Ticket pre-sales for the Bendigo Writers Festival are at three times the 2018 rate, which organisers say is a vote of confidence in the event.
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Director Rosemary Sorensen said the festival has established a good reputation after eight years, with people anticipating a high quality program.
Ms Sorensen was joined by councillor Rod Fyffe and festival ambassador Greg Fleet to launch the festival's 2019 program on Wednesday.
Ms Sorensen said the festival had dragged out the mirror ball, for theme "all that glitters", aiming to showcase the gold in writing.
She said the festival sought to include the important, the valuable and the truly sincere.
Ms Sorensen was particularly excited for American academic Stephen Pyne, visiting to discuss his work on fire management.
While it might sound dry, fire management was of critical importance to life, especially for those living in central Victoria, Ms Sorensen said.
Ticket pre-sales for the 2019 writers festival have been three times higher than at the same time in 2018.
Ms Sorensen said loyal followers had begun to anticipate the quality of the program.
"They're actually asking us, 'Who's on the program? Who's on the program?', so we've got now a few names, and we've got some very loyal subscribers," she said.
"We've got people who come every year and they bring with them new people, so I think those people who come every year are now certain that it's going to be a quality event.
"They're very happy to do an early bird ticket, without actually knowing who's on the program, which is a real vote of confidence."
Speakers for 2019 include food writer Jill Dupleix, surgeon and former refugee Munjed Al Muderis, and SBS presenter Maeve O'Meara.
Festival ambassador Greg Fleet said he was excited to learn more from other writers during the festival.
He said having grown up in Geelong, he was knew how many interesting things happened outside places like Melbourne or Sydney.
He said it was a joy to be asked to be something like the Bendigo Writers Festival, to hear from an "amazing" range of people.
Mr Fleet said his own novel delved into the difference between the families we're born with, and the families we create.
At a time like this, he said it was important to share stories, listen to and meet writers.
"I really love sharing stories, and sharing my own stories with other people, and hearing their stories," Mr Fleet said.
"Telling stories is how we've always lived, from cave painting to now. Sharing stories with people is my idea of heaven; telling them my stories, hearing their stories."
"It's just a great way of sharing. Being an author is quite solitary."
New venue Bendigo Bowls Club hosted the launch.
Full program:
FRIDAY
Poetry Masterclass
- 11am - 3pm
- With Anthony Lawrence
- Strategem Studio: Ticket only
Hang On, Help is On Its Way
- 11am-noon
- Hang On, Help is On Its Way; Meshel Laurie
- Great Stupa of Universal Compassion: Ticket only
Many Such As She
- 11am-noon
- Many Such As She: Michael Sharkey
- Soldiers Memorial Institute Military Museum: Ticket only
In the Bush, No-one Can Hear You Scream
- 11am-noon
- In the Bush, No-one Can Hear You Scream: Sulari Gentill and Robert Gott
- Blind Cow Pottery, Marong: Ticket only
Does My Face Fit Here?
- 12.30pm-1.15pm
- Does My Face Fit Here?: Randa Abdel-Fattah, Santilla Chingaipe
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Pass or Ticket - school groups included
The Idea of Home
- 1.45pm-2.30pm
- The Idea of Home: Alice Pung, Fiona Parker
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Pass or Ticket - school groups included
Danger is his Business
- 1.45pm-2.30pm
- Danger is his Business: Gianrico Carofiglio, Sarah Mayor Cox
- Capital Theatre: Pass only - school groups included
Brain Food
- 1.45pm-2.30pm
- Brain Food: Felice Jacka, Chris Kelly
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
Women Kind
- 1.45pm-2.45pm
- Women Kind: Kristin Ferguson, Catherine Fox, Marg O'Rourke
- Bendigo Bowls Club: Pass only
Telling It Tough
- 3pm-3.45pm
- Telling It Tough: Megan Blandford, Benjamin MacEllen, John Richards
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
Curing Cancer
- 3.15pm-4.15pm
- Curing Cancer: Paul Davies, Natasha Mitchell
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Pass or Ticket
The Voice
- 3.15pm-4.15pm
- The Voice: Jane Caro, Ginger Gorman, James Jeffrey, Don Walker, Lawrie Zion
- Capital Theatre: Pass only
Fire People
- 3.15pm-4.15pm
- Fire People: Chloe Hooper, Stephen Pyne, Sian Gard
- Bendigo Bank Theatre: Pass only
Writing Victoria
- 3.15pm-4.15pm
- Writing Victoria: Kate Cuthbert, Jarad Henry, Lee Kofman, Fiona Lowe Anna Snoekstra
- Bendigo Bowls Club: Pass only
The Cost of Caring
- 4.30pm-5.15pm
- The Cost of Caring: Christine Cummins, Lucy Mayes, Tamara Marwood
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
Good Thinking
- 4.45pm-5.45pm
- Good Thinking: David Astle, Felice Jacka, Julia Shaw,Rob Stephenson
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Pass or Ticket
I Just Snapped
- 4.45pm-5.45pm
- I Just Snapped: Maryrose Cuskelly, Jess Hill, Bri Lee, Beatrice Alba
- Capital Theatre: Pass only
Gastronomical
- 4.45pm-5.45pm
- Gastronomical: Trevor Budge, Jill Dupleix, Charles Massy
- Bendigo Bank Theatre: Pass only
Home and Heart
- 4.45pm-5.45pm
- Home and Heart: Min Jin Lee, Alice Pung
- Bendigo Bowls Club: Pass only
Food Fossickers Showcase
- 5pm-7.45pm
- Food Fossickers Showcase
- Ulumbarra foyer: Free, all welcome
Book Launch
- 5.30pm - 6.30pm
- Book Launch - Sludge: John Brumby, Peter Davies, Susan Lawrence
- Ulumbarra foyer: Free, all welcome
Sisters
- 6pm - 7pm
- Sisters: Tishani Doshi, Karen Viggers, Penelope Curtin
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
Working Women
- 6pm - 7pm
- Working Women: Anne Manne, Megan Stack, Marilyn Waring
- Capital Theatre: Pass only
Democracy
- 6.30pm - 7.30pm
- Democracy: Jennifer Clement, Richard Cooke, AC Grayling, Clare Wright, Nevo Zisin
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Pass or Ticket
World of Food
- 8pm - 9.15pm
- World of Food: Maeve O'Meara, Derek Guille
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Ticket only
Crime After Dark
- 9.30pm - 10.30pm
- Crime After Dark: host Andrew Nette
- Festival Club at Bendigo Bowls Club: Free, all welcome
SATURDAY
Make 'em Laugh
- 10am - 10.45am
- Make 'em Laugh: RA Spratt, Sarah Mayor Cox
- Strategem Studio
Regret
- 10am - 11am
- Regret: Steve Kendall with Maryrose Cuskelly, Ginger Gorman, Lee Kofman, Alice Pung
- Capital Theatre: Pass only
There It Is Again
- 10am - 11am
- There It Is Again: Don Watson with Prue Mansfield
- Bendigo Bank Theatre: Pass only
What I Have Written
- 10am - 11am
- What I Have Written: Kate Cuthbert with Sulari Gentill, Jock Serong, Anna Snoekstra
- Bendigo Bowls Club: Pass only
Panchinko - A Family Epic
- 10.15am - 11.15am
- Pachinko - A Family Epic: Min Jin Lee with Sarah L'Estrange
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Pass or Ticket
Better Memory
- 10.15am - 11am
- Better Memory: Lynne Kelly with Ann Lansberry
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
Truth, Love and Clean Cutlery
- 11.15am - noon
- Truth, Love and Clean Cutlery: Jill Dupleix with Jen Alden
- Strategem Studio: Ticket only
Breaking Bad
- 11.30am - 12.30pm
- Breaking Bad: Chloe Hooper and Julia Shaw with Natasha Mitchell
- Capital Theatre: Pass only
Two Steps Forward
- 11.30am - 12.30pm
- Two Steps Forward: Marilyn Lake and Sarah Maddison with Tony Birch
- Bendigo Bank Theatre: Pass only
Nganga
- 11.30am - 12.15pm
- Nganga - To See and Understand: Aunty Fay Muir, Sue Townsend, with David Astle
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
Sharing Difference
- 11.30am - 12.30pm
- Sharing Difference: Kelly Gardiner with Claire G Coleman, Michael Earp, Erin Gough and Nevo Zisin
- Bendigo Bowls Club: Pass only
Democracy and Its Crisis
- 11.45am - 12.45pm
- Democracy and Its Crisis: AC Grayling with John Brumby
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Pass or Ticket
Deadly Wisdom
- 1pm - 1.45pm
- Deadly Wisdom: Sue McPherson with Jenny Mitchell
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
Fieldwork
- 1.15pm - 2.15pm
- Fieldwork: Paul Barclay with Gabrielle Chan, Kim Mahood and Stephen Pyne
- Capital Theatre: Pass only
Growing Up African
- 1.15pm - 2.15pm
- Growing Up African: Rachel le Rossignol hosts Santilla Chingaipe, Magan Magan and Ahmed Yussuf
- Bendigo Bank Theatre: Pass only
Rebels and Trailblazers
- 1.15pm - 2.15pm
- Rebels and Trailblazers: Clare Wright with Billy Griffiths
- Bendigo Bowls Club: Pass only
Money and Ethics
- 1.30pm - 2.30pm
- Money and Ethics: Stuart Kells and Alan Kohler with Sharon Kemp
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Pass or Ticket
Houseproud (not)
- 2pm - 2.45pm
- Houseproud (not): Jessica Rowe with Suzanne Donisthorpe
- Strategem Studio: Ticket only
On Japan
- 2.15pm - 3.15pm
- On Japan: Barry Hill and Meredith McKinney with Emerald King
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
Rise and Resist
- 2.45pm - 3.45pm
- Rise and Resist: Bhakthi Puvanenthiran hosts Jennifer Clement, Claire G Coleman and Clare Press
- Capital Theatre: Pass only
History is a Conversation
- 2.45pm - 3.45pm
- History is a Conversation: Jill Giese and Tom Griffiths with Emma Robertson
- Bendigo Bank Theatre: Pass only
The Artist's Role
- 2.45pm - 3.45pm
- The Artist's Role: Astrid Edwards hosts Jane Caro, Stuart Coupe, Ben Eltham and Greg Fleet
- Bendigo Bowls Club: Pass only
Reporting Pell
- 3pm - 4pm
- Reporting Pell: Louise Milligan with Lawrie Zion
- Ulubarra Theatre: Pass or Ticket
Backyard Habitat
- 3.15pm - 4pm
- Backyard Habitat: AB Bishop with Kieran Christopherson
- Strategem Studio: Ticket only
Poetic Impulse
- 3.45pm - 4.30pm
- Poetic Impulse: Anthony Lawrence with Tru Dowling
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
Trumped - America Today
- 4.30pm - 5.30pm
- Trumped - America Today: Julie Rudner with Richard Cooke, Min Jin Lee, Megan Stack, Don Watson
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Pass or Ticket
Inspirational Landscapes
- 4.30pm - 5.30pm
- Inspirational Landscapes: Gemma Rayner hosts Peter Doherty, Kim Mahood and Charles Massy
- Capital Theatre: Pass only
Sludge - A Filthy Bendigo Story
- 4.30pm - 5.30pm
- Sludge - A Filthy Bendigo Story: Peter Davies, Susan Lawrence, Chris Peder
- Bendigo Bank Theatre: Pass only
Politics is Funny
- 4.30pm - 5.30pm
- Politics is Funny: James Jeffrey, Jon Kudelka, Lindy Burns
- Bendigo Bowls Club: Pass only
Songs Sung
- 4.45pm - 5.30pm
- Songs Sung: Don Walker with Jenny Valentish
- Strategem Studio: Ticket only
The Damage Done
- 5pm - 5.45pm
- The Damage Done: Tony Birch, Claire Flanagan-Smith
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
Courting Danger
- 6pm - 7pm
- Courting Danger: Gianrico Carofiglio, Jarad Henry
- Strategem Studio: Ticket only
Leading
- 6pm - 7pm
- Leading: Mary Crooks, Troy Bramston, Bri Lee, Kerry O'Brien, Marilyn Waring
- Capital Theatre: Pass only
Crossing the Great Divide
- 6pm - 7pm
- Crossing the Great Divide: Rod Moss, Raimond Gaita
- Bendigo Bank Theatre: Pass only
Are We There Yet?
- 6pm - 7pm
- Are We There Yet? Nicole Ferrie hosts Jane Caro, Tishani Doshi, Jess Hill
- Bendigo Bowls Club: Pass only
Shakespeare's Books
- 6.15pm - 7pm
- Shakespeare's Books: Stuart Kells, Dianne Dempsey
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
What Is Life?
- 8pm - 9.15pm
- What Is Life?: Paul Davies
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Ticket only
The Silents Were Golden
- 8pm - 9pm
- The Silents Were Golden: Dominic Smith, David Lloyd
- Strategem Studio: Ticket only
Bendigo's Best Bits
- 9.30pm - 8.30pm
- Bendigo's Best Bits: Host Em Burgess-Gilchrist
- Festival Club at Bendigo Bowls Club: Free, all welcome
SUNDAY
Gastronomy Breakfast
- 8.15am - 9.45am
- Gastronomy Breakfast: Jill Dupleix, Terry Durack, Kath Bolitho
- Bendigo Bowls Club: Ticket only
A Pilgrim's Progress
- 9.45am - 10.30am
- A Pilgrim's Progress: Barry Hill, Tom Griffiths
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
Adapting Woolf
- 9.45am - 10.30am
- Adapting Woolf: Peta Hanrahan, Anna Kennedy
- Engine Room: Pass only
Parenting
- 10am - 11am
- Parenting: John Marsden, Cecile Shanahan
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Pass or Ticket
Romancing the Rose
- 10am - 11am
- Romancing the Rose: Kate Forsyth, Bryley Savage
- Strategem Studio: Ticket only
The Really Big News
- 10am - 11am
- The Really Big News: Kerry O'Brien, Steve Kendall
- Capital Theatre: Pass only
Electric Hotel
- 10am - 11am
- Electric Hotel: Dominic Smith, Sarah L'Estrange
- Bendigo Bank Theatre: Pass only
What's New in Crime
- 11am - 12pm
- What's New In Crime: Andrew Nette with Gianrico Carofiglio, Maryrose Cuskelly, Sulari Gentill, Robert Gott
- Bendigo Bowls Club: Pass only
Found in Translation
- 11.15am - 12pm
- Found In Translation: Meredith McKinney, Simon Patton
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
The Language of Flowers
- 11.15am - 12pm
- The Language of Flowers: Penelope Curtin, Jacqueline Millner
- Engine Room: Pass only
Boys Will Be Boys
- 11.30am - 12.30pm
- Boys Will Be Boys: Clementine Ford, Sarah Mayor Cox
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Pass or Ticket
Fifth Estate presents - Women's Work
- 11.30am - 12.30pm
- Fifth Estate presents - Women's Work: Megan K Stack, Sally Warhaft
- Strategem Studio: Ticket only
Counting the Cost
- 11.30am - 12.30pm
- Counting the Cost: Mary Crooks, Richard Denniss, Marilyn Waring
- Capital Theatre: Pass only
Menzies and the Art of Politics
- 11.30am - 12.30pm
- Menzies and the Art of Politics: Troy Bramston, Annika Smethurst
- Bendigo Bank Theatre: Pass only
Girls are Coming out of the Woods
- 12.30pm - 1.15pm
- Girls are Coming out of the Woods: Tishani Doshi, host Dan Bendrups
- Engine Room: Pass only
Mining the Past
- 12.30pm - 1.15pm
- Mining the Past: Kate Forsyth, Kelly Gardiner, Ilka Tampke
- Bendigo Bowls Club: Pass only
Making Evil
- 1.15pm - 2.15pm
- Making Evil: Julia Shaw, Paul Barclay
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Pass or Ticket
It's Your Money
- 1.15pm - 2.15pm
- It's Your Money: Alan Kohler, Yvonne Wrigglesworth
- Strategem Studio: Ticket only
Shake or Stir?
- 1.15pm - 2.15pm
- Shake or Stir? Jane Caro,Gabrielle Chan, Jess Hill, Sarah Maddison
- Capital Theatre: Pass only
Australia Felix
- 1.15pm - 2.15pm
- Australia Felix: Marilyn Lake, Jock Serong
- Bendigo Bank Theatre: Pass only
Professor At Large
- 1.45pm - 2.30pm
- Professor at Large: Peter Doherty, Sian Gard
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
On the Road Again
- 1.45pm - 2.30pm
- On the Road Again: Stuart Coupe, Don Walker, Em Burgess-Gilchrist
- Engine Room: Pass only
Humour's Edge
- 1.45pm - 2.45pm
- Humour's Edge: Ginger Gorman, Erin Gough, Jon Kudelka, Fiona Parker
- Bendigo Bowls Club: Pass only
A Better Death
- 3pm - 4pm
- A Better Death: Ranjana Srivastava, Robert Blum
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Pass or Ticket
Planning for Pyrocene
- 3pm - 4pm
- Planning for the Pyrocene: Stephen Pyne, Tom Griffiths
- Strategem Studio: Ticket only
Over It
- 3pm - 4pm
- Over It: Jennifer Clement, Greg Fleet, Karen Viggers, Leo D'Angelo Fisher
- Capital Theatre: Pass only
Family Smatters
- 3pm - 4pm
- Family Smatters: James Jeffrey, Annika Smethurst
- Bendigo Bank Theatre: Pass only
Tricky Brain
- 3.15pm - 4pm
- Tricky Brain: David Astle, Elspeth Kernebone
- La Trobe Art Institute: Pass only
Women Write Blak
- 3.15pm - 4.15pm
- Women Write Blak: Blak Brow Collective
- Engine Room: Pass only
Active Online
- 3.15pm - 4.15pm
- Active Online: Bhakthi Puvanenthiran hosts Ben Eltham, Bri Lee, Clare Press
- Bendigo Bowls Club: Pass only
Closing Address - Changing Lives
- 4.30pm - 5.30pm
- Closing Address - Changing Lives: Munjed Al Muderis
- Ulumbarra Theatre: Ticket only
For ticketing information visit: bendigowritersfestival.com.au
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Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
