The Willy Lit Fest promises a weekend feast of books, ideas, conversations, and performances
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The Willy Lit Fest promises a weekend feast of books, ideas, conversations, and performances

A book festival is the perfect place to celebrate your love of literature with fellow fans, see your favourite authors in action, and of course, discover new writers and illustrators.

Taking place over two days in the Williamstown Town Hall and the Williamstown Library, The Williamstown Literary Festival (aka the Willy Lit Fest) promises a weekend feast of books, ideas, conversations, and performances.

Known as one of the country’s most respected wordfests, attracting some of Australia’s best-loved authors, each year there are over 80 authors who present and take part in over 50 sessions which discuss all topics from life, death, happiness, self, politics, ageing and science fiction, appealing to people of all ages and literary tastes. Many sessions involve question and answer format as well as panel discussion and interviews – and this year is no different.

Among the esteemed wordsmiths heading to Williamstown for the festivals 16th year, we’re particularly excited about the addition of Port Fairy-based writer Jock Serong.

With a prestigious publishing repertoire including Quota (winner of the 2015 Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction), On the Java Ridge (shortlisted for the 2018 Indie Awards) and The Rules of Backyard Cricket (shortlisted for the 2017 Victorian Premier’s Award for Fiction, finalist of the 2017 MWA Edgar Awards for Best Paperback Original, and finalist of the 2017 INDIES Adult Mystery Book of the Year), it’s his most recent book, Preservation (2018), based on the true story of the wreck of the Sydney Cove, that sees master storyteller Jock Serong turn his talents to historical narrative.

Beginning his writing life (after a career as a criminal lawyer) as a surf magazine writer and editor, it makes sense that the regional novelist has a knack at writing about people at the mercy of a violent ocean, both with Preservation, and his 2017 novel On the Java Ridge which is considered surf-related fiction.

Making his way to the heart of Williamstown historic docks, Serong will lead the discussion ‘Unchartered Territory and Dangerous Waters’ alongside Fled author, Meg Keneally, as they explore the realm of travelling broiling seas and hostile countryside, discussing two titles that prove to re-imagine history with full immersion. They’ll be joined by award-winning historian and author, Clare Wright.

Jock’s session will be held at the Pirates Tavern on Saturday, June 15th at 1pm. Tickets are on sale at www.willylitfest.org.au