Writers' festival returns to Peninsula surf clubs
The annual Words on the Waves writers' festival will be held in Umina on the weekend of Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1.
Four major sessions will be held at each of the Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club and the Umina Surf Life Saving Club, with other sessions in a marquee in the adjacent recreation area.
Writing workshops will be held in the Umina Country Women's Association hall.
The festival claims to have attracted some of Australia's best authors, from politics to poetry, memoir to spy crime.
Authors will included Kate Grenville, David Marr, Clare Wright and Gail Jones.
TV and radio broadcasters will include Virginia Trioli, Julia Baird, Steve Vizard, Jane Caro and Gideon Haigh.
Fiction authors will include Emily Maguire, Inga Simpson, Jumaana Abdu, Charlotte McConaghy, Nikki Gemmell, Jessie Tu and James Bradley and non-fiction authors Debra Dank, Lech Blaine and Peter Greste.
The Dip marquee will host guests Blanche d'Alpuget, Rosie Waterland and Hugh Mackay, as well as the launch of an inaugural poetry slam.
Some events will be held at other locations around the Peninsula on Thursday and Friday.
A number of book launches, a literary cruise and other activities including a children's program will take place at venues outside the Peninsula, including at several council libraries and Ourimbah campus.
More information is available at https://wordsonthewaves.com.au/.
SOURCE:
Website, 15 May 2025
Words on the Waves