Literary lovers from Richmond will be in their element this month, as the annual Melbourne Writers Festival takes place.
The two-week celebration brings international and local authors together and this year will feature more than 400 events ranging from author talks, book readings, and musical performances to workshops and seminars on writing for different genres. Many of the events are free, and there are activities suitable for all ages.
One of the highlights this year will be best-selling writer Salman Rushdie, who will discuss his life, work and the controversies he has sparked in his career, on Thursday, August 28th and Friday, August 29th.
Other events already proving popular include a seminar on writing for children and a talk by Maria Popova, the blogger behind the Brain Pickings website.
This year’s opening event will feature Australian author Helen Garner, who will talk about her latest work. Dave Eggers, best known for his novel A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, will close the festival, offering a sneak preview of his new book.
Anyone inspired by the festival to write their own book can employ a printing company to produce a printed manuscript for them, which could even lead to a publishing deal.
The festival runs from Thursday, August 21st to Sunday, August 31st at venues across Melbourne. For more information, visit the official website.
