Adelaide Writers’ Week (2-7 March 2024), as part of Adelaide Festival, is Australia’s largest free literary festival, offering both writers and readers a unique opportunity to spend time sharing ideas and literary explorations.
This year’s program brings the world’s most celebrated, established and emerging writers, including Flinders graduates and staff (below), together in Adelaide’s city centre for a week to delight, surprise and enlighten. View the full program here.
We Have to Talk About the Weather
Hon Susan Close MP, Peter Frankopan and Joëlle Gergis with Marian Wilkinson
Sat 02 Mar, 2:30pm,
West Stage, Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden
Celebrated historian Peter Frankopan, climate scientist Joëlle Gergis and Hon Susan Close MP (BA ’89, BA(Hons)’91, PhD(SS)’98), South Australia’s Deputy Premier and Environment Minister, speak with Marian Wilkinson about the rise and fall of civilisations through the lens of dramatic weather events. Read more
South Australia: Laboratory of Democracy
Hon Susan Close MP, Royce Kurmelovs, Noah Schultz-Byard and Tory Shepherd with Jules Schiller
Sun 03 Mar, 12:00pm
West Stage, Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden
Whether it’s the establishment of a First Nations Voice to Parliament or the installation of the Tesla Big Battery, South Australia often leads the way. Hon Susan Close MP (BA ’89, BA(Hons)’91, PhD(SS)’98), Royce Kurmelovs, Noah Schultz-Byard and Tory Shepherd talk with Jules Schiller about why SA stands as a beacon of policy creativity. Read more
Hear Me Roar!
Madison Godfrey, Sara M. Saleh, Kirli Saunders, Katherine Sortini and Rob Waters
Sun 03 Mar, 5:00pm
North Stage, Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden
Writers’ Week’s favourite showcase of slam poetry and spoken word returns in 2024 with performances from poets including Madison Godfrey, Sara M. Saleh, Kirli Saunders, Katherine Sortini (BCreatArts(Drama) ’18, BCreatArts(Hons) ’19) and Australian Poetry Slam Champion Rob Waters. Read more
Sex, Love and Death
Eliza Clark, Patrick deWitt and Jonathan Lethem with Molly Murn
Mon 04 Mar, 3:45pm
East Stage, Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden
Three of life’s certainties are brought into question by Eliza Clark, Patrick deWitt and Jonathan Lethem in a conversation hosted by Molly Murn (MCreatArts ’14, PhD(CreatArts) ’22). Read more
2024 MUD Literary Prize
Mon 04 Mar, 3:45pm
West Stage, Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden
The MUD Literary Prize celebrates a debut novel of literary fiction. Past winners have included Trent Dalton and Pip Williams. Hear from the 2024 winner with chair David Sly (Flinders Media & Communications Team). Read more
In the Air of an Afternoon Almost Past
Peter Goers with Rick Sarre
Tue 05 Mar, 3:45pm
North Stage, Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden
The voice of nightly radio for legions of fans, Peter Goers (BA(Hons)’78) has been called “the critic who ate Adelaide”. He discusses his latest book, a memoir about his parents’ death in the crash of Pan Am Flight 759, with Rick Sarre. Read more
The Company She Keeps
Lynette Noni with Margot McGovern
Tue 05 Mar, 6:30pm
West Stage, Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden
Across her YA series, Lynette Noni has created a host of memorable characters that fans care for deeply. She speaks with Margot McGovern (BCreatArts ’07, BCreatArts(Hons) ’08, PhD(EHLT) ’14) about how to hold a reader’s attention and create relationships that can span many years. Read more
Dangerous Women
Susanna Moore with Lisa Temple
Wed 06 Mar, 10:45am
West Stage, Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden
Susanna Moore joins Lisa Temple (BA ’78, DipEd ’78) via live stream to talk about her new novel, The Lost Wife, her memoir and ‘that novel’ – In the Cut. Read more
Cool Water
Thu 07 Mar, 1:15pm
West Stage, Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden
Myfanwy Jones, the Miles Franklin-shortlisted author of Leap, has just published a new novel about fathers, sons and the damage that can ripple through generations. She discusses the writing process with Hannah Kent (BCreatArts ’07, BCreatArts(Hons)’09). Read more