The Sydney Writers’ Festival has a dedicated western Sydney program with events across the region giving readers the opportunity to delve into the world of imagination, heart-felt personal stories, funny tales and staged readings. The festival’s artistic director Jemma Birrell hopes the events offer ‘‘insight, respite and inspiration’’. Reporter Flora Cauchi reveals what not to miss and talks to bestselling author Liane Moriarty about her latest novel Big Little Lies.
One of Australia's most successful exports — novelist Liane Moriarty — will be in Penrith on May 20 to discuss big, and little lies, which is the subject of her bestselling novel Big Little Lies.
Moriarty's novels appeal to a global audience and have been translated into 35 languages. Two of her books — The Husband's Secret and Big Little Lies — are on the New York Times' bestsellers' list and the latter will become a short television series starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon.
Big Little Lies centres around a death at a school event. In Moriarty's own words, it's a take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies people tell themselves.
Did you ever dream of having not one but two New York Times bestsellers?
No. I am very superstitious about that sort of thing, and to be honest I would have felt embarrassed to dream of anything so audacious. My dream was just to be published, and that still seems extraordinary to me. Yesterday a woman was sitting on the plane near me reading my book, and it gave me such a thrill.
What makes Big Little Lies such a special book?
I feel like that’s a question other people should answer on my behalf, but most of the (nice) reviews say that it's the fact that it's a classic whodunit, except you don't know the victim until the end, and that they enjoyed the mixture of humour along with the darker themes.
Why do you think it was so well received by readers?
I think because so many of us are school parents dealing with playground politics and the stresses and the pleasures of bringing up children.
What do you love about that story?
I loved the setting. I set it in a fictitious seaside town so it was a pleasure to sit down each day at my desk and head off to the Pirriwee Peninsula and my dream coffee shop called Blue Blues right on the boardwalk of the beach, complete with a gorgeous barista, and I loved sending my characters off to eat delicious food there.
Your children’s books, the Space Brigade series, began as a story you wrote for your sister’s birthday. What was the experience of writing for a much younger audience like?
My children’s books are set in outer space so I really loved the freedom and the fun of creating fantastical planets and creatures and technology. I do miss that in my writing for adults. Also, the food: in children’s books you can have your characters eating delicious stuff all the time, without anyone blinking an eye.
How did you react to the news of your book Big Little Lies becoming a TV series written by David E. Kelley?
I was over the moon! I've had books optioned before but this is the first time I've had Hollywood stars involved from the beginning.
Will you be involved in the production?
I think I will just enjoy watching from the sidelines, as I'm busy working on my next novel, and I don't have any expertise in that world of film and television.
When will it be released?
I’m not sure, I’m crossing my fingers it will be next year.
■ Details: Liane Moriarty, Penrith City Library, May 20, 6.30pm (Event code: SR49). Tickets: $5. For bookings click here or call 4732 7891. Use the event codes give for each event to find them easily.
Blacktown
Abdi Aden: The Story of a Lucky Man (Event code: SR24)
Thirteen-year-old Abdi Aden’s world fell apart when civil war struck Somalia. He fled with 300 others, risking the threat of death squads, violence and starvation and got to Australia against all odds. Details: May 20, Max Webber Library, free. Book here or call 9839 6677.
Castle Hill
Evie Wyld: All the Birds, Singing (SR34)
Miles Franklin Award-winner Evie Wyld speaks about All the Birds, Singing — her haunting, witty and multi-layered tale of a lone woman running away from an unknown past. Details: May 20, Castle Hill Library, $7.50. Book here.
Hornsby
■ Maxine McKew: Class Act (SR39)
Out of politics but no less passionate about social and institutional change, Maxine McKew is on a mission to explain the secret to a great education in her new book Class Act. Details: May 21, Hornsby Central Library, free.
■ Sami Shah: I, Migrant (SR40)
Pakistani comedian Sami Shah speaks about his memoir I, Migrant, described by Wendy Harmer as a ‘‘raw funny and inspiring tale which reminds us that … sometimes a laugh is our best hope.’’ Details: May 22, Hornsby Central Library, free.
To book (for either event) click here or call 9847 6614.
Parramatta
■ Get Your Poetry Up and Out There (SR43)
Poets Fiona Wright, Ahmad Al Rady, Michelle Cahill, Elizabeth Allen and Felicity Castagna will share advice on how to get your poetry out there. Details: May 21, Parramatta Artists Studios, free. No bookings.
■ Michael Connelly: Bosch (SR46)
LAPD Detective Harry Bosch is back in Michael Connelly’s latest thriller, The Burning Room. Matt McGuire chats to Connelly, who sold 58 million copies worldwide and is the writer and producer of the TV show Bosch. Details: May 23, Riverside Theatres, $18. Book here or call 8839 3399.
■ Lotus: New Stories in Bloom (SR47)
The Lotus Asian-Australian Playwriting project will present four fresh, raw and contemporary plays by new writers in a staged performed reading, directed by Darren Yap. Details: May 23, Riverside Theatres, free. No bookings.
Penrith
■ Ross Coulthart: Charles Bean (SR50)
Author and journalist Ross Coulthart demystifies the legend of Gallipoli and uncovers a personal story of struggle, courage and censorship in a new biography of WWI correspondent Charles Bean. Details: May 22, Penrith City Library, $5 (includes refreshments). Book: 4732 7891.
Andy Griffiths: Off His Tree (SR44)
Join one of Australia’s best-loved children’s authors Andy Griffiths (of the hugely popular Treehouse series) as he takes people on a hilarious journey through his treehouse of crazy ideas and tall tales.
■ Details: May 22, Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, $15-$20. Book here or call 8839 3399.
Secondary School Days
Four authors talk about their experiences and finish with book signings. Laurie Halse Anderson will discuss her total dread of English class and new book The Impossible Knife of Memory; Melina Marchetta (The Lumatere Chronicles) will show how everyday experiences can fuel our creative writing; Brenton McKenna will teach a session on the process of developing a graphic novel and Garth Nix (The Old Kingdom Trilogy) will explore how to make all the elements come together.
■ Details: 10am-2pm, May 19, Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, $25. Book here or call 9683 3267.
