It's been called the Woodstock of the Mind. All the highlights from the spectacular Bryon Bay Writers Festival in Australia brought to you by our Producer Deepika Shetty.
An easterly connection at the Woodstock of the mind
Writers and critics alike have called it the Woodstock of the mind, the LiveAid of the written word and a place to meet literary greats.
 Into its 10th year, the Bryon Bay Writers Festival is still drawing in the crowds.
The cars that filled up the fields leading up to the Becton Beach Resort said it all.
They were everywhere, as far as the eye could see.
Marking its 10th year, ticket sales hit a record high of 8,800 resulting in 43,000 attendances and the people were everywhere. Marquees were packed to the brim with very little standing room even.
Book signings at the Dymocks Marquee created specially for the event was a huge draw and the fans just didn't mind the long wait to get up close and personal with their favourite literary stars. There were plenty of them. In all 138 writers featured at the 150 events held over nine not so sunny days.
Even the rain that lashed the last two days of the festival didn't keep the book lovers away. Something that clearly cheered the spirits of the organisers.
Tracking the last 10 years of the Festival, Director Jill Eddington called it a "wonderful feeling."
She added while "there's lot of growth and development in festivals like this, for last the 10 years it's been continuous for us. We feel we've got the size right, the content right and despite the awful weather which we are not known for in Byron Bay, the crowds have just been pouring in. It's been a real joy."
There were book launches, performances, relaxed literary lunches and a marked focus on Asia. But why Asia?
Chris Hanley, Chairperson of the Byron Bay Writers Festival explains, "I can't understand why festivals don't have a lot of Asian content. We've had great feedback on any session on Asia. The people who live around here are great travellers, so it makes a lot of sense to have Asian content. We've got a close connection with the Ubud Writers Festival, thanks to Jill and it's great."
That's something that's got many writers, like Kirsty Murray thrilled too, "I was very excited to see the representation of Asian writers. We are so close to each other and are stories are so inter-matched. But there is a silence there. I am really hungry to read more stories that grow out of this region. It's great to have sessions like these that tell you more about Asian stories."
Little surprise then that an Indonesian Literary Lunch led by Ubud based Janet de Neefe drew a packed audience.
 Beyond the food, it was the vocal chords of bestselling Indonesian author and singer Dewi Lestari that charmed them all.
Hong-Kong based Sri Lankan author Nury Vittachi put his best foot forward to leave the audience in stitches, as did Australia based authors Christopher Kremmer and Adib Khan.
After all that talk, reading and signing, it was time to unwind. That's what the closing session that tracked the trials and tribulations of the last 10 years did.
Then it was party time samba style...no wonder they say some memories are forever.
Deepika Shetty is a Producer with Prime Time Morning and takes care of the book segment 'Off The Shelf' as well. |
