September 1 - 30, 2026: Issue 658

 

Readers Festival at Avalon Beach Set to Run Panel Discussions, Workshops + Festival Fiver Sessions: Runs September 26-27

The Northern Beaches Readers’ Festival, which will run solely in Avalon Beach over the weekend of Saturday September 26 through Sunday September 27, is a biennial event focused on connecting readers with popular Australian fiction authors, and will feature some of Australia’s leading storytellers in panel discussions and more intimate ‘in conversation’ events.


Pittwater resident and Festival Patron, Michael Robotham, a crime fiction writer who has twice won the CWA Gold Dagger award for best novel and twice been shortlisted for the Edgar Award for best novel, stated:

''I am beyond delighted to be patron of the Northern Beaches Reader’s Festival. I have lived in this area for twenty-seven years and raised three children in this community, developing a deep love for the people, the lifestyle and the creative energy in this beautiful corner of the world. I was privileged to attend the first NBRF as an author, a host, and as an audience member, and was impressed by a clever, diverse programme that introduced me to some wonderful new writers and reunited me with some old friends. The secret to the NBRF is in the name. It is first and foremost aimed at readers. And celebrates writing in all genres, especially those that are sometimes overlooked or side-lined by larger literary festivals. Roll on September. Put the dates in your diaries. Avalon will be the place to be.''

This is the only literary festival in Australia with a 100% focus on both fiction and Australian authors, providing support for new and emerging authors. The 2026 festival will have nine debut authors and a bumper program with something for everyone.

The not-for-profit festival was established in 2022 by a group of local authors to provide a platform for genres that are often overlooked at other literary festivals, such as crime, historical fiction, and romance. The festival’s main focus is reading for pleasure, and the event allows authors to connect with readers.

This year there will be 52 authors participating, including Michael Robotham, Ali Lowe, Matt Nable, Tara Rae Moss, and local author Petronella McGovern.

Petronella recently released her fifth novel, Every Time She Wakes, a time-bending thriller about family, identity, and fate, which apparently is set in our area - will you recognise her locations?

The story is about university careers counsellor Suze. She and her family are evacuated from their home during a bushfire. When the van crashes, she thinks it’s the end, but then she wakes up two weeks back in time. No-one else remembers what came before. Is it all in her mind? Then it happens again and again. Suze has to work out why.

Petronella’s inspiration for the story was the ‘what if?’ questions that she’d always thought about, such as what if you had taken a different path, would your life be different?

Petronella will be in discussion with Emma Grey and Jennifer Ross at the festival about shaping stories and playing with structure on September 26.

Weekend festival discussions will include topics such as how setting can be crucial to a story, other worldly romance, sibling rivalry, the power of transformation, romance, family bonds, and so much more.

Michael Robothom will be discussing crime along with Emma Babbington, and Kate Horan and Chris Hammer will talk about his latest book. Monica McInerney will chat with Sandie Docker about her new novel and Jane Caro, Matt Nable and Glenn Orgias will discuss the gritty underbelly of crime.

Secrets Of The Past will be of interest to lovers of History. How do we uncover the stories that are buried in history? From piecing together clues hidden in antiquarian books, to using an historian’s investigative skills and researching family legend, this fascinating conversation looks at the many ways we can uncover the secrets of the past. Find out how panellists Sarah Clutton, Joan Sauers and Sue Williams bring history to life – and why revealing long-hidden mysteries continues to resonate so powerfully with readers today. Facilitated by Helen Signy, this Panel discussion runs Sunday September 27.

Visitors can enjoy workshops such as Stories With Heart with Pamela Cook - Great stories don’t just entertain – they make readers feel. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to create believable, emotionally rich characters whose hopes, fears, flaws and desires resonate with readers. Through practical exercises and discussion, you’ll discover how authentic characterisation creates emotional impact, raises the stakes, and keeps readers invested from the first page to the last. Whether you’re writing fiction or memoir, you’ll leave with techniques to give your writing greater emotional depth and lasting power.​ 

There will also Festival Fiver Sessions, one of which will be 'How To Birth A Book' - What goes into getting a book from the ideas in your head to a novel on the shelves? When should you submit your work to an agent or publisher, and what is it they look for when signing an author? What’s the process once you’ve been picked up? And is that the end of the story? Attendees will join author Sandie Docker, publisher Jo MacKay (HQ Fiction) and literary agent Daniel Pilkington (Pilkington Agency), as they demystify the publishing process. Attendees can submit questions prior to the panel. These sessions cost $5 each - a bargain for all aspiring wordsmiths.

The Northern Beaches (Avalon Beach) Readers Festival Inc is a not-for-profit organisation, run by a voluntary committee, consisting of extremely passionate members of the Australian writing and reading community.

All the events take place at Avalon Recreation Centre - although you may see some really high-profile fiction authors walking around the village of Avalon Beach.

Previous iterations show this Readers Festival brings a buzz to Pittwater during the weekend. The local businesses are full of festival goers and there are famous authors walking around everywhere (you’ll see, for example, Tara Moss, Natasha Lester, Chris Hammer, Matt Nable and Avalon local Michael Robotham). 

Most of the volunteers come from around the Avalon area too.

There will be plenty for aspiring and early-stage writers. The two writing workshops, with Pamela Cook and Hayley Scrivenor, and three $5 ‘Festival Fiver’ sessions on:

  • ‘Ask us anything’ (three authors spill the beans on exactly what it’s like to be a writer) 
  • ‘How to birth a book’ (an author, an agent and a publisher give specific practical advice)
  • ‘Book club’ (Meg Dunn from Avalon Community Library and others will run a session on Liane Moriarty’s new book, Big Little Truths).

Have a look at the program and book your tickets before they sell out. Visit: www.nbrf.com.au/2026program