Australian publishers team up with ABC Radio Perth to present the Big Day of Books
720 ABC Radio Perth will be crackling with big themes and lively conversations when it welcomes readers to its East Perth studios for the Big Day of Books on Saturday 28 June.
WA’s favourite radio presenters Jo Trilling, Gary Adshead, Hilary Smale, Carrie Cox, Ali Colvin and Claire Nichols will chat to some of the hottest new and emerging writers in the Australian literary scene, alongside some beloved favourites who are set to introduce their new books. ABC’s Geoff Hutchison, and Meg Bignell, Bebe Oliver, Helen Milroy, Emily Tsokos Purtill, Louise Wolhuter and Fleur McDonald are just some of authors set to participate.
They’ll share conversations about rural crime and buried secrets, the shadows and prophets that haunt our stories, and the healing power of writing. The audience will also be invited to consider whether grumpiness is a sin or a virtue, and why terrible plumbing makes for great comedy.
When Perth Writers Festival was postponed, local publishers Fremantle Press, Magabala Books and UWA Publishing reached out to publishers from across the country inviting them to suggest writers who were looking for an opportunity to engage with WA audiences and writers.
The result is a program of six sessions featuring 15 fiction and non-fiction writers of adult or young adult books, representing eight Australian publishers. Each is an accomplished speaker with a passion for storytelling and a recent book to match.
Manager of 720 ABC Radio Perth Danielle Benda said the ABC was delighted to get on board with the event. ‘The ABC has always been big supporters of local literary events because we know the value of the arts and the importance of supporting writers and encouraging reading,’ she said.
‘Perth’s book-loving community is full of enthusiastic and engaged readers who love to hear from Australian writers.’ Benda said while they wanted to cram as many authors as possible into a tight time frame, they had to stick to some strict guidelines when programming the festival.
‘Western Australia has seen growth in the number of smaller metropolitan festivals this year. So the Big Day of Books was designed to complement, rather than compete with, festivals like author Tess Woods’ Festival of Fiction, The Writers’ Collective’s Perth Storyfest, Perth Poetry Festival and established children’s festivals such as AWESOME International Arts Festival and Scribblers,’ she said.
The day, which will be run in collaboration with the marketing teams at Fremantle Press, Magabala Books and UWA Publishing, will include book sales and signings, with sessions recorded for broadcast on radio at a later date.
The following organisations are supporting writers to attend the event: Affirm, Allen & Unwin, Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster, Ultimo Hardie Grant and Penguin Random House Australia.
Hosted by ABC Radio, in partnership Fremantle Press, UWA Publishing, Magabala Books and Boffins Books, the Big Day of Books is a wonderful chance to enjoy a live literary show, meet the authors, and snap up some fabulous reads.
The Big Day of Books is from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday 28 June at ABC Radio Perth, 30 Fielder Street, East Perth.
Tickets are $15 for an individual session or $30 for a half day. Tickets are on sale now, but places are limited.
https://events.humanitix.com/big-day-of-books-perth
Quotes from host publishing houses
Every year our new and emerging local authors watch and wait and hope that local festivals will support their work and give them the chance to mingle with more established authors from the Eastern States publishers. We are really excited to work with the ABC and our publishing colleagues across the country to offer an alternative event which might afford authors and audiences some of the same opportunities. Alex Allan, CEO of Fremantle Press
UWA Publishing is proud to support the inaugural Big Day of Books, which offers a new platform for authors to connect with the Western Australian book-loving community both in person and via ABC Radio. Kate Pickard, Publishing Manager of UWA Publishing
Magabala is excited to be part of this new event, to amplify Blak voices in the West, alongside our publisher friends Fremantle Press and UWA Publishing. There’s incredible talent here and, with the wonderful support of the ABC, more people will be able to find their new favourite book. Lilly Brown, CEO of Magabala Books
Media contact: Claire Miller, email: cmiller@fremantlepress.com.au, mobile: 0419 837 841
BIG DAY OF BOOKS PROGRAM
Powerful stories: Identity and healing
Exploring the recovery of minds and bodies through the power of narrative. Storytelling for reclaiming identity, self-acceptance and agency. Helen Milroy, David Whish-Wilson and Bebe Oliver speak to Jo Trilling of 720’s WA Afternoons.
Dark pasts, buried secrets and foreboding futures
Small towns with big histories. How crime fiction exposes the fault lines in rural and remote communities. Josh Kemp, Angie Faye Martin and Margaret Hickey speak to Ali Colvin of ABC News.
In-conversation with Fleur McDonald
ABC Radio National’s Claire Nichols interviews Fleur McDonald, queen of rural crime, about her new novel Prospect.
Shadows and prophets
Many Australians know what it is like to live with legacies from elsewhere. Three novelists ask whether it is possible to fight fate and forge new futures. Katherine Allum, Louise Wolhuter and Emily Tsokos Purtill speak to Hilary Smale from 720’s Early Saturday Mornings.
Profanity, profundity and unpredictable plumbing
From dickheads and corn cobs to murder most vile. From bum chafe to crushes and garrulous guile. Writing comedy is never as easy as reading it. Do you have to break a sweat to make people crack a smile? Andrew HC McDonald, Meg Bignell and Kate Emery with producer Carrie Cox from 720 ABC Perth.
Contents may offend: Rage, reckoning, and the literary middle finger
Former ABC presenter Geoff Hutchison and anarchic debut novelist Patrick Marlborough preview their July new releases How Not to Become a Grumpy Old Bugger and Nock Loose. Hosted by Gary Adshead.