General News
27 July, 2023
Acclaimed authors head to shire for Words in Winter
The annual Central Goldfields Words in Winter festival has returned for its 2023 installation with internationally acclaimed authors and local writers set to grace the stage in the coming weeks. Promising to be a celebration of storytelling, this...
The annual Central Goldfields Words in Winter festival has returned for its 2023 installation with internationally acclaimed authors and local writers set to grace the stage in the coming weeks.
Promising to be a celebration of storytelling, this year’s program is packed with literary events that will be hosted across Maryborough, Talbot and Newstead.
With around 200 people expected to attend, Words in Winter coordinator Janice Simpson said the festival catered to everyone, not just bookworms.
“Words in Winter is for everybody, irrespective of whether they read or not,” she said.
“I think listening to authors talk is a must do activity even if you haven’t read their books or know nothing about them, because authors are full of ideas and so things happen in your brain that you don’t know is going to happen prior to listening to them so I think that’s a really worthwhile thing to do.
“All our events are going to entertain and surprise people. It’s all about having fun and sharing ideas.”
Ms Simpson said with a jam packed program including some sessions featuring notable names, she hoped locals would come out in full support.
“I’m looking forward to the festival and I am also looking forward to seeing a huge number of residents and visitors in attendance,” she said.
“It’s not everyday that acclaimed authors come to Maryborough or Talbot so we need to all embrace this event.
“I’d like people to just throw caution to the wind and buy the tickets worth maybe four coffees and just take a couple of hours out of their lives to sit back and listen to stuff that they may not have even thought about before.”
Among this year’s full-on program is a session with Christian White, author and creator of the Netflix series Clickbait, as well as an event with three renowned crime novelists — Carmel Bird, Elizabeth Coleman and Susan Green.
“It’s very important that our community comes along and attends these events because it is going to be such a thought-provoking activity,” Ms Simpson said.
“We’re going to be talking about a lot of general and philosophical stuff.
“These authors coming to our town is a spectacular thing and it shows that people like telling stories and stories need to be told in one’s community as well to allow people to reflect on their own life. The three crime writers, they live in Ballarat and Castlemaine so they’re bringing local stories for us to learn from.”
Words in Winter will begin next week onwards starting with Christian White’s event ‘Disappeared’ taking place at ANA Hall in Talbot from 11 am on August 5.
Other events running through August include a trivia afternoon hosted by the Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Trail, a tour of the McPhersons printing factory, and a Q&A with Craig Ellery.
To make bookings, purchase tickets or view a full list of events visit wiwcg.com.au