Thursday 5 September: An Evening of Storytelling. Beginning at 5:30pm, the Sydney Jewish Museum and the History Council NSW celebrates History week with Holocaust survivors. Historic object owners will share their stories behind the collection. Don’t miss out on this highly anticipated event.
Friday 6 – Sunday 8 September: BAD: Sydney Crime Writers Festival. Held at State Library NSW for three days, hear from international and local favourites on both fiction and true crime. This year’s programme also hosts the Ned Kelly awards, with Val McDermid as guest of honour for the night. It would be a crime to sit out on this one – get your tickets before they’re gone.
Saturday 7 September: WestWords x WSU: Family Fun Day for International Literacy Day. In partnership with Western Sydney University, WestWords is facilitating a Flash Poetry event featuring slam poet Dante Florez. There will be a poetry workshop following the performance on campus at Western Sydney University. Register for free entry.
Saturday 7 September: Young Writers and Readers: Workshop with Jacqueline Harvey (6-12 years). One for the kids, Woollahra Libraries is hosting an exciting workshop on characters and believable worlds with Australian author Jacqueline Harvey.
Wednesday 11 September: The Society of Women Writers NSW Monthly Literary Luncheon. This month’s keynote speaker is Ceridwen Dovey. A critically acclaimed and prize-winning author, Ceridwen also contributes creative non-fiction to The New Yorker, the Monthly Magazine, and WIRED. She will be discussing her research for her latest novel, In the Garden of the Fugitives. Partially set in the ruins of Pompeii, Ceridwen will talk about the inspiration artists and writers have long taken from this complex and fascinating ancient site. Catch her at the Dixon Room in State Library NSW from 12:00pm – 2:00pm.
Friday 13 – Saturday 14 September: Rose Scott Women Writers’ Festival. Featuring Australian women writers across performance, print, film, and electronic media for both fiction and non-fiction, the festival presents eclectic genres of writing exploring social, political, and personal issues. Grab your tickets to the line-up for a promising weekend.
Sunday 15 September: Heroines Festival. By women, for women, the Heroines Festival is packed with readings, panels, author signings and all things great. An enriching day about women experiences in Australian history, get your tickets and prepare to be inspired at the Thirroul District Community Centre & Library.
Monday 16 September: Tyson Yunkaporta – Sand Talk. Launch party! Join author Tyson Yunkaporta in conversation with Evelyn Araluen at Better Read Than Dead, 6:30pm, for the release of his incredible book, Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World. From evolution and cosmology to cooking and sex, see global systems through an Indigenous lens and the impact it affords.
Tuesday 17 September: Ashley Kalagian Blunt Presents My Name is Revenge. What went down in the history of the Armenian Genocide and the 1980 assassination of the Turkish consul-general in Vaucluse? In celebration of World Peace Day, Ashley discusses how her new book, My Name is Revenge, explores the legacy of the genocide for her family, Armenians, and Australians. Held at the Sutherland Library from 6:30pm – 7:30pm, entry is free and bookings are essential.
Wednesday 18 September: Sydney Poetry Lounge. Head to The Friend in Hand Hotel from 7:00pm for open mic, and to hear from Australian poets Michel Aiken and Gareth Jenkins, as well as Irish Poet Anne Casey.
Friday 20 September: The Saturday Paper Quiz Night. Cindy MacDonald, deputy editor of the beloved The Saturday Paper Quiz will be hosting the ultimate quiz night for all you trivia fans. Indulge in a three-course meal designed by food editor Annie Smithers and get ready to win some fantastic prizes.
Sunday 22 September: The Lifted Brow Presents: Works in Progress. Be the first to hear six writers read their works in progress at Frontyard from 4:00pm – 6:00pm. Drinks and good conversations with authors, readers, and editors of the quarterly literary magazine begin at 3:00pm.
Ongoing till Sunday 17 November: Living Language: Country, Culture, Community. Celebrate the UNESCO International Year of Indigenous Languages with this excellent exhibition at State Library NSW. From interviews with language custodians on Country to original documents and overseas collections, learn how these materials interact with the Library’s collection and transform our understanding of the Aboriginal language.