Perth Writers Festival

Hello again and all good wishes for 2009

I've been very slack with the blog recently but will try to be more disciplined in future!

First of all I'm both delighted and relieved to be able to tell you that I have finished the novel I was working on it will be available later this year.  More details later.

And I want to let you know about the Perth Writers Festival which this year has a truly impressive lineup of local, national and international writers in a greatly expanded program.  The Festival is based in the glorious grounds of the University of Western Australia, it's a terrific mix of panel sessions, readings, talks and spotlight interviews and many of the events are free.  Look at this very abbreviated list of visiting writers and I think you'll find it's hard to stay away.

There is former Director General of MI5 Stella Rimington - who now writes gripping crime fiction.

Australia's best known and most controversial thinker - Peter Singer

American novelist James McBride who will be talking about the power of language in both oppression and liberation.

And Irish novelist and playwright Sebastian Barry whose lates book The Secret Scripture was shortlisted bfor the 2008 Man Booker Prize and has recently won the Costa Prize for fiction. 

Kate Grenville and Robert Dessaix will be there and the ever popular Susan Duncan who won everyone's hearts when she was here at the festival a couple of years ago.  And from overseas -  Nadeem Aslam, Alan Weisman. Mark Kurlansky and Rana Dasgupta. 

And there are so many more - so do go to the website and browse through the program at

www.perthfestival.com.au  the program runs from 27th February to 2 March.

I'm looking forward to hosting the literary luncheon with Robert Dessaix on Friday 27th and talking to him about his glorious new book - Arabesques: A Tale of Double Lives.  And to my spotlight conversation with Sebastian Barry at the Octagon on the evening of Monday 2 March.

And I know I'll enjoy taking my pick from the other events on offer.  so perhaps I'll see you there.

Comments

[Suzanne]

Hi Liz
A friend has started belly dancing classes and I told her about your novel. When I googled you to print off the overview I found your blog!
Did a good turn for her and now to my delight I found that your next book is finished. Yes!!!! I cannot wait. I've read four so far (which I've loved) and an "hanging out" waiting for the next one. Approximately when will it be available and do you have a title that I can look out for?
Thanks...

[Liz Byrski]

Hi Suzanne
Thanks for your lovely message, I'm so glad you are enjoying the books. The next one is called Bad Behaviour and should be available in September. I'll confirm that on the blog in a couple of months time.
thanks again and all good wishes. Liz