2012 Australian Literary Festival Calendar

An ongoing listing of literature-related events in Australia. Feel free to contact me with additions and corrections.
Watch for = dates or information TBC.

Also check out the events being run in conjunction with the National Year of Reading.


January

  • Outspoken at Maleny, Maleny, QLD, Jan 20. Guest: Judy Morris (Eye of the Storm). Gen lit author talks.

  • February 2012

  • Perth Writers Week, Perth, WA, Feb 23-26. General lit.
  • Riverbend Poetry Series, Brisbane, QLD, Feb 28. Poetry readings.

  • March 2012

  • Adelaide Writers Week, Adelaide, SA, Mar 2-18. General lit.
  • Somerset Celebration of Literature, Gold Coast, QLD, Mar 12-14. General lit and YA.
  • Storylines Literary Festival, Perth, WA, Mar 21-23. YA.
  • Bellingen Writers Festival, Bellingen, NSW, Mar 23-25. Australian general lit.
  • Norman Lindsay Festival of Children’s Literature, Faulconbridge, NSW, March 25.
  • Oracles of the Bush, Tenterfield, NSW, Mar 29-31. Bush poetry, lit and music.
  • Oz Comic-Con, Adelaide, SA, Mar 30-Apr 1. Pop culture.
  • April 2012

  • Snowy Mountains Readers and Writers Festival, Jindabyne, NSW, Apr 7-9. General lit.
  • Supanova, Melbourne, VIC, Apr 13-15. Pop culture..
  • Supanova, Gold Coast, QLD, Apr 20-22. Pop culture.
  • Swancon, Perth, WA, Apr 21-25. Spec fic.
  • Riverbend Poetry Series, Brisbane, QLD, Apr 24. Poetry readings.
  • Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival, Margaret River, WA, April 29-May 6. General lit.

  • May 2012

  • Williamstown Literary Festival, Williamstown, VIC, May 4-6. General lit.
  • Gloucester Writers Festival, Gloucester, NSW, May 4-6. General lit.
  • Wordstorm and National Poetry Festival, Darwin, NT, May 10-13. Combined festivals of poetry and general lit.
  • Aurealis Awards, Sydney, NSW, May 12. Spec fic awards night.
  • Sydney Writers Festival, Sydney, NSW, May 14-20. General lit.
  • Children’s Book Council of Australia Conference, Adelaide, SA, May 17-19. Children’s and YA.
  • Bundaberg Writefest, Bundaberg, QLD, May 19. General lit and workshops.
  • Emerging Writers Festival, Melbourne, VIC, May 24-June 3. General lit.
  • Literati, Gold Coast, QLD, May 25-26. General lit.
  • Monash Wordfest, Monash (Melbourne), VIC, May 26 – July 25. General lit, presentation series.

  • June 2012

  • The Light in Winter, Melbourne, VIC, Jun 1 – Jul 1. General lit/AV.
  • Voices on the Coast, Sunshine Coast, QLD, Jun 2-6. YA.
  • Queensland Week Townsville Literary Festival, Townsville, QLD, Jun 4-11. General fiction. (No website.)
  • Henry Lawson Festival, Grenfell, NSW, Jun 8-11. Bush poetry, lit, music.
  • Woodend Winter Arts Festival, Woodend, Vic, Jun 8-11. General lit.
  • Continuum, Melbourne, VIC, Jun 8-11. Spec fic.
  • Antipodes Writing Festival, Melbourne, VIC, Jun 15-17. General lit with a Greek focus.
  • Supanova, Sydney, NSW, Jun 15-17. Pop culture.
  • Noosa Long Weekend, Noosa, QLD, Jun 15-24. Gen lit stream.
  • Torquay Froth and Bubble, Torquay, VIC, Jun 16-17. General lit.
  • Outspoken at Maleny, Maleny, QLD, Jun 17. Guest: Kate Grenville. Gen lit author talks.
  • Riverbend Poetry Series, Brisbane, QLD, Jun 19. Poetry readings.
  • Supanova, Perth, WA, Jun 22-24. Pop culture.
  • Bayside Literary Festival, Bayside, VIC, Jun 21 – Jul 15 (various dates). General lit.
  • 4th International Australian and New Zealand Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference, Sydney, NSW, Jun 29-Jul 1. Children’s.
  • Oz Comic-Con, Melbourne, VIC, Jun 30-Jul 1. Pop culture.

  • July 2012

  • Children’s and Young Adult Writers and Illustrators (CYA) Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Jul 6-7. Children’s and YA.
  • Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival, Mackay, QLD, Jul 11-14. YA.
  • Outspoken at Maleny, Brisbane, QLD, Jul 13. Guest: Richard Ford. Gen lit author talk in conjunction with Brisbane Writers Festival.
  • Mildura Writers Festival, Mildura, VIC, Jul 19-22. General lit.
  • Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival, Bowral, NSW, Jul 21-22. General lit.
  • Curtis Coast Literary Carnivale, Gladstone, QLD, Jul 22-25. General lit.
  • Reality Bites, Cooroy, QLD, Jul 26-29. Nonfiction.
  • Kimberley Writers Festival, Kununurra, WA, July 27-29. General lit.
  • Words Words in Winter, Daylesford and surrounding towns, VIC, July 29-Aug 31. General lit.

  • August 2012

  • Sci Fi and Fantasy Month, Logan North Library, QLD, Aug 1-31. Spec fic.
  • Corrugated Lines: A Festival of Words, Broome, WA, Aug 3-5. General lit.
  • Byron Bay Writers Festival, Byron Bay, NSW, Aug 3-5. General lit.
  • Bendigo Writers Festival, Bendigo, VIC, Aug 10-12. General lit.
  • Outspoken at Maleny, Maleny, QLD, Aug 15. Guest: Ramona Koval. Gen lit author talks.
  • Romance Writers of Australia conference, Gold Coast, QLD, Aug 17-19. Romance.
  • WA Poetry Festival, Perth, WA, Aug 17-20. Poetry.
  • Queensland Poetry Festival, Brisbane, QLD, Aug 24-26. Poetry.
  • Melbourne Writers Festival, Melbourne, VIC, Aug 24-Sep 2. General lit.
  • Salisbury Writers’ Festival, Salisbury, SA, Aug 24-Sep 2. General lit.
  • Reading Hour, National Year of Reading, nationwide, Aug 25. Devote an hour to a book.
  • Sydney Jewish Writers’ Festival, Sydney, NSW, Aug 25-28. General lit.
  • Queensland Business Writers’ Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Aug 29. Corporate.

  • September 2012

  • Ballarat Writers & Illustrators Festival, Ballarat, VIC, Sep 1-2. Children’s and YA.
  • Outspoken Maleny, Maleny, QLD, Sep 5. Guests: Patrick Gale, Christopher Currie.
  • Indigenous Literacy Day, national events, Sep 5. General lit, YA focus.
  • Brisbane Writers Festival, Brisbane, QLD, Sep 5-9. General lit.
  • Write Around the Murray, Albury, NSW, Sep 5-9. General lit.
  • KSP Minicon, Greenmount, WA, Sep 9. Spec fic.
  • Tropical Writers Festival, Cairns, QLD, Sep 14-16. Gen lit.
  • Big Sky Writers and Readers Festival, Geraldton, WA. Sep 14-16. General lit.
  • Avon Valley Writer’s Festival, Northam and Toodyay Libraries, WA, Sep 22-23. General lit.
  • Canberra Readers’ Festival, ACT, Sep 22. General lit.
  • Fringe Writers’ Festival, Sydney, NSW, Sep 23. Journalism, general lit.
  • National Young Writers Festival, Newcastle, NSW, Sep 27-30. General lit.
  • Conflux, Canberra, ACT, Sep 29-30. Spec fic.
  • CrimeScene 2012, Perth, WA, Sep 29-30. Crime fiction.
  • Watch for: Overload Poetry Festival, Melbourne, VIC. Poetry.


    October 2012

  • Boundless: Festival of Australian Children’s Literature, Canberra, ACT, Oct 3 – Nov 17. Children’s and YA.
  • Tasmanian Poetry Festival, Launceston, TAS. Oct 5-7.
  • Queensland Writers Week, statewide, QLD, Oct 8-14. Gen lit, open source events.
  • The Word Writers Fair, Sunshine Coast, QLD, Oct 12-14. Christian.
  • Unley Libraries Festival, Adelaide, SA, Oct 13-14. General local lit.
  • Regional Arts Australia National Conference, Goolwa, SA, Oct 18-21.
  • Outspoken at Maleny, Maleny, QLD, Oct 26. Guests: Mark Tredennick and Cate Kennedy. Gen lit author talks.
  • Maleny Celebration of Books, Maleny, QLD, Oct 26-28. General lit, YA.
  • Gold Coast Writers Festival, Gold Coast, QLD, Oct 26-28. General lit expo, focus on indie/self-pub.
  • Freecon, Sydney (UTS), NSW, Oct 26-28. Speculative fiction.
  • Watch for: SheKilda, St Kilda, VIC. Crime.
    Watch for: World Matters Literary Festival, Eltham, VIC. General lit, politics.

    November 2012

  • Nanowrimo, international. Write a novel in a month.
  • GenreCon, Sydney, NSW, Nov 2-4. Genre fiction.
  • Independent Publishers Conference, Melbourne, Vic, Nov 8-9. Indie publishing.
  • Sutherland Shire Writers Festival, Gymea, NSW, Nov 11-12. General lit.
  • NonfictioNow, Melbourne, VIC, Nov 21-24. Nonfiction.

  • December 2012

    Nil.


    Return to top

    2013

    For events in 2013, see the 2013 calendar.

    4 Responses to “2012 Australian Literary Festival Calendar”

    1. [...] Calendar of Australian literary festivals Share this:TwitterFacebookStumbleUponRedditDiggEmailLinkedInLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. [...]

    2. kaaronwarren Says:

      Thanks for that list, Jason. Very comprehensive!

    3. jason nahrung Says:

      Thanks, Kaaron; happy to add more than I’ve might’ve missed or are new.

    4. [...] great they are (or can be) to attend. And some bloggers provide lists of festivals, such as writer Jason Nahrung, whom I discovered through the Australian Women Writers Challenge [...]

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