Surf Coast Writers Festival

Surf Coast Writers Festival Join us in Torquay on Saturday 27 June 2026 for the first-ever Surf Coast Writers Festival—a celebration of words, stories, and creativity by the coast.

How does a sheep station manager from the red dirt of Broken Hill end up conquering the icy waters of the English Channe...
25/06/2026

How does a sheep station manager from the red dirt of Broken Hill end up conquering the icy waters of the English Channel?

We are incredibly honoured to welcome Brendan Cullen to the stage this Saturday for an unforgettable and deeply inspiring session.

Brendan has spent his life on the land, but his greatest journey began when he faced his own battle with depression. By taking the brave step to seek help and share his story, he became a powerful voice for rural mental health—serving as a Lifeline Ambassador and a peer-support champion through the We’ve Got Ya Back initiative.

Living by the mantra "fit body, fit mind," Brendan tackled the ultimate physical test in 2022: swimming 64km across the English Channel in 17 hours. He backed it up with a team swim the following year, and recently conquered a gruelling 100km ultra-marathon.

This session is a raw, honest look at breaking down mental obstacles, finding resilience, and discovering what the human spirit is truly capable of when we support each other.

🎟️ This is a must-see session for our final festival lineup this Saturday.

Secure your seats now via our website!

https://surfcoastwritersfestival.com.au/brendan-cullen-2026

We can’t wait to welcome you to the first-ever Surf Coast Writers Festival this Saturday at the RACV Torquay Resort.To m...
25/06/2026

We can’t wait to welcome you to the first-ever Surf Coast Writers Festival this Saturday at the RACV Torquay Resort.

To make your day completely seamless, we’ve wrapped up all the essential info you need, from parking tips and our foyer box office to book signings and exclusive festival merch, in this quick guide.

🎟️ Final remaining tickets are available via our website. We can't wait to see you there! 🌊📚

How do you unearth the untold stories of history and breathe life into exceptional women who changed the world? Find out...
24/06/2026

How do you unearth the untold stories of history and breathe life into exceptional women who changed the world? Find out in our powerful Writing the Past session featuring multi-award-winning, bestselling author Alli Sinclair!

With seven acclaimed novels (and her highly anticipated eighth book, Daylight, coming in early 2027), Alli is an absolute master of emotionally rich, sweeping historical fiction.

Her life behind the pages is just as fascinating—she’s a film and TV producer, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, and the founder of the Writers at Sea cruise retreat. Oh, and did we mention she’s a former South American mountaineering guide? Alli truly finds her most compelling narratives at the very edge of the map.

Whether you’re a history buff, a lover of rich storytelling, or an aspiring writer looking to master the craft of historical fiction, this session will leave you deeply inspired.

https://surfcoastwritersfestival.com.au/alli-sinclair-2026

As we head into the final countdown for the inaugural Surf Coast Writers Festival this Saturday, we want to shine a mass...
24/06/2026

As we head into the final countdown for the inaugural Surf Coast Writers Festival this Saturday, we want to shine a massive spotlight on the incredible local businesses and organisations helping us bring this event to life.

A community festival takes a village, and we simply couldn’t do it without the generous support of our amazing partners:

Supporting Partner: a huge thank you to Stretton Torquay for backing our vision from the very start.

Community Partner: we're grateful for the fantastic support of Ruth Arnett Chartered Accountant.

Our Event Partners: thank you to the brilliant teams at Times News Group, Gruff Design, DBM Signs, Destination Surf Coast, RACV Torquay Resort, Torquay Books, and Geelong Regional Libraries.

From helping us spread the word and design our look, to providing stunning spaces, delicious lunchboxes, and making sure our shelves are stocked with amazing books—you are the backbone of our creative community!

To our partners and our wonderful Surf Coast community: thank you for believing in the power of bringing people together through stories. We can't wait to celebrate with you this weekend! 🎉📚

Join us for a deeply moving conversation with distinguished Lebanese-Australian journalist and author Antoun Issa as he ...
23/06/2026

Join us for a deeply moving conversation with distinguished Lebanese-Australian journalist and author Antoun Issa as he reflects on his powerful new book, Rebirth.

In this session, Antoun shares the personal journey of uncovering his mother’s story—a love story shaped by war, displacement, and incredible resilience. Drawing on his decade-long career reporting on complex global events for The Atlantic, Al-Monitor, and Guardian Australia, Antoun explores memory, identity, and why preserving these fragile personal histories is vital to understanding our world today.

Guiding this intimate discussion is award-winning journalist, commentator, and The Age columnist Kate Halfpenny, who brings four decades of interviewing expertise to the stage.

This promises to be one of the most profound and unforgettable sessions of the festival.

🎟️ The countdown is on and tickets are limited! Secure your seats now via our website.

www.surfcoastwritersfestival.com.au

Ever feel like your hormones are running the show? You aren't alone. Join Emma Hardy for a refreshingly honest chat abou...
23/06/2026

Ever feel like your hormones are running the show? You aren't alone. Join Emma Hardy for a refreshingly honest chat about her new book, Periodic Bitch. Emma brings humour, wit, and sharp insight to a topic so many women experience but rarely discuss out loud.

Come along for a brilliant conversation about mood swings, womanhood, and everything in between.

📍 RACV Resort Torquay
🗓️ Saturday 27 June 2:30-3:15pm

https://surfcoastwritersfestival.com.au/emma-hardy-2026

Young Adult fiction has the unique power to shape readers at a pivotal moment in their lives. Whether you are a lifelong...
23/06/2026

Young Adult fiction has the unique power to shape readers at a pivotal moment in their lives. Whether you are a lifelong lover of YA fiction or an aspiring writer looking to explore the genre, this panel is an absolute must-attend.

Come along and listen to three incredible authors discuss their novels, their world-building, and why they choose to write for young audiences:

✨ Miranda Luby: Local Surf Coast author and journalist whose brilliant novels, 'Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over' and 'The Edge of Everything', have earned CBCA Notable and Text Prize short listings.

🕵️‍♂️ Troy Hunter: Melbourne-based crime writer and host of the 'Q***r Writes Sessions' podcast. His acclaimed 'Gus' series is a powerhouse for engaging reluctant readers, especially young boys.

🎨 Karen Comer: Freelance editor and workshop leader whose extraordinary debut verse novel, Grace Notes, took home the 2024 CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers and was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award.

Get ready for an inspiring conversation on the craft and deep impact of storytelling for young minds.

The wait is officially over! This Saturday 27 June, the RACV Torquay Resort transforms into a haven for storytellers, re...
22/06/2026

The wait is officially over! This Saturday 27 June, the RACV Torquay Resort transforms into a haven for storytellers, readers, and creatives for the inaugural Surf Coast Writers Festival.

If you haven't locked in your tickets yet, this is your final wake-up call! Several sessions have already completely sold out, and limited seats are remaining across our panels, workshops, and intimate author conversations.

Whether you’re eager to hear from national headliners like Nine News finance editor Chris Kohler, catch a live podcast recording of He Read, She Read with J.P. Pomare and Sarah Bailey, or dive into incredible stories by local authors.

Don't risk missing out at the door. Head to the link in our bio to browse the final schedule and grab your tickets.

See you this Saturday for a beautiful day of ideas, inspiration, and community. ❤️

www.surfcoastwritersfestival.com.au

If you loved the "slightly unhinged," award-winning cookbook 'Shannon’s Kitchen', you are in for a massive treat. After ...
22/06/2026

If you loved the "slightly unhinged," award-winning cookbook 'Shannon’s Kitchen', you are in for a massive treat. After picking up three Gourmand Awards and releasing four non-fiction hits—including Parenting for Legends—Shannon has finally embraced her lifelong dream of writing fiction!

We are incredibly lucky to get an exclusive sneak peek into her debut novel, Billie King, right before its official release with HarperCollins on June 30. Inspired by spirit, freedom, and women who push back, this session will take you behind the scenes of her leap from cookbooks to novels, her creative process, and the journey of bringing Billie King to life.

With a second novel already slated for 2028, Shannon is a powerhouse storyteller at the top of her game. Come along to celebrate this exciting new chapter with a familiar ex-Torquay local!

🎟️ Tickets are selling fast—secure yours now at the link in our bio!

If you’ve ever wondered how a manuscript becomes a published book, this practical and inspiring panel is for you! Join o...
21/06/2026

If you’ve ever wondered how a manuscript becomes a published book, this practical and inspiring panel is for you! Join our moderator Mark Smith as he guides three incredible debut authors through the highs, lows, and essential steps of their publishing journeys:

✨ Bonnie Tai: an ABIA award-winning book marketing manager turned YA fantasy author, Bonnie crafts swoony stories featuring monstrous girls and misunderstood villains inspired by her third-culture background.

🎭 Lisa Moule: an accomplished writer, performer, and co-host of 3CR’s Published… or Not. After a successful London acting and voice art career, she returned to Australia to focus on fiction, winning the 2023 Australian Short Story Festival’s Emerging Writers’ Prize and second prize in the 2022 Furphy Literary Award.

⚖️ Mali Cornish: a Geelong-born lawyer whose debut legal thriller Judgement Day was shortlisted for a Danger Award, and whose highly anticipated second novel, The Missing Mother, has just hit the shelves.

Whether you're an aspiring writer looking for a roadmap or a reader who loves discovering fresh Australian talent, come along to get the ultimate insider’s look at the road to being published.

Address

1 Great Ocean Road
Torquay, VIC
3228

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