Our featured authors share their top picks for the festival
Every year the festival transforms Brisbane into an exciting melting pot for writers to meet and share ideas with readers and other writers. We asked some of this year’s authors what they’re most excited to see. This is what they had to say.
#Laura Elvery, author of 'Nightingale'
The Writing Group as a Place of Joy, 9th October
Where would I be without all the writing groups (formal and informal, big and small) I've had over the years?
Indigenous Futurisms, 11th October
Sharlene, John, Mykaela and Allanah have written such exciting novels and short fiction in the last few years. They're experts – go listen!
Helen Garner and Brandon Jack Talk Footy, 12th October
I love sport and I love Helen Garner and I love Helen Garner writing about sport.
Astrid Jorgensen: 'Average at Best', 12th October
Pub Choir is magic and I'm really keen to read Astrid's memoir.
#Carla Salmon, author of 'We Saw What You Started'
Eric Puchner: 'Dream State', 11th October
Eric Puchner’s 'Dream State' had me at Montana lake house. Whilst I may have bought Beth-inspired jeans during my Yellowstone era, I can’t wait to explore the layers of a realistic American West family.
Sally Hepworth: 'Mad Mabel', 11th October
Sally Hepworth’s 'Mad Mabel' sounds fabulously bonkers and I’m so here for it. Paired with Frances Whiting? Say no more.
Fiona McIntosh: 'The Soldier’s Daughter' + Career Overview, 10th October
A Fiona McIntosh masterclass is on my bucket list. I note the Salisbury 2026 EOIs are open, so if the universe is listening – that’s what I would like for all my Christmases, please. Until then, I can’t wait to hear Fiona talk about 'The Soldier’s Daughter' at BWF!
Big Concepts for Little People, 9th October
The Kidlit champions lined up for 'Big Concepts for Little People' deserve a pre-show hurrah! I can’t wait for this panel where Jasmin McGaughey, Sophie Beer, Lara Cain Gray and Megan Daley will discuss literature for all kids – even the grownup ones.
#Martine Kropkowski, author of 'Left Behind'
Eric Puchner: 'Dream State', 11th October
I haven’t read this novel yet, but I’ve read reviews with comments such as ‘like a Victorian novel’ but amid a less stable landscape. Reviews have also hinted at beautiful writing and an undermining or subverting of narrative structure at work in the novel. I mean… I’m excited!
Anne Summers: 'Damned Whores and God’s Police', 11th October
An early-ish work of feminist intervention, this book argues that Australian culture reduces women into one of two categories: virtuous wives and mothers who are ‘God’s police’ or transgressive ‘damned whores’. This discussion with Summers comes 50 years after she first published the book, so I’m interested to hear her views on what’s changed, what’s stalled and what she might see differently all these years later.
Place as Story Holder and Story-Teller, 12th October
There's been a lot of excellent commentary about the agency of place recently (I can recommend Robert McFarlane’s 'Is a River Alive?' for example), so I’m excited to hear this conversation between literary greats Anita Heiss and Fiona Foley. This is one of the panels curated (and chaired) by Sharlene Allsopp, who also writes about story and place, so it's guaranteed to be a fascinating and insightful discussion.
Poetry Salon, 10th October
Hearing poets perform their own work is an absolute treat. I adore hearing the rhythms, pauses and intonations of the poems just as the poet meant it. The line-up includes the likes of Maxine Beneba Clarke, Cheryl Leavy and Madeleine Dale, so it’s an easy top pick for me.
#Joanna Jenkins, author of 'The Bluff'
Maggie Jackson: 'Uncertain', 10th October
At last! The celebration of 'I don't know' (in a world where everyone has dogmatic opinion even if they know nothing about it).
Sheila Fitzpatrick: 'The Death of Stalin', 11th October
In these uncertain times, we turn to history to see what's possible.
Desire, 10th October
I love listening to writers talk about how excellent writing is done.
#Steve MinOn, author of 'First Name Second Name'
Helen Garner: A Life In Letters or/and Helen Garner and Brandon Jack Talk Footy, 11th & 12th October
I’m there to fanboy at either or both. With my camera. To soak up the aura of an Australian icon.
Bettany Hughes: 'The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World', 11th October
There’s something about the way Bettany Hughes makes history so digestible that keeps me coming back for helping after helping.
Comedy Salon: So Bad, It’s Good, 10th October
Anytime Siang Lu is in for laughs, I’m there. But this one also has Tisdell, Lenton, Nix, Fraser, Filewood, McWilliams and Stevenson. I’m already laughing.
#Allison Rushby, author of 'Slashed Beauties'
Helen Goh: 'Baking and the Meaning of Life', 12th October
Baking – what could be more perfectly meditative? The answer to that is easy: books and baking! Helen Goh’s 'Baking and the Meaning of Life' in conversation with Sarah Kanowski sounds like the sort of calm we all need right now and will surely see us turn from doom scrolling to cinnamon scrolling, which can only be good for our wellbeing.
Romantasy Allstars, 9th October
In between all the incredible historical in conversations and panels I want to attend at BWF, I also can’t miss this panel, which I can guarantee will be a whole lot of fun. I gobbled up 'A Forbidden Alchemy' and have just started the fantastic 'Spellcaster', so would love to learn more about the romantasy genre from some other authors writing in this space.
Lili Wilkinson: The Power of Fantasy, 10th October
ICYMI, we’re in the midst of a literacy crisis amongst our young readers. As one of the founders of the 'Your Kid’s Next Read' community, where we are constantly attempting to put the perfect reads in the hands of young readers and get them excited about reading, I’d really like to see people accessing the amazing BWF schools program (I know I will be). One of my top picks here would be Lili Wilkinson’s 'The Power of Fantasy'. Lili is an amazing storyteller and her talks are always fantastic. This would be the perfect session to take the teen reader in your life to.
#Siang Lu, author of 'Ghost Cities'
Helen Goh: 'Baking and the Meaning of Life', 12th October
Hey man, I have four delicious words for you: World's Best Chocolate Cake. Helen Goh is a delight and I want to be her friend.
John Wayne Parr & Jarrod Boyle: 'The Fighter: The Legendary Life of an Australian Champion', 10th October
Anyone who's read my first book 'The Whitewash' will know I'm a martial arts tragic. I can't wait to hear all the gory, glorious details of a legendary career in Muay Thai from 'The Gunslinger' himself, John Wayne Parr.
Desire, 10th October
Hopping Chinese vampires, wrong brother forbidden romances, gay rom coms, and alchemist-turned-assassins: I'm here for the hectic love-chaos.