Bring out the books, quill and ink as the inaugural Hawkesbury Writers Festival heads to the Hawkesbury Race Club on Saturday, 12 September, celebrating the region’s ever-growing literary and creative community.
Running from 10 am to 4 pm, the FREE festival will feature guest speakers, writing workshops, children’s story time, poetry readings, book signings, exhibitor stalls, raffles, food trucks and opportunities to meet local authors, illustrators, publishers and other creative professionals.
The first event of its kind in the Hawkesbury has already attracted strong interest from local authors, creatives and community organisations keen to be involved.
Co-organisers Sonia Young and Sue Kennedy said the festival was created to bring together the Hawkesbury’s writers, readers, artists and storytellers while showcasing the region’s creative talent.
The idea for the festival began with Young’s community radio program, The Written Word, on Pulse FM after local authors spoke about the challenges of finding publishing support in the Hawkesbury.
“I started toying with idea of bringing everyone together and my guests were very interested,” Young said. “The real push was when I interviewed 3 ladies who wrote their stories in a book called ‘The Business Sisterhood’. They told me to set a date and make it happen.”
Kennedy, an Authority Book Strategist who has lived in the Hawkesbury for 25 years, said the festival was about celebrating both books and the people behind them.
“We felt it was time to create something that celebrates not only books, but the people behind them and the creative industries that support them,” Kennedy said.
“Writing can often be a solitary pursuit, yet stories have an amazing ability to connect people. The timing felt right because we’ve seen such a growing interest in writing, self-publishing and local creative businesses, and there was a real opportunity to build something the community could be proud of.”
Kennedy said the festival is for everyone, from aspiring writers and published authors to readers, families and anyone who enjoys stories, while bringing the community together through storytelling.
Young said she hoped the festival would inspire more people to tell their own stories.
“I hope people realise that everybody has a story in them and anyone can write their story if they have a burning desire to do so,” Young said.
“Being connected to a community of like-minded people the writing journey will not be as lonely.”
Organisers hope the festival will become an annual fixture on the Hawkesbury calendar, providing a platform for local talent and inspiring future generations of readers and writers.
Bookings are essential and must be made online via Eventbrite. To stay updated, visit the Hawkesbury Writer’s Festival Facebook page.
