As another year draws to a close, I think about all the great books I’ve read and authors I’ve met. What have you read this year? What has impressed you? Disappointed you? Given you hope? I recently had the glorious opportunity to attend the 2025 Brisbane Writers’ Festival. I hosted a fantastic panel with some talented writers, met some new literary heroes, caught up with some interstate author friends and spent an hour with the indomitable Helen Garner (bucket list tick). BWF is an extraordinary weekend and has a fab vibe at its new venue, the Brisbane Powerhouse. Put it in your diary for October next year! The Queensland Literary Awards were a huge event highlighting some great fiction and non-fiction, and our own local hero Siang Lu won the 2025 Miles Franklin Award. I’ve got an in-conversation coming up with the brilliant crime writer Lyn Yeowart about her new psychological thriller THE HOLLOW GIRL in November (see the Events section and book through Avid Reader). And I’m finally finding time to write again this year. Who knows, I may even publish something new. That’s the goal, anyway! Happy reading and writing everyone.
