General News
20 June, 2024
Q&A with Words in Winter speakers
Ahead of the Central Goldfields’ Words in Winter event for 2024, The Advertiser sat down with several authors and speakers involved in the festival. Read today’s and next Friday’s edition for a sneak peek into who the panelists are — and...
Ahead of the Central Goldfields’ Words in Winter event for 2024, The Advertiser sat down with several authors and speakers involved in the festival. Read today’s and next Friday’s edition for a sneak peek into who the panelists are — and what they think makes Words in Winter so special.
Set to be held on June 29 and 30, the literary program will bring masters of prose and storytelling to Maryborough for a weekend of crime, communism, spice and titillating discussions.
One doesn’t have to read between the lines to know it’ll be an event worth attending and adding to that allure are authors Lynne Kelly and Heather Whitford-Roche — both with notable achievements under their belt.
Ms Kelly, a renowned science writer, has published 20 books. Her work builds on the relationship between memorising, art and music.
Sharing her insights on two separate panels at the event, Ms Whitford-Roche is a self-publishing author with her latest novel, Issie Mac, the second she’s penned.
The pair spoke to The Advertiser about their upcoming panels, their unique viewpoints and the significance of participating in a local event like Words of Winter.
LYNNE KELLY (Songlines and Memory:June 29 from 2.45 to 3.45 pm) —
♦What is the central theme or topic of the panel discussion you will be contributing to at Words in Winter, and why do you find this topic important?
My session is all about the skills we have stopped using since humans became dependent on writing. In order to survive, Indigenous cultures the world over developed incredible systems for memorising vast amounts of practical information. The best example is Aboriginal Songlines which link knowledge to Country, art, music, performance and story.
♦How does your own work or expertise relate to the themes being discussed, and what unique perspective do you bring to the panel?
My research and most recent six books relate to Indigenous knowledge systems and what we can learn from them. We all have memories which are all capable of so much more, but since the dependence of education on writing, and technology, we stopped using these methods despite them being available to all of us. We can have it all!
♦What excites you most about being part of Words in Winter this year?
I love the way audiences, no matter what age, discover that they can remember so much more effectively using skills which are innate in them. It is easy to use these skills. These methods have served humans so well throughout tens of thousands of years, and should still be in everybody’s toolbox.
♦How important is it to have these important conversations, through this event, in a small regional town?
I live in Castlemaine and know just how much regional people enjoy having the same ideas presented to them as are so readily available in the cities. I find the discussion is often more robust and exciting when I talk at regional festivals than anywhere else. It is all to do with community.
HEATHERWHITFORD-ROCHE (Self-publishing: June 29 from9.15 to 10.15 am &Should we pay people to read: June 29 from 1.30 to 2.30 pm) —
♦What is the central theme or topic of the panel discussion you will be contributing to at Words in Winter, and why do you find this topic important?
Saturday morning I’ll be participating in the session, Self-publishing and marketing your book. Along with local authors Maria, Helena and Val, we will discuss the process of ‘going it alone’ and all that accompanies getting a book to fruition and then how we go about selling and distributing it. In the afternoon, I’m in conversation with Robyn Annear, Martine Murray both well-known authors and Maree Stephenson a librarian. We will discuss why grownups are giving up books. We will delve, dive and discuss why reading books in Australia is in decline. What can we do about it?
♦How does your own work or expertise relate to the themes being discussed, and what unique perspective do you bring to the panel?
As a self-published writer of two books, I’m extremely aware of the hidden pitfalls, although it’s true to say that many of us learn as we go. And as an avid reader, I’ve had a lifelong interest in the changing face of Australia’s writing and book industry. I am a member of Writers Victoria and the Australian Society of Authors.
♦What excites you most about being part of Words in Winter this year?
I’m thrilled to be coming to Words in Winter. Maryborough is my hometown and to think this wonderful program of events that is about to happen is heartwarming.
♦How important is it to have these important conversations, through this event, in a small regional town?
They display what happens in the community and explore other ideas to add to the conversations about art, books, ideologies and lifestyle. Curiosity brings us together, not always to agree but to explore and learn.