It’s Not All Roses and Chocolates

The Mandurah Readers’ and Writers’ Festival is an annual adult literature event presented by City of Mandurah Library Services. The aim of the festival is to foster a love of reading and literature and encourage creativity in our community.

In 2026 the festival will be held from 8 - 10 January at Seashells Mandurah, bringing together an array of established and emerging storytellers from across Western Australia. This three-day festival includes author talks, and panel discussions.

Please Note:

This ticket is for an individual event, if you would like to attend for the whole day, please purchase a Mandurah Readers & Writers Festival 2026 - Day One Ticket ($15.00)

Join Emma Pignatiello, Rebecca Raisin and Sasha Wasley for an engaging discussion on the changing face of romance writing, and romance reading. No longer just the domain of happily ever after, the romance genre has spread to a number of sub-genres – and is attracting a whole new audience.

Emma Pignatiellio

Emma Pignatiello wrote her debut romantic suspense novel, Last Shot, because not enough people were being murdered in the romance books she was reading. She lives by the coast in Western Australia near Walyalup (Fremantle) on the land of the Whadjuk Noongar people. In disguise at her day job, she attempts to make teenagers care more about writing than about how many days she’s worn her cringe millennial shoes in a row. Emma is dedicated to making her stories authentic – she frequented many wineries in the name of research for the Blood Wine Dynasty series but has not (yet) committed any murders.

Rebecca Raisin

Rebecca Raisin is a true bibliophile. This love of books morphed into the desire to write them. She’s been published in various short story anthologies and in in fiction magazines and is now focusing on writing romance.

Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. People with big hearts who care about relationships, and most importantly believe in true love.

Sasha Wasley

Sasha Wasley was born and raised in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia. She holds a PhD in feminist literature and loves nature, Jane Austen and puns.

Sasha writes contemporary and historical fiction but can’t seem to constrain herself to one genre, and also writes middle grade fiction and urban fantasy as Ash Harrier. Her debut novel was published in 2015. Today, she lives in the Perth hills region with her partner and two adult children, surrounded by dogs, cats and chickens.

What to Expect:

4.00pm: In Conversation

4.45pm: Q & A

5.00pm: Book signing

You are invited to join us at the end of the day for drinks and nibbles.

Tea & Coffee provided.

Festival Bookseller is Dymocks Busselton