Writers Festival Day 2 :: Saturday 23 february

Time	Dolphin Theatre All Dolphin Theatre sessions are FREE	Festival Tent All Festival Tent sessions are FREE	The University Club Theatre All University Club Theatre sessions are FREE	Octagon Theatre All Octagon Theatre sessions require tickets $10	Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery
9.30–10.30	How Far is Too Far? How far should a writer go in using other people's lives in their writing? Colin Falconer and Craig Sherborne probe the moral boundaries to be negotiated when in pursuit of a good story.	Australian Stories Marion Halligan, Alexis Wright and Charlotte Wood explore the idea of an Australian story, and what makes these stories unique, in the context of their latest novels.	The Winds of Change Peter van Onselen and Michael Gawenda reflect on the political change that has swept the nation.	The Serious Business of Being Funny Julian Morrow, Dominic Knight, and Shane Maloney consider the comic side of writing.
11.00–12.00	Other Worlds Kate Forsyth, Bevan McGuiness and Anna Fienberg take us to imaginative worlds in their writing. They discuss fantasy writing.	Novel Ideas First time novelists Donna Mazza, Catherine O'Flynn, Tan Twan Eng and Toni Jordan are all fresh new voices in fiction. They discuss their exciting debuts.	Illustrating the Point Shaun Tan, Nicki Greenberg and Matt Ottley discuss their three very different illustrated books and the crossover between art and literature.	Travel Tales Colin Thubron, Greg and Lucy Malouf and Carmen Michael recount their latest journeys, getting to the heart of the cultures they visit, and travel writing in an age of instant news and photos.
12.30–1.30	BOOK LAUNCH Lucy Dougan White Clay	Taken From Life Glyn Parry, Louise Doughty, Tracy Ryan and Kate Llewellyn discuss the inspiration that can be found in life experiences, from memories to family histories.	The Writers' Voice Christopher Koch, Marcella Polain and Charlotte Wood give readings of their latest novels.	Simplifying the Complex Tim Harford, Stefan Klein and Meredith Hooper are three writers tackling complex subjects from economic theory to the science of time to Antarctic warming. They discuss their latest books and how they make complex subject matter both easy to understand and riveting to read.
2.00–3.00	Seizing the Day Carmen Michael, Colin Falconer and Paul Carter step out of the comfort zone and discuss their adventurous lives.	Iconic Lives Peter van Onselen and Catherine Cole have investigated the lives of two iconic Australians, John Howard and AD Hope in their latest books. These two very different subjects have called for markedly different approaches in biography style. They discuss the different approches they used in their writing.	Thrilling Tales Douglas Kennedy, Maureen Freely and Neil Cross talk about their gripping new novels and the art of suspenseful writing.	Sporting Legends Two sports writing and commentating greats, Gideon Haigh and Dennis Cometti, discuss their respective passions for Cricket and AFL and reveal some of their favourite sporting moments.
3.30–4.30	The Fragility of Memory Charlotte Wood and Nathan Englander consider the nature of memory and forgetting in their latest novels.	Behind the Headlines Michael Gawenda and Peter Godwin take us behind the news and into the wandering life of a journalist. They look at some of the big issues they have reported on and what it is like to live through events the rest of us only see as headlines.	A Shared Table Clotilde Dusoulier, Pauline Nguyen and Marion Halligan recount culinary tales and consider the universal role food plays in uniting families and cultures.	Can Intelligent People Really Be Happy? Stefan Klein and Stephanie Dowrick consider why 'happiness' has become such a big topic right now. Does this reflect a change in our expectations, a loss of natural ability, the influence of smiling Buddhists, or an epidemic of depression and anxiety?!	Writers and Illustrators Sally Heinrich, Kim Gamble, Anna Fienberg and Bruce Atherton look at the creative partnership of writer and illustrator and the process of putting pictures to words and vice versa. FREE session
5.00–6.00	Writing to Inform Meredith Hooper and Waleed Aly write about issues close to their hearts in their lastest books. They examine the role they play as writers in informing public understanding and stimulating debate.	Spotlight on Miles Merril Miles Merrill, Australia's spoken-word tour de force, combines elements of theatre, hip-hop, slam poetry and music, flinging words in a rapid fire onslaught of versified emotion.	Elizabeth Jolley Tribute		Chamber Duo 2 Genevieve Lacey, recorder and Marshall McGuire, harp