SWF kicks off

22 May 2013 Books+Publishing

The Sydney Writers’ Festival was officially launched last night. The opening address was delivered by oral storyteller Daniel Morden, who embodies this year’s festival theme of storytelling, and entertained the audience with a selection of folktale-like stories.

While many of the festival’s sessions are free, a number of ticketed events have already sold out. These include a session on Obama’s digital campaign with Joe Rospars, Michael Brissenden and Stephen Muller; Molly Ringwald’s closing-night jazz performance; Anne Deveson in conversation with Phillip Adams; and events with Claire Messud, Kate Atkinson, Karl Ove Knausgaard, Maxine McKew, Kirstie Clements, Courtney Collins, Robert Drewe and Hugh McKay.

This year’s festival also includes the Visiting International Publishers (VIP) program, which offers Australian publishers the opportunity to meet with international publishers and rights managers. An industry forum will be held today as part of the program, with panels on the English-language market, the translation market and children’s books.

Category: Local news