8th Australian Short Story Festival comes to Freo

“It’s wonderful to be around people who love short fiction – it’s like hanging around with my tribe”, says Junot Diaz.

Hear, hear!

And here’s your chance to turn those words into action by rolling up for the Australian Short Story Festival in Freo in a couple weeks time.

The Australian Short Story Festival, now in its eighth year, celebrates the art and craft of the short story form.

The short story, like a love affair, reminds us of how we live our life in moments: moments of emotional intensity, despair, joy and love. Not to mention turning points, hauntings, and startling revelations.

The national Festival, shared with Adelaide, will be held at The University of Notre Dame, Tannock Hall, Croke Street in Fremantle/Walyalup from 22 to 24 November. It offers three days of workshops, panel discussions, readings and live music.

The Festival begins on Friday 22 November with a day of stimulating writing workshops, followed by a Gala Opening night in the courtyard of 10 Cliff Street Fremantle.

The evening will celebrate three iconic Australian musicians – Nick Cave, Paul Kelly and Kylie Minogue – and the stories their songs inspired.

Bigger and better than ever, this year the Festival brings together 40 local, national and international authors all passionate about writing short stories and ready to engage in lively panels and conversations.

Two of the biggest names in the business join the Festival via Zoom: UK writer Carys Davies from Scotland (The Redemption of Galen Pike and Clear) and Australian-born Fiona McFarlane (The High Places and Highway 13) from San Francisco.

A great line-up of writers from around Australia, from diverse backgrounds and cultures, will discuss their inspirations, provocations and the subtleties of their craft.

Among them are award-winners Cate Kennedy and Laura Jean McKay from Victoria, African Australian Eugen Bacon, Brazilian-born Ana Brawls, Catherine McNamara visiting from Venice, Adam Thompson from Tasmania, Kalem Murray from the Bardi people, Broome, and Jane Cornes Maclean from Brisbane.

Local writers include the internationally acclaimed John Kinsella, along with Gillian O’Shaughnessy, Susan Midalia, Holden Sheppard and Laurie Steed.

The festival will culminate on the Sunday evening with a fun-filled literary debate between sharp-minded and sharp-tongued writers from around Australia.

You’ll find the full program for the Festival right here.

And you can book your tix right here or aim your smart phone’s camera at the barcode below.