Early Bird tickets now available!
Airlie Beach QLD 29 April 2024 – Early Bird ticket registrations for the Whitsundays Writers Festival are now open!
“The time is here! We are excited to release Early Bird tickets for the full Festival program. Some events are strictly limited, so get in early!” said Festival President Karen Jacobsen.
First to be released are Early Bird tickets for the 3-day Festival program that include:
Day 1 Friday 6 September features author keynotes and conversations (9am-5pm) followed by Poetry Karaoke (5:30pm-7:30pm) at the Whitsunday Sailing Club.
Day 2 Saturday 7 September commences with the Whitsunday Literary Heart Award presentations for best unpublished manuscript, short story, poetry, and book design, and author conversations at the Whitsunday Sailing Club (9am-2:30pm); the Big Book Club High Tea at My Rainbow Bakery (3:15pm-4:45pm); and then a lively Saturday Sundowner event (5:30pm-7:30pm) in Airlie Beach.
The Big Book Club High Tea featuring Sally Hepworth and Kristy Manning is strictly limited to the first 100 registrations.
Day 3 Sunday 8 September has workshops in the morning at the Whitsunday Sailing Club (9am-12pm) followed by Local Author Long Lunch at the Whitsunday Marine Club (12:30pm-2:30pm).
Standard Early Bird tickets for the full program are $320 (plus GST) and $249 (plus GST) for seniors, concession, and companion card holders and students. Early Bird registrations close 31 May with ticket price increases taking effect 1 June.
Single day, single session, and special event tickets will be released at a later date.
The full Festival program will be revealed in July featuring Shankari Chandran, Garry Disher, Sally Hepworth, Kirsty Manning, Christos Tsiolkas, Anne Buist, Graeme Simsion, Karina Kilmore, Melissa Ashley, Jack Roney, Joy Damousi, and Nick Earls.
Karen expressed her excitement, stating, “It’s not often we have the opportunity to meet renowned national and international writers and at the same time, support our local authors. 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.”
Are you a local Whitsundays author? If so, you will be able to sell your titles through the official Festival Bookshop. Local authors who purchase a 3-day ticket can pay an additional $100 (plus GST) to become a Featured Local Author and receive a number of exclusive benefits, a national platform to promote their books, and go into the running to be selected as a showcase author at the Festival’s closing event – the Local Author Long Lunch.