Program
Bookings required unless stated otherwise.
A booking fee by trybooking of 30c per paid ticket applies.
No booking fee charged on free events.
Download PDF of printable program (4.2 MB)
FRIDAY 10 MAY
Official Opening Celebration Proudly sponsored by Civica
Join the Bayside Mayor, Councillor Stephen Hartneyfor the Official Opening of the Bayside Literary Festival. Vikki Petraitis will MC and author of ‘Soup Van’ Keira Dickinson will share stories of the amazing people she met through volunteering on the Soup Van with St Vinnie’s in Collingwood. The ‘Off The Shelf’ choir will perform and champagne and canapes will be served during this cocktail function.
6.30pm for a 7pm start -8pm, Beaumaris Community Centre, free event
SATURDAY 11 MAY
Shane Maloney
Shane Maloney is the creator of the popular Australian crime novel series- the Murray Whelan novels: ‘Stiff’, ‘The Brush-Off’, ‘Nice Try’, ‘The Big Ask’, ‘Something Fishy’ and ‘Sucked In’. This is a rare opportunity to hear from one of Australia’s finest writers.
2-3pm, Beaumaris Library, free event
Mariam Issa ‘A Resilient Life’
Mariam Issa’s journey has not been an easy one as she explains in her book ‘A Resilient Life’. It describes one woman’s refugee journey from Somalia to a world away in Australia. This event will be hosted by the Brighton Historical Society.
2-3pm, Brighton Town Hall, Historical Society Rooms, $10
SUNDAY 12 MAY
Writing and Getting Published
This workshop, convened by Pauline Luke, will present five successful writers, Hazel Edwards, Reg Egan, Corinne Fenton, Margaret Geddes and Suzanne McCourt who will describe what called them to be writers and how they got published.
2-3pm, Brighton Library, $10
One of Australia's most published autors, Ken Piesse is an AFL and Cricket afficionado. Ken will share amazing stories about the AFL and Cricket sporting heroes he has met, there are just too many to name.
This session has been cancelled
WEDNESDAY 15 MAY
Tim’s role as CEO of World Vision Australia takes him all around the globe. Tim will talk about the many amazing situations he has found himself in and the multitude of lessons that can be learned, sometimes from the most surprising sources. This is a book of memoirs that you will remember long after you turn the last page.
10-11am, Bayside Corporate Centre, Bayside Room, $10
A donation will be made to World Vision by way of thanks to Tim for his presentation.
Jane Mayo Carolan
Author of 'Visionary Lives: five hundred biographies' from the Brighton General Cemetery. Jane is a biographer, historian and archivist. The book contains fascinating stories of the 500 people whose last resting place is the Brighton Cemetery.
2-3pm Brighton Library, $10
Create your Own Coffee Table Book
Do you have photos from an overseas trip, or from a family wedding? In this demonstration session, learn how to preserve and display these memories in a professionally printed & bound photo book. This session will follow the process of adding text and photos so you can go home and get to work on creating your own coffee table book of very special memories.
2-4pm, Brighton Library Training Room, $10
Graeme Simsion ‘The Rosie Project’
Described as the feel-good novel of 2013, ‘The Rosie Project’ won the 2012 Premier’s Literary Prize for an Unpublished Manuscript and the rights have been sold to over 30 countries. ‘The Rosie Project’ is full of quirky characters, laugh out loud situations but with an underlying seriousness as the main character, Don, tries to find somethingas illogical as love the scientific way.
7.30pm. This event is hosted by Ulysses Bookstore at the Sandringham Club, Beach Road, Sandringham, enter from Bamfield St, $10.
To book call 9521 8020 or visit www.ulyssesbookstore.com.au
THURSDAY 16 MAY
Timothy Roberts, PhD, Punctuate or Perish Top Ten Writing Tips
Tim has extensive experience with writing in its many and varied forms including articles, short stories, books and websites. He will share his expertise and knowledge to equip writers with the writing, editing and proofing skills so they can feel confident with the work they present.
7-8pm, Bayside Corporate Centre, Bayside Room, $10
FRIDAY 17 MAY
Greek Community Morning Tea
A special morning tea will be held for members of the Greek community to meet new friends or become reacquainted with old ones.
10.30am- 12pm, Bookings are not required, Brighton Library, free event
Fellowship of Australian Writers
Come along and hear from the many talented writers that comprise the Australian Fellowship of Writers. Learn from their many years of experience. The session convener will be Gaytana Adorna, with special guest writers David Campbell, George Ivanoff and Mairi Neill.
7-8.30pm, Beaumaris Library, $10
SUNDAY 19 MAY
Poetry Writing Workshop
The Coastline Poetry Group will conduct a workshop to stimulate creativity and share ideas about the writing process.
This session has been cancelled
TUESDAY 21 MAY
Maureen McCarthy
Maureen’s award winning novels include the ‘In Between’ series, ‘Ganglands’;’ Cross My Heart’; ‘Chain of Hearts’; ‘Flash Jack’; and ‘When You Wake and Find Me Gone’. Her bestselling and much-loved book ‘Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude get a life’ was made into a highly successful four-part mini-series for ABC TV.
1-2pm Teenage Session, Beaumaris Library, free event
6.30-7.30pm Adult Session, Brighton Library, free event
WEDNESDAY 22 MAY
German Storytime
A special story time in German for pre schoolers,with fun, music and sing alongs.
10.30-11.15am, Bookings are not required, Brighton Library, free event
National Simultaneous Storytime
Join in with the National Simultaneous Story Time featuring ‘The Wrong Book’ by Nick Bland.
10.30-11.15am, Bookings are not required, Brighton and Sandringham Libraries, free event
Time to Create a Better Life
Make a change for the better. Michele Tocci from Lifestyle Refocus will provide you with the tools you need to help create a better life.
2-3pm, Brighton Library, $10
THURSDAY 23 MAY
Bayside Poetry Group
Poems for lovers of language, its music, power and imagery. Plus a little surprise. Hosted by poet, performer, writer and radio host Gaytana Adorna, broadcast on Southern FM radio station.
6.30-8pm, Beaumaris Library, $10
FRIDAY 24 MAY
The Real King Arthur
Sue Bell, a U3A Tutor, facilitates this session and discusses the real King Arthur.
1-3pm, Brighton Library, $10
SATURDAY 25 MAY
Canine Story Time
Suzanne McCourt, author of the highly successful ‘Old Dogs: Lessons in Loving and Ageing’ will run this session. Suzanne is a well known local author whose first novel is due to be published by TEXT in 2014. Kids are invited to bring along their well behaved dogs to story time. Children are encouraged to practice reading to their dogs who just love to listen.
2-3pm, Beaumaris Library, enter the Hall through the rear, $5 per child
SUNDAY 26 MAY
Jill Stark
Author of ‘High Sobriety’, Senior Health Reporter with The Age, and after-hours binge drinker. This lively memoir charts Jill’s tumultuous year on the wagon. 'High Sobriety' is a funny, moving and insightful exploration of alcohol and society.
1-2pm, Beaumaris Library, $10
.jpg)
TUESDAY 28 MAY
Jo Case
Jo’s son Leo is having trouble fitting in, he can never seem to say or do the right thing. But Leo has been reading novels since he started school and amazes strangers with his encyclopaedic knowledge - could he be gifted? In fact, it turns out Leo has Asperger’s Syndrome. This is the bittersweet, blackly funny story of a boy and why being different isn’t a disability - it just takes a bit of getting used to.
2-3pm, Brighton Library, $10
Winning Poetry Competitions; A Judge's Perspective
David Campbell, award- winning writer and the Festival’s poetry judge, will share his perspective on what makes a winning poem. This is an opportunity to learn effective strategies for maximising your chances of success in poetry competitions. The session will include readings from David’s new book for which he will be joined by Bayside writer, performer, director, radio host and editor Gaytana Adorna.
7-8.30pm, Brighton Library, $10
WEDNESDAY 29 MAY
The Poems of Rosemary Dobson
The poems of Rosemary Dobson, one of Australia's foremost female writers will be presented by Barrie Sheppard
12-1pm, Brighton Library, free event
‘Little Black Bastard’ is an amazing story of survival. Noel Tovey had a childhood and adolescence that would have killed some, and twisted many beyond hope. Abandoned on the streets of Melbourne at the age of six, he endured years of poverty, neglect and abuse before ending up in Pentridge Goal at the age of 17, contemplating suicide. But Noel never lost his conviction that he would succeed as a dancer and actor and that there was a better life out there, somewhere. Noel's presentation is during National Reconciliation Week.
7-8pm, Brighton Library, $10
THURSDAY 30 MAY
Create your Own Coffee Table Book
Do you have photos from an overseas trip, or from a family wedding? In this demonstration session, learn how to preserve and display these memories in a professionally printed & bound photo book. This session will follow the process of adding text and photos so you can go home and get to work on creating your own coffee table book of very special memories.
2-4pm, Brighton Library Training Room, $10
SATURDAY 1 JUNE
Amy Espeseth
A writer of remarkable talent, Amy’s first novel ‘Sufficient Grace’ is about Pentecostal fundamentalists in Wisconsin and it won the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for an unpublished manuscript. Ruth and her cousin live in an isolated community and their families perceive constant danger in the outside world but they are blind to the destruction in their own circle.
2-3pm, Brighton Library, $10
Andy Griffiths
Australia’s most popular children’s author with over 20 books to his name including the ‘Just’ series and ‘The Day My Bum Went Psycho’. Andy has loved writing since he could hold a pen and began his career by self publishing his books after one rejection too many. Andy has earned the reputation as Australia’s best-selling children’s author who also has the best sense of humour.
2.30-3.30pm, Beaumaris Library, free event
SUNDAY 2 JUNE
Bayside Writing Competition Winners Announced
Winners of the Adult Writing and Poetry Competitions will be announced. Eva Lomski, the winner of the inaugural competition will speak about her journey since winning and the ‘Off the Shelf’ choir will perform. Refreshments will be served.
2-4pm, Brighton Library, free event
MONDAY 17 - THURSDAY 20 JUNE
Last Manned Gates at Brighton Beach
Enjoy this extremely entertaining comedy/drama written by award winning playwright Kieran Carroll about the three characters who all love the gates for different reasons.
Brighton Theatre, $20 or $15 concession, to book call 9773 1210.
Page last updated: 27 May 2013