Writers at the Convent

This year’s Reader’s Feast Writers at the Convent, Melbourne’s summer celebration of reading, writing, books and ideas will feature the now traditional diverse range of topics, including a look at when Melbourne was Australia's capital, the passion of football supporters, parenting, Jewish emancipation, parlour games, Weary Dunlop, Paris, sex, food, fire, crime and economics. Writers from the US, UK and New Zealand will join local luminaries.

New books will be launched by Danielle Clode (A Future in Flames, MUP), Roger Averill (Keeping Faith, Transit Lounge) and Garry Disher (Wyatt, Text Publishing) and rumour has it that there may be an attempt on the world Pass the Orange record!

While Julianne Schultz and Margaret Simons will talk about Australian food security and Paul Mitchell and Nick Ray will discuss ethical shopping with Alan Attwood, Elizabeth Bard and Shannon Bennett will share the culinary delights of France.

A year after Black Saturday, Karen Kissane will take us inside the ferocious blaze with her new book, Firestorm. Richard Evans will discuss the disasters that changed Australia.

Other guests include Michael Goldfarb and Tom Rachman from the UK, Stephanie Dowrick and Catherine Deveny. Matthew Reilly will be there and there’ll be lots of laughs with Danny Katz. Alex Miller, Tony Birch will discuss their work and Jane Carswell will take us to China.

Crime buffs will be fascinated by Clive Small’s insight into Australia’s underworld and there is first rate crime fiction from Garry Disher.