1 February 2019
TAF2019 Media Release #1
MURDER SHE WROTE
HUON VALLEY, 31 Oct to 3 Nov 2019
A NEW TASMANIAN WRITERS FESTIVAL INSPIRED BY AGATHA CHRISTIE
Incredibly beautiful Hobart, with its deep blue sea and harbour, and its flowers, trees and shrubs. I planned to come back and live there one day. -Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie and other women writers from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction inspired the new festival
In honour of the Queen of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction-and her many sisters-we’re proud to announce the Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival (TAF2019), Tasmania’s newest biennial literary festival.
Join us in the stunning Huon Valley, just outside Hobart, for Murder She Wrote, a four day book spree of deadly masterclasses, grave workshops and incisive literary discussions.
Featuring Tara Moss, Kerry Greenwood and Sulari Gentill, we have a panellist and local author line-up to die for, free community activities and fabulous literacy celebrations.
A two day après-fest, The Trail of Writers Tears on 5 and 6 November 2019, will afford festival goers a chance to stay and immerse themselves in the best the region has to offer.
What a writer’s and reader’s delight it will be to celebrate great authors and chilling reads in one of my favourite parts of the world. Tasmania - the people, the food, the coffee, the hospitality - and good crime novels are a delicious fit. I would kill to be at the Terror Australis Festival, but thankfully I was invited so I won’t need to. -Tara Moss
Tara Moss, author of the Mak Vanderwall PI series, is headlining at Murder She Wrote © Myles Pritchard
NED KELLY AWARD-WINNER SULARI GENTILL VISITING TASMANIA FOR MASTERCLASSES AND FUNDRAISING
3 TO 5 MARCH 2019
Sulari Gentill, 2018’s Ned Kelly Award winner and author of 13 novels, is coming to Hobart and the Huon Valley in early March to celebrate the release of the ninth Rowland Sinclair adventure, All the Tears in China, and support fundraising for Murder She Wrote.
Sulari will offer writing masterclasses, a Hadley’s Orient afternoon tea, a Books and Wine Soirée in Cygnet and literary salons.
It seems to me only right that a place as rich in creative people and natural inspiration as Tasmania should have such a unique and innovative writers festival and I’m absolutely delighted to be included amongst its very illustrious guests. So much so that I’m turning up 7 months early to spread the word and give Tasmanians a taste of the insights into writing and publishing and living with stories that the Festival will deliver. -Sulari Gentill
Sulari Gentill, Ned Kelly Award winner and Rowland Sinclair author, will host writing masterclasses and Murder She Wrote fundraising events in Hobart and Cygnet, 3 to 5 March 2019
FUNDRAISING TO SUPPORT LITERACY IN REGIONAL TASMANIA
In line with the rest of Tasmania, the Huon Valley has a functional literacy rate of just 50%. There are some wonderful organisations working to raise that percentage.
To inspire further change, alongside Murder She Wrote’s ticketed program, the TAF2019 festival will offer four days of free community events plus a children’s program and youth writer residencies.
To fund this extensive free program, the festival has been accepted into the Creative Partnerships Australia (CPA) MATCH Lab program.
All funds raised before 31 May 2019 will be matched dollar for dollar by MATCH Lab, meaning $1 = $2 to support free community events promoting literacy in regional Tasmania.
EVENT LIST
Sulari has generously donated her time from 3 to 5 March 2019 to kick-off fundraising efforts through a series of events:
Hadley’s Orient Afternoon Tea Literary Fundraiser (Sunday 3 March, Hobart),
Books and Wine Fundraising Soiree (Monday 4 March, Cygnet),
Literary Salon - Hobart (Sunday 3 March) and Literary Salon - Cygnet (Monday 4 March),
Writing Masterclass on How to Get Published (Sunday 3 March, Hobart), and
Writing Masterclass on How to Hook a Publisher (Tuesday 5 March, Hobart), including an assessment of the first page of each participant’s novel.
For details, see: https://www.terroraustralisfestival.com/events
Tax deductible donations may also be made to the festival at any time through CPA, a registered charity.
Books, wine and supporting literacy - what could be better?
INTERVIEWS
Interviews with Sulari and other TAF2019 panellists are co-ordinated through the festival office. Please email your request to: enquiries@terroraustralisfestival.com
MEDIA PACK AND ENQUIRIES
A media pack providing Sulari Gentill event details and the festival’s current panellist line-up, program highlights, ticketing, key dates, the TAF2019 team, festival governance and approved quotes and photos is available on request to Felicity at: enquiries@terroraustralisfestival.com
Dr. L.J.M. Owen, Festival Director