Top Australian writers headline weekend of literary events

Surf gurus Tim Baker and Phil Jarratt and host of Australian Story Caroline Jones will headline the weekend of events on June 13 and 14 as part of the Reality Bites non-fiction literary festival.

The Reality Bites festival is Australia’s only non-fiction writers’ festival and will bring 33 of Australia’s top authors, writers and journalists to the Coast from 6 June to 2 August.

Surfing writers Tim Baker and Phil Jarratt will be special guests at a literary lunch at Sunshine Beach Surf Club on Sunday 14 June.

From the early days of Tracks magazine at a ramshackle beach house to today’s frantic surfing world packed with surf stars and exotic travel, these two writers have documented the evolution of Australian surfing.

With over 50 years surf writing, some 20 books, and a few decades of surf magazine editing between them, the pair will produce some entertaining tales and true straight from the surfing world.

Also at Sunshine Beach Surf Club, intriguing storyteller John Danalis will read from his new book Riding the Black Cockatoo and take the audience along his personal journey of Indigenous awareness and reconciliation in an informal and relaxed festival session.

The weekend will officially kick off on Saturday 13 June with veteran journalist and Australian Story host Caroline Jones sharing her personal diary of the struggle that is the subject of her new book, Through a Glass Darkly: A journey of love and grief with my father, released this month.

Caroline will talk with popular author Gabrielle Carey at the session “Dutiful Daughters: Dealing with life, love and transition” at Cooroy about the ups and downs of caring for aging parents.

Later that day at Embiggen Books in Noosaville, Charles Darwin will be the hot topic as writer Peter Macinnis and screenwriter Katherine Thomson explore the pioneer naturalist in words and on screen.

The fresh and contemporary program of the festival will not only delight literary lovers, but offer something for everyone’s taste.

Bookings are filling fast, so book your seat before you miss out! Check out realitybitesfestival.blogspot.com or call 5472 0107 for more information or to order a free program.