- Friday 22 & Saturday 23 August, 2025 -
Exciting things are underway!
Thank you to everyone who submitted an Expressions of Interest to present at this year's Local Word Writers Festival. We are currently working through the submissions and will be in contact with all applicants as soon as possible.
The 2025 Local Word program will be released on 1 July 2025, and all information will be available on this website.
Join our mailing list below if you'd like to receive regular updates and program information.
Key dates below:
The Local Word Writers Festival features writers and presenters local to the G21 region, including:
JOHN BARTLETT
John Bartlett is the author of eleven books of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. He was winner of the 2020 Ada Cambridge Poetry Prize and longlisted in the 2023 Geelong Library Poetry Prize. His latest poetry collection is Excitations of Entanglement. {Photo credit Phil Soliman}
www.beyondtheestuary.com
HELEN BODYCOMB
Helen Bodycomb is one of Australia’s leading contemporary artist specialising in mosaic. Helen has practiced full-time as an artist working predominantly in stone and glass for more than 30 years, exhibiting, fulfilling commissions, guest teaching and presenting her work nationally and internationally. Her book, Mosaicism: Thinking in Mosaic (Australian Society of Authors), was published in July 2023.
www.helenbodycomb.com
PATRICIA CALLAN
Patricia Callan was raised in a suburban McGlashan and Everist house and pursued studies in Sculpture and Ceramic Design in Melbourne in the 1990s. In 2008 she created Modernist Australia, a website and now social media presence, to highlight local Mid-Century architecture being summarily lost in Australia’s heated housing market. Patricia has appeared on ABC radio, The Design Files and Fairfax publications to champion Modernist architecture from a layman’s perspective.Now residing back in regional Victoria in her own, 1970s, Besser bricked home, her first book, The New Modernist House, was published by Thames & Hudson in October 2023.
www.newmodhousebook.com
LINDY CAMERON
Lindy Cameron is the author of the Bryn Gideon and Kit O’Malley series as well as true crime, and founder of Clan Destine Press.
www.clandestinepress.net
ANTHONY CAR
Writer, photographer and explorer Anthony Car has spent years detailing his amazing explorations through researching and cataloguing the Otways' hidden waterfalls. His book is titled Waterfalls of the Otway Ranges, published in 2021.
ABIGAYLE CARMODY
Abigayle Carmody is a writer whose stories have been published in anthologies and shortlisted for a WA State award. She shared her lived experience story, Love, Loss and Jam Tarts at a Perth International Writer’s Festival storytelling event. Her interest in storytelling led her to research the tradition of the seanchaí (storyteller) in Ireland. On return she founded Narrative Matters and facilitated numerous storytelling workshops for the public and private sector and she also ran Human Library events in Perth. Abigayle taught communication in Australia and overseas and facilitated cultural transition programs for international aid workers.
KYLIE CLARKE
Kylie Clarke is a proud Gunditjmara, Wotjobaluk, Ngarrindjeri & Muandik woman who was born and raised on Wadawurrung Country, Geelong. Kylie's an active community member, a qualified educator and an experienced Program Coordinator, leading Indigenous programs across education, health and arts spaces in numerous communities. She has many interests, loves random moments of connection (especially when travelling) and prides herself on living the values taught to her by a dear Aunt: Respect, Relationships, Responsibility and Reciprocity.
ALEX CREECE
Alex Creece is a local published poet, artist and editor. Alex works in editorial roles for Archer Magazine, Cordite Poetry Review and Sunder Journal, and has significant experience in fostering editorial relationships, applying different forms of editing, pitching and selections and digital publishing, as well as what makes a good (or bad) pitch. Alex’s first book is Potty Mouth, Potty Mouth (Cordite Books, 2024). {Photo credit Bakri Mahmoud}
Instagram - @roguedyke
CHRISTINE CROYDEN
Christine Croyden is a playwright, lyricist, teaching artist and novelist. She has taught at NIDA and various other places over many years. She particularly enjoys running groups for older people who are interested in theatre and want to tell stories on stage. Her produced plays are available through Transform (Australian plays.org).
www.christinecroyden.com
RHETT DAVIS
Rhett Davis has published in places like The Big Issue, Meanjin and The Sleepers Almanac. In 2015, he completed an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. His novel Hovering was written as part of a PhD at Deakin University and won the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript in 2020. Rhett has lived in several places but always finds his way back to Geelong, where he lives with his partner and two talkative cats. {Photo credit Rebekah Halls}
www.rhettdavis.com
HEATHER GALLAGHER
Heather Gallagher works as a writer-in-residence in disadvantaged primary schools. Her first picture book, Happy Pants, was a recommended title in the Australian Family Therapist’s awards. Her latest, Scaredy Cat (New Frontier Publishing, 2018), is based on her anxious dog, Pip.
www.heathergallagher.com.au
CHERIE GILMOUR
Although Cherie Gilmour has written her whole life, she started writing opinion pieces for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald about eighteen months ago and has been writing regularly ever since. She also writes for other publications, like The Big Issue and psychology features for MiNDFOOD magazine. She recently set up creative writing classes in Torquay and is working on her first novel.
www.cherielee87.portfolial.com
VICKY GROSSER
Vicky Grosser is President of Geelong One Fire and co-producer of the "My Backyard" booklet.
Twitter/X - @VGrosser
TONI JORDAN
Toni Jordan has worked as a molecular biologist, quality control chemist, TAB operator and door-to-door aluminium siding salesperson. She is the author of six novels including the international bestseller Addition, which was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award, Nine Days, which was awarded Best Fiction at the 2012 Indie Awards and was named in Kirkus Review's top 10 Historical Novels of 2013, and Our Tiny, Useless Hearts, which was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award. Toni has been published widely in newspapers and magazines and her latest novel is Prettier if She Smiled More (Hachette, January 2023). {Photo credit Tania Jovanovic}
www.tonijordan.com
CHRISTINE KEIGHERY
Christine Keighery (who also writes as Chrissie Perry) is the author of more than 35 novels for children and Young Adults, including 13 books in the best-selling Go Girl! Series. Her work has been published in ten countries. Her first novel for adults, a psychological thriller titled The Half Brother, was published by Ultimo Press in 2023.
Instagram - @chrissiekeighery
JEN KLOESTER
Jen Kloester is a local author of both fiction and non-fiction, who has written extensively about bestselling British novelist, Georgette Heyer. Her latest book is Jane Austen's Ghost (Overlord Publishing, 2019).
www.jenniferkloester.com
ABBEY LAY
Lead Us Not is Abbey Lay's first novel, which was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s Award for an Unpublished Manuscript. Abbey grew up in Geelong.
Instagram - @abbeylayyy
FIONA LOWE
Fiona Lowe has been a midwife, a sexual health counsellor and a family support worker; an ideal career for an author who writes novels about family and relationships. Her writing is authentically Australian and her stories are gripping, thought-provoking, heart-warming and ultimately uplifting.
www.fionalowe.com
SUZE MALE
Suze Male is a writer and yoga/meditation teacher. She has carried a passion for stories throughout her life, first as a journalist for celebrity magazines, then later as a book author, publisher and writer, and always as a big reader. Her latest book is Ursula the Roly Poly Unicorn (Smink Works Books, November 2023).
www.sminkworksbooks.com
JUSTINE MARTIN
Justine Martin epitomises success in both the literary and artistic realms, boasting a list of achievements and expertise that has solidified her reputation as an esteemed author and artist. With a diverse portfolio spanning children's literature, media contributions, collaborative projects and advocacy work, Justine's journey is a testament to her unwavering dedication to storytelling and creative expression. From published books; Courage and Confidence; to Roar–Finding Your Strength Within; Justine's story has become a survival guide for many.
www.morpheuspublishing.com.au
VIN MASKELL AND STEREO STORIES
Stereo Stories is a concert celebration of music and story, featuring established and emerging writers and The Stereo Stories Band. It is a show about the songs that shape our lives. A hit at festivals since its debut in 2014, its many writers have included Brian Nankervis, Markus Zusak, Andy Griffiths, Melanie Cheng, Jenny Valentish, Tony Birch, Toni Jordan, Jock Serong, Clare Wright, and Arnold Zable.
www.stereostories.com
ANDY MCNEILLY
As a primary school teacher, Andy McNeilly noticed that schools were doing a great job of teaching the academics, but students were lacking social and emotional learning skills. He started to run some workshops to help parents, and after receiving great feedback, he decided to write a book. Connecting with Your Kids was Andy’s first book, released in 2019. His second book, Connecting with Your Teens (Ambra Press), was released in 2023.
www.andymcneilly.com.au
TOM MOLYNEUX
Tom Molyneux is a Gunditjmara theatre actor, director and playwright based on Wadawurrung Country in Geelong, Australia. Tom has an extensive history of work in successful independent and touring theatre productions, including as an actor, writer and director in Stardust + The Mission, which extensively toured regional Victoria in 2019 to great acclaim and subsequently toured to over 35 venues nationally around Australia in 2022. He received a 2023 Green Room Award as Best Performer (Independent Theatre) for his performance in The Mission.
www.tommolyneux.com
LIZ MONUMENT
Liz Monument is a novelist, book editor and writing coach, working with professional clients and with aspiring debut novelists. She also works with selected international literary agencies to accelerate the submission process for writers of talent. She wrote The Eternity Fund in 2016 and Iteration in 2017 (Fahrenheit Press).
www.lizmonument.com
ROSANNE MICHIE
Rosanne Michie is a writer, former newspaper columnist and broadcaster – where she mixed with the literati, glitterati and shit-arati! She is a survivor of family trauma, mum and step-mum of kids with unique challenges; and lover of a great party. She has a passion to help people who want to make change but feel paralysed. And she has learnt, real change is lasting and powerful – and as simple as 10 minutes a day. Her book is Change Your Life in 10 Mins - How aiming low can give you a high! (Brolga Publishing, October 2023).
www.changeyourlifein10minutes.com
ROBYN ROWLAND
Robyn Rowland is an Irish-Australian citizen who has been living between and Ireland and Australia for over 20 years. She regularly works in Turkey. She has written 14 books, 11 of poetry, most recently Under This Saffron Sun (Knocknarone Press, Ireland, 2019).
www.robynrowland.com
STUART ROSSON
Stuart Rosson, ex-science journalist and naturopath, runs a guesthouse, writes fiction and surfs with his three grown-up sons. His previous books form two parts of a post-apocalyptic action trilogy. His third book, Framed: The “True” Story of the Theft of Picasso’s Weeping Woman (Brolga Publishing, April 2024), is a fictionalised exposé of the theft of Picasso’s Weeping Woman in 1986.
Instagram - @stuartrosson_author
KIM SARGENT-WISHART
Kim Sargent-Wishart's writing practice has emerged out of over 40 years of dancing, choreographing and improvising, and over 20 years of sharing a somatic practice called Body-Mind Centering®. Kim practices and teaches Somatic Writing, which is a way of approaching writing through moving and engaging the senses and imagination. She has co-edited a book, The Art of Embodiment (DTAA, 2021).
kimsargentwishart.com
MARK SMITH
Mark Smith is the author of four young adult novels, including his critically acclaimed Winter Trilogy. The Road to Winter was shortlisted for multiple awards and is taught in schools around Australia. The sequel, Wilder Country won the 2018 Australian Indie Book Award for YA. An award-winning writer of short fiction, Mark’s work has appeared in Best Australian Stories, Review of Australian Fiction, The Big Issue, The Victorian Writer, Island and The Australian.
www.marksmithwriter.com
KERRY SPINA
Kerry Spina is the daughter of Ron Milligan (long-time member of both Geelong One Fire and Reconciliation Victoria, and subject of this session) and co-producer of the booklet, "My Backyard".
SARAH WALKERDEN
Sarah Walkerden is the best-selling local author of several non-fiction books and is also a hybrid publisher at The Rural Publishing Company, where she supports regional authors to publish fiction, non-fiction, children's books and more. She has produced the anthology Rural Business Women (Busybird Publishing, 2021).
www.theruralpublishingcompany.com.au
RICK WILKINSON
Rick Wilkinson is an award-winning Australian geologist turned journalist/author who has covered the energy resources industry for international magazines and newspapers from London and Melbourne for the past 50 years. The Maw of the Beast (Brolga Publishing, 2023) is his latest book with Poppy Day (Brolga Publishing, 2024) due out later this year.
www.simonandschuster.com.au/authors/Rick-Wilkinson/199172416
SUE WONG
Sue Wong is a career educator with extensive expertise in wellbeing education and growth coaching. Her deep knowledge has been honed through years of dedicated professional learning, coaching diverse clients, and engaging in continuous self-discovery. Together with her co-author Justin Robinson, they have created a refined 7-Step framework that reflects their commitment to empowering individuals on their journey towards personal and professional fulfilment. Her book is My Manifesto, co-authored with Justin Robinson (Melbourne Books, August 2024).
www.mymanifesto.me
Visit our What's On page for a full listing of all Local Word sessions
We are currently looking for a bookshop partner for the Local Word Writers Festival 2025.
Our partner bookshop will be invited to operate a pop up bookstore on Ground Floor, Geelong Library & Heritage Centre, from 10.00am to 6.00pm on Saturday 23 August, 2025. The pop up bookstore will be stocking all of the books featured in the festival program, plus back copies where possible.
If you are interested and are a local bookstore owner/operator (located within the G21 region), please contact us at events@grlc.vic.gov.au
Accessibility
Geelong Regional Libraries offers fully inclusive and accessible venues. There is an accessible Word document version of the program if you use text-to-voice software. If you require any assistance to access the program or attend the events, please email events@grlc.vic.gov.au or call (03) 4201 0600.
Program Changes and Refunds
Photography and Session Recordings
Question not answered here?
Visit our FAQ's page for more information, or email us at events@grlc.vic.gov.au
The annual Local Word Writers Festival brings our diverse local writing communities together through workshops, panel discussions, authors in-conversation and literary-themed social events.
It's a hyper-local festival for adult audiences, designed to celebrate and showcase the creative and literary talent of Victoria’s south-west region – from Geelong, the Bellarine, Colac and the Great Ocean Road from Torquay to Cape Otway.
For established and emerging writers, and appealing to readers and book lovers generally, the festival includes topics and books from fiction and non-fiction genres and includes storytellers of all kinds.
Featuring workshops at Libraries across the region and a full day program of author events at Geelong Library & Heritage Centre, supported by book sales and signings.
Dates of previous festivals:
2024 - Friday 23 to Sunday 25 August 2024
2023 - Friday 25 and Saturday 26 August 2023
2022 - Friday 18 and Saturday 19 November 2022
Watch Local Word online:
You can now view recorded sessions from Local Word 24 on our YouTube Channel. Re-live the discussions, or share them with your family and friends.
