Two Melbourne novelists explore the hilarious absurdity of contemporary motherhood, work-life juggling, and domestic upheaval.

Former human rights lawyer Eleanor Elliott Thomas (The Opposite of Success, Do We Deserve This?) and mother-of-six Kate Solly (Tuesday Evenings with the Copeton Craft Resistance, The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up) discuss how they transform everyday chaos into sharp, feel-good fiction that finds profound truths beneath the suburban veneers.

They will be interviewed by the equally talented author Emily Spurr.

Join authors Bridie Blake (The Boyfriend Clause) and Olivia Tolich (Side Character Energy), in conversation with Rebecca Fraser, as they share their path to publication and advice for aspiring writers. As the popularity of romance continues to grow, Tolich and Blake will reflect on the value of the genre and its evolving cultural influence.

Blake’s The Boyfriend Clause follows Sabrina, a café owner whose harmless lie about having a boyfriend spirals into a fake‑dating adventure with the brooding author next door. A charade complicated by a family trip to England, rising feelings, and the unsettling pages of his next novel.

Tolich’s Side Character Energy introduces Gertrude, a devoted best friend who suddenly realises she may not be the main character in her own life. With the help of Arthur, and some uncomfortable self‑reflection, she begins to question her choices, her relationships, and who she wants to become. 

Join rising romance voices Olivia Tolich and Bridie Blake for a warm, funny and deeply engaging conversation about love on the page.

From yearning to slow-burn tension, they reveal how they craft chemistry, heartbreak and happily-ever-afters that keep readers hooked.

A must-attend event for anyone who adores contemporary romance and the art of writing irresistible characters.

Join us for a conversation with Robert Dessaix about his book Chameleon. Robert will be in conversation with Phil Brown.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Robert Dessaix’s Chameleon is about everything that matters, a book of memories that flow so freely they seem to happen as we read. Cartwheeling from story to story, Dessaix describes an identity in flux: his beginnings as an adopted child named Thomas Robert Jones, his youthful interest in religious thinking, his obsession with all things Russian, his marriage to Lisa and divorce, his discovery of travel. In North Africa he finds different ways of feeling and being, and in Australia he begins his abiding relationship with his partner Peter Timms. At every point he muses on pleasure, art, sex, literature, infatuation, happiness, music, life, death and all the rest. Chameleon is a virtuoso performance of self-revelation, as Dessaix explores how the restless mind takes constant detours to search for what makes life good, a place of wisdom and love.

Fantasy, Romantasy, Sci-fi, Horror and more – speculative fiction offers writers and readers a universe-sized canvas where anything can happen, and usually does!

Join award-winning spec-fic authors Max Barry, John Morrissey and Amie Kaufman, with writer Scott Steensma, for a spec-fic discussion on writing, genre, exploring concepts and their own widely acclaimed work.

Discover the next wave of standout voices in Australian writing at the first edition of The Next Big Thing for 2026.  

Over a drink at The Moat, five emerging writers traverse contemporary parenthood and friendship, romantic misadventures, myth and history, distant futures and the complexities of personal and collective grief.

Hear from John Morrissey as he shares Bird Deity, a speculative novel set on a far-flung colony where science fiction meets human vulnerability. Novelist Lisa Moule’s sharp and relatable debut The Mother of All Calamities digs deep into modern parenting culture, ambition and the bonds that hold and strain friendships. Cameron Sullivan reimagines the origins of the Beast of Gévaudan in The Red Winter, a historical fantasy steeped in legend. Olivia Tolich offers a fresh, funny twist on the rom-com with Side Character Energy, giving the often-sidelined best friend a long-overdue spotlight. Saskia Lynzaat’s Voiceworks essay ‘Privilege of a Peaceful Grief’ is her lyrical exploration of how private sorrow and political crisis collide, particularly in response to the war in Gaza.

Join us for an evening of captivating readings as host Diem Nguyen introduces new work from these writers poised to make their mark.

Join us for a Romance Author Panel celebrating two smart, funny and heart-fluttering Australian novels.

Hear from Bridie Blake, author of The Boyfriend Clause, a contemporary romance packed with fake dating, brooding writers, family chaos and plenty of spice, and Olivia Tolich, whose debut Side Character Energy offers a sharp, insightful take on love, friendship and finding yourself beyond the roles others expect you to play.

Together, they’ll chat about modern romance, relatable heroines, messy relationships, and the stories we tell about love, romantic, platonic and everything in between. Perfect for romance readers who love wit, warmth and a little emotional bite.

This event is a fun night out with your book loving friends or come alone and learn something new! If you love romance books, you won't want to miss the chance to meet two new romance authors. looking for a new book or genre, come along and find out if the books sound like a great read.

Join us for storytelling, banter, and romance with two of Australia's most exciting new voices in contemporary romance fiction. 

Join Bridie Blake, author of The Boyfriend Clause, and Olivia Tolich, author of Side Character Energy, as they share their path to publication and advice for aspiring writers. As the popularity of romance continues to grow, Tolich and Blake reflect on the value of the genre and its evolving cultural influence.

Olivia and Bridie will be in conversation with fellow romance writer, Holly Brunnbauer, author of What Did I Miss.

How do stories express connection to place and identity? In this thoughtful conversation, Byrne and Morrissey explore belonging and responsibility in Australian fiction. The session focuses on story as a way of holding history, Country and moral obligation across generations.

Join us for storytelling, banter, and romance with two of Australia’s most exciting new voices in contemporary romance fiction. Olivia Tolich, author of Side Character Energy, and Bridie Blake, author of The Boyfriend Clause, share their path to publication and advice for aspiring writers. As the popularity of romance continues to grow, Tolich and Blake reflect on the value of the genre and its evolving cultural influence. Book sales and book signings will be available after the event.