‘Tales by the Riverbank’ is one of the new events announced as part of the 2021 Kimberley Writers Festival, to be held next month August 20-22 in Kununurra.
On the banks of the mighty Ord River and overlooking magical Elephant Rock, guests at ‘Tales by the Riverbank’ will enjoy readings from emerging local writers and engage with award-winning Australian authors, screenwriters, and illustrators while enjoying a Kimberley breakfast.
Now in its 15th year, this much-loved, regional writers festival is one of Australia’s most unique where over three days guests have the opportunity to meet, talk and become friends with visiting talent in one of the world’s last true wilderness areas.
This year’s headline talent includes Dervla McTiernan – one of Australia’s best crime writers and author of The Scholar, The Good Turn and The Ruin; Cindy Solonec – a Nigena (Nyikina) woman from the West Kimberley and author of Debesa; Holden Sheppard with his coming-of-age novel Invisible Boys, and (fingers crossed) Christian White – Melbourne author of The Nowhere Child and The Wife and the Widow, and co-creator of Netflix series Clickbait and feature film Relic.
Organiser of the festival, Joanne Roach, says that in keeping with the community focus of the Festival, the program includes a mix of free and paid events.
“Our aim is to ensure as many people in Kununurra – whether they be locals or visitors – have the opportunity to meet, connect with and be inspired by some of Australia’s best storytellers in a relaxed setting,” Ms Roach said.
Free events include the Festival’s opening Cocktail Party on the Friday evening (tickets required), ahead of the Main Event on the Saturday: an all-day program of author talks, storytelling and ‘on the couch’ Q&A sessions at the Kununurra Library.
Tickets for two new paid events – the ‘Mafia Murders’ dinner on Saturday evening at the Kununurra Hotel and ‘Tales by the Riverbank’ breakfast at one of Kununurra’s newest and most scenic venues the Chikshed – are on sale now @Eventbrite (click on the event links here).
Tickets for these events are limited as some COVID-19 capacity restrictions are still in place.
Also heading to Kununurra for the Festival is energetic visual storyteller and science communicator Aśka (pronounced Ashka); Mel Hall – a published writer and musician based in Walyalup (Fremantle); Susan Midalia – author, editor, and mentor; Tanya Dalziell -author and educator at the University of Western Australia; and, Paul Genoni – author and Adjunct Associate Professor with the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry at Curtin University.
Kununurra is the perfect hub from which to explore the Kimberley’s extraordinary natural wonders including the Ord River, Lake Argyle and the Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park.
The festival is supported by Writing WA, the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley, East Kimberley College and Children’s Book Council WA.