Pilu at Freshwater’s In Conversation Series

This series explores the writing of Australian authors through conversations on their recent works, life experience, and expertise.

Amanda Goff aka Samantha X
12th June – Thursday – 6pm
Hosted in the Pilu Pavilion

Amanda Goff was a successful journalist in London and Sydney before ditching her nine to five job at the age of 38 to become Samantha X, Australia’s most famous escort.  A bipolar diagnosis changed everything:  she retired from sex work, walked away from Samantha X, and went in search of Amanda.

‘Misfit’ is her third memoir – but the first written as ‘herself’.  Raw, honest, provocative, wise and often laugh-out-loud funny, this is an unflinching record of her journey along the bumpy path to healing and self-acceptance.  Beyond confronting her bipolar disorder and addiction issues, Amanda must also contend with prejucide and judgement, lingering trauma from her earlier life, and her own crushing self-doubt.  As she struggles with the realities of so-called normality, the persistent voice of Samantha X is there to remind her of a former life that offered power, money, fame – and protection from the challenges that Amanda has courageously chosen to tackle head-on.

$85 per person.

Event seating is communal, requests to be seated with other ticket holders not guaranteed.  We are able to accommodate vegetarian and gluten free dietaries, however we are unable to accommodate other dietaries.  Ticket sales are non-refundable.

For more information or to book your spot click here.

With Terraglossia, the name of her latest release and a term coined by Debra Dank in response to the first Europeans’ description of Australia as ‘terra nullius’ – no one’s land, Debra takes action to reclaim a stolen voice. Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts shares her incredible story in Long Yarn Short to drive positive change for First Nations youth. Both are fighting for change through their writing.

Join award-winning writer Debra Dank and debut memoirist Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts as they discuss the past, present and future of writing as activism.

Event is free but bookings are essential.

Announcing the 2025 Stella Prize winner in a special event at Sydney Writers’ Festival.

Stella is a leading advocate for gender equity and cultural change in Australian literature. Since its inception in 2012, Stella has championed the work of Australian women and non-binary writers with its flagship program, the prestigious Stella Prize. This annual literary award celebrates writing that is original, excellent and engaging.

Join judges Debra Dank, Astrid Edwards, Leah Jing McIntosh and Rick Morton in honouring the incredible talent of this year’s longlisted, shortlisted and winning authors and celebrate the stories shaping Australian literature today.

Bookings essential.

The Bogong is a celebration of Blak voices, where master storytellers breathe life into words, honouring the past and shaping the future.

Inspired by the ancient gathering of Bogong moths, this event is a modern feast of poetry, performance and truth-telling. With the theme Now Is the Hour, the performers call forth the spirit of resistance, resilience and renewal through the power of spoken word. They elevate the silenced, reclaim their narratives and affirm their survival. This is more than an event, it is a movement, a fire and a heartbeat.

Join these Blak storytellers as they honour the stories that refuse to be forgotten.

Bookings essential.

Our panelists will reflect on their own experiences personally and professionally to explore the topic of mental health.

Writing with great humanity and humour, Australian psychiatrist Anne Buist and internationally bestselling author Graeme Simsion, The Rosie Project, welcome us into the world of mental health with compassion and insight. Craig Semple has written about his own mental health struggles and provides the audience with a roadmap for recovery in his latest title Getting Back Up Again.

Gold coin donation.

Books available for sale and signing.

Part of the Write Here Festival - Lake Mac Libraries. Full program details here.

Craig Semple was a career detective in the New South Wales Police force for twenty-five years. Now medically retired from law enforcement due to psychological injuries, Craig is a sought-after keynote speaker and mental health advocate. Craig is the founding director of Mentality Plus, through which he has developed and delivered mental health, wellbeing, and resilience education to thousands of people all over Australia. Craig is the author of The Cop Who Fell to Earth and Getting Back Up Again: A Plan to Get Your Head Back in the Game.

Graeme Simsion is the author of The Rosie Project series, which has sold over six million copies in forty-two languages, and other international bestsellers, including The Best of Adam Sharp and the Two Steps series, which he wrote with his partner, Anne Buist.

Anne Buist is a professor of psychiatry, Chair of Women’s Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and author of five psychological thrillers including the Natalie King series. Graeme and Anne’s joint novel The Glass House, the first in a planned series set in an acute psychiatric ward, was published in 2024.

Join author and mental health advocate Craig Semple (Getting Back Up Again, The Cop That Fell To Earth) for an open and interactive session in partnership with Mindful Margaret River. Craig will share his personal journey, offering insights into suicide, body image and the challenges men face in acknowledging personal struggles.

Facilitated by Colin Fox, this session includes a Q&A and discussion on help-seeking as a sign of strength, the importance of early intervention and breaking the stigma around mental health for men of all ages, including fathers and sons.

Hosted by Colin Fox from Mindful Margaret River

Mindful Margaret River support staff will be available throughout the session.

Registration required

Step into the past and craft compelling historical fiction! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced writer, this immersive workshop will help you blend fact and fiction to create rich, authentic stories. Join historical fiction writer and literary journalist Jane Sullivan (Little People and Murder in Punch Lane) as she explores historical fiction’s diverse genres, research techniques, common pitfalls, crafting dialogue and weaving real events into your narrative. Expect interactive discussions, hands-on exercises and plenty of inspiration to ignite your storytelling!

Hosted by Jane Sullivan

Free, registration required

Join Craig Semple for an inspiring talk on his book Getting Back Up Again, a powerful account of overcoming post-traumatic stress disorder and rebuilding a life of hope and resilience. Drawing on his 25-year police career and personal journey, Craig shares hard-won strategies for navigating stress, trauma, and recovery, offering tools to help others find strength in adversity.

Hosted by Mike Rumble from Mindful Margaret River

In partnership with Mindful Margaret River

Free, registration required

Join us to celebrate the launch of Behind the Mask by Josh Piterman, Australian star of The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables.

My book includes many of the lessons, learnings and wisdoms I found while trying to work out who I really am. Some I formulated, others I stumbled across while reading numerous philosophical, spiritual and self-help books over the years. Others are from the various coaches, teachers, gurus, guides, mentors, therapists and philosophers who have helped me grow through the ups and downs of life and self-discovery. Some have come through my podcast, Behind the Mask. My intention is not only to give you a backstage VIP tour of my musical theatre world, but also to provide you with some useful tools to help navigate life, find deeper meaning, explore a growth mindset, and ensure it's all done with a touch of humour

Free, but bookings are essential.

Please book here.

See Patricia Wolf, author of Opal, in conversation with James Dunbar, author of Mole Creek.

Tickets available here.

“The thing about friendships formed in childhood … is that they’re like an invisible tattoo. They mark you and mould you. They’re under your skin.”

When a last collection of songs by British musical icon, James Bennett, is discovered in an old Somerset house, rumours about his mysterious death during a wild midsummer party more than fifty years ago begin to swirl again. An accident? Suicide? Or murder?

The only person still alive who knows what happened is frail but indomitable Ruth Henderson. She now lives in a Sydney apartment, but back in 1972 she was staying in Somerset with her closest friend, Adela McMahon, who was married to James.

From very different backgrounds, Ruth and Adela became inseparable while growing up in an isolated New South Wales rural town. And they longed to escape. Adela fled first, to the bright lights and hectic whirl of swinging London, where she soon met James. But all was not as gilded as it seemed. Ruth was a witness to her beloved friend’s tempestuous and troubling relationship – and she was by Adela’s side the night James died.

Journalists are clamouring to hear Ruth’s story. Of them all, Ruth chooses young and ambitious Kate Griffin, who will do anything to boost her career. But as the past and the present begin to collide, an unexpected friendship grows between the two women and deciding what really matters proves life changing for them both.

A new local voice in the oh-so popular romance genre, Anna Maynard will be in conversation with Hannah Moloney (Good Life Permaculture, ABC’s Gardening Australia).

Can the path to true love ever flow as smoothly as honey?

Sunny Moritz needs a change. She’s thirty-three, single, weary of?tedious romances with the wrong kind of men?and, according to her disappointed parents, drifting about like a tumbleweed. Her former high school crush, orthopaedic surgeon Adam Harrison,?might be meeting all her physical demands (and requiring a subtotal of zero emotional headspace), but what about the rest of her life?

When Sunny decides to start beekeeping, the man with the information she needs is an?odd, enigmatic and indecently sexy Antarctic scientist. Surely, though, she’s way?too pragmatic to be affected by his magnetism … But as her hunger for meaning starts to bloom, Sunny begins to think that maybe it’s not too late to reconnect with her parents, maybe it’s time to start dancing again and maybe even?she?could have a lasting relationship.

Dancing with Bees is easy to read, but hard to put down. In the tradition of Emily Henry and Marian Keyes, this delightful novel bubbles with charm, warmth and humour, but also speaks of the important things in life – like love.

Anna Maynard’s experience as a writer had largely been restricted to referral letters and discharge summaries through her years of medical training. So after finishing her specialist exams she decided to turn her hand to romance. When she’s not dreaming up fictional heroines and swoony love interests, Anna can be found working in the emergency department, pottering in her garden or playing songs with her pop band. Anna lives in Tasmania with her husband and children.

Join Anna and Hannah at the Afterword Cafe. Tickets include a glass of wine or soft drink. Tickets cost $12 and are available here.

Studies show that music education helps improve cognitive function and literacy. Increasingly crowded curriculums and finite resources have seen schools cut back on music programs, resulting in thousands of children leaving primary with no formal music education. Many schools that try to retain some music in their curriculum often deliver it by a generalist teacher who has received 17 hours of music education in their four-year degree, compared with 350 hours for a generalist teacher in South Korea. How do we ensure policymakers and educators see the bigger picture of the value and importance of music education to every child’s development?

Panel: Max Holzner, Josh Piterman, Katherine Wiles, Gillian Wills

Host: Suzanne Leal

Ticket cost $22. Book here.

Katherine Wiles is not a household name, and that’s how she likes it, by choice. She has built a career by being part of the chorus of Opera Australia since 2007. And she writes about it in her memoir No Autographs, Please! balancing charming self-deprecation with professional style and confidence and in respectful homage to her chorus colleagues.

Ticket cost $22. Book here.

Two deeply personal journeys that explore episodic mental health breakdowns, the path to recovery, and achieving a new equilibrium.

Psychologist Ariane Beeston (Because I’m Not Myself, You See) provides an intimate look at her struggles with post-partum depression and hallucinations.

Craig Semple (Getting Back Up Again) shares his experience after dealing with post-traumatic stress and severe depression following 25 years as a detective.

Together, their memoirs illuminate what is needed to confront unexpected and unforeseen challenges and the courage to rebuild a fulfilling life.

Host: Tracey Kirkland

Ticket cost $22. Book here.

We discuss Australian historical stories from 18th century England to World War II with three authors.

Free by Meg Keneally blends storytelling with social critique in the story of Molly Thistle, who is
transported to the new penal colony after stealing a horse and defies convention to create a commercial empire.

All the Golden Light by Siobhan O’Brien sees the struggle that takes place at home after World War I, where everyone is affected: returned soldiers by post- traumatic stress and women wanting independence and purpose.

To Sing of War by Catherine McKinnon weaves together an Australian nurse and soldier in New Guinea, scientists in Los Alamos, and a mother in Japan, connected in a moment of history in a tale of friendship, love, and war.

Host: Victoria Haskins

Ticket cost $22. Book here.

Step into the evocative landscapes of Australian crime fiction with two rising stars of the genre. Hayley Scrivenor (Girl Falling) and Patricia Wolf (Opal) bring their richly atmospheric settings to life, where the land itself becomes a character shaping the stories of secrets, resilience, and survival. From the tightly woven community dynamics of a small town in Scrivenor’s first book, Dirt Town , to the vast, untamed outback of Wolf’s DS Lucas Walker series, this session explores how the sunburned country amplifies tension, deepens mysteries, and provides a canvas for gripping storytelling.

Host: Tim Ayliffe

Ticket cost $22. Book here.

Join TV and radio host James O’Loghlin in conversation with Suzanne Leal about James’s latest book, Liars, a murder mystery set in a sleepy coastal town where all is not as it seems. Both are former criminal lawyers turned writers, so expect a lively conversation about practising in crime and writing – and where the two may intersect.

Tickets are limited, so book early.

Amanda Goff (Misfit), a journalist, has written two previous memoirs, but this is the first as herself, Amanda. She was diagnosed with bipolar at age 48 after having spent the previous ten years as a high- profile escort.

Sarah Martin (Dear Psychosis) writes of her daughter suffering a psychotic episode while travelling in Turkey, a subsequent diagnosis of bipolar, and the confronting impact on her family.

Jacqui Louise Swallow (The Bipolar Runner) navigated school and university despite a troubled teenage and, as a young mum, realised that keeping active helped her manage bipolar better than anything and set herself a goal of running the Melbourne Marathon.

Host: Suzanne Leal

Ticket cost $22. Book here.

Heidi Coupland’s husband, Peter, a grief counsellor, was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Anthony Sobb’s wife, Kim, a solicitor with the DPP and a non-smoker, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.

Michelle Lesh’s husband, Mark Raphael Baker, Associate Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, wrote his memoir while dealing with pancreatic cancer.

Their respective memoirs, A Single Lifeline, My Business Is Now North and A Season of Death, share the story of diagnosis, treatment, fight for survival, their relationships, looking after children, acceptance, and the most personal of experiences for which there is no textbook—the grieving process.

With host Michaela Kalowski.

Ticket cost $22. Book here.

Heather Morris hails from a somewhat familiar New Zealand upbringing in a small rural community, part of a large family surrounded by several generations, excelling in sports, doing okay at school, and devouring information and stories. Heather indulged in her passion for writing with a scriptwriting course while raising a family and working as a social worker at a medical centre in Melbourne. Then, in 2003, she was introduced to Lale Sokolov, and the rest is history! It is a meeting that resulted in a screenplay and, secondly, in a book on Lale’s story known as The Tattooist of Auschwitz (2018). She has since published three more Holocaust novels, and her latest book, Sisters Under the Rising Sun (2023), is set in a Japanese POW camp in Indonesia in World War II.

Heather is in conversation with Michael Brissenden.

Ticket cost $22. Book here.

See Patricia Wolf, author of Opal, in conversation with James Dunbar, author of Mole Creek.

Tickets available here.

A small mining community. A murderer at large. And a flood that has trapped them all.

DS Lucas Walker is off duty. His young half-sister Grace is visiting from Boston, and he’s supposed to be spending time with her at his home in Caloodie in outback Queensland. But instead they’ve driven 400 kilometres west to the tiny mining town of Kanpara to pick up Walker’s cousin Blair, who’s been digging for boulder opals and is suddenly very keen to get out. It’s not like Blair to quit so easily.

On their arrival, the atmosphere is already tense with rumours of a life-changing opal discovery. The following day, they awake to find that Kanpara has been completely cut off by a flood and the roads will be closed for days. Then Blair receives a shocking phone call. 

A man and a woman have been found brutally murdered. 

The murdered woman’s husband is an immediate suspect, but Walker isn’t convinced. Could the killings be connected to the rumoured opal find? When the police take Blair in for questioning, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Walker. Can he unravel the mystery quickly enough to save his cousin and keep Grace safe? 

The thrilling third instalment in the bestselling DS Lucas Walker series, Opal is full of breathtaking twists and dark turns.

In partnership with Sisters in Crime

Join us to hear Patricia Wolf in conversation to discuss her latest novel, Opal.

The thrilling third instalment in the bestselling DS Lucas Walker series, Opal is full of breathtaking twists and dark turns.

Free, but bookings are essential.

Please book here.

Patricia Wolf speaks to Claire Halliday about her new novel, Opal.

Opal is the thrilling third instalment in the bestselling DS Walker series, which began with the runaway success of books one and two, Outback and Paradise.

What trouble does DS Walker find himself in this time? Find out more in this special event (we promise there will be no spoilers!).

Recommended for adult audiences. Bookings are required for every attendee and can be made here.

About the book: A small mining community. A murderer at large. And a flood that has trapped them all.

DS Lucas Walker is off duty. His young half-sister Grace is visiting from Boston, and he’s supposed to be spending time with her at his home in Caloodie in outback Queensland. But instead they’ve driven 400 kilometres west to the tiny mining town of Kanpara to pick up Walker’s cousin Blair, who’s been digging for boulder opals and is suddenly very keen to get out. It’s not like Blair to quit so easily. Walker has the definite sense that something is off.

On their arrival, the atmosphere is already tense with rumours of a life-changing opal discovery. The following day, they awake to find that Kanpara has been completely cut off by a flood and the roads will be closed for days. As they take in their predicament, Blair receives a shocking phone call.

A man and a woman have been found brutally murdered.

The murdered woman’s husband is an immediate suspect, but Walker isn’t convinced. Could the killings be connected to the rumoured opal find? When the police take Blair in for questioning, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Walker. He must now work with his fellow officers to uncover the killer in the community’s midst before the waters recede and make escape possible. Can he unravel the mystery quickly enough to save his cousin and keep Grace safe?

The thrilling third instalment in the bestselling DS Lucas Walker series, Opal is full of breathtaking twists and dark turns.

Campbelltown Public Library are excited to host author Patricia Wolf while she is touring Australia to promote her latest release Opal, the thrilling third instalment in the bestselling DS Walker series following her best-selling books Outback and Paradise.  

Join us to listen to Patricia chat about Opal, her writing journey with time for questions about her series. Ticket price includes 1 x glass of wine and a cheese plate. 

Copies of Opal will be available on the night to purchase and have signed by Patricia. 

Tickets are $5 and bookings are essential.

Step into the thrilling world of Australian outback crime fiction with bestselling author Patricia Wolf. Hear more about her latest stories and get your own copy signed. Books available for purchase with thanks to QBD Elizabeth.

Her latest book 'Opal' is a gripping outback crime thriller, the third in her acclaimed DS Walker series, and plunges readers into the heart of a small mining town beset by a double murder, a relentless flood, and a killer lurking among its trapped residents.

Born in Queensland and currently living in Berlin, don’t miss this opportunity to meet one of Australia’s bestselling crime writers.

Starting at 1pm, please arrive from 12.30pm for seating. Reserve your spot for free here.

Join us for a for a wonderful evening with author Patricia Wolf as we learn about her latest novel, Opal.

Patricia Wolf grew up in the mining town of Mount Isa and despite her love of the outback's indigo sky and wide horizons, Patricia left Australia to travel the world and became a journalist, she now lives in Berlin, Germany.

DS Lucas Walker and his stories came to be in 2019 when Patricia spent two months in northwest Queensland surrounded by the beauty and rugged harshness of the outback. The first two novels have been a runaway success, with Outback becoming the 4th fastest-selling debut Aussie crime novel in 2023, Opal looks set to continue this trend.

We look forward to learning more about Patricia and hopefully she will provide a hint of what strife DS Walker has found himself in this third installment.

Cost: $15 per person
Ages: 16+
Doors Open: 5.45pm for 6pm start
Light supper will be provided, drinks available for purchase on the night.

Book your tickets here.

Step into the thrilling world of crime fiction as the City of Salisbury proudly launches the 2025 Salisbury Author Series with a captivating event featuring bestselling Australian author Patricia Wolf.

Join us on Friday 28 February 2025, from 2pm to 3pm at the Ingle Farm Library, where Patricia will present her latest book, Opal. This gripping outback crime thriller, the third in her acclaimed DS Walker series, plunges readers into the heart of a small mining town beset by a double murder, a relentless flood, and a killer lurking among its trapped residents.

Born in Queensland and currently living in Berlin, don’t miss this opportunity to meet one of Australia’s bestselling crime writers.

What to expect:

• An engaging discussion about Patricia’s writing journey and the inspiration behind Opal and the DS Walker series.

• An interactive Q&A session where you can ask your burning questions.

• A chance to meet Patricia in person, purchase her books, and have them signed.

• Complimentary light refreshments to enjoy.

This is a free event, but bookings are essential.

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet one of Australia’s leading crime writers and delve into the dark and thrilling world of Opal!

Join us for the thrilling third instalment in the bestselling DS Walker series. Opal is full of breathtaking
twists and dark turns.

Patricia Wolf grew up in Queensland, Australia, and now lives in Berlin. She likes whisky and strong coffee, busy cities, surf beaches and wild places. A journalist for almost twenty years, Patricia is a regular contributor to newspapers including The Guardian, The Financial Times and the Daily Telegraph.

Light refreshments provided.

Age: 16+
Price: FREE
Bookings: Book here - bookings essential as spaces are limited

Join University of Technology Sydney academic Dr Lisa Portolan for an enthralling examination of how dating apps have changed the face of modern romance.

From hookups to catch ups, and from love-bombing to ghosting, apps have come to dominate contemporary dating, and the majority of relationships in Australia now begin via digital devices. For most of human history, however, most people have met their intimate partners face to face, and these unprecedented changes have revolutionised the nature of love and intimacy.

Lisa Portolan, an academic at the University of Technology Sydney, is one of the first researchers to ever examine the effects of dating apps on contemporary romance and intimacy, and is better placed than anyone to analyse these issues.

Join us for what promises to be a deeply thought-provoking examination of what our ever-growing dependence upon technologically-facilitated romance means for us, followed by audience Q&A.

Book your free tickets here.

After nearly twenty-five years as a cop - riding high on the excitement, danger and stress of his work, feeling invincible - Craig Semple realised he could no longer outrun the symptoms of post- traumatic stress disorder. His first book, The Cop Who Fell to Earth, is his story of transformation and profound personal growth. His second book, Getting Back Up Again, shines a light on strategies for navigating, surviving and growing through life's challenges.

See Craig in conversation at Alstonville Library. Reserve your spot by calling (02) 6628 5527 or email alstonville@rtrl.nsw.go.au.