Where the Heart Is

Irish-Scottish author Maggie O'Farrell is one of my favourite writers. She is a gifted storyteller with a spellbinding vocabulary and an ability to immerse readers in the worlds she depicts. She is probably best known for her award winning Hamnet (2020) which was turned into a well-regarded film last year. I have read most of her work, and hotly anticipated the publication of her latest novel Land (2026).

Land takes us to Ireland in 1865. It is a decade after the Great Famine and across the nation there is a tremendous feeling of loss with abandoned homes and brokenhearted survivors. On a cold, wet day Tomas stands in a field with his ten-year old son Liam. The two are working on the colonial Ordinance Survey, mapping the contours of drumlins, documenting settlements, and identifying landholdings for the British Government. Tomas is a talented, though untrained, draftsman who can speak English and the local tongue. Liam has been dragged along to hold the pole and measuring chains in the rain to help his father earn a wage for his mother and siblings back in Dublin. In a woodland, Tomas has an unsettling experience which causes a sudden change in his behaviour, and his relationship with his son is never the same. What follows is the ripple of this event over time, impacting Tomas, his wife and children and the choices they make.

Land is designed to be read slowly and savoured. Readers are invited to observe the whorls of ferns, listen to the susurrations of leaves and long grasses, and feel the chill of the damp hills. It is an immersive experience and O'Farrell's ability to deploy her cinematic storytelling to bring the tale to life is remarkable. The story is full of history and confronts the challenges of colonialism, displacement and hardship (not unlike Heather Rose's A Great Act of Love) and the deep love and longing people feel for their homelands. 

While there was so much I loved about Land, there was something missing for me that kept this story distant in parts. Perhaps it was the recurring heartache for this family, but I think it had more to do with the structure. The four part composition, without chapter breaks, caused the story to flip between characters and offered no break, which does not match my reading temperament. The magical realism elements didn't entirely work for me either. While I found the book slow to start, I found the second half stronger than the first, as the children grew up and find their own way in the world. I wanted to know what happened to these characters and developed a real fondness for them. Ultimately I enjoyed this novel, but didn't feel as strong an attachment to it as I did with O'Farrell's prior novels.  

One more thing... the cover illustration by Holly Ovenden is mesmerisingly beautiful.

My reviews of other books by Maggie O'Farrell are available on this blog:

• Hamnet (2020)
• The Marriage Portrait (2022)
• The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox (2006)  

Miles Franklin Award Shortlist 2026

The Miles Franklin Award Shortlist was announced this week. The following six titles are up for Australia’s most prestigious literary prize:

• Randa Abdel-Fattah - Discipline
• Steve MinOn - First Name Second Name
• Konrad Muller - My Heart at Evening
• Omar Musa - Fierceland
• Josephine Rowe - Little World
• Sean Wilson - You Must Remember This

The judges said of this shortlist:

"This year’s Miles Franklin shortlist showcases the capacity of the Australian novel to grapple with the most vexing and profound questions of our time. Grand and intimate, these novels sing the Australian experience into new shapes.”

I am hoping that Randa Abdel-Fattah wins for Discipline, after all the crap she has had to put up with from the media and haters. All will be revealed when the winner is announced on 5 August 2026. 

In Search of Free Will

Elizabeth Strout's latest novel, The Things We Never Say (2026) is an extraordinary, big-hearted story about an ordinary man.

Artie Dam is in his late fifties. He is a beloved history teacher at the high school in his Massachusetts town. He has been married for over thirty years to his therapist wife Evie. He enjoys sailing solo on the bay where he lives. His only child, Dan, is married and has a good job. Artie knows lots of people, but he is desperately lonely. In fact, he is so lonely, he wants to die. There is a weight of hopelessness bearing down on Artie as his country changes in the lead-up to the 2024 election. He feels an intense sadness that people cannot disagree agreeably and that they have forgotten the lessons of history. He wonders whether people have free will. Artie decides he doesn't want to live anymore in this world. But then an incident happens and a secret is revealed. This changes his perspective, introduces new people into his world, and brings about a deeper connection with his son. Artie has much to live for, and yet he doesn't want to live in the same way as before.

Elizabeth Strout has pulled back the layers on male depression and loneliness, and with great empathy she reveals Artie's inner life. The novel explores how we restrain ourselves from asking for help, from reaching out, from saying how we feel, and how we lie overtly or by omission. When Artie begins to speak his truth he finds some people are receptive and others are not. He finds that people have become so impolite and impatient, and there is a decency that has been lost as reflected in the state of the nation. 

Unlike other novels in the Strout universe, this novel does not take place in Maine or feature familiar characters, but it does feature a cheeky reference to Olive Kitteridge. This is a terrific standalone novel and a great introduction to Strout's writing. Artie is a fantastic character and in a world full of outrage and toxic masculinity, we need more Arties to balance the scales.  

I absolutely loved this novel. It is short, sweet and uplifting. Beautifully written, tender and full of life. Highly recommend.

My reviews of other Elizabeth Strout novels are available on this blog:

• Amy and Isabelle (1998)
• Abide with Me (2006)
• Olive Kitteridge (2008) 
• Tell Me Everything (2024) 

Black Sheep

Madeline Cash's debut novel Lost Lambs (2026) is a satire centring on a dysfunctional American family. I had heard great things about it, and it sounded like the perfect novel to begin my holiday with. So I downloaded the audiobook, got comfy poolside and became immersed in the story of the Flynn family.

Outwardly the Flynns are a normal American family - Bud and his wife Caroline, raise their three daughters, Abigail (17 ), Louise (15), and Harper (12) in an unremarkable American town. But the Flynn's relationship is falling apart as Caroline has unilaterally declared they are in an open marriage so she can actively pursue their neighbour. But the 'arrangement' is not something Bud wants, and his anger about the situation is impacting his work and his parenting. The children have their own issues. Abigail is dating a former soldier known as 'War Crimes' Wes. Forgettable middle-child Louise has been chatting online with a person who may be leading her to commit terrorist acts. The youngest, Harper, has a penchant for outrageous lies and has been sent off to a reform camp after being suspended from school. Bud's anger and depression is causing him to fail at work, so his boss urges him to seek help. Bud joins the "Lost Lambs" support group at the local church run by Miss Winkle to work through his feelings.

Ever curious, Harper has been messing around in her father's computer and has discovered dodgy dealings by her dad's employer. I won't say more about the plot for fear of spoilers, but suffice it to say the story is delightfully bonkers and laugh out loud funny. Ultimately, it is a story about family and the shared love among those we call our own.

This is Madeline Cash's debut novel and she is a fantastic new voice. There were so many phrases and moments in this book which were brilliantly written. I would have liked to have spent more time with the sisters, as each one had a unique character and point of view. I really enjoyed the characters of Bud and Catherine, how mismatched they are in their desires and artistic temperaments. The Paul Alabaster character and his storyline was not necessary for me, but I can understand why she went in that direction. 

While reading, Lost Lambs reminded me of Kevin Wilson's hilarious Nothing to See Here, as they both share quirky humour and ridiculousness. I highly recommend the audiobook version, wonderfully performed by Christine Lakin.

Revisiting The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

The June selection in the 2026 Read Christie Challenge is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926) in the category of 'best to read in one sitting'. So while on holiday in Far North Queensland I sat poolside and read the novel in one go. This was a revisit for me, as I had previously read this novel in the 1990s but had forgotten much of the story. 

The story is narrated in first person by Dr James Sheppard, a general practitioner in the village of King's Abbot. He lives with his spinster sister, Caroline, who is a notorious gossip.  Wealthy landowner, Roger Ackroyd calls Dr Sheppard and asks him to come to Fernly Park for dinner. There he meets Mrs Ackroyd (Roger's widowed sister-in-law), her daughter Flora, Mr Raymond (Roger's secretary) and Major Blunt (Roger's old friend). After dinner the doctor has a private conversation with Roger in his study. Roger advises that he was secretly engaged to a local widow Mrs Ferrars who recently died by suicide. The day before she died, Mrs Ferrars told Roger that she had poisoned her abusive husband and was being blackmailed. She has sent Roger a letter revealing the identity of the blackmailer, so he asks Sheppard to leave so he can privately read it. 

Later that evening, Sheppard receives a call from Parker, Roger's butler, asking him to return to Fernly Park as Roger has been found dead in his study, killed with a ceremonial knife. Police are called and signs point to Roger's stepson, Ralph Paton, as the likely suspect. Flora does not believe Ralph was responsible. She reaches out to a new villager, the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and asks him to investigate. Poirot investigates alongside Sheppard, with the latter performing a similar role to Hastings in other Poirot novels. The story builds with red herrings and subplots, before Poirot brings all the suspects together in a room and declares he knows who committed the crime. 

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a delicious romp, showcasing Christie at her best. She is an excellent storyteller, crafting wonderful characters like gossipy Caroline. One chapter I particularly loved was where Sheppard and Caroline have friends over to play Mahjong. In between exclamations of 'pung', 'chow' and 'mahjong' and the discussion of rules, there is a gossipy session about the murder. 

I am so pleased to have re-read this novel. It is the only Christie novel to appear on the 1001 novels to read before you die list, and is a great example of her craft for readers new to this author. 

My reviews of other Christie novels are available on this blog: 

The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920)

Murder on the Links (1923)

Murder on the Orient Express (1934)

The Body in the Library (1942) 

The Labours of Hercules (1947)  

Mrs McGinty's Dead (1952) 

A Caribbean Mystery (1964) 

Women's Prize Winners 2026

The Winners of the 2026 Women's Prize have been announced! 

The Non-Fiction prize was awarded to Canadian author Lyse Doucet for The Finest Hotel in Kabul while the Fiction prize was presented to American author Virginia Evans for her debut novel The Correspondent. Each author receives £30,000 and a statuette. 

The winners were announced at a special event in London on 11 June 2026.

Women's Prize for Fiction

American author Virginia Evans won for her debut novel The Correspondent. Written in the form of letters, retired lawyer Sybil Van Antwerp writes to her family, former colleagues, and others. Through these letters we come to know her - her passions, her regrets and her longing. This is a witty, creative novel about an ordinary woman, told in an extraordinary way.  

Julia Gillard, Chair of Judges, said of the winner:

"A remarkable novel, with an exemplary combination of originality, excellence and accessibility. It is no mean feat to write a life in letters, but Evans makes this feel effortless, asking the reader to consider the choices we make, whilst elevating an ordinary life in the most heartfelt of ways. The sheer skill required to render an emotionally resonant and engaging work in this format is spectacular. This is a novel that captured our hearts, and should be read and savoured by all."

I am so happy Virginia Evans won for this novel. It will likely be one of my favourite books of 2026.

Women's Prize for Non-Fiction

Canadian journalist Lyse Doucet first checked in to the Kabul Intercontental Hotel in 1988 when she was posted there by the BBC. She fell in love with Afghanistan and its people and has written this book to share their culture with the world. Doucet was at the recent Sydney Writers' Festival and spoke about her career and how she came to be in Afghanistan. She talked about this hotel, which housed her and other journalists, for many years, and how she came to know the people who worked there. The Finest Hotel in Kabul is her first book. 

Thangam Debonaire, Chair of Judges, said of the winner:

"A perfect work of narrative non-fiction: it is not only cleverly constructed and brilliantly researched, but each and every element is handled with extraordinary sensitivity and warmth – it will move you to tears or make you laugh, or perhaps both. Informed by decades of excellent reporting, Doucet centres the real-life experiences of people – the staff and guests, alongside the hotel itself – and with the future of Afghanistan still being written, this book’s importance will only get stronger as the years go by."

I had thought that Arundhati Roy might win for her incredible memoir, Mother Mary Comes to Me, but I am happy for Doucet.  

Sydney Writers' Festival 2026 - Day Four

Sunday 24 May 2026 is the last day of SWF2026.

Here's how I spent my day.

Whitlam and Howard: Leaders of Consequence

In this session, journalist and biographer Troy Bramston and political analyst Amy Remeikis spoke about former Prime Ministers Gough Whitlam and John Howard with Fran Kelly.  

Bramston has written a biography about Whitlam and talked about how he had a bold reform agenda, was future focussed and achieved a lot in his short time in office. But he had a chaotic leadership style and had not secured a stable cabinet. Despite warnings that his government was in danger, he did not change and his time as leader ended with the controversial dismissal. Bramston argues that Whitlam was a leader of consequence as he put Australia on the map internationally, had a vision of the nation's future, and embarked reforms including medicare, women's rights, Aboriginal land rights, free tuition, promotion of the arts and much more.

Remeikis has written a book which details the case against John Howard. He is often hailed in conservative circles, but in retrospect many of his reforms have caused problems today. She spoke about how he was the opposite of Whitlam. Howard was not bold, he was backward looking and wanted to keep Australia exactly as it was decades earlier, by turning against multiculturalism and First Nations rights, implementing Work Choices and other reforms that maintained the status quo. Remeikis argues that many of today's problems - housing crisis, increased disparity between rich and poor, anti-immigrant sentiment, the rise of One Nation, and many more - is directly related to Howard's time in government.

This was a robust and fascinating discussion. While I may not read either book, I was glad I attended the session.

Fran Kelly, Troy Bramston, Amy Remeikis

Where Dunnit?

As readers of this blog will know, I love a good crime thriller. So I was keen to attend this session with crime writers Michael Bennett, S.A. Cosby and Chris Hammer discussing the importance of place, in conversation with Hayley Scrivenor.

Michael Bennett is a Maori writer who has written the Hana Westerman crime series set in Auckland (Better the Blood). He spoke about how the series draws on Maori heritage and the impact of colonialism on the setting. Westerman is an intriguing single mum detective who has to balance her culture and the mainstream police force. I have not read Bennett's books but after hearing him speak, I want to track them down.

Chris Hammer and me

Chris Hammer is a favourite of mine and I have read all his novels, He is known for his depictions of locations and described how he visited western New South Wales for the setting of his latest novel Legacy. Place is key in his novels and once he gets the location right he can build out his story. He has a new novel on the way, which may be the start of a new series. After the session I met Hammer when he signed Legacy for me. I asked him if Nell Buchanan (a character in many of his novels) would be returning as she is a favourite of mine (and his!) and he said she would be back. He also took a selfie with me! 

SA Cosby is an American crime writer from Virginia who draws heavily on place for his novels. He spoke about setting and how his work is based on where he grew up and continues to live. He talked about his career and how he comes up with his stories. After the session I chatted with him when he signed copies of Razorblade Tears and All the Sinners Bleed for me. I told him I had not read his work and asked him to recommend where to start. We discussed my reading preferences and he suggested I start with All the Sinners Bleed, so I will take him up on the recommendation. He was very personable and I think I will enjoy his books.

After the session I also spoke with Hayley Scrivenor. As I knew she was facilitating this session, I brought in a copy of Dirt Town for signing. We had a great conversation about the first time she was at SWF back in 2022 when she was on a panel with Dinuka McKenzie and Garry Disher. I told her how my festival friend and I bought rush tickets to that session without any knowledge of the writers. I said I had read her two novels and we spoke about our mutual admiration of Disher. She said she is working on a new book which is set in and around circus performers.

Hayley Scrivenor, Michael Bennett, SA Cosby, Chris Hammer

Mick Herron in Conversation

While I had already seen Mick Herron earlier in the festival talking about adaptations, I was keen to attend this session to hear him talk about his latest novel in the Slough House series, with one of my favourite facilitators Michael Williams (seriously, I think Williams is one of the best interviewers around). 

This was an interesting discussion as they spoke about Herron's career. I did not realise he was a poet, but Williams and he spoke about how poetry has influenced his writing. Herron described how he came up with character River Cartwright's name - he had already chosen Cartwright as it sounded like an established British surname, and he knew he wanted a two syllable first name. On a commute to Oxford the train was paused at a river, and he suddenly thought 'River Cartwright' and when he landed on that, he immediately came up with a back story about River's upbringing. 

They spoke about Slough House and Herron said he used to get out at Barbican station for work and passed a building every day and so he was very familiar with what it looked like. Williams asked him about how he comes up with his unique ways of introducing readers to Slough House (for example, following a stray cat through the building). Herron said that is one of the aspects he most enjoys writing, coming up with humorous and innovative ways to do this each time.

Williams asked him about how he suddenly kills off characters and whether he knows how the series will end. Herron said he does know how but he doesn't know when it will end. For the moment he is enjoying writing the series and has a few more in him.

After the session I met Herron again and he signed a couple more books in my series (I didn't feel I could bring all eight books in the box set!).

Michael Williams, Mick Herron

Closing Address: A Braver Australia

Since I had attended the opening night gala, I thought I would go to the closing address as well. The ones I had attended previously were single author addresses (e.g. Jennifer Egan in 2018), but this year there were six people each giving a ten minute address on the topic of 'a braver Australia'. Host Sisonke Msimang introduced the speaker.

Amy Remeikis began, dressed up in an emerald green gown. She spoke about the need to be brave and get loud about injustice. Tony Birch reminisced about his friend, the late actor Jack Charles, who had been removed from his family as a child as part of the Stolen Generations, became a drug addict and was incarcerated, but never let his trauma impact his humanity.

Dr Amy Thunig-McGregor spoke about everyday bravery and the need to teach her children ways to be brave. Jack Toohey recalled the recent protests in Sydney against Israel's President Issac Hertzog, the overreach by police and the biased reporting by the media. He argued that Australians need to be brave and speak out against genocide.

Shankar Chandran admitted she often does not feel brave and suggested that bravery can begin with small acts of personal courage. Artist Ben Quilty was the last speaker. He talked about a regional arts centre he has been involved with and the need to support the arts. 

Sisonke Msimang, Jack Toohey, Amy Thunig-McGregor,
Amy Remeikis, Shankari Chandran, Ben Quilty and Anne Mossop

So that's a wrap on my time at SWF2026. I thoroughly enjoyed each of the 23 sessions I attended. I missed attending with my festival friend this year, but I loved catching up with friends between sessions and meeting fellow book lovers throughout the festival. 

One of the things I love about SWF is how accessible and friendly it is. It is great fun to mingle with writers, publishers, and fellow book nerds.  

While I was exhausted after four full days at the festival, I came home with my mind buzzing and my to-be-read shelf heaving. Cannot wait to explore all the new books I purchased. 

Finally, after the session it was announced that Creative Director Anne Mossop is leaving after four years at the helm. She has done an incredible job with this festival and will be missed. 

Book Signings

Books signed by authors today:

• S A Cosby - Razorblade Tears and All the Sinners Bleed 

  

  SA Cosby

• Chris Hammer - Legacy
• Mick Herron - Dead Lions, Real Tigers, and Spook Street
• Hayley Scrivener - Dirt Town 

My SWF2026 Experience

Read more about my time at SWF2026 here:

• Early Sessions - Lorena Allam, Robbie Arnott, Avani Dias, Lyse Doucet, Anton Enus, Nikita Gill, Lily King, Kate McClymont, Michael Pedersen, and Patrick Radden Keefe.
• Day One - Robbie Arnott, Nick Bryant, Barrie Cassidy, Rosalind Dixon, AC Grayling, Tayari Jones, Yann Martel, Amy Remeikis, Niki Savva, David Szalay, Tasma Walton
• Day Two - Michael Mohammed Ahmed, Matt Alt, Jacinda Ardern, Rebecca Armitage, Susan Choi, Bora Chung, Roddy Doyle, Mariana Enriquez, Kate Evans, Mick Herron, Yann Martel, Charlotte McConaghy, Suzie Miller, David Szalay, and Charlotte Wood.
• Day Three - Randa Abdel-Fattah, Michael Mohammed Ahmad, Roddy Doyle, Kate Evans, Jan Fran, Lev Grossman, RF Kuang, Antoinette Lattouf, Dervla McTiernan, Garth Nix, Hayley Scrivenor.
• Day Four - Michael Bennett, Tony Birch, Troy Bramston, Shankar Chandran, SA Crosby, Chris Hammer, Mick Herron, Fran Kelly, Sisonke Msimang, Ben Quilty, Amy Remeikis, Hayley Scrivenor, Amy Thunig-McGregor, Jack Toohey, Michael Williams.

Sydney Writers' Festival - Day Three

 After two full days at SWF, and four late nights, I took it easy on Saturday 23 May 2026. 

Dervla McTiernan - Three Reasons for Revenge

Internationally bestselling author Dervla McTiernan has written some excellent crime thrillers, including her Cormac Reilly series (The Ruin, The Scholar, The Good Turn and The Unquiet Grave). Last month she published her latest thriller, Three Reasons for Revenge (2026). She spoke with Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town and Girl Falling.

McTiernan spoke about her career. She was working as a lawyer in Ireland, trying to raise a family, and desperate to write. With a recession in Ireland, and the family never able to get ahead, they moved to Perth. Working part-time, she began to write. Her first novel, The Ruin, was published in 2018 to great acclaim, winning many book prizes. This was the first in her Cormac Reilly series and set her off on her career. With the success of her writing, she was able to quit her job and become a full-time writer and stay-at-home mother. 

Dervla McTiernan and me

They spoke about her latest book, Three Reasons for Revenge, which is the first set in Australia. McTiernan said she had been wary about setting a crime story in Australia as there are so many gifted crime writers (Chris Hammer, Jane Harper etc) who are known for depicting the landscape so well. She was worried she couldn't do the landscape justice. This is a standalone thriller featuring Detective Sergeant Judith Lee, who has to investigate three parcels sent to three seemingly disconnected people. I can't wait to read it!

I really liked McTiernan. She was humble, approachable and authentic. After the session I met McTiernan and she signed a copy of Three Reasons for Revenge for me. We also took a selfie together! 

Hayley Scrivenor and Dervla McTiernan

Silenced

This sold out session featured Palestinian-Australian Randa Abdel-Fattah, and Lebanese-Australians Michael Mohammed Ahmad and Antoinette Lattouf in conversation with journalist Jan Fran. I was keen to attend this session as I have been unnerved by the attempts to silence Abdel-Fattah at other writers' festivals. The whole point of book festivals is to explore ideas, even those one finds disagreeable. I was also interested to hear from Lattouf after her legal battle with the ABC and novelist Michael Mohammed Ahmad. 

Antoinette Lattouf was vibrant, smart and funny. She spoke about her book Women Who Win -  which showcases women who shattered legal and cultural barriers, defying norms and expectations. Some of the women profiled are now well known, but others would have faded into history. Included in the book is Lattouf's own story of how she took on the ABC in an unfair dismissal case and won. She has now joined forces with Jan Fran to create Ette Media, a company aimed at promoting media literacy skills.

Randa Abdel-Fattah

Randa Abdel-Fattah spoke about her career as a lawyer and her work as an academic studying Islamophobia. She is passionate about the war in Gaza and calling out the Israeli government's relentless campaign. She spoke about dispossession and genocide and how the media tries to be 'balanced' but questions how you can be balanced when there is a genocide underway. She spoke about her award winning novel Discipline, which explores the different way of silencing people. 

Michael Mohammed Ahmad spoke about his novel Bugger which is about child abuse within a Lebanese-Australian family. He spoke about how silence happens within families and the struggles faced by victims in this context. Some of what he had to say I had heard the day before in the Dark Materials session, but it was a good reinforcement of his message. 

After the session I met Randa Abdel-Fattah and she signed a copy of her book for me. I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it, but after hearing her speak about it I am intrigued. I would have got the Lattouf book as well, but I felt I have enough on my To-Be-Read stack at the moment and need to clear some before I read that.

Jan Fran, Michael Mohammed Ahmed, Randa Abdel-Fattah and Antoinette Lattouf

Fantastical Worlds

My next session was on fantasy novels featuring international bestselling writers Lev Grossman, R.F. Kuang and Garth Nix in conversation with Carody Culver. I chose this session because I do not read fantasy novels and am not really familiar with the genre, so wanted to expand my reading horizons. 

Garth Nix spoke about his career. He is the author of the Old Kingdom series, the Keys to the Kingdom series and many others. He spoke about how he choses his fantasy elements - necromancy, magic, immortality - and the freedom it gives him as a writer. He also spoke about the books and writers that influenced him.

Lev Grossman is best known for his The Magicians series and his newest book The Bright Sword which re-imagines the King Arthur legend. He spoke about the television adaptation of The Magicians.

Rebecca Kuang spoke about her The Poppy War series which launched her career. She then spoke about fantasy elements in Babel and her latest novel Katabasis. Kuang is well versed in the genre and it was great to see the three authors riffing on their favourite fantasy works in childhood and young adulthood. 

I am not sure I am a convert to the genre, but I am intrigued. After the session I passed by the book signing where Nix and Grossman has massive queues of devotees with stacks of their novels. Kuang was not present as she had to race off to one of her sold out Town Hall sessions.

Carody Culver, Garth Nix, Lev Grossman, RF Kuang

Roddy Doyle in Conversation

While I had heard Irish author Roddy Doyle speak as part of the Booker Prize panel the day before, I was keen to attend this session to hear more about  his life’s work and latest novel, The Women Behind the Door. He spoke with Kate Evans (ABC Radio National).

Doyle spoke about his upbringing in Dublin and his early career as a teacher. His first published novels were the Barrytown Trilogy - The Commitments (1987), The Snapper (1990) and The Van (1991). He spoke about self-publishing and then having success as these were made into films. 

He spoke about the Paula Spencer series which began thirty years ago with The Woman Who Walked Into Doors (1996) and features in his latest novel The Women Behind the Door (2024). Spencer is a woman experiencing domestic violence, and Doyle's novels shone a light into this difficult subject.

Doyle described his writing style as prioritising dialogue, which makes it ripe for adaptation to stage and screen. He spoke about his family and his upbringing. 

Doyle is absolutely delightful, He was humble, funny and authentic. I really enjoyed this session. As I had books signed by Doyle the day before, I did not attend the book signing and made my way home to rest up for the final day.

Kate Evans and Roddy Doyle

Book Signings

Books signed by authors today:

• Randa Abdel-Fattah - Discipline
• Dervla McTiernan - Three Reasons for Revenge 

My SWF2026 Experience

Read more about my time at SWF2026 here:

• Early Sessions - Lorena Allam, Robbie Arnott, Avani Dias, Lyse Doucet, Anton Enus, Nikita Gill, Lily King, Kate McClymont, Michael Pedersen, and Patrick Radden Keefe.
• Day One - Robbie Arnott, Nick Bryant, Barrie Cassidy, Rosalind Dixon, AC Grayling, Tayari Jones, Yann Martel, Amy Remeikis, Niki Savva, David Szalay, Tasma Walton
• Day Two - Michael Mohammed Ahmed, Matt Alt, Jacinda Ardern, Rebecca Armitage, Susan Choi, Bora Chung, Roddy Doyle, Mariana Enriquez, Kate Evans, Mick Herron, Yann Martel, Charlotte McConaghy, Suzie Miller, David Szalay, and Charlotte Wood.
• Day Three - Randa Abdel-Fattah, Michael Mohammed Ahmad, Roddy Doyle, Kate Evans, Jan Fran, Lev Grossman, RF Kuang, Antoinette Lattouf, Dervla McTiernan, Garth Nix, Hayley Scrivenor.
• Day Four - Michael Bennett, Tony Birch, Troy Bramston, Shankar Chandran, SA Crosby, Chris Hammer, Mick Herron, Fran Kelly, Sisonke Msimang, Ben Quilty, Amy Remeikis, Hayley Scrivenor, Amy Thunig-McGregor, Jack Toohey, Michael Williams.

Sydney Writers' Festival 2026 - Day Two

 Back again for another full day at SWF2026 on Friday 22 May 2026.

Found in Translation

I have been fascinated about the art of translation ever since reading Linda Jaivin's remarkable Quarterly Essay Found In Translation: In Praise of a Plural World (2013). I do not read nearly enough translated works, but I am seeking to rectify this. So I booked this session with video game translator Matt Alt, and authors Mariana Enriquez (The Dangers of Smoking in Bed) and Bora Chung (The Midnight Timetable) in conversation with translator Daniel Hanh, without knowing their work in an effort to learn more. 

This was a wonderful discussion about the challenges of language: poetic vs traditional; gendered words; high and low culture; nuance and slang. Each of the authors are also translators and spoke about how they approach translation. I particularly enjoyed Enriquez' description of her approach to translations of her work where she views the translation as the problem of whomever has been tasked to undertake that work. 

After the session I met Enriquez and she signed a copy of her The Dangers of Smoking in Bed for me.

Daniel Hanh, Matt Alt, Mariana Enriquez Bora Chung

In the Club

Next up I went to a free session to see Charlotte McConaghy (Wild Dark Shore) and Rebecca Armitage (The Heir Apparent) talk about being selected for Reese's Book Club. 

Armitage is a journalist with the ABC who was working on the royal beat. She had an idea for a book in which a scandal means the British crown is passed on down the line of succession to a woman who has been out of the royal orbit, happily living and working in Australia, when she suddenly finds herself next in line to become Queen. Armitage spoke about the rejection her book had from publishers before she learned how to pitch, and how being selected for Reese's book club suddenly opened up her world. 

McConaghy is an established writer who has been quietly beavering away with moderate success. Her novel Wild Dark Shore was unexpectedly chosen by Witherspoon and has given her a much wider audience. She spoke about how this has given her earlier books a new audience as well. 

Armitage says that the Reese's Book Club is like a seal of approval. Readers don't know or trust the author, but they do trust Reese. Apparently Witherspoon's team gets novels in advance and they read and cull before recommending them to her. She then reads and decides whether it will be part of her selection. Witherspoon is an extraordinary business woman who knows her audience. Her production company, Hello Sunshine, also buys the rights for books with female appeal to make into television series. 

I have read and enjoyed McConaghy's work but was not familiar with Armitage's book. While The Heir Apparent is not the sort of book I normally read, it sounds like a great holiday read. So perhaps....

Holly Wainwright, Rebecca Armitage and Charlotte McConaghy

Dark Materials 

In this session, novelists Michael Mohammed Ahmed (Bugger) and David Szalay (Flesh), and non-fiction author Sarah Krasnostein (The Trauma Cleaner) talk about how they write about trauma and abuse. It was facilitated by journalist and author Jacqueline Maley (The Truth About Her). I had booked this session because it included Florence Knapp (The Names), but she unfortunately had to pull out and be replaced by Krasnostein. While disappointed I would not see Knapp, I always enjoy hearing Krasnostein speak about her work.

The authors discussed trauma and how to write about it. Szalay was clear he was not telling readers whether or not his characters were abused or traumatised, he left that open to interpretation. Krasnostein has written about the mushroom murder trial, Malka Leifer, and other challenging topics. Ahmed was extremely impressive talking about his book in which he writes about child abuse in the Australian Lebanese community where such a subject is taboo and perpetrators may be protected. He spoke about the use of language, the origins of words and how important it is to shed light on dark corners. An interesting, albeit challenging session

Jacqueline Maley, David Szalay, Sarah Krasnostein, Michael Mohammed Ahmed

Great Adaptations

In this session, authors Mick Herron (Slow Horses) and Suzie Miller (Prima Facie) talked with Benjamin Law about having their works adapted for stage and screen. 

Miller signing
Prima Facie

Miller is a former lawyer turned playwright who has had great success with her plays Prima Facie and Inter Alia. She spoke about how her first play was performed in the Griffin Theatre in Sydney, a tiny intimate space and then ended up in London's West End and on Broadway, winning Olivier and Tony Awards. She spoke about the economy of writing for stage and how there was more she wanted to say, so she adapted Prima Facie into a novel and has now adapted it into a screenplay for a forthcoming film starring Cynthia Erivo. She also talked about the intimacy of plays and the solitary nature of being a writer shifts when writing plays as you need to engage with the actors and are confined by space.

Herron's Slow Horses novels were picked up by Apple TV with Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Jonathan Price and many more. Herron spoke about the adaptation of his work and how he sat in on the writers' room like an oracle answering questions about characters. He said that there are many aspects of his books which are unfilmable and how the writing team have done an incredible job to bring it to the screen. His Zoë Boehm series, Down Cemetery Road, has also been adapted for TV starring Emma Thompson. Herron shared some behind-the-scenes tales and clearly delights in the way his work has been adapted.

After the session I spoke to Herron at the book signing and had a photo taken with him. I also was able to get my copy of Prima Facie signed by Suzie Miller.

Benjamin Law, Suzie Miller, Mick Herron

Jacinta Ardern

I had to rush from Carriageworks into Sydney Town Hall for my next session. Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke about her memoir, A Different Kind of Power,  in conversation with Holly Wainright. I recently read this memoir so was thrilled to hear her speak about it. 

Ardern is humble, warm and personable - completely authentic. Wainright asked her to recount various stories from the book such as how she found it she was pregnant, an incident when she worked at a fish and chip shop, seeing her father encounter some bikers, and many more. They talked about the challenges of political life and some of the hard things she had to lead the country through - like COVID, a terrorist attack and the Whaakari (White Island) disaster. 

Ardern is now happily living on Sydney's Northern Beaches and continuing to use her skills and experience for causes she cares about. She runs a leadership program, works on eradicating violent extremism and on efforts to reduce the impact of climate change.

I was thoroughly impressed by Jacinda Arden and appreciated being able to see her in Sydney's beautiful Town Hall. I highly recommend her memoir.

Holly Wainright and Jacinda Ardern

State of the Art - Booker Prize

Raced back to Carriageworks for my final session of the day. This panel featured authors that had been shortlisted for or won the prestigious Booker Prize. ABC Radio National’s Kate Evans moderated the session featuring Susan Choi (Flashlight), Roddy Doyle (Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha), Yann Martel (Life of Pi), David Szalay (Flesh), Charlotte Wood (Stone Yard Devotional).

David Szalay, Charlotte Wood, Susan Choi

The panel spoke about whether prizes matter and the general consensus is that they do. For each of these writers, the Booker Prize was instrumental in their careers as it brought them prominence, sold their books and gave them freedom to write. 

Szalay, the current winner, spoke about the camaraderie of the longlist and how enjoyable it is to be going through the Booker season with other writers. He said that since he won he has had little time to write as he has been on perpetual tour. Martel and Doyle concurred with this experience and said they had writing gaps after winning the Booker. 

Yann Martel, Roddy Doyle, Kate Evans

Doyle was working as a teacher when his novel won the Booker and as the first Irish author to win he was lauded at home. He joked that the year he won there was also an Irish horse that won the Melbourne Cup and how a newspaper wanted to get Doyle and the horse in a photo together for a story on Ireland's global success. Doyle said that the Booker allowed him to become a full time writer. Doyle also spoke about being a judge for the Booker.

Martel had a similar story of success. He had been writing for years and had been rejected by many publishers. He was about to give up writing when he found a small UK imprint to publish his novel. Once it won the Booker, he was an 'overnight success', invited to parties and travelled the world. 

Wood spoke about how she was called the 'drought-breaker' as her novel Stone Yard Devotional was the first Australian to be longlisted since Richard Flanagan's The Narrow Road to the Deep North a decade earlier. For Wood the Booker brought her backlist to a new audience and gave her a huge exposure.

Choi spoke about how the Booker is seen in America as like the Holy Grail. American authors have only been eligible since 2014 and have fared well in the longlist ever since, including wins for Paul Beatty (The  Sellout, 2016) and George Saunders (Lincoln in the Bardo, 2017).

The panel discussed the expectations on shortlisters and winners. They also talked about whether there is such a thing as a 'Booker' book - an obvious contender. They rejected this notion as the judges change each year. 

After the session I was able to get books signed by Charlotte Wood and Roddy Doyle to add to my Booker collection.

Szalay, Wood, Choi, Martel, Doyle, Evans

That ends my big day out at the Sydney Writer's Festival and I am now past the halfway point. Off to bed and back again tomorrow.

Roddy Doyle

Book Signings

Books signed by authors today:

• Roddy Doyle - Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha (for my Booker collection)
• Mariana Enriquez - The Dangers of Smoking in Bed
• Mick Herron - Slow Horses
• Suzie Miller - Prima Facie
• Charlotte Wood - Stone Yard Devotional and The Weekend

My SWF2026 Experience

Read more about my time at SWF2026 here:

• Early Sessions - Lorena Allam, Robbie Arnott, Avani Dias, Lyse Doucet, Anton Enus, Nikita Gill, Lily King, Kate McClymont, Michael Pedersen, and Patrick Radden Keefe.
• Day One - Robbie Arnott, Nick Bryant, Barrie Cassidy, Rosalind Dixon, AC Grayling, Tayari Jones, Yann Martel, Amy Remeikis, Niki Savva, David Szalay, Tasma Walton
• Day Two - Michael Mohammed Ahmed, Matt Alt, Jacinda Ardern, Rebecca Armitage, Susan Choi, Bora Chung, Roddy Doyle, Mariana Enriquez, Kate Evans, Mick Herron, Yann Martel, Charlotte McConaghy, Suzie Miller, David Szalay, and Charlotte Wood.
• Day Three - Randa Abdel-Fattah, Michael Mohammed Ahmad, Roddy Doyle, Kate Evans, Jan Fran, Lev Grossman, RF Kuang, Antoinette Lattouf, Dervla McTiernan, Garth Nix, Hayley Scrivenor.
• Day Four - Michael Bennett, Tony Birch, Troy Bramston, Shankar Chandran, SA Crosby, Chris Hammer, Mick Herron, Fran Kelly, Sisonke Msimang, Ben Quilty, Amy Remeikis, Hayley Scrivenor, Amy Thunig-McGregor, Jack Toohey, Michael Williams.

Sydney Writers' Festival 2026 - Day One

Thursday 21 May 2026 was my first full day at SWF2026. 

Back to Back Barries

Before getting into the main event, I stopped by the live recording of The Guardian's Back to Back Barries podcast. I love journalist Barrie Cassidy (Sundays aren't the same since he left Insiders!) and it was delightful to see him again, with his co-host Tony Barry.

They started the discussion with the media and public response to the Federal budget, with confusing polling data which shows an overall disapproval of the budget, yet overwhelming approval for individual initiatives. The Barries talked about how it is easier to break a promise of something you say you will do than something you say you won't do. 

The conversation shifted to the rise of One Nation and how the party is cannibalising votes. People are misreading the One Nation voter according to the Barries. They are tapping into dissatisfaction with the main parties but are not single issue voters as previously. There was also a consensus that Opposition Leader Angus Taylor will likely not make the next election and that Tony Abbott, if appointed leader of the administrative branch, would take the spotlight.

It was an interesting conversation and a reminder that I need to listen to their podcast more often.

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry

The Future of Democracy: Fighting Authoritarianism with AC Grayling 

I love AC Grayling. The last time I saw him in person was the 2016 Festival of Dangerous Ideas, but I have followed his work with great interest. I was keen to attend this session as he has just written the book For the People: Fighting Authoritarianism and Saving Democracy (2025).

Grayling's session was moderated by one of my favourite writers, journalist Nick Bryant. His book The Forever War (2024) offered great insight into American political history and the fragility of its democracy.

Grayling began with a twenty minute talk about the rise of democracy in the 20th century, how things began to shift, and how today authoritarian states outnumber democracies. He says that for democracy to thrive there needs to be civil liberties, engaged voters and an independent judiciary. These pillars can get in the way of a leader's agenda. While democracies are noisy and messy, he argues that tyrannies are silent. Factionalism and party politics has invaded democratic governments around the world. But there is a remedy. Grayling went on to talk about Plato and Aristotle and the need for good, independent institutions - courts, public service, and universities. 

After his speech, Grayling sat down with Nick Bryant and constitutional lawyer Rosalind Dixon for an excellent chat. They spoke about the influence of corporations on politics and while capitalism has lifted a billion people out of poverty, corporate greed has led to the predatory behaviour of bad actors encouraging bad policy. There was discussion about how authoritarianism seems contagious but the antidote isn't. The panel also discussed the different systems of voting which enhance democracy and the flawed systems which inhibit this. 

After the session I went to the book signing and had a great conversation with Nick Bryant while he signed a copy of The Forever War.

Nick Bryant, Rosalind Dixon and A C Grayling

Secrets of The Lodge

With a gap before my next session, I wandered down to Bay 24 to see the free session called 'Secrets of the Lodge'. The panel featured journalists Amy Remeikis, Niki Savva, Troy Bramston, Sean Kelly and Margot Saville all of whom have spent time in the Canberra press gallery. The shared delicious tidbits of various Prime Ministers. For example, Bob Hawke regularly held poker games with politicians and journalists. Apparently he was also often nude. This was a fun, light-hearted session.

Troy Bramston, Amy Remeikis, Sean Kelly, Niki Savva, Margot Saville

Heather Rose: A Great Act of Love

Next up, I was off to hear Tasmanian author Heather Rose speak about her latest novel, A Great Act of Love (2025). I read this in the lead up to the Festival and was keen to hear more about the inspiration behind the story.  The session began with Rose reading the first few pages of the novel. She then spoke about how her sister was exploring their family's ancestry and investigating scraps of family lore, like a link to French nobility, and the death of someone who fell over Niagara Falls. Digging into these tales, she based the characters Jacques-Louis and Caroline on  her ancestors. 

I have great admiration for Heather Rose as a writer. Her novel The Museum of Modern Love (2016) is wonderful and I love the way she genre hops. Session facilitator Melanie Kembrey asked about her writing process and she described the volumes of research she does for all her work. For A Great Act of Love she spent a lot of time researching champagne making, reading Adam Smith and Issacson's biography of Benjamin Franklin, and re-reading Bronte to get the language of the time. 

Heather Rose and Melanie Kembrey

Tayari Jones: Kin

I am a huge fan of Tayari Jones. Her Women's Prize-winning novel An American Marriage (2018) was my  favourite read in 2019. Jones' most recent novel Kin (2026) is such a beautiful tale of friendship and family, so I was keen to hear her speak about this excellent book. Having never seen or heard her being interviewed before, I was delighted to hear her interviewed by Shankari Chandran.

Jones spoke about the friendship at the core of this novel and believes it to be a tale of loving those closest to you. She spoke about the challenges she had writing and the gap she took after her previous novel. She explained how she felt like the world was on fire and that it is a luxury to tell a story. In writing Kin, she had not planned the novel out as she did in her previous works and had anticipated the tale of Niecy and Annie to be preamble to a more modern story. But she became so invested in these girls and had to share their story. 

After the session I was able to meet Tayari and have her sign copies of her earlier works - Leaving Atlanta and Silver Sparrow - and talk with her about her travels in Australia. She is a delightful woman and I really enjoyed this session.

Shankari Chandran and Tayari Jones

Bringing The Past To Life

This panel brought together Yann Martel (Son of Nobody), Robbie Arnott (Dusk), Tasma Walton (I Am Nannertgarrook) in conversation with Kate Evans (ABC Radio National). I have not yet read the books these authors were discussing so was keen to learn more.

Tasma Walton's I Am Nannertgarrook is an attempt to correct a record on her family's story. For a long time it had been presented that her ancestor Nannertgarrook was wooed by a merchant seaman and ran off with him. But accessing historical records and digging a little deeper showed that this was no romantic love story - he was actually a brutal sealer who kidnapped her and took her away from her family. Walton wrote this novel in first person, often using the language of her people. She spoke of how colonists came to 'civilise' the land but did so with brutality and inhumanity. 

Canadian author Yann Martel's Son of Nobody came to him as he recently read Homer. He had read many retellings but not the source material. The retellings sparked his imagination and he recalls a childhood full of ancient myths. Son of Nobody is horizontally divided with the top half featuring tales of the Trojan Horse and the bottom half the footnotes of a scholar. Martel said that in researching his book he went to Mycenae, Argos and other places to get a sense of the landscape and where these tales originated.

Robbie Arnott described is novel Dusk as a Western set in the 1870s. Twins Iris and Floyd are children of bushrangers who go to a remote part of Tasmania to hunt a puma named Dusk for the bounty. Arnott says that he starts with place when writing, followed by characters and then plot. He likes to capture the feel of a place rather than an exact photo replica. 

The trio spoke about myths, fables and dreamtime stories and also about animals that appear in their books. Martel's best known work, The Life of Pi, features a tiger (among other animals) and he spoke about how animals are great vessels for storytelling as we can project symbols on to the animals. Arnott agreed and thought books should not be limited to a human point of view. 

After this interesting session I was able to meet all three authors and get books signed. I purchased a copy of Tasma Walton's book as it sounds like a fascinating tale.  

Kate Evans, Robbie Arnott, Yann Martel, Tasma Walton

David Szalay: Flesh

Canadian-Hungarian author David Szalay won the Booker Prize last year for his novel Flesh (2025). I read this in the lead up to the festival and was absolutely engrossed in this tale of a man of few words. Having not heard Szalay speak before, I was intrigued to see if he was as restrained as his character Ishtvan. Session facilitator, award winning author Michelle de Krester, joked at the outset about how she was worried that all questions would be answered with 'okay'.

Szalay is nothing like Ishtvan. Rather he is warm, humorous and erudite. De Krester and he spoke about how he made a deliberate choice to not tell the reader how to read the book. He just presents situations in a detached or neutral way. Szalay spoke about how people in novels are unreliably articulate, so he wanted to envisage characters not as groups of minds but as groups of bodies. 

They spoke about structure, sparseness, the time jumps and the physicality of life. They also discussed some of Szalay's other work like All That Man Is. This was a great session and I am glad I read the book prior to attending. After the session I met Szalay and he signed my copy of Flesh for me.

Michelle de Krester and David Szalay

And that was my first full day at the 2026 Sydney Writers' Festival.

Book Signings

Tayari Jones

Books signed by authors today:

• Robbie Arnott - Limberlost
• Nick Bryant - The Forever War
• Tayari Jones - Leaving Atlanta and Silver Sparrow
• Yann Martell - Life of Pi (for my collection of signed Booker Prize winners)
• David Szalay - Flesh (for my Booker collection)
• Tasma Walton - I Am Nannertgarrock 

My SWF2026 Experience

RRead more about my time at SWF2026 here:

• Early Sessions - Lorena Allam, Robbie Arnott, Avani Dias, Lyse Doucet, Anton Enus, Nikita Gill, Lily King, Kate McClymont, Michael Pedersen, and Patrick Radden Keefe.
• Day One - Robbie Arnott, Nick Bryant, Barrie Cassidy, Rosalind Dixon, AC Grayling, Tayari Jones, Yann Martel, Amy Remeikis, Niki Savva, David Szalay, Tasma Walton
• Day Two - Michael Mohammed Ahmed, Matt Alt, Jacinda Ardern, Rebecca Armitage, Susan Choi, Bora Chung, Roddy Doyle, Mariana Enriquez, Kate Evans, Mick Herron, Yann Martel, Charlotte McConaghy, Suzie Miller, David Szalay, and Charlotte Wood.
• Day Three - Randa Abdel-Fattah, Michael Mohammed Ahmad, Roddy Doyle, Kate Evans, Jan Fran, Lev Grossman, RF Kuang, Antoinette Lattouf, Dervla McTiernan, Garth Nix, Hayley Scrivenor.
• Day Four - Michael Bennett, Tony Birch, Troy Bramston, Shankar Chandran, SA Crosby, Chris Hammer, Mick Herron, Fran Kelly, Sisonke Msimang, Ben Quilty, Amy Remeikis, Hayley Scrivenor, Amy Thunig-McGregor, Jack Toohey, Michael Williams.