The Newcastle Writers’ Festival will this year include events in Cessnock for the first time.
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The festival, which will run from April 6 to 8, has teamed up with Cessnock City Library and Cessnock Performing Arts Centre to host an author event, and will deliver a children’s program to local schools.
The CPAC will host an evening with author Michael Robotham on Saturday, April 7.
Robotham’s fascinating career has included time as an investigative journalist across America, Australia and Britain, covering notorious cases such as the serial killer couple Fred and Rosemary West.
As a senior feature writer for the UK’s Mail on Sunday, he was among the first people to view the letters and diaries of Czar Nicholas II and his wife Empress Alexandra, unearthed in the Moscow State Archives 1991. He also gained access to Stalin’s Hitler files, which had been missing for nearly 50 years.
In 1993 Robotham quit journalism to become a ghostwriter for non-fiction titles involving prominent figures in the military, arts, sport, and science.
His 2004 debut thriller, The Suspect, sold more than one million copies around the world. In 2015 he won the UK's prestigious Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award with his standalone thriller Life or Death.
Tickets to Secrets and Lies: an evening with Michael Robotham are $25 and are available online at cessnockperformingartscentre.com.au or by calling 4993 4266.
Local children will be lucky enough to meet and hear from acclaimed Australian children’s authors Kate and Jol Temple, Yvette Poshoglian and Tristan Bancks as they visit 16 local schools as part of the festival’s schools program.
The visiting writers will perform their work, talk about their craft and take questions offering local students a unique and creative learning experience.
Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent said it is an amazing opportunity for Cessnock and looks forward to Cessnock City Council’s partnership with the festival.
“The festival has been running since 2013 and has gone from strength to strength,” Cr Pynsent said.
“Last year the program boasted 85 events that were enjoyed by around 9000 visitors.
“We are excited to be a part of this fantastic celebration of writers and welcome visitors to our local government area.”
The full festival program will be announced on February 23.
Find out more at newcastlewritersfestival.org.au.
