Sydney Writers' Festival will be streaming its headline events from Carriageworks in Sydney direct to Traralgon Library from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 May.

Prepare to be engaged by conversations, debates and discussions, as the Festival brings the world's finest authors to Latrobe City in real time. As well as hearing new ideas from great thinkers, audiences will have the opportunity to participate in Q&A sessions at each event, sending questions direct to the stage.

This year, the Latrobe Literary Festival will run alongside the SWF Live&Local with Sunday sessions facilitated by authors Vikki Petraitis and Claire Halliday. On Saturday evening, Vikki and Claire will be in conversation discussing Vikki's body of work in crime writing.

You can buy a one-day pass ($15) or a three-day festival pass ($30). A festival pass includes entry to the Latrobe Literary Festival event: Vikki Petraitis in conversation with Claire Halliday.

Program

Friday 20 May

10–11am Art Spiegelman

For more than 50 years, Art Spiegelman has defined and redefined the world of visual storytelling. Appearing live via video, he reflects on his Pulitzer Prize–winning masterpiece MAUS, censorship and prejudice, with host Morris Gleitzman.

12–1pm Michelle de Kretser & Christos Tsiolkas

Two of the biggest names in Australian literature, Michelle de Kretser (Scary Monsters) and Christos Tsiolkas (7 1/2) come together to discuss their latest books with Roanna Gonsalves.

2–3pm Steve Toltz: Here Goes Nothing

Booker-shortlisted author Steve Toltz discusses his highly anticipated new novel, Here Goes Nothing, live via video with acclaimed author of The Believer, Sarah Krasnostein.

4–5pm But Not Forgotten

Listen to this remembrance of writers past, including Jackie Huggins on bell hooks; Sarah Krasnostein on Joan Didion; Melissa Lucashenko on Keri Hulme; and others. Hosted by Susan Wyndham.

Saturday 21 May

10–11am Barrie Cassidy & Friends: Election 2022

The only thing more essential for election 2022 than a sausage in a bread roll is this panel featuring Barrie Cassidy, Fran Kelly and Niki Savva.

12–1pm Derecka Purnell: Becoming Abolitionists

Lawyer, organiser and writer Derecka Purnell (Becoming Abolitionists) speaks about abolition as a commitment to finding different answers to the problem of harm in society. In conversation with Melissa Lucashenko.

2–3pm Maxine Beneba Clarke & Omar Musa

Acclaimed Australian artists and writers Maxine Beneba Clarke (How Decent Folk Behave) and Omar Musa (Killernova) discuss their electrifying and unsparing new poetry collections, in conversation with Evelyn Araluen (Dropbear).

4–5pm The Limits of Imagination

Damon Galgut (The Promise), Larissa Behrendt (After Story) and Paige Clark (She Is Haunted) join host Sisonke Msimang to explore the responsibilities and opportunities of the creative writer and artist, and ask: who gets to tell a story?

Latrobe Literary Festival presents

6pm to 7pm Vikki Petraitis in conversation with Claire Halliday

Festival pass holders will gain free access to this event. If you don't have a festival pass, book a ticket here.

Sunday 22 May

10–11am Rebecca Solnit: Orwell’s Roses

American author and activist Rebecca Solnit shares insight into Orwell’s Roses, her lush exploration of nature, pleasure and politics that casts fresh light on the influential British writer. Rebecca appears live via video to speak with Sophie Black.

12–1pm Where Angels Fear to Tread

Hannah Marshall, Chris Masters and Kate McClymont choose their words carefully with Erik Jensen to explore why Australia’s defamation laws are the harshest in the world, and what impact this has on good public discourse.

2–3pm Liane Moriarty & Caroline Overington

International phenomenon Liane Moriarty discusses her new novel Apples Never Fall and the art of suspense-driven fiction with Literary Editor of The Australian Caroline Overington (The Cuckoo’s Cry).

4–5pm I Was Wrong

A series of Festival guests reveal a topic that deepened their learning, evolved their thinking or flat out changed their mind.