They are seemingly the three hardest words to say in public life: “I was wrong”. The process of changing minds – individually, collectively and culturally – is made that much harder by a political landscape in which admitting uncertainty, confessing error or revealing a change of heart is actively discouraged. Hear from some of Australia’s most respected holders of deep-seated beliefs – David Marr, Jane Caro, Paul McDermott and Marcia Langton – as they each present a short talk on a topic that deepened their learning, evolved their thinking or flat out changed their mind. Hosted by Maddison Connaughton. 

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From one of the great writers of our time, Jennifer Egan’s The Candy House is the long-awaited sibling novel to her Pulitzer Prize–winning A Visit from the Goon Squad. Returning to the same characters and thematic terrain as her earlier novel, in equally genre-shifting style, she interweaves stories about authenticity, privacy and meaning in a world where our memories can be shared online. Jennifer appears live via video in conversation with Maddison Connaughton. 

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Liane Moriarty is a global publishing sensation. In a very special conversation, The New York Times bestselling author discusses her new novel, Apples Never Fall, the sensation around her TV adaptations, and her broader body of work with Literary Editor of The Australian and author Caroline Overington (The Cuckoo’s Cry). Together, they examine the art of crafting gripping stories, creating compelling characters and capturing layers of drama.

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Two of Australia’s most acclaimed writers, Amanda Lohrey (appearing live via video) and Charlotte Wood, come together for a conversation about their most recent books, their incredible bodies of work and creative lives at large. Amanda’s Miles Franklin–winning novel, The Labyrinth, and Charlotte’s bestselling work of non-fiction, The Luminous Solution: Creativity, Resilience and the Inner Life, each offer essential and illuminating insights into the hope, redemption and restoration to be found in art and creation. They appear in conversation with Ailsa Piper.

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In this exciting showcase of performances and readings, six of Sweatshop’s most dynamic writers share their stories on love, fear and faith. Including readings from Jazz Money, Guido Melo, Maryam Azam, Shirley Le, Mark Mariano and L-FRESH The LION. Hosted by Sweatshop: Western Sydney Literacy Movement's Michael Mohammed Ahmad. 

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Hear from two of the nation’s most thought-stirring writers, Clementine Ford and Bridie Jabour, as they discuss their latest books exploring the meaning of life and love today with Maeve Marsden. Clementine’s tender and moving memoir How We Love traverses the throes of romance, the grief of losing a parent, the journey into motherhood and the value of self-worth. Bridie’s Trivial Grievances is a funny and forthright enquiry into the anxieties of millennials finding their way at work, home and beyond during uniquely challenging circumstances. 

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Rebecca Solnit is one of the great essayists of our times, having garnered acclaim for her work on subjects as diverse as feminism, the history of walking and even the art of getting lost. Her essay ‘Men Explain Lolita to Me’ is literary criticism and social commentary at its finest, and her seminal ‘Hope in the Dark’ is a modern classic. The renowned author and activist joins host Sophie Black live via video to discuss her latest book Orwell’s Roses, a lush exploration of nature, pleasure and politics inspired by George Orwell’s love of gardening. She shares a fresh take on the British writer, shares the significance of joy in his concept of freedom, and pushes readers “to treasure the small moments of grace to be found in the natural world, even now in the face of climate catastrophes and global unrest” (Los Angeles Review of Books). 

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[Content warning: Domestic violence]

Acclaimed Sydney authors Michael Mohammed Ahmad and Amani Haydar examine the effects of love, expectation and trauma within families in their newest books, with a particular focus on fatherhood. Mohammed’s novel, The Other Half of You, is a letter from the main character Bani to his son Kahlil, revealing a tender and loving father. Amani’s memoir, The Mother Wound, tells of how she suffered the unimaginable when she lost her mother in a brutal act of domestic violence perpetrated by her father. Mohammed and Amani speak with Sarah Ayoub about the light and dark within families, and how racism and patriarchy perpetuate harm by dehumanising fathers.

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Why have we lost our ability to focus and how do we get it back? This is the question globally bestselling author Johann Hari asks in his newest book Stolen Focus, which strives to not only change, but also possibly save, our minds. He unmasks the powerful forces that render us uniquely vulnerable to companies raiding our attention for profit, while casting a hopeful vision for reclaiming our waning attention spans, both as individuals and as a society. Johann appears live via video, in conversation with Amanda Collinge.

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The literary debut of celebrated musician Warren Ellis, Nina Simone’s Gum, takes its name from an unlikely keepsake he snatched from the underside of his idol’s piano in a moment of rapture. Join Warren as he sheds light on his playful memoir in which a meaning-rich relic blossoms into a metaphor for art, music and obsession, traversing his childhood in country Victoria, collaborations with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and prize-winning work with Dirty Three. Warren joins live via video in conversation with Marieke Hardy.

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