Browse Program Events

Thursday 22 August 2013 at 9.00 pm

Keynote: The Moth Mainstage

Join New York’s hottest and hippest literary ticket The Moth in this beautifully staged, live theatrical production. Internationally acclaimed masters of storytelling, including comedian and host Ophira Eisenberg and Australian’s own Magda Szubanski, will explore the theme of courage. Bringing together entertainment, enlightenment and festivity, this exclusive MWF event promises to take the audience on a storytelling journey that will leave you spellbound.

We’re releasing 500 tickets to Keynote: The Moth Mainstage in advance of the official release date (Friday 19 July). Buy now to secure your seat and avoid the rush!

Venue: Melbourne Town Hall
Code: 1002; Age: N/A
Price: $30/$40
SELLING FAST

Friday 23 August 2013 at 6.30 pm

The Book Club

The Book Club is Australian TV's number one meeting place for book lovers. In this special MWF episode, host Jennifer Byrne and regulars Jason Steger and Marieke Hardy chew the literary fat with Festival guests XX and XX.

Jason Steger, Jennifer Byrne, Marieke Hardy

Venue: ABC Elsternwick
Code: 9904; Age:
Price: Free

Monday 26 August 2013 at 10.00 am

What Reading Means to Me

Launch the 2013 Festival in style as three superb authors reveal the books, characters and stories that inspire their writing and have shaped their lives. Your journey of a lifetime starts here.

Alison Croggon, Kelly Gardiner, Morris Gleitzman

Venue: The Deakin Edge, Fed Square
Code: 1501; Age: Year 5-9
Price: $7

Monday 26 August 2013 at 10.00 am

Don't Look Now

The legendary Paul Jennings and popular cartoonist Andrew Weldon have combined to create Don't Look Now, a hilarious and brilliant series about a boy who dreams of being famous. Explore this unique presentation of words and pictures.

Andrew Weldon, Paul Jennings

Venue: ACMI Cinema 2
Code: 2501; Age: Year 3-5
Price: $7
SELLING FAST

Monday 26 August 2013 at 10.00 am

My Life in Comics

New Yorker Lucy Knisley-s books are true stories based on her own life and travels, whether that-s Paris, Tanzania or London. Her latest book Relish is about growing up in a food-obsessed family. See how Lucy turns life into comics.

Lucy Knisley

Venue: ACMI Cinema 1
Code: 3501; Age: Year 8-10
Price: $7

Monday 26 August 2013 at 10.00 am

Town Life/City Life

Insightful, inspiring and funny, James Roy will show how he creates stories with the sharp edge of realism and tender sympathy. Readers will recognise themselves here and enjoy discovering the stories from the town and from the city.

James Roy

Venue: ACMI The Cube
Code: 4501; Age: Year 8-10
Price: $7

Monday 26 August 2013 at 10.00 am

Workshop - Identity: Yours, Mine, Ours

Today, Alice Pung leads our exciting creative workshop at the Immigration Museum. Join Alice to explore the superb Identity: yours, mine, ours exhibition and then respond in writing workshops with the author. Each session lasts 90 minutes (45 min tour, 45 min writing workshop).

Workshops are for school groups only.

Alice Pung

Venue: Immigration Museum
Code: 6501; Age: Year 7-10
Price: $10
SELLING FAST

Monday 26 August 2013 at 10.00 am

Word on the Square

Wordsmith or wordsloth, which one are you? Do you have something to say, or just feel like a spot of wordplay? Castlemaine based duo Words on the Run bring Word on the Square, an installation of 100 giant-sized wooden letters, to Melbourne Writers Festival 2013.

Venue: Fed Square
Code: 8804; Age: All Ages
Price: Free

Monday 26 August 2013 at 11.15 am

Stories From A War

War isn-t just about soldiers: children are also affected by conflicts. Two writers highlight the troubles faced by children in times of war, and how they respond to decisions made by adults that can change the course of their lives.

Deborah Ellis, Morris Gleitzman

Venue: The Deakin Edge, Fed Square
Code: 1502; Age: Year 5-8
Price: $7

Monday 26 August 2013 at 11.15 am

Nick Earls: Wordhunter

In Wordhunters Nick Earls mixes adventure, danger, intrigue, fun and language with some fascinating moments of history. Join Nick on a word search through time and space, and maybe discover the origin of your family name, in a highly interactive, entertaining event.

Nick Earls

Venue: ACMI Cinema 2
Code: 2502; Age: Year 4-7
Price: $7

Monday 26 August 2013 at 11.15 am

The World of Billie B Brown & Jack

Meet author Sally Rippin and illustrator Aki Fukuoka. Sally will tell all about the world of Billie B Brown and her best friend Jack. Aki will do some live drawing, and share some tips to create your own characters.

Aki Fukuoka, Sally Rippin

Venue: ACMI Cinema 1
Code: 3502; Age: Year 1-3
Price: $7

Monday 26 August 2013 at 11.15 am

Meet Cath Crowley

Cath Crowley writes about teenagers and Melbourne better than anyone else. Get the inside scoop on creating characters and turning life into believable, compelling stories from this internationally published award winning writer.

Cath Crowley

Venue: ACMI The Cube
Code: 4502; Age: Year 8-10
Price: $7
SELLING FAST

Monday 26 August 2013 at 12.00 pm

Workshop - Identity: Yours, Mine, Ours

Today, Alice Pung leads our exciting creative workshop at the Immigration Museum. Join Alice to explore the superb Identity: yours, mine, ours exhibition and then respond in writing workshops with the author. Each session lasts 90 minutes (45 min tour, 45 min writing workshop).

Workshops are for school groups only.

Alice Pung

Venue: Immigration Museum
Code: 6502; Age: Year 7-10
Price: $10

Monday 26 August 2013 at 12.30 pm

School Report

Alice Miranda and Eric Vale are two children who go to two very different schools, and each of them faces their own hilarious obstacles and adventures. Authors Jacqueline Harvey and Michael Gerard Bauer reveal what really happens when the bell goes.

Jacqueline Harvey, Michael Gerard Bauer

Venue: The Deakin Edge, Fed Square
Code: 1503; Age: Year 3-6
Price: $7

Monday 26 August 2013 at 12.30 pm

Cover Versions

See what happens when great design and great words collide and why you should judge a book by its cover. Designers Tony Palmer and Bruno Herfst from Penguin Books take us through making a book cover, and how you can make a start in designing your own.

Bruno Herfst, Tony Palmer

Venue: ACMI Cinema 2
Code: 2503; Age: Year 6-9
Price: $7

Monday 26 August 2013 at 12.30 pm

Short & Sweet

Whether the short story portrays a family just like your own or strange exotic worlds, it is a form that endures. Modern short story masters Margo Lanagan and James Roy reveal why keeping it brief really works for writers and readers.

James Roy, Margo Lanagan

Venue: ACMI Cinema 1
Code: 3503; Age: Year 7-10
Price: $7
SELLING FAST

Monday 26 August 2013 at 12.30 pm

The Convent

Come on an amazing and moving journey with one of Australia-s finest writers. Maureen McCarthy has a very personal connection to the story of a teenager uncovering her family-s past at the Abbotsford Convent, where secrets have been hidden for decades.

Maureen McCarthy

Venue: ACMI The Cube
Code: 4503; Age: Year 8-10
Price: $7
SELLING FAST

Monday 26 August 2013 at 1.45 pm

Read Any Good Books Lately?

Students can share their recent reading highlights with our expert panel, hear some great new recommendations, and be first to see the Inky Awards teenage choice shortlist. Everyone will come away with a new list of exciting must-read books.

Proudly supported by The Centre for Youth Literature

Adele Walsh, Leanne Hall, Nick Earls

Venue: The Deakin Edge, Fed Square
Code: 1504; Age: Year 6-10
Price: $0

Monday 26 August 2013 at 2.30 pm

Workshop - Identity: Yours, Mine, Ours

Today, Alice Pung leads our exciting creative workshop at the Immigration Museum. Join Alice to explore the superb Identity: yours, mine, ours exhibition and then respond in writing workshops with the author. Each session lasts 90 minutes (45 min tour, 45 min writing workshop).

Workshops are for school groups only.

Alice Pung

Venue: Immigration Museum
Code: 6503; Age: VCE
Price: $10

Tuesday 27 August 2013 at 10.00 am

No Safe Place

Canadian author Deborah Ellis writes about children who are caught up in trouble spots around the globe and are seeking security and peace - but where is that safe place? Deborah will be joined by Micaela Spiers from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre-s education team.

Deborah Ellis

Venue: The Deakin Edge, Fed Square
Code: 1601; Age: Year 5-8
Price: $7
SELLING FAST

Tuesday 27 August 2013 at 10.00 am

In The Studio

Shaun Tan-s illustrated talk takes us into the studio and follows the development of idea from doodles and sketches through to fully fledged book. Shaun will also show us illustrations from his new picture book The Rules of Summer.

Proudly supported by the Victorian Association for the Teaching of English.

Shaun Tan

Venue: ACMI Cinema 2
Code: 2601; Age: Year 7-10
Price: $7

Tuesday 27 August 2013 at 10.00 am

Zombies vs Unicorns

Two feisty fantasy writers duke it out for the ultimate crown. Zombies vs Unicorns challenges you to pick a team, and stick to it. But be warned, these are stellar storytellers, and they can be very convincing. So, zombies or unicorns?

Justine Larbalestier, Margo Lanagan

Venue: ACMI Cinema 1
Code: 3601; Age: Year 7-10
Price: $7
SELLING FAST

Tuesday 27 August 2013 at 10.00 am

Meet Jacqueline Harvey

Discover the marvellous world of Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones, star pupil of Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies. Author of the Alice Miranda series, Jacqueline Harvey knows boarding schools but has never met a headmistress like Miss Grimm.

Jacqueline Harvey

Venue: ACMI The Cube
Code: 4601; Age: Year 3-5
Price: $7

Tuesday 27 August 2013 at 10.00 am

Workshop: Drawing Creative Characters

New Zealander Aki Fukuoka, illustrator of the Billie B Brown books, leads a hands-on workshop, where students create their own unique and expressive characters and learn the tricks to make a character come to life and leap off the page.

Proudly supported by the New Zealand Book Council.

Workshops are for school groups only.

Aki Fukuoka

Venue: ArtPlay
Code: 5601; Age: Year 4-6
Price: $10

Tuesday 27 August 2013 at 10.00 am

Workshop - Identity: Yours, Mine, Ours

Today, Alice Pung leads our exciting creative workshop at the Immigration Museum. Join Alice to explore the superb Identity: yours, mine, ours exhibition and then respond in writing workshops with the author. Each session lasts 90 minutes (45 min tour, 45 min writing workshop).

Workshops are for school groups only.

Alice Pung

Venue: Immigration Museum
Code: 6601; Age: Year 7-10
Price: $10