Writer will speak

Phegan's Bay writer Belinda Castles will speak at the NSW Writers' Centres first Contemporary Australian Fiction Festival on March 24.

Ms Castles, winner of the 2006 Australian/Vogel literary award for her novel "The River Baptists", will speak on "Writing the First, Second, Fifth Novels".

The festival celebrates Australian contemporary writing in all its forms and features novelists, new writers, children's and young adult fiction, poets and playwrights.

Brian Cook, who runs the Manuscript Assessment Agency in Terrigal and is a manuscript assessor, mentor and literary agent will also join the panel session on "Editing, Mentoring and Assessing Fiction".

Publishers, editors, creative writing tutors and literary judges will face questions about the state of contemporary Australian fiction and the publishing industry and new writers will bring their "fresh perspectives and contemporary voices", according to communications director Ms Arabella Lee.

"With eight panel sessions running throughout the day, the world premier launch of 'hyperpanofiction' and a 'Best First paragraph' writing competition the festival will be an exciting and inspiring day for anyone interested in books, writing and new Australian fiction," Ms Lee said.

For a copy of the festival program contact the NSW Writers' Centre on 02 9555 9757 or visit www.nswwriterscentre.org.au.

The event will be held at the NSW Writers' Centre in Rozelle.

Press release, 20 Feb 2007 Arabella Lee, NSW Writers' Centre