In the Writers Who Made Us series, Festival guests highlight the writers who have influenced their writing life and work.

Crime fiction author and filmmaker Michael Bennett (Carved in Blood) discusses Truman Capote and David Bowie. Former Sydney Swans player Brandon Jack (Pissants) explores the work of fellow footy fan Helen Garner and journalist Sarah Krasnostein (The Mushroom Tapes) shares the influence of Peter Carey on her writing career.

Hear writers Michael, Brandon and Sarah reflect on the influence of esteemed writers in this free talk series.

Explores the many dimensions of poison as the ‘women’s weapon’.

Sisters in Crime Australia is proud to present its 20th Law Week event.

Exploring the many dimensions of poison as the ‘women’s weapon’ will be Chloe Hooper, co-author of The Mushroom Tapes; Linda Glowacki, toxicologist from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine & Angela Savage on Agatha Christie and poisons; and host Vikki Petraitis.

Poison was historically considered the archetypal 'woman's weapon' as it required no special strength, only access and opportunity, things generally afforded women in their domestic role. Or is this an old, made-up sawhorse?

For novelists, winning a Booker Prize, one of the most coveted literary awards in the world, is a career- and life-changing achievement.

In this special event, a dazzling array of shortlisted writers and winners reflect on how it shaped their writing lives and read from the works that brought them recognition.

Hear panel discussion with 2025 Booker Prize winner David Szalay (Flesh), 2025 Chair of the judges and previous winner Roddy Doyle (Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha), Susan Choi (Flashlight), Yann Martel (Life of Pi) and Charlotte Wood (Stone Yard Devotional). With host ABC Radio National’s Kate Evans.

Coming-of-age novels continue to endure, guiding us down that treacherous path from childhood to adulthood.

Gary Lonesborough (Good Young Men), Allayne L. Webster (Maisy Hayes Is Not For Sale) and Scott Woodard (Poster Boys) discuss their latest YA novels and the themes explored within, some universal and some specific to our times. From family and societal pressures, through to concepts of masculinity and escalating racial tensions, these books paint adolescence with humour, honesty and compassion.

Join Gary, Allayne and Scott as they unpack the middle years of growing up.

Internationally renowned and Pulitzer Prize–shortlisted investigative journalist Barbara Demick has built her career on uncovering hidden stories in North Korea, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Tibet.    

In her latest book, Daughters of the Bamboo Grove, Barbara tells the true story of twin girls abducted, separated and trafficked for international adoption under China’s one-child policy.  

Hear Barbara dive into this chilling story, painting a rich picture of 2000s China that challenges common assumptions about the quality of life in the East compared to the West. In conversation with Katrina Strickland.

Michael Winkler is a writer of fiction and non-fiction. His latest novel is Griefdogg. His previous novel, Grimmish, shortlisted for the 2022 Miles Franklin Literary Award, was published in the UK, North America and Spain (in translation). Michael won the Calibre Prize for his essay ‘The Great Red Whale’. His journalism, reviews, short fiction and essays have been widely published and anthologised. 

An evening of wine, stories and music at the beautiful Hill of Content bookstore

Join us Thursday May 28 in store for our second Hill of Content Jamboree: a lovely evening of wine, readings, music and the charming bookstore atmosphere.

Entry is free, and drinks will be provided, but booking here is essential as places are limited.

This time we have a reading from poet and novelist Lisa Gorton (recipient of the Prime Minister's Award for Fiction, among many other awards)from her new book Mirror Landscapes, and another from novelist Michael Winkler (shortlistee for the Miles Franklin Award) from his new book Griefdogg.

We'll also have song sets from musicians Molly McKew and Bobby Flynn, of the wonderful albums It Should Have Been Done With Ease and Real World respectively.

And finally we'll be featuring actor Angus Keech reading from artist-writer Joe Brainard's poignant and tender and funny book I Remember.

Amanda Lohrey has over many years abandoned three tenured academic positions in order to do a lot of scribbling. She has published eight novels, a collection of short stories, two Quarterly Essays and a book on why singing is good for you. Her ninth novel is Capture (28 April 2026).

Robbie Arnott is the author of Limberlost, The Rain Heron, Flames and Dusk. He’s a two-time winner of The Age Book of the Year, and has also been awarded the Voss Literary Prize. He’s been named a Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Novelist, and has twice been shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award, as well as the Dylan Thomas Prize. He lives in Hobart with his wife and daughter.

It is our pleasure to present Meet the Author: Sharon Kernot for the launch of her stunning thriller novel in verse, Night Swimming.

Sharon is an Adelaide Hills author of formidable talent and firm friend of the bookshop, and she will be in conversation with our very own, Kasey Chambers on Thursday June 4th at 630pm in the cosy and beautiful Matilda Bookshop. This promises to be an electric conversation about memory, desire, verse, form, and suspense. Please join us.

Night Swimming is a riveting psychological thriller that catapults the reader into the mind of a deeply tormented and vulnerable protagonist, blurring the boundaries between victim and aggressor with shocking effect. January Clare Colson is longing for sleep, for release from the wakefulness that is consuming her. She’s haunted by the tragic drowning of her best friend years ago when she and Julie were rebellious teens. She’s a mess of pills and broken promises. She’s swimming in desperation.Then he walks back into her life, changed but the same, and the events of long ago take a new grip on her. She needs to know what happened. She needs to know him. To call him to account. But her strategy is dangerous, obsessive, warped by insomnia and the intense power of thwarted desire. January Clare Colson is standing on the brink of destruction.

Sharon Kernot is the author of three novels including two acclaimed YA verse novels, The Art of Taxidermy and Birdy. Her poems and short stories have been published widely in Australia and internationally. Sharon lives in Mount Barker, South Australia.

Tickets are $15 (& include a glass of SC Pannell wine), or you can purchase Ticket + Book $35 (Night Swimming is usually $35rrp on its own). If you choose the Ticket + Signed Book option, your book will be ready for collection on the night. Copies of Night Swimming and Sharon's other titles will also be available on the night.