May 2021
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in Clunes This May ....
Clunes Booktown presents a series of prolific author talks in this special reader-focused event filled with conversations running over two days.
For emerging and experienced authors; the book is the central character across this weekend with workshops and expert panels on what goes on between the pages from creation, to pre-production and on to publication.
This is the first national weekend for book clubs with opportunities for members to meet other clubs, discover tactics and programs around building and boosting their own book-loving community.
The 2021 Program
1-2 MAY
Author Talks
ALL TICKETS $15
Celebrate books and the written word in this special Clunes Booktown weekend with a series of author talks, presentations, and some seriously good conversations.
SATURDAY 1 MAY
10.30am – 11.30am | FORMER FREE LENDING LIBRARY, 6 TEMPLETON STREET
In a Nutshell: The Art of the Short Story
Sean O’Beirne, Scot Gardner and Leah Swann share their insights into the unique craft of short story writing with Elizabeth McCarthy from Triple RRR
10.30am – 11.30am | CLUNES TOWN HALL 98 BAILEY STREET
Panel: Crime Does Pay: Murder, Mystery and Criminally Good Stories
Robert Gott, Garry Disher and Karina Kilmore reveal their crime writing secrets to Jane Sullivan.
12.00pm – 1.00pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL 98 BAILEY STREET
Stealing the Scene: Landscape as Character
The poetry of Margaret Hickey and prose of Rosalie Ham and JP Pomare resonate deeply within their settings. Join this insightful discussion with Robert Gott.
12.00pm – 1.00pm | FORMER FREE LENDING LIBRARY 6 TEMPLETON STREET
A Room Called Earth: A Celebration of Neurodiversity
Debut author Madeine Ryan talks to Andrew Fuller about the searingly honest moments of her brilliant new novel.
1.30pm – 2:30pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET
Telling Tales of Awful Truth
Adrian Tame and Derryn Hinch reminisce with Leslie Falkiner-Rose about the good, bad, and often hilarious days of gripping gossip, the Truth newspaper, tabloid TV and their resonance in news today.
1.30pm – 2:30pm | FORMER FREE LENDING LIBRARY, 6 TEMPLETON STREET
A Letter to Layla: Travels to our Deep Past and Near Future
Ramona Koval discusses the journey of her beautifully wrought latest release in conversation with Elizabeth McCarthy.
3.00pm – 4.00pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET
Crime Takes to the Back Roads: Interrogating Rural Noir
Katherine Kovacic, Sandi Wallace, and Lyn Yeowart talk about why rural and remote communities are ideal settings for crime with Maggie Baron.
3.00pm – 4.00pm | FORMER FREE LENDING LIBRARY, 6 TEMPLETON STREET
Sprinter and Sprummer: Our Changing Seasons
Gardening expert Stephen Ryan (3CR), Director of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Tim Entwisle and the Hungry Gardener Fabian Caponolla explore our response to the unique Australian climates and seasons and discuss what to plant and grow.
SUNDAY 2 MAY
10.30am – 11.30am | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET
The Recovery
Renowned thinkers and writers Ross Garnaut and Bill Bowtell explore the politics and economics of the COVID-19 pandemic. Who got it right and where to from here?
12.00pm – 1.00pm | FORMER FREE LENDING LIBRARY, 6 TEMPLETON STREET
Lapsed
Writer, columnist and social commentator, Monica Dux shares her frank attempt to exorcise her religious upbringing in conversation with Sue Lawson.
12.00pm – 1.00pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET
Stories from the Heart
Best-selling authors, Maya Linnell, Alli Sinclair and Fiona Lowe talk to Ramona Koval about their contemporary tales of love and loss that have struck a chord with readers of all ages.
1.30pm – 2.30pm | FORMER FREE LENDING LIBRARY, 6 TEMPLETON STREET
Fickle Fashion
Writer and historian Robyn Annear and author and ‘Modern Mender’ Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald will discuss the fickle nature of fashion and whether what goes around does or should come around again?
1.30pm – 2.30pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL ,98 BAILEY STREET
Culture is Life: A Celebration of the Diversity of our First Peoples.
Renowned Aboriginal photographer Wayne Quilliam will discuss his stunning new book in conversation with Sue Lawson.
15-16 MAY
Skilling Up Emerging and Experienced Authors
TICKET COSTS – see below
Dive deep into the creation of a book and discover what goes on between the pages. Listen to expert panels and take in workshops to understand what is needed before, during and after publication today.
SATURDAY 15 MAY
9.00am – 9.45am | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET – $15
Expert Panel: Current trends in our book industry
9.00am – 10.00am | FORMER FREE LENDING LIBRARY, 6 TEMPLETON STREET – $30
Workshop: The realities of preparing your work for publishers
Jen Hutchison
10.00am – 11.00am | ATTITUDE, 25 FRASER STREET – $30
How to do your own PR
Jules Brooke
10.15am – 11.00am | CLUNES TOWN HALL 98 BAILEY STREET – $15
Expert Panel: Looking Good – Book Design and Layout. What’s in a Cover?
10.30am – 11.30am | FORMER FREE LENDING LIBRARY, 6 TEMPLETON STREET – $15
Expert Panel: How Editors and Authors Work Best Together
10.00am – 11.00am | THE WAREHOUSE, 36 FRASER STREET – FREE
How Writers can Seek Funding
With Debby Marziarz
11:15am – 4:00pm | THE WAREHOUSE, 36 FRASER STREET – $25
One-on-one (30mins) grant writing consultations
With Debby Marziarz
11.30am – 12.15pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET – $15
Expert Panel: Effective Pitching to Publishers
12:00pm – 1:00pm | FORMER FREE LENDING LIBRARY, 6 TEMPLETON STREET – $30
Workshop: How to Publish Like a Pro
Print on demand workshop with Debbie Lee from Ingram Spark
12.30pm – 2.30pm | ATTITUDE, 25 FRASER STREET – $60
Workshop: Writing Crime
Lindy Cameron
12.45pm – 1.30pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET – $15
Expert Panel: The Meteoric Rise of Podcasts and Audiobooks
The Meteoric Rise of Podcasts and Audiobooks. Where do they fit in the life cycles of books? With Vikki Petraitis, Emily Webb and Bolinda/Borrow Box
1.30pm – 3.30pm | FORMER FREE LENDING LIBRARY 6 TEMPLETON STREET – $60
Workshop: Writing Romance
Anne Gracie
2.15pm – 3.15pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET – $15
Expert Panel:
Getting It Out There – Printing, Distribution and Sales
3.00pm – 5.00pm | ATTITUDE, 25 FRASER STREET -– $60
Workshop: Writing Fantasy
Alison Goodman
3.30pm – 4.30pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET – $15
Expert Panel: Going It Alone or Going Rogue
Learning from the experiences of those who have tried and taken different publishing and promotion paths
4.00pm – 5.00pm | FORMER FREE LENDING LIBRARY, 6 TEMPLETON STREET – $30
What You Need to Create Audiobooks
Join Dave Stokes for an in-depth insigne into Audiobooks.
Audiobooks continue to outstrip sales growth for both paperbacks and eBooks, and have done so for the past few years. Why?
With the concurrent phenomenal growth in podcasting and audio social media (like Clubhouse), you gotta believe that there is a reason for it!
As this engaging workshop will illustrate, we talk and listen to learn and entertain.
Verbal communication goes way back prior the invention of written language and the printing press.
Let’s get that inner voice out of you!
SUNDAY 16 MAY
10.00am – 12.30pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET – $60
Expert Panel: Marketing Morning
- Part 1: Building Your Book Marketing Strategy
- Part 2: Implementing Your Book Marketing Tools. Choosing, Using, and Measuring Their Impact
10.00am – 12noon | ATTITUDE – $60
Workshop: Writing Memoir
Emeritus Professor Richard Freadman
10am – 12.00pm | FORMER FREE LENDING LIBRARY, 6 TEMPLETON STREET – $60
Workshop: Podcasting
With millions downloading their podcasts, Emily Webb from Australian True Crime and Vikki Petraitis from Casefile Presents The Vanishing of Vivienne Cameron are the veritable experts in making podcasts that top the charts around the world. If you are interested in how podcasts are made or want to develop and make your own, come along to their workshop. It will cover: craft, podcast communities, content creation, formatting, scripting, equipment, and podcast platforms.
12.30pm – 2.30pm | FORMER FREE LENDING LIBRARY, 6 TEMPLETON STREET – $60
Workshop: Writing for Young Adults
Ellie Marney
12.30pm – 2.30pm | ATTITUDE, 25 FRASER STREET – $60
Workshop: Writing History
Join Professor Keir Reeves, who has written, edited and contributed chapters to numerous books, loves public history and heritage that bring our past alive, as he explains how to approach writing history.
Keir holds a chair in Australian History at Federation University is on the boards of Goldfields Tourism and the Museum of Chinese-Australian History.
Learning from those who have successfully created, formed partnerships and marketed books that have boosted businesses. Join Alva, Rita Erlich and Vaughan Mossop in conversation with Leslie Falkiner-Rose.
29-30 MAY
Book Clubs’ Weekend
TICKETS FOR ALL SESSIONS
Join us on the first national weekend for book clubs and their fans. Meet other book club members and discover different tactics, opportunities and conversations around building and boosting your book-loving community.
Standard $150
Creative Clunes Members $135
Concession* $120
*Concession Refers To Australian Pensioners And Healthcare Card, Carer Card, Full-Time Student Card And Australian Seniors Card Holders
SATURDAY 29 MAY
10.30am – 10.45am | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET
Setting the Scene
What do we know about book clubs here and overseas? Includes results of the first national book club survey
10.45am – 11.45am | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET
Panel: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Book Clubs
What works and what does not with running book clubs.
Chaired by Jennifer Hutchison, author and publisher
Panelists: Pam Kershaw, book club veteran, and Shay Leighton, founder and director, Tough Guy Book Club
12pm – 12.45pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET
Connecting Authors and Book Clubs
Learn about how book clubs and authors can connect more for mutual benefit in a discussion led by Toni Jordan novelist, with Vikki Petraitis, true crime author and successful podcaster, and Lindy Cameron, author and independent publisher, Clan Destine Books
1.45pm – 2.15pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL 98 BAILEY STREET
Life in the Fast Lane
Sleuthing while speed dating with others in the audience, wrangled by Heather Horrocks of the Book Clubs Hub Steering Committee
2.15pm – 3pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET
Tales from the Trenches
Sharing stories found during the sleuthing. Hear about the weird, wonderful and huge range of experiences of book clubbers from around the country
3pm – 4.15pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET
Panel: Rare Books
A discussion on book clubs for those often less seen and heard
Chaired by Maryanne Vagg, reviewer, programmer and librarian
Panelists include:
Richard Freadman, Emeritus Professor of English at La Trobe University and Adjunct Professor at Swinburne University specialising in life writing in health care settings
Daizy Maan, founder of Bold Punjab and startup program manager at Deakin University
5pm – 6.30pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET
The Remains of the Day
Drinks and nibbles to celebrate a day of conversations
SUNDAY 30 MAY
10am – 10.45am | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET
The Business of Book Clubs
Commercially run book clubs and their place in the book ecosystem
Maryanne Vagg, reviewer, programmer and librarian
Panelists: Angela Crocombe, manager of Readings Kids, and Bill Collopy, Manager, Council of Adult Education Book Club Operations
11.15am – 12 noon | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET
Headline Act: Kate Torney, CEO, State Library of Victoria
What libraries and book clubs can do for each other
12 noon – 12.30pm | CLUNES TOWN HALL, 98 BAILEY STREET
The Book of Tomorrow
Where to from here? How can we best support and encourage book clubs around Australia?
12.30pm – 2.30pm | TBA & $TBC Literary Lunch with Guest Speaker To be booked separately