Finding the right words just the start

PUTTING different worlds into words may not always be an easy task, but it will always be a rewarding one.

As part of next month’s Tasmanian Writers and Readers Festival, more than 50 renowned writers and poets will celebrate the written word around Hobart from September 14-17.

Based primarily at Hadley’s Orient Hotel, the event will showcase writing through talks, masterclasses and activities.

Festival director Chris Gallagher said this year’s event included the biggest contingent of writers.

She said local writers and readers would also be able to get up close and personal with stars of the literary world in some “Tasmanian” settings.

“Our festival theme is ‘other worlds in words’,” Ms Gallagher said.

“We feel like Tasmanian audiences will be able to take themselves to all sorts of different worlds, from fiction, travel, food, comedy, poetry and ... Tasmanian Aboriginal stories.”

Participating will be philosopher A.C. Grayling, 2016 Miles Franklin winner Alec Patric, New York Times bestseller Bradley Trevor Greive, feminist Clementine Ford and Tasmanian writers Heather Rose and Danielle Wood.

Also taking part is writer, historian and teacher Maria Tumarkin, author of Otherland, Courage and Traumascapes.

After the opening night address at the Theatre Royal, the festival will move to Glenorchy Art Sculpture Park and Montrose Bay Yacht Club for an event titled Present Remedies Tasmania on September 16.

Artists Sasha Huber (Switzerland/Haiti) and Petri Saarikko (Finland) will celebrate verbal storytelling among the diverse communities in Glenorchy.

The State Government has announced that the shortlists for the Tasmania Book Prize and the Margaret Scott Prize as part of the Premier’s Literary Prizes will be announced at the festival’s opening night, at the Theatre Royal on September 14.

Tickets are available through the Theatre Royal.

Tickets to master classes are available through the Tasmanian Writers Centre website.