conversation between award-winning, best-selling author Kate Grenville and The Age and Sydney Morning Herald book editor, Jason Steger. The discussion was part of Write Around the Murray 2024. Kate discusses her latest novel, Restless Dolly Maunder, which was shortlisted for The Women's Prize (UK), The Prime Minister's Award for Fiction (Australia), the Colin Roderick Award, the Daily Mail Novel of the Year (UK) and Globe and Mail Best Books of 2023 (Canada). The Big Book Club with Kate Grenville occurred at the Albury LibraryMuseum on Sunday 15 September 2024. Write Around the Murray is a 5 day literary festival held in Albury every September. The festival welcomes 5,000+ attendees across venues in Albury and Wodonga and author Aimee Chan is the Festival Director. To find out more about Write Around the Murray visit ⁠⁠⁠writearoundthemurray.org.au⁠⁠⁠.

This is an audio recording of author panel talk Whose Story Is It? which was part of Write Around the Murray 2024. The panel featured writers Siang Lu, Shirley Le and Julie Janson talking about cultural appropriation and the tricky ethnics of who gets to tell which stories. The panel was moderated by Write Around the Murray Festival Director and author, Aimee Chan. Whose Story Is It? occurred at the Albury LibraryMuseum on Friday 13 September 2024. Write Around the Murray is a 5 day literary festival held in Albury every September. The festival welcomes 5,000+ attendees across venues in Albury and Wodonga. To find out more about Write Around the Murray visit ⁠⁠writearoundthemurray.org.au⁠⁠.

This is an audio recording of panel talk Just For Laughs which was part of Write Around the Murray 2024. The panel featured comedians Eden Porter, Alyce Fisher and Daniel Phillips talking about the specific craft of writing comedy for live performance. Between them, the three have staged their shows at Melbourne Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe and at open mic nights all around the Victorian/NSW Border region. Just For Laughs occurred at the Albury LibraryMuseum on Thursday 12 September 2024 and was moderated by award-winning author Siang Lu. Write Around the Murray is a 5 day literary festival held in Albury every September. The festival welcomes 5,000+ attendees across venues in Albury and Wodonga and author Aimee Chan is the Festival Director. To find out more about Write Around the Murray visit ⁠writearoundthemurray.org.au⁠.

This is an audio recording of panel talk Retelling the Stories of Star Wars and Dr Who which was part of Write Around the Murray 2024. The panel featured authors Chris Kennett and George Ivanoff talking to pop culture guru Eden Porter about their experiences working in the world of international IP for franchises such as Star Wars, Dr Who and The X Files. Retelling the Stories of Star Wars and Dr Who occurred at the Albury LibraryMuseum on Wednesday 11 September 2024. Write Around the Murray is a 5 day literary festival held in Albury every September. The festival welcomes 5,000+ attendees across venues in Albury and Wodonga and author Aimee Chan is the Festival Director. To find out more about Write Around the Murray visit writearoundthemurray.org.au.

This is an audio recording of panel talk The Story of the Shearer which was part of Write Around the Murray 2024. The panel featured award-winning author Kate Grenville, curator Sophie Gerhard from the National Gallery of Victoria and sculptor and visual artist Andrew Whitehead, talking about the iconic Australian painting Shearing the Rams. The panel discussed the importance of the Tom Roberts painting and what it says about our ideas of regional Australia. The Story of the Shearer occurred at the Albury LibraryMuseum on Sunday 15 September 2024 and was moderated by Annie Brown from ABC Goulburn Murray. Write Around the Murray is a 5 day literary festival held in Albury every September. The festival welcomes 5,000+ attendees across venues in Albury and Wodonga and author Aimee Chan is the Festival Director. To find out more about Write Around the Murray visit writearoundthemurray.org.au.

Begins with a performance of Racheal Oak Butler's moving monologue, My Calling, followed by Debra Dank delving into her multi-award-winning memoir, We Come With This Place, with host Michelle Evans.

Paul Dalgarno, Rijn Collins, and Gina Perry talk to Irma Gold about the themes in their novels and the personal and familial secrets and taboos that propel their stories. * Please note that this session included a Yarnbomb from Ruth Davys which is not included in this recording. Recorded 15/09/23

Grace Chan and T.R. Napper discuss science fiction, AI, virtual reality and what it means to be human, with Kate Mildenhall. Recorded: 16/09/23

Kate Mildenhall talks to authors Kathryn Heyman, T.R. Napper and Irma Gold about their first and subsequent publishing experiences. Recorded: 17/09/23

Sher Rill Ng, Jordan Gould and Richard Pritchard talk to YA author Karen Ginnane about illustration, collaboration and superpowers. Recorded: 16/09/23

Debra Dank and Kathryn Heyman speak with author Gina Perry about their personal stories and how they approached writing them. Recorded: 16/09/23

Liz Duck-Chong talks to Paul Dalgarno about his newly released non-fiction work, Prudish Nation. Recorded: 16/09/23

Jason Steger talks to local authors Shelley Burr and Margaret Hickey about their latest crime fiction novels. Recorded: 17/09/23

Kate Mildenhall chats with Paul Dalgarno about combining historical and speculative fiction and how her fears and hopes for the future informed her new novel. Recorded: 17/09/23

Pip Williams, in conversation with The Age Literary Editor and perennial WAM favourite, Jason Steger. Recorded: 17/09/23

Dr Yves Rees’ timely memoir, All About Yves, grants  readers access to a deeply personal journey of transition and  re-becoming, beyond the gender binary. As an historian, Yves has layered  their memoir with wider historical, social, linguistic, and cultural  contextual research, to piece together a wider and nuanced understanding  of the gender diverse and trans community. Yves speaks with  Psychology Lecturer and researcher, Matthew Ruby, about what it’s like  to discover who you really are, beyond dominant gender narratives and  stereotypes, and how it feels to come out on the other side and live the  life you always wanted to. Recorded: 18/09/22

Yves Rees talks to Jeff Sparrow about climate change, capitalism, and  the power of people just like you and me to change the tide of history. Recorded: 16/09/22

Nardi Simpson’s Song of the Crocodile, and hot-off-the-press novels,  Salt & Skin by Eliza Henry-Jones and The Settlement by Jock Serong,  explore past atrocities and their lingering effects through time. They  discuss their creative process of writing stories connected to  historical violence, trauma and spirit of place with Jason Steger. Recorded: 18/09/22

Michelle de Kretser’s award-winning novels include The  Rose Grower, The Hamilton Case, The Lost Dog, Questions of Travel and  The Life to Come. She has won or been shortlisted for many major  national and international literary awards and is the twice-winner of  both the Miles Franklin Literary Award and Christina Stead Prize for  Fiction. In her latest novel, Scary Monsters, Michelle has  experimented with form to create a novel in two halves, printed  back-to-back and upside down, disorienting the reader just as migration  has disrupted and disoriented her characters' lives. She speaks with  Jason Steger about Scary Monsters and the necessity of 'playing' with  writing and storytelling. Recorded: 18/09/22

Children’s Laureate Gabrielle Wang, Yuin First Nations author Gary  Lonesborough, and disability advocate Eliza Hull, discuss the importance  of diversity and representation in writing for children and young  people. Author and academic Yves Rees chats with them about their recent  books, including themes of cultural diversity, sexuality and  disability. They also discuss genre and stylistic choices and what  inspires them to write for young people. Recorded: 17/09/22

As long-established writers and teachers of writing, Patti Miller and  Lee Kofman have amassed a wealth of experience, knowledge and craft  throughout their careers. They have also honed an emotional honesty and  generosity reflected in their recent non-fiction works, True Friends and  The Writer Laid Bare. Eliza Henry-Jones opens up a rich conversation  with them about creativity, memory, truth and storytelling that will  inspire writers and enrich the experience of readers. Recorded: 17/09/22

Author and playwright Margaret Hickey, chats with screenwriter Keir  Wilkins, novelist Michelle de Kretser, and author, screenwriter and  performer Amal Awad, about writing for different mediums. In getting at  the heart of what’s essential to story, they discuss commonalities and  distinctions, freedoms and constraints, and industry challenges and  opportunities, within and between their chosen forms of storytelling. Recorded: 17/09/22

Outback noir, coastal noir, domestic noir, sunshine noir. We love good  crime fiction in this country and we’re not short on ways to categorise  it. Jock Serong talks to Margaret Hickey and T.R. Napper about  Margaret’s ‘rural noir’, Stone Town, and Tim’s ‘hard-boiled cyberpunk  noir’, 36 Streets. Together they shine some light into the dark corners  of crime fiction’s subgenres to find out what makes noir so wide-ranging  and compelling. Recorded: 18/09/22

Delia Falconer and Rick Morton discuss personal, planetary and cultural change with host Ailsa Piper.  Seismic Shifts was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2021 Recorded 18/09/2021

Anita Heiss, Dorothy Simmons and Jock Serong discuss historical fiction with Jason Steger. HIstorical Fiction was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2021 Recorded 18/09/2021

Lisa Walker, Rick Morton, Judy Horacek and Fiona Scott-Norman discuss the role of humour in their work. Humour & Heart was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2021. Recorded 18/09/2021

Leigh Hobbs, Ursula Dubosarsky, Sofie Laguna and Lisa Walker discuss the art of Creating Captivating Children's Books Creating Captivating Children's Books was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2021 Recorded 18/09/2021

Sofie Laguna, Emily Maguire and Campbell Mattinson discuss the complications of love, with Jason Steger. Complicated Love was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2021 Recorded 18/09/2021

Margaret Hickey talks to Pip Williams about her much loved debut novel. Dymocks presents Pip Williams was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2021 Recorded 15/09/2021

Both searing yet beautiful, the poetry and prose of Ellen van Neerven traces the continuing dispossession and violence that are our country’s uneasy inheritance. Exploring love, language and land, Ellen shines a light on Australia's unreconciled past and precarious present with humour and heart. Ellen speaks with Dr Jeanine Leane about their powerful new poetry collection, Throat. Present Tense. Our Uneasy Inheritance was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2020 Recorded 13/09/2020

In Bedlam at Botany Bay, historian James Dunk looks at how mental illness surfaced in colonial New South Wales. Weaving a narrative of freedom and possibility, unravel and collapse, he traces the path of people who found themselves at the edge of the world and at the edge of sanity. Dunk’s research ranges from the eighteenth century to the present, exploring how internal disorder has helped to shape the exterior world we live in. With Jenni Munday. Bedlam was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2020 Recorded 12/09/2020

Respected journalist Paddy Manning tells stories of tragedy, loss, heroism and resilience, in a book that is both monument and warning in his account of the human toll of climate change. With Jane Rawson. Body Count was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2020 Recorded 13/09/2020

A Room Made of Leaves turns historical fiction inside out. It is a stunning sleight of hand that gives the past the piercing immediacy of the present and reveals its urgent implications for our future. Kate Grenville in conversation with Jason Steger about her first novel in almost 10 years. A Room Made of Leaves was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2020 Recorded 12/09/2020

Jason Steger chats with Emma Viskic and Nick Gadd about font crimes, typomania and a P.I. who is many things, including deaf. Criminal Types was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2020 Recorded 13/09/2020

With Professor Clare Wright at the helm, we hear from Megan Davis, Tony Birch, Lucy Treloar, Chris Flynn and James Dunk responding to the NSW History Week theme, History: What is it good for? Past Tense. History: What is it good for? was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2020 Recorded 12/09/2020

Working in various mediums including film, theatre and podcast, our panellists showcase recent projects and discuss the delicate art of working with the stories of others, working regionally, and working through Covid. With Alyson Evans, Helen Newman, Aimee Chan and Karla Conway. Somebody's Story was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2020 Recorded 12/09/2020

Prehistoric animals, a pandemic and climate catastrophe are at the pointy ends of a three-way conversation between the latest novels of Chris Flynn, Laura Jean McKay and James Bradley. Jane Rawson explores an uncanny confluence of science, imagination and world events with our panellists. Animal Magnetism was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2020. Recorded 13/09/2020

Interview with Emilie Zoey Baker, poet, by Jocelyn Ceccanti for Write Around the Murray 2020. This interview was first aired on Monday 7 September on Indigo FM. Special thanks to Indigo FM for the recording.

Interview with Aimee Chan, writer, by Jocelyn Ceccanti for Write Around the Murray 2020. This interview was first aired on Monday 7 September on Indigo FM ahead of Aimee's appearance on the Somebody's Story panel and her exhibition My Grandma Is 100 at WAM in Albury. Special thanks to Indigo FM for the recording.

Interview with Alyson Evans, director, by Jocelyn Ceccanti for Write Around the Murray 2020. This interview was first aired on Friday 4 September on Indigo FM ahead of Alyson's appearance on the Somebody's Story panel and launch of her storytelling project The Neighbourhood at WAM in Albury. Special thanks to Indigo FM for the recording.

Interview with Nick Gadd, author of Death of a Typographer, by Jocelyn Ceccanti for Write Around the Murray 2020. This interview was first aired on Friday 4 September on Indigo FM ahead of Nick's appearance on the Criminal Types panel at WAM in Albury.  Special thanks to Indigo FM for the recording. 

Short Stories was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2020. Kate Rotherham and Lucy Treloar discuss the art of short story writing, what they love and what tips they have for aspiring writers. Listen below or click  here to watch the video and view their recommended reading list. Recorded 28/05/2020 Write Around the Murray is an annual literary-based festival held in Albury. It brings together some of Australia’s best authors and storytellers in a welcoming and relaxed environment. The diverse program includes author talks and workshops, art exhibitions, a poetry slam, writing competitions, WAM4Kids family events, and always an element of surprise. Many events are free or low cost and provide a unique opportunity for rural communities from NE Victoria, the Southern Riverina and beyond to not only listen to their favourite authors, storytellers and illustrators, but also to meet, greet and talk to them. Regular presenter Jason Steger describes the festival as “small and perfectly formed”. Past guests include Isobelle Carmody, Tim Flannery, Graeme Base, Benjamin Law, Graeme Simsion, Alison Lester and Jackie French. If you enjoyed this podcast please subscribe, give Write Around the Murray a 5 star rating and share it with your friends.

Inclusion Zone was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2019. Ben Doherty, Alice Pung, Arnold Zable and Amal Awad discuss racism, identity and belonging in Australia; the need to move beyond tokenism in our embrace of our diversity; and what it means to be a good human. Recorded: 13/09/2019 Write Around the Murray is an annual literary-based festival held in Albury. It brings together some of Australia’s best authors and storytellers in a welcoming and relaxed environment. The diverse program includes author talks and workshops, art exhibitions, a poetry slam, writing competitions, WAM4Kids family events, and always an element of surprise. Many events are free or low cost and provide a unique opportunity for rural communities from NE Victoria, the Southern Riverina and beyond to not only listen to their favourite authors, storytellers and illustrators, but also to meet, greet and talk to them. Regular presenter Jason Steger describes the festival as “small and perfectly formed”. Past guests include Isobelle Carmody, Tim Flannery, Graeme Base, Benjamin Law, Graeme Simsion, Alison Lester and Jackie French. If you enjoyed this podcast please subscribe, give Write Around the Murray a 5 star rating and share it with your friends.

The Thrill Of Crime was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2019. Andy Muir, Christian White and Richard Anderson talk to Marg Hickey about their latest novels while discussing our insatiable fascination with the crime-thriller genre. Recorded 15/09/2019 Write Around the Murray is an annual literary-based festival held in Albury. It brings together some of Australia’s best authors and storytellers in a welcoming and relaxed environment. The diverse program includes author talks and workshops, art exhibitions, a poetry slam, writing competitions, WAM4Kids family events, and always an element of surprise. Many events are free or low cost and provide a unique opportunity for rural communities from NE Victoria, the Southern Riverina and beyond to not only listen to their favourite authors, storytellers and illustrators, but also to meet, greet and talk to them. Regular presenter Jason Steger describes the festival as “small and perfectly formed”. Past guests include Isobelle Carmody, Tim Flannery, Graeme Base, Benjamin Law, Graeme Simsion, Alison Lester and Jackie French. If you enjoyed this podcast please subscribe, give Write Around the Murray a 5 star rating and share it with your friends.

Inside Publishing was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2019. Get an insider’s look into the world of book publishing with Elissa Baillie of Simon & Schuster, Coco McGrath from Affirm Press and Jacqueline Kent, author of A Certain Style: Beatrice Davis, a Literary Life. Chaired by Jane McCredie. Event sponsored by Writing NSW. Recorded 13/09/2019 Write Around the Murray is an annual literary-based festival held in Albury. It brings together some of Australia’s best authors and storytellers in a welcoming and relaxed environment. The diverse program includes author talks and workshops, art exhibitions, a poetry slam, writing competitions, WAM4Kids family events, and always an element of surprise. Many events are free or low cost and provide a unique opportunity for rural communities from NE Victoria, the Southern Riverina and beyond to not only listen to their favourite authors, storytellers and illustrators, but also to meet, greet and talk to them. Regular presenter Jason Steger describes the festival as “small and perfectly formed”. Past guests include Isobelle Carmody, Tim Flannery, Graeme Base, Benjamin Law, Graeme Simsion, Alison Lester and Jackie French. If you enjoyed this podcast please subscribe, give Write Around the Murray a 5 star rating and share it with your friends.

The Fragments was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2019. Jason Steger chats with Toni Jordan about her novel The Fragments, set in 1930s New York and 1980s Brisbane. Recorded 15/09/2019 Write Around the Murray is an annual literary-based festival held in Albury. It brings together some of Australia’s best authors and storytellers in a welcoming and relaxed environment. The diverse program includes author talks and workshops, art exhibitions, a poetry slam, writing competitions, WAM4Kids family events, and always an element of surprise. Many events are free or low cost and provide a unique opportunity for rural communities from NE Victoria, the Southern Riverina and beyond to not only listen to their favourite authors, storytellers and illustrators, but also to meet, greet and talk to them. Regular presenter Jason Steger describes the festival as “small and perfectly formed”. Past guests include Isobelle Carmody, Tim Flannery, Graeme Base, Benjamin Law, Graeme Simsion, Alison Lester and Jackie French. If you enjoyed this podcast please subscribe, give Write Around the Murray a 5 star rating and share it with your friends.

Languages Of Immortality was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2018. Wiradjuri language experts and advocates Ruth Davys, Dr Pettina Love, Geoff Anderson and Professor Ghil’ad Zuckermann speak with Sally Warhaft about the significance of language preservation and the impact of language decline on identity and shared cultural knowledge. Presented by the Murray Art Museum Albury. Recorded 06/09/2018 Write Around the Murray is an annual literary-based festival held in Albury. It brings together some of Australia’s best authors and storytellers in a welcoming and relaxed environment. The diverse program includes author talks and workshops, art exhibitions, a poetry slam, writing competitions, WAM4Kids family events, and always an element of surprise. Many events are free or low cost and provide a unique opportunity for rural communities from NE Victoria, the Southern Riverina and beyond to not only listen to their favourite authors, storytellers and illustrators, but also to meet, greet and talk to them. Regular presenter Jason Steger describes the festival as “small and perfectly formed”. Past guests include Isobelle Carmody, Tim Flannery, Graeme Base, Benjamin Law, Graeme Simsion, Alison Lester and Jackie French. If you enjoyed this podcast please subscribe, give Write Around the Murray a 5 star rating and share it with your friends.

Finding Words was part of the Write Around the Murray program for 2018. Caroline Baum and Jessie Cole talk to Ailsa Piper about family, forgiveness and the importance of writing to understanding their lives and losses. Recorded 09/09/2018 Write Around the Murray is an annual literary-based festival held in Albury. It brings together some of Australia’s best authors and storytellers in a welcoming and relaxed environment. The diverse program includes author talks and workshops, art exhibitions, a poetry slam, writing competitions, WAM4Kids family events, and always an element of surprise. Many events are free or low cost and provide a unique opportunity for rural communities from NE Victoria, the Southern Riverina and beyond to not only listen to their favourite authors, storytellers and illustrators, but also to meet, greet and talk to them. Regular presenter Jason Steger describes the festival as “small and perfectly formed”. Past guests include Isobelle Carmody, Tim Flannery, Graeme Base, Benjamin Law, Graeme Simsion, Alison Lester and Jackie French. If you enjoyed this podcast please subscribe, give Write Around the Murray a 5 star rating and share it with your friends.