Gold Coast Writers Festival

Thanks to all who attended the 2012 Gold Coast Writers Festival. We hope you enjoyed yourselves, learned from the multitude of presenters available over the three days of the festival and went away more enthused about your own writing. Some feedback from presenting authors and attendees is listed below.

One of the best organized events I have been invited to attend. Quite a rarity. Congratulations to you and your very capable, warm and welcoming team. Jennifer Bacia

Congratulations on such a wonderful festival. I loved every bit of it.   Joan Small

I met some lovely writers and readers. I’m sure the event will go from strength to strength.    Rowena Cory Daniells

Thank you so much for a wonderful festival – full of great speakers and panelists.  A very professional weekend. I look forward to attending next year.     Annie  Evett

I really enjoyed attending the Gold Coast Writers’ Festival. The opportunity to hear and meet authors and mingle with others sharing similar interests and aspirations is most appreciated. Thank you very much for making it possible and so accessible for Gold Coasters. Great work organising it all so well! Mona Orszulak

Kate James (Facebook)”inspirational keynote speech by Tim Ferguson at the GC Writers Festival.”

The festival was marvellous. I liked the range of seminars, workshops and panel discussions, as well as the opportunity to speak to presenters afterwards.   Kerry

Jill Smith (Facebook) “So true, what a lovely time, great keynote speak by Jan Murray, food delicious and very filling, wonderful end to the three day festival. Looking forward to bigger and better next year!”

Thanks again for all the organisation. The festival seemed to run flawlessly and everyone I spoke to was having a great time. Louise Cusack

Congratulations to the following winners of the 2012 Gold Coast Writers Festival Writing Competition:

WINNER: Alison Stegert –  Scorned

2nd PRIZE: Raymond W Clarke –  Spider

HONOURABLE MENTION: Melissa Wray – Late Bloomer

HONOURABLE MENTION: Alison Stegert – Empty Nest

Thanks and congratulations to all entrants this year. Please keep writing.

Note – the winning entries will be available in a complimentary Ebook  on this site by November 3rd.

Want to know what’s on where for the Gold Coast Writers Festival?

The full program is available here and under Program and Venue/Program.  All last-minute program changes due to unavoidable events will also be posted on the program page. Please ensure you check just prior to the festival.

DOWNLOADABLE PDFs

Festival Overview 2012

Festival Program 2012

FRIDAY 26 OCTOBER

WRITERS’ SEMINARS

Venue: Conference Room, Robina Community Centre, 196 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina, Gold Coast

10 – 10.45 Self Publishing Land Mines and How To Avoid Them with Kathy Stewart for Daniel Prokop

11 – 11.45 Publishing For Profit with Anthony Puttee

12 – 12.45 Informal Panel Discussion

1 – 1.45 Self-editing – Tips from a Professional Manuscript Assessor with Louise Cusack

2 – 2.45 The Digital Evolution with Paul Higgs

3 – 3.45 Manuscript to Market with Laurel Cohn

Admission to each session $15 or $60 for all 5

All book sales: CASH

POETRY STREAM

Venue: Meeting Room, Robina Community Centre, 196 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina, Gold Coast

9 – 9.45 Lesley Synge

10 – 10.45 Duncan Richardson; Phillip A Ellis; and Vasudha Harte

11 – 11.45 Anne Gleeson; Caroline Glen; and Holly Zwalf

12 – 12.45 Open mic

1 – 1.45 Andrew Leggett; David Hallett; and Rosanna Licari

2 – 2.45 Sara Moss; and Stefanie Petrik

3 – 3.45 Brent Downes; Cameron Logan; and Robin Archbold (keynote reader)

Admission FREE

CHILDRENS’ WORKSHOPS

Venue: Surfers Paradise State School

1 – 2.15

Pamela Rushby, Alison Reynolds, Michelle Worthington, Dimity Powell, Candice Lemon-Scott, Marion Martineer

2.15 – 2.45 Panel Discussion

2.45 – 3.15 Prize winners GCWA competition

Admission FREE

INFORMAL DINNER

Venue: Krish India Restaurant, Easy T Centre, Christine Avenue

6.30 onwards

Buffet dinner: European and Indian food

Cost: $25

SATURDAY 27 OCTOBER

AUTHOR PANELS

Venue: Auditorium, Robina Community Centre, 196 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina, Gold Coast

8.45 – 9 Address by The Honourable Ros Bates MP

9 – 9.45 Writing for Children with Angela Sunde, Pamela Rushby, Alison Reynolds and Michelle Worthington

10 – 10.45 The Thrill of the Chase with Sandy Curtis, Rowena Cory Daniells, Tony Cavanaugh and Meg Vann

11 – 11.45 The Journalist Novelist with Michael Jacobson

12 – 12.45 Romance vs Erotica with Louise Cusack, Jennifer Bacia, Krissy Kneen and Julie Boyd

1 – 1.45 Tim Ferguson – Keynote address

2 – 2.45 Become a Human Lie Detector with David Craig

3 – 3.45 Truth or Dare: Memoir and Faction with Jean-Francois Vernay, Jan Murray, Karen Tyrrell and John Clark

4 – 4.45 Fantasy and Sci-Fi with Rowena Cory Daniells, Anita Bell, Jill Smith and Angelika Heurich

Admission FREE

INDUSTRY GEN – THE GOOD OIL

Venue: Meeting Room, Robina Community Centre, 196 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina, Gold Coast

9 – 9.45 Writing for the Screen with Ben Marshall and Tony Cavanaugh

10 – 10.45 The Responsibilities Of The Self-Published Author with Andy McDermott

11 – 11.45 The Future of Publishing with Meg Vann

12 – 12.45 Writers’ Web For Emerging Writers with Janet Kieseker

1 – 1.45 BREAK

2 – 2.45 Why Publishers Matter? with Roz Hopkins

3 – 3.45 Interactive Publishing with David Reiter

4 – 4.45 Comedy Writing with Tim Ferguson

Admission FREE; Tim Ferguson’s session: $15

PAINT AND PROSE CHEESE AND WINE

Venue: Conference Room, Robina Community Centre, 196 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina, Gold Coast 

5 – 7

GCWA prize-winners announced

All welcome

SUNDAY 28 OCTOBER

LITERARY LUNCHEON

hosted by Gold Coast Writers Association Inc

Keynote address by Jan Murray

Venue: Colonial Golf Club, Paradise Springs Avenue, Robina, Gold Coast

Cost: $45 (discounts for members)

A full list of more than 40 authors involved in the Festival with links to their individual pages is available for perusal at:

http://goldcoastwritersfestival.com/writers/

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Tim Ferguson  http://goldcoastwritersfestival.com/writers/tim-ferguson/

Tim is Australia’s only teacher of comedy writing. He will be providing a both a keynote address and a special workshop on Saturday  27th October. Places for the workshop are limited so book now at http://goldcoastwritersfestival.eventbrite.com.au/

http://filmink.com.au/features/gags-comic-situations-and-other-principles-of-television-comedy/

Jan Murray http://goldcoastwritersfestival.com/jan-murray/

Jan will be our KEYNOTE SPEAKER at the Literary Luncheon on Sunday 28th October.
Book now at http://goldcoastwritersfestival.eventbrite.com.au/

Jan’s books include:

SHEER MADNESS: Sex, Lies and Politics, and

GOODBYE LULLABY

Fifty Shades of erotic writing on showcase at Gold Coast Writers Festival

http://goldcoastwritersfestival.com/media-releases/

We are looking foward to welcoming you to the Inaugural Gold Coast Writers Festival, including a Children’s Festival and Literary Luncheon, on 26th, 27th and 28th October 2012, and invite you to explore this website to read more about authors and publishers who will feature.

BOOKINGS for all events are available at   http://goldcoastwritersfestival.eventbrite.com.au

ACCOMMODATION and TRAVEL We suggest you consult the following websites for the best available prices.

http://www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au/

http://www.tweedcoastholidays.com.au/

http://www.airbnb.com.au/

http://www.lastminute.com.au/

http://www.wotif.com/

WRITING COMPETITION

Thanks to all who submitted entries to the Writing Competition. Our 2012 Writing Competition is now closed and all entries are being considered by independent judges.  Winner will be announced at the Gold Coast Writers Festival.

For details click on the link below.

http://goldcoastwritersfestival.com/writing-competition/

PROGRAM    Download Festival Program here Program -17 Oct

Day 1 (Friday) will consist of a series of workshops: 10am to 4pm

SEMINARS: (these require tickets)

10-10.45 Self Publishing Land Mines and How To Avoid Them with DANIEL PROKOP

11-11.45 Publishing for Profit with ANTHONY PUTTEE

PANEL DISCUSSION

1-1.45 Self Editing – Tips From a Professional Manuscript Assessor with LOUISE CUSACK

2-2.45 The Digital Evolution with PAUL HIGGS

3-3.45 Manuscript to Market with LAUREL COHN

POETRY READINGS (these are free and will be held in parallel with the ticketed workshops)

9-9.45 Lesley Synge

10-10.45 Duncan Richardson, Phillip Ellis and Vasudha Harte

11-11.45 Anne Gleeson, Caroline Glen and Holly Zwalf

12-12.45 Open mic

1-1.45 Andrew Legett, David Hallett and Rosanna Licari

2-2.45 Stefanie Leggett and Sara Moss

3-3.45 Andrew Logan, Brett Downes and Robin Archbold

CHILDREN’s FESTIVAL is being held at SURFER’S PARADISE PRIMARY SCHOOL from 2-4pm Enquiries to jboydedu@gmail.com

FRIDAY Evening Informal DINNER at Krish India 6.30pm

Day 2 (Saturday) 9am-5pm will feature discussions, panels and featured writers including:

Tim Ferguson, Krissy Kneen, Jennifer Bacia, Jean-Francois Vernay, Michael Jacobson, Jan Murray, Simon Groth, David Reiter, Meg Vann, Andy McDermott, Sandy Curtis, David Craig, Sally Collings, Rowena Cory Daniells, Anita Bell, Pamela Rushby, Michelle Worthington, Karen Tyrrell,

8.45 – 9  WELCOME by Minister for the Arts

PANEL SESSIONS

9-9.45 Writing for Children with Angela Sunde, Pamela Rushby, Michelle Worthington and Alison Reynolds

10-10.45 The Thrill Of The Chase with Rowena Cory Daniells, Tony Cavanagh, Sandy Curtis and Meg Vann

11-11.45 The Journalist Novelist with Michael Jacobsen

12-12.45 Romance VS Erotica with Louise Cusack, Krissy Kneen, Jennifer Bacia and Julie Boyd

1-1.45  TIM FERGUSON Keynote

2-2.45 Become a Human Lie Detector with David Craig

3-3.45 Truth or Dare, Memoir and Faction with Jean-Francois Vernay, Jan Murray, Karen Tyrrell and John Clark

4-4.45 Fantasy and Sci-Fi with Rowena Cory Daniells, Jill SMith, Angelika Heurich and Anita Bell

INDUSTRY Information SESSIONS (These will run parallel with the Panel Sessions)

9-9.45 Writing For The Screen with Ben Marshall and Tony Cavanaugh

10-10.45 The Responsibilities of the Self Published Author with Andy McDermott

11.00 – 11.45 The Future of Publishing with Meg Vann

12- 12.45 Writers Web for Emerging Writers with Janet Kieseker

1-1.45 Break

2-2.45 Negotiating With Publishers with Sally Collings

3-3.45 Interactive Publishing with David Reiter

4-4.45 SPECIAL WORKSHOP The Art of Comedy Writing with Tim Ferguson

4.45-5.00 Announcements including Competition Winners

5-7pm PAINT AND PROSE Writing Competition WINE AND CHEESE

Day 3 (Sunday) will give you the opportunity to dine in style at a LITERARY LUNCHEON with the Gold Coast Writers Association and guest authors. Guest speaker is JAN MURRAY http://www.janmurray.com/ and 15 published authors will be sharing lunch with you. 11.30am for a 12noon start.     www.goldcoastwriters.org

This festival is designed as an expo to bring together authors, including self-published and independently published, and aspiring authors, with publishers and printers who may assist them.

It is also designed as an expo for writers to be able to showcase their work to those most important people, READERS.