News

St Albans Writers' Festival - A World Of Stories In A Tiny Village

Source: St Albans Writers' Festival

Archived 30 Sep 2016 - Posted: 13 Sep 2016

This spring, from September 16 to 18, the second St Albans Writers’ Festival invites you into a world of Australian stories told in picturesque surroundings. Cross the Hawkesbury river by car ferry, take a breath of country air and journey into the Forgotten Valley. Put away your phone where there’s no WiFi or mobile service.

On the other side, rub shoulders with more than 50 of Australia’s favourite storytellers including Les Murray, Jane Caro, Stan Grant, Sarah Ferguson, Hugh Mackay, Tim Elliott, Judy Nunn, Fiona Wright, Meg Keneally, Emily Maguire, Rod Jones, Richard Glover, Kate Forsyth, Robert Macklin, Wendy Whiteley, Janet Hawley, Matthew Condon and Ailsa Piper. Be exhilarated by new ideas, and feast on amazing food by Simmone Logue.

The festival sessions are held in a small walkable precinct which includes the historic St Albans Church, Settlers Arms Inn and marquees with a backdrop of the Macdonald River.

The tiny village has a population of just over 300 people and the festival can accommodate another 800 guests.

“You will bump into authors wandering around the precinct, having a drink at the pub and sitting around the fire. You can also chat with them during informal round table ‘Meet the Author’ sessions over a coffee or something stronger,” said Festival Artistic Director Catherine du Peloux Menagé.

The Festival committee Myra Fox (finance), Jonathan Nolan (design), and Catherine du Peloux Menagé (artistic director) have been part of the St Albans community for many years.

“The idea of the Festival came from a 2013 BookFeast organised by four book clubs in the valley to share our love of writing. Kate Grenville came along and we thought an annual event to celebrate our love of literature would be amazing for the community. Two years later, the first festival was born.”

St Albans Writers’ Festival thanks Virgin Australia, The Saturday Paper, Pantera Press, The Settlers Arms Inn, and St Alban’s local businesses and individuals who have provided accommodation for writers. The Festival would not run without the help of local volunteers who do everything from supervising the audio-visual equipment, to providing security and emergency services.

St Albans Writers' Festival

When:

Friday 16th to Sunday 18th September.

Cost:

$85 for a day pass or $150 for the Friday – Sunday.

Where:

1515 St Albans Road, Central Macdonald NSW 2775

Directions:

From Sydney: 90-minute drive north west of Sydney via Castle Hill, Dural and Wisemans Ferry, and across the Hawkesbury River on the free car ferry.
From Central Coast: Via Mangrove Mountain, past Wisemans Ferry and onto Settlers Road.
From The Hunter: Via Bucketty.
www.stalbanswritersfestival.com.au

FULL AUTHOR LIST
Scott Bevan
John Blay
Jane Caro
Matthew Condon
Richard Denniss
David Dyer
Nick Earls
Tim Elliott
Heather Ellis
Alex Elliott-Howery
Sarah Ferguson
Kate Forsyth
Candice Fox
Sulari Gentill
Richard Glover
Stan Grant
John M Green
Janet Hawley
Lisa Heidke
Meredith Jaffé
Trevor Jamieson
Erik Jensen
Rod Jones
Meg Keneally
Karly Lane
Suzanne Leal
Simmone Logue
Hugh Mackay
Robert Macklin
Emily Maguire
Les Murray
Jacqui Newling
John Newton
Judy Nunn
Aaron Patrick
Ailsa Piper
Sean Rabin
Jennifer Rayner
Bruce Venables
Paul West
Wendy Whiteley