While the Sydney Writers’ Festival has been running all week, the final two days of the prestigious event will be streamed directly to Bega.
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The festival’s Live and Local initiative will allow people from every state and territory the opportunity to be a part of sessions by submitting questions directly to guest authors in Sydney via a live feed.
Merimbula author Melissa Pouliot said the opportunity will bring local authors and bookworms closer to some of the world’s best writers and storytellers.
There’s nothing better for writers to be involved in than a festival, because you get to learn all the other things writers do that culminate in a book.
- Author Melissa Pouliot
“We would all love to go, so the fact we can be part of it is absolutely fabulous. For anyone with an interest in writing, it is a golden opportunity,” she said.
The Bega Commemorative Civic Centre will host two days of programming on Saturday and Sunday, with participants able to text and Tweet questions in real time.
Libyan essayist Hisham Matar, journalists Annabel Crabb and Leigh Sales, British writer and neurosurgeons Henry Marsh, Australian children's book author and comedy writer Andy Griffiths, Australian feminist writer, broadcaster and public speaker Clementine Ford and English writer and illustrator Lauren Child will all be streamed across the weekend.
Local events will also be hosted by local illustrator Naomi Lewis, South East Arts, Writers of the Far South Coast, the Bega Valley Shire Library, Melinda Smith and Rhonda Ayliffe and Candelo Books.
“To bring people together is really important,” Ms Pouliot said.
“Writers do it on their own, so to go out and be inspired by others gives you a boost and keeps you learning.
“There’s nothing better for writers to be involved in than a festival, because you get to learn all the other things writers do that culminate in a book.
“You hear the stories behind the the books, meet the author and hear the personal stories of their journey, and there are many great authors in the region who will benefit.”