Free & Fabulous: A Feast of Children’s Authors & Lifelong love of Reading at Willoughby Writers Festival 17-19th July. Enjoy the enthusiastic illustrator dual with acclaimed children’s illustrators Serena Geddes and Mo Davey. Hear from best selling children’s and young adult authors Jacqueline Harvey, Kate Forsyth, Susanne Gervay, Libby Hathorn, Pamela Freeman, with new authors Karen Hendricks and Zena Shapter.
Amidst outstanding adult authors including Tara Moss, Bob Barr, Michelle de Krestser, Belinda Alexandra, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Michael Visontay, Jane Caro and many others, start with children’s and young adult authors. It is from young readers that they become adult enthusiasts. Unlike most festivals, Willoughby Writers Festival is, free, celebrating the talents of Australian authors. What do the classic authors say:-
“I don’t want to write for adults. I want to write for readers who can perform miracles. Only children perform miracles when they read.” Astrid Lindgren
“I’m probably more pleased with my children’s books than with my adult short stories. Children’s books are harder to write. It’s tougher to keep a child interested because a child doesn’t have the concentration of an adult. The child knows the television is in the next room. It’s tough to hold a child, but it’s a lovely thing to try to do.” Roald Dahl
“Writing for children is bloody difficult; books for children are as complex as their adult counterparts, and they should therefore be accorded the same respect.” Mark Haddon
Explore how children’s books can foster inclusion, language development and a lifelong love of reading in a dynamic session brought to you in collaboration with the Society of Women’s Writers NSW and the Willoughby Writers Festival. Awarding winning authors Susanne Gervay OAM, Libby Hathorn, Karen Hendriks and Julie Thorndyke discuss their children’s books and explore themes of disability, inclusion, language and literacy for all. This year’s festival explores a wide range of themes, including resilience and recovery, Indigenous storytelling, LGBTQIA, inclusion and disability, travel, poetry and the preservation of local heritage. All events are free, making the festival accessible to everyone. https://womenwritersnsw.org/index.php