2015 St Albans Writers' Festival to be Held This Month

The inaugural 2015 St Albans Writers' Festival, the newest writers' festival in Australia focusing on Australian authors and writing, will take place from Friday 18 September to Sunday 20 September in the rural setting of historic St Albans Village, located in the beautiful Hawkesbury River area less than two hours drive from Sydney.

This literary event will feature speakers Jane Caro, Patrick Cook, Nikki Gemmell, Traci Harding, Jean Kittson, Hugh Mackay, Barry Maitland, PM Newton, Michael Robotham, Mark Tedeschi, and other Australian writers.

Talks by individual writers on their latest works, are balanced with panels on crime fiction, science fiction and fantasy and social trends, informal round table chats with writers in the Festival Centre at the heart of the village, as well as book sales and signings courtesy of Berkelouw Books. Evening activities include short films and ghost stories around the fire.

The events are held in and around three historic venues: the St Albans School of Arts (a rare corrugated iron hall built in the last century by locals); the historic sandstone church of St Alban the Martyr; and the Settlers Arms Inn garden (1834).

Hear about writing crime fiction from world famous authors, like Michael Robotham, and from former detectives, such as PM Newton, or about true crime from Mark Tedeschi, who combines writing with his work as Senior Crown Prosecutor in NSW. Laugh with author Jean Kittson who engages audiences with her delicious wit. Grapple with some of the more contentious contemporary social issues with social commentators Jane Caro and Hugh Mackay. Science fantasy fans can get to know St Albans local Traci Harding, Mitchell Hogan and Alan Baxter. Meet new and emerging writers who have made a big splash with their first published works, such as Courtney Collins, Bruce McCabe, and Nigel Bartlett. Find out about the significance of indigenous engraving and painting sites within the Macdonald River catchment from local geologist Gil Jones.

The St Albans Writers' Festival combines a weekend in the country in an atmosphere of warmth and conviviality in local accommodation which is available in a variety of establishments, from old to new, with delicious, locally-prepared food and, of course, intellectual nourishment. Details are on the website.

Registrations are now open - please visit the website.

Full programme information and writer biographies are available on the website:

St Albans and the Macdonald Valley

The small and picturesque village of St Albans lies at the heart of the Macdonald Valley and is known to locals as the Forgotten Valley. The area was home to the Dharug and Darkinjung people. Settled in the early 1800s by Europeans from the First Fleet, the area was later overlooked as Sydney started to sprawl northwards and westwards. Sandstone cliffs, lands teeming with native vegetation and wildlife, winding rivers and fertile paddocks are home to d descendants of First Fleet settlers, as well as farmers, artists, writers, tree-changers and city dwellers who escape from Sydney to renew themselves in this ancient and magical place.

Cross the river and enter a different world. Drive on to a car ferry that crosses the Hawkesbury River at historic Wisemans' Ferry and leave behind the cares of the city. Or come by road from the Central Coast and Newcastle. The village of St Albans is almost equally positioned between the cities of Sydney, Parramatta and Newcastle.

Immerse yourself in this small but vibrant rural community that boasts no less than four book clubs. Indeed this Festival has developed from a 'Book Feast' organised by local book lovers two years ago. Meet the locals, interesting people with equally interesting backgrounds and, with your freshly brewed coffee, tea, or glass of wine from the region sample some simple, but delicious, food and wonderful cakes made by our fabulous local cooks. This Festival is run entirely by local volunteers from the St Albans community.

Opposite St Albans old sandstone pub, the Settlers Arms, the Festival Centre offers an informal venue where you will have the unique opportunity to share a table with your favourite writer for an informal chat. Rubbing shoulders with writers is just one of the advantages of being part of this intimate festival.