Adelaide Writers' Week

Five old friends on the cusp of middle age meet at their fifteen year Harvard reunion and wonder if they’re wasting or realising their potential. And then their erstwhile classmate, the President’s much despised son, turns up dead. With razor sharp wit and focus, the hugely enjoyable Life After Truth explores friendship, parenthood, success and fame, as it examines how we narrate the stories of our lives, and the gap between our inner selves and the persona we present to the world.

Chaired by Tali Lavi

Inaugurated by the passionate readers who comprise Adelaide’s MUD Literary Club – the only philanthropic organisation in the country exclusively supporting literature – the MUD Literary Prize has established an impressive pedigree over its short life. Founded in 2018 to celebrate a debut novel of literary fiction, past winners are Sarah Schmidt (See What I Have Done), Trent Dalton (Boy Swallows Universe) and Sienna Brown (Master of My Fate).

Be the first to hear from the 2021 winner, Pip Williams, with her acclaimed bestseller The Dictionary of Lost Words, which expertly weaves the origin story of the Oxford Dictionary, an exploration of the cultural value placed on words, and themes of women’s suffrage and equality into an immensely satisfying whole.

Chaired by David Sly

Poppy Nwosu’s quick-witted romantic comedies, Making Friends with Alice Dyson and Taking Down Evelyn Tait, romp through friendship and romance, with pitfalls cleared and life lessons learned along the way. Her delightfully quirky heroines ultimately embrace who they are – from little quirks like being captured viral-video-dancing with the school troublemaker, to grand passions like an obsession with music and tomato growing.

Join Poppy Nwosu as she talks about stories, romance, and the importance of embracing and valuing who you really are … even if that person is kind of weird.

Chaired by Kristy Fairlamb

In Katherine Tamiko Arguile’s beautifully melancholic The Things She Owned , a visit from her cousin leads Erika to make sense of her fraught relationship with her dead mother through a treasured collection of artefacts and memories. In Victoria Hannan’s Kokomo , Mina’s mother, Elaine, has secrets too, which draw Mina back home from London on an urgent mission as Elaine ventures out of the house for the first time since the death of her father twelve years ago. These impressive debuts are moving and insightful meditations on love, grief and the ties that bind.

Chaired by Kate Mildenhall

In a time of crisis what are the ways forward? What possibilities have been created by science, community and technology? A stellar line up of contemporary authors, including Sydney’s Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Scully (Glimpses of Utopia), James Bradley (The Ghost Species) and Sean Williams (Twinmaker) as they discuss visions of the future and imagine new realities.

R.A. Spratt is on the case with her dual detecting series The Peski Kids and Friday Barnes: Girl Detective! Avid fans can follow the clues and investigate the evidence when R.A. joins us to disclose the inner workings of Currawong super sleuths Joe, Fin, April Peski and their partner in crime Loretta. Not to be outdone, the great powers of observation and superior mind of intrepid girl detective Friday Barnes will also be revealed.

Drawing on his Greek heritage, Will Kostakis subverts the norm with the duology Monuments and Rebel Gods juxtaposing contemporary Sydney teenagers, with ancient gods and time slips. Hear Will reflect on his influences and ideas when writing this “page-turning adventure fiction peppered with humour, romance and high- stakes.” (Sydney Morning Herald)

Andrew Kwong’s quietly gripping memoir takes us deep into Maoist China and the stark human cost of the Great Leap Forward. With parents from the intellectual class, Andrew’s innocence, optimism and love of the Communist Party is undercut by the persecution his family suffers under Mao’s regime. One Bright Moon is a powerful account of resilience, family and starting anew, as, after years of struggle, Andrew makes a daring escape to ultimately become a doctor in Australia, from where he works to reunite his family.

Chaired by Gabrielle Chan

“Rape”, writes Christina Lamb, one of the world’s foremost war correspondents who has worked in war and combat zones for over thirty years, “is the cheapest weapon known to man.” In her latest harrowing and profoundly moving book, Our Bodies, Their Battlefields: What War Does to Women, Christina documents the terrible crimes committed against women as an instrument of war. With its sensitive interviews with contemporary victims across many countries, and tenacious and empathetic reporting, Our Bodies, Their Battlefields writes women into the history of war.

Chaired by Laura Grenfell

Parwana Afghan Kitchen opened in Adelaide in 2009 with a vision to share Afghan cuisine and culture. It swiftly became a beloved part of the city, attracting national acclaim for its food and welcoming atmosphere. In Parwana: Recipes and Stories from an Afghan Kitchen, Durkhanai Ayubi tells of her family’s journey from Afghanistan to Adelaide. Her mother’s recipes are interwoven with vivid stories of a homeland of rich histories, generous hospitality, and the celebration of the ritual of preparing and sharing food.

Chaired by Collette Snowden