2025 Program
Take inspiration from our line-up of leading names in Australian and International genre fiction, across a spectacular weekend of panels, workshops and special events.
Stream 1 of the Program is also accessible via online live stream.
Live Stream accessible.
DAY ONE PROGRAM
SATURDAY 1 MARCH
STREAM 1
Key
STREAM 2
STREAM 3
8:50
FIRST WORD + KEYNOTE: ALCHEMY
GRAHAM AKHURST
STEFF GREEN
8:50 – 10:00
10:10
AMAZON… WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?
PANEL
TRENT JAMIESON
JAMES MAXWELL
CATHERINE BILSON
10:10 – 11:10
SPECULATIVE INVESTMENT: MODERN SPEC-FIC AND SCI-FI
IN - CONVERSATION
TANSY RAYNER ROBERTS
EUGEN BACON
10:10 – 11:10
CRAFT PLUS: THE COMPETITION SCHEDULE
SEMINAR
QWC
10:10 – 11:10
11:20
WRITING RITUALS
PANEL
AMY ADAMS
STEFF GREEN
JAMES MAXWELL
11:20 – 12:20
GENRE ACADEMIA
IN - CONVERSATION
LAURIE STEED
GRAHAM AKHURST
11:20 – 12:20
12:20
BREAK
12:20 – 13:10
13:10
FAR-OFF MARKETS –
ON THE RISE
PANEL
HM HODGSON
STACEY MCEWAN
13:10 – 14:10
CRAFT PLUS: CONTENT WARNING
SEMINAR
QWC
13:10 – 14:10
WRITE REGARDLESS!
WORKSHOP
MICHAEL BURGE
13:10 – 15:20
14:20
MARKETING MOOLA
SEMINAR
HOLLY BRUNNBAUER
14:20 – 15:20
DARK WHISPERINGS
SALON
VARIOUS READERS
14:20 – 15:20
15:30
MAGIC OF WINNING
PANEL
GENEVE FLYNN
EUGEN BACON
PAMELA JEFFS
15:30 – 16:30
UNICORNS KEEP THE INDUSTRY AFLOAT
PANEL
AMY ANDREWS
TANSY RAYNER ROBERTS
TRENT JAMIESON
STACEY MCEWAN
15:30 – 16:30
16:45 ONWARDS
CHATTERBOXES
SPECIAL EVENT
These inclusive forums will give you the chance to deep-dive in your genre niche of choice.
16:45 – 17:45
DAY TWO PROGRAM
SUNDAY 2 MARCH
STREAM 1
Key
STREAM 2
STREAM 3
GENRE-BENDING
PANEL
GRAHAM AKHURST
STEFF GREEN
EUGEN BACON
PETER PAPATHANASIOU
9:00 – 10:00
9:00
FIND YOUR TRIBE: SUBSTACK AND ONLINE STORYTELLING
WORKSHOP
LAURIE STEED
9:00 – 11:10
10:10
A LIFE OF CRIME
IN - CONVERSATION
MICHAEL BURGE
PETER PAPATHANASIOU
10:10 – 11:10
ROOM AT THE TABLE
PANEL
GENEVE FLYNN
L.E. DANIELS
PAMELA JEFFS
10:10 – 11:10
11:20
CRAFT PLUS: READ IN YOUR GENRE
SEMINAR
QWC
11:20 – 12:20
SECRET AGENT STUFF
PANEL
SAMUEL BERNARD
JAMES MAXWELL
STACEY MCEWAN
PETER PAPATHANASIOU
11:20 – 12:20
12:30
THE SHREADER
SPECIAL EVENT
12:30 – 13:50
14:00
BEYOND BOOKTOK
PANEL
JACK RONEY
STEFF GREEN
LAURIE STEED
TANSY RAYNER ROBERTS
14:00 – 15:00
CRITICAL WRITING GIGS
PANEL
PHIL BROWN
JANE HULTGREN
SAMUEL BERNARD
14:00 – 15:00
MELTING POT
PANEL
GENEVE FLYNN
MICHAEL BURGE
GRAHAM AKHURST
14:00 – 15:00
15:10
BURNOUT - BURN BACK, BURN BRIGHT
SEMINAR
AMY ANDREWS
15:10 – 16:10
WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW
PANEL
NIKE SULWAY
EUGEN BACON
PETER PAPATHANASIOU
15:10 – 16:10
16:20
CLOSING ADDRESS
LORI-JAY ELLIS
16:20 – 17:00