Captivating Return: Whitsundays Writers Festival Makes a Grand Comeback
Monday 5 February 2024
After a seven-year hiatus, the Whitsundays Writers Festival is set to make a triumphant return, promising an immersive celebration for writers, readers, and thinkers alike.
With a stellar line-up of Australia’s leading literary figures already confirmed, this September event is destined to become a cornerstone in the national cultural calendar.
Headlining the festival is none other than the esteemed 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner, Shankari Chandran, who clinched Australia’s premier literary prize with Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens.
Joining Shankari are several other highly regarded, award-winning Australian authors who have enthusiastically committed to the festival. Their participation solidifies the Whitsundays Writers Festival as a must-attend literary event, marking a significant cultural moment.
Karen Jacobsen, the Festival President, expressed her excitement, stating, “It’s not often we have the opportunity to meet renowned national and international writers. This will be a landmark event for the Whitsundays and a golden opportunity for regional Queensland to add a substantial literary gem to its arts calendar.”
The festival, spanning three days from Friday, September 6, to Sunday, September 8, 2024, will also feature the prestigious Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards. The Heart Awards provide well-deserved recognition and financial rewards to talented writers for best unpublished manuscript, short story, poetry, and book design. Submissions for the Heart Awards open February 14.
“This event will bring together creative minds in the picturesque setting of the Whitsundays. What better place to immerse yourself in the brilliance of Australian literature?” remarked Karen. “I strongly advise securing your place at the festival and booking accommodation early to fully enjoy the wonders of the Whitsundays while indulging in the myriad of events the festival has to offer.”
Make sure to mark your calendars for this unforgettable literary experience and stay tuned for further exciting announcements and author profiles as the festival approaches.
Media contact
Richard Evans
Festival Convenor
Mobile: 0413 331 944
Email: richard@whitsundayswriters.com