For the Love of words

We're Back for 2023!

Join us in the beautiful towns of the Upper Hunter to hear, to think, to be challenged, to share, and to be entertained.


Reservoirs – Literary G&T @ Magpie Distilling

Literary Lunch with Ryan Butta @ the Merriwa CWA

Bush Poets’ Breakfast in partnership with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter

Saturday Evening Soiree with short films shown from Hattie Archibald and Hugo Morgan’s Film Making workshop

Events to Entertain

We’ve planned plenty of events aimed at having a laugh, catching up with fellow literary lovers, rubbing shoulders with authors, and maybe even enjoying a beverage or two.

Nurturing Creativity

The 2023 Scone Literary Festival is all about uncovering emerging and homegrown talent and nurturing creativity in all its forms. 

If writing is your passion, or your side hustle - these events are for you! 

We’re not just about the written word either, we’re celebrating all creative literary endeavours.

If you love a good creative outlet, or you’re after some ‘mentoring’ check out our workshops, panels and conversations to get you energised and on your way!

Film Making Workshop with Hattie Archibald & Hugo Morgan

Pathways to Publication Jo Riccioni, Stacey McEwan & Rae Cairns 

Women Writers Writing Rural with Lauren Forner, Kat Vella, & Catherine Armitage

Conversations with Creatives with Deb Oswald & Richard Glover; Jonathan Biggins & Mandy Bishop

Talk Story Podcast Story Telling with Tim Elliot, Oli Li Leivre & Camille Bianchi & Anthea Fawcett

Scandals of the Art World'- an Insider's View with Michael Reid & Alexandra Joel

LinkedIn Masterclass with Lucy Bingle

Beauty and Excellence in the Workplace Today with Erina Reddan, Jacinta Parsons, Joanne Fedler, and Lucy Turnbull AO

Girls Boys and Everything in Between with Chanel Contos, Daisy Turnbull, & Tom Harkin

People, the Constitution, The Voice with Malcolm Turnbull AC, Tony McAvoy SC, Nardi Simpson

Tackling the Tough Topics

We plan to inspire thought, open robust, respectful conversation on several BIG topics that are addressing today's society. Those who ponder, debate and are willing to change their opinions through growth have the potential to shape the course of our future. Be one of them!

Community Events

Strong communities are built on connection and shared experiences…so of course our Festival is filled with Community events for all ages. The biggest decision you need to make is which ones can you make it to.

We're even planning art activities, story circles with authors, creation of the alphabet of Scone, music yarns, book club chat, book exchange.

Our Sunday Community afternoon certainly won't disappoint, with a way to get involved for everyone, and entertainment from local Australian Idol singer and songwriter Hamish Guiana! Check out our events page for more details.

Primary Writers Workshops

Community Storytelling in Scone

Me, My Community, and a Stroke of Luck with Janno McGloughlin, Maria Myrtko, Erina Reddan, and Nardi Simpson

These are just a few of our fantastic Festival guest speakers, authors, publishers and performers for 2023. To see more, head to our guests page

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Robbie Christmas
Rob is based in Tamworth but travels constantly for work and pleasure, between teaching and adjudication work.
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Lauren Forner
Lauren Forner is the fiction, poetry and experimental forms editor at Mona Magazine, a magazine founded in 2020 that explores the female experience in rural Australia
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Jacinta Parsons
Jacinta Parsons is a broadcaster, writer and public speaker who currently hosts the Afternoon program on ABC Local Radio Melbourne.

Friday March 10, 2023, Festival Program

Event
Guests
Location
Time and Date
Event Type
Bush Poets' Morning and Afternoon Teas 

Roving poets including Tug Dumbly

Strathearn Retirement Village, Scone

Murravale, Murrurundi

Friday March 10

10am - 11:30am

Free community events

Early Readers' Program

Paula Stevenson

Katrina McKelvey

Scone Preschool and

Early Learning Centres

Murrurundi School

Merriwa Central School

Friday March 10

9:30am - 3pm

Free Community Events

Primary Writers' Workskhops

Antonia Presenti

Hillary Bell

Scone Grammar School

Friday March 10

9:30am - 3pm

Free Workshop

Contact us to join

Film Making Workshop

Hattie Archibald

Hugo Morgan

Richie Lawton

Hunter Warbirds

Friday March 10

10am - 3pm

Free Workshop

Ages 15 - 25

LinkedIn Masterclass

Lucy Bingle

Phylli Designs, Scone

Friday March 10

10:30am - 12:00 noon

Free Workshop

Reservoirs - Literary G&T 

Michael Burge

Magpie Distilling

Murrurundi

Friday March 10

4:30pm - 6:30pm

Single Ticket Event

seperate to a

Full Festival Pass

CWA Literary Lunch

Ryan Butta

CWA, Bettington St, Merriwa

Friday March 10

12pm - 2pm

Single Ticket Event

seperate to a

Full Festival Pass

For the Love of Words Cocktail Party

VIP Event by invitation only

Scone Race Club

Friday March 10

6:30pm - 8:30pm

Invitation only

Saturday March 11, Festival Program

Saturday's panels, talks and workshops are covered by a weekend pass, or Saturday pass.

Event
Guests
Location
Time and Date
Event Type
Author Meet and Greet 

Authors and Speakers

Scone Arts and Crafts

8:30am - 9:30am

Casual Mingling

Official Opening, Welcome to Country & Keynote address

Richie Lawton

Dominic Smith

Scone Grammar School

9:30am - 10:20am

Opening Address

Pathways to Publication

Suzanne Leal,

Jo Riccioni,

Stacey McEwan

Rae Cairns

Scone Grammar School

10:30am - 11:15am

Panel Session

Women Writers Writing Rural

Anthea Fawcett

Lauren Forner

Kat Vella

Catherine Armitage

Scone Arts and Crafts

10:30am - 11:15am

Panel Session

Girls, Boys and Everything in Between!

Suzanne Leal

Chanel Contos

Daisy Turnbull

Tom Harkin

Scone Grammar School

11:15am - 12pm

Panel Session

People, The Constitution, The Voice 

Dominic Toomey SC

Malcolm Turnbull AC

Tony McEvoy SC

Nardi Simpson

Scone Grammar School

12pm - 12:45pm

Panel Session

Lunch

Lunch and refreshments will be available for purchase from

Delilah & Co

George & Bean

Scone Arts and Crafts

12:45pm - 1:45pm

Casual lunch with a pop up bookstore available

(Looking forward to) My Brilliant Career

Catherine du Peloux Menagé

Lucy Bloom

McKenzie Watson,

Paula Beavan

Scone Arts and Crafts

1:45pm - 2:30pm

Panel Discussion and sharing of insights

Talk Story - Podcast Storytelling.  

Tim Elliot

Oli Le Leivre

Anthea Fawcett

Camille Bianchi

Scone Grammar School

1:45pm - 2:30pm

Panel Discussion and inspiration

Beauty and Excellence in the Workplace Today

Erina Reddan

Jacinta Parsons

Joanne Fedler

Lucy Turnbull AO

Scone Grammar School

2:30pm - 3:15pm

Panel Session

Conversations with Creatives

Debra Oswald

Richard Glover

Scone Grammar School

3:15pm - 4pm

Conversation/Interview

What Book you'd change the ending to and why?

Richard Glover

Michael Burge

Dominic Smith

James McKenzie Watson

Scone Grammar School

4pm - 5pm

Panel Session

Pop Up Bookstore

Books from our Festival Booklist will be available for purchase

Scone Arts and Crafts

5pm

Author Signings

Saturday Evening Soiree

Films from the Youth Film Making workshop with Hattie Archibald and Hugo Mogran will be presented for viewing

Scone Arts and Crafts

5:30pm - 7:30pm

Mingling, casual dinner and drinks

Sunday March 12, Festival Program

Sunday's panels, talks and workshops are covered by a weekend pass, or a Sunday pass.

There are some free Community Events in the afternoon.

Event
Guests
Location
Time and Date
Event Type
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Bush Poets' Breakfast 

Shelley Piper

Emily Grainger

Robyn Christmas

David Gatwood

Tim McGloughlin

Sally Mitchell

Greg Scott

Scone Arts and Crafts

7:30am - 9:30am

Fundraising Event

Seperate Ticket Required

Crime Fiction goes to where the fear is

Catherine du Peloux Menagé

Michael Burge

Richard Anderson

Sarah Barrie

Scone Grammar School

9:45am - 10:30am

Panel Session

Scandals of the Art World

Janie Jordan

Michael Reid

Alexandra Joel

Scone Grammar School

10:30am - 11:15am

Panel Session

Me, My Community, and a Stroke of Luck

Kate Mailer

Janno McGloughin

Maria Myrtko

Erina Reddan

Nardi Simpson

Scone Grammar School

11:15am - 12pm

Panel Session

Lunch

Lunch and refreshments will be available for purchase from

Delilah & Co

George & Bean

Scone Arts and Crafts

12:30pm - 2pm

Casual time

Community Storytelling 

TBC

Scone Arts and Crafts

From 1pm

Free Interactive Community Activities

Conversations with Creatives

Jonathan Biggins

Mandy Bishop

Scone Arts and Crafts

2pm - 2:45pm

Interview and sharing of insights

Festival Close

Jean Paul Bell

Scone Arts and Crafts

4pm

Farewell, we'll see you next time!