Melbourne Writers Festival 24th August to 2nd September

[Karen from AustCrime]

Not strictly just a crime fiction festival but a book reading festival nonetheless.

For the last few years a bunch of us from 4MA (4 Mystery Addicts on yahoo groups) have been getting together for the week of the festival, attending a lot of book events, having a little drink somewhere, the occasional chocolate quality control session, a bit of a drink, some very nice lunches, a glass or two of anything (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), a bit of tourist gawking, the occasional stop at a pub, some trivia contests, a glass or two of something somewhere, and a lot of book comparing / buying / talking about and generally enjoying.

It's a fun. If you're going to be around in town that week - let us know. There's a 4MA festival dinner being arranged or if the worst comes to the worst, there's always the bar at the Malthouse.

[Daniel Hatadi]

They do seem to have the best coverage of crime writers in Australia, though, seeing as most are them are based there. Maybe I'll see if I can come down this year.

I went to see Peter Temple at the Sydney Writers Festival last year and he definitely gave good panel. Leigh Redhead didn't turn up, which was a shame because I was curious to see how she presents herself. I have her first book in my TBR now.

Interestingly, she was mentored by Marele Day, whose two day crime fiction workshop I attended last year.

[Jason Starr]

Hi Karen,
I attended this festival in 2006 and had a BLAST! What great events, and a great location too.
Cheers, J

[Karen from AustCrime]

Hi Jason - we saw you wandering around at the Festival last year.

The location is good isn't it - this year with the Festival Club marquees was even better (they used to have the book room on the balcony upstairs and you couldn't move between panels).

[Karen from AustCrime]

Daniel

Peter was at MWF last year - but missed one of his panels after he (I think) broke something or injured something.

We were lucky enough to see him receive his Ned Kelly Award though.

Leigh was also at the Ned Kelly's that night - part of the 4 person debating team and, well, she presented herself well enough to make all the guys on our table lose all facility for coherent speech.

A poor rendition of the night's proceedings is at:

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/index.php/Ned_Kelly%27s_2006_Ceremo...

The festival's good fun (well it is for us anyway :) but we do make a bit of an event of it.

[CT]

I am from Melbourne, and I am very interested in attending this.

[Karen from AustCrime]

Excellent CT - the more the merrier is for sure.

If you wander over to http://www.austcrimefiction.org/forums there are occasional flurries of activity as we get ourselves organised. Once the program is firmed up we start the tortuous process of deciding which panels we all want to go to and, more importantly, where in the bar we'll all meet up.