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USC staff, students at literary festival
Truth in literature, climate change and the early years of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin are diverse topics to be presented by University of the Sunshine Coast staff and students at the Reality Bites festival starting Friday 23 July.
Known as Australia’s premier literary non-fiction festival, the third annual event features 36 authors such as David Marr, Michael Cathcart and John Birmingham in talks and panel sessions across two weekends at Cooroy.
USC Lecturer in English Dr Clare Archer-Lean and her student panel will lead a discussion about the power of storytelling to reinforce truths.
Dr Archer-Lean’s USC course, also called Reality Bites, analyses the links between non-fiction and fiction in travel, science and biographical literature.
“This is a prestigious festival on our doorstep and a tangible way for USC students to both contribute their knowledge and learn from established authors,” Dr Archer-Lean said.
Master of Communication student Melanie Myers will appear on the panel and is volunteering at the festival to expand her skills and network. She has finished a manuscript partly set during World War II.
In separate sessions, USC Adjunct Professor Ian Lowe, president of the Australian Conservation Foundation, will discuss his latest book “A Voice of Reason: Reflections on Australia’s Future” and participate in a panel discussion on the reality of climate change.
USC Creative Writing graduate and Media Officer Julie Gatehouse will present an author talk on her non-fiction book “My Mate Steve Irwin: Life Before the Crocodile Hunter”.
Ms Gatehouse, a print journalist of 20 years, co-authored the book with park ranger Tony Frisby. It reveals his close mateship and adventures with the renowned wildlife campaigner in the early years, from Caloundra to Cape York.
“I’ll be discussing co-authoring, my writing processes and the joys and challenges of getting a first book published,” she said.
Festival director Annette Hughes said the program would cover memoir, biography, history, song and scriptwriting, political and scientific investigation, with literary lunches and book launches.
Ms Hughes said she was delighted with the support of USC.
“We’re expanding the literary culture on the Coast and we want to work closely with the next generation of writers and readers,” she said.
“These connections offer real-world experience to students who want to be writers.”
Dates and venues:
Clare Archer-Lean’s panel will be on Saturday 24 July at 11am at Cooroy Butter Factory.
Julie Gatehouse’s author talk will be on Saturday 24 July at 3pm at Cooroy Library.
Ian Lowe’s panel will be on Saturday 31 July at 10.30am at Cooroy Memorial Hall and his author talk will be on Sunday 1 August at 1.30pm at Embiggen Books.