Debut authors to check out at the 2024 Emerging Writers’ Festival
2024 has shaped up to be an incredible year for debut authors! And what better way to check out some of the most exciting debut releases of 2024 than by seeing them live at Australia’s premiere online and in-person festival of new literature – the Emerging Writers’ Festival.
Running 5-15 September, this year’s Emerging Writers’ Festival has something for everyone – from avid booklovers to budding wordsmiths – no matter where you are. EWF24 is bringing you over sixty events with more than 150 exciting writers and artists to discover. Below are our picks for some debut authors of 2024 who will be sharing their talents at the Emerging Writers’ Festival.
Hasib Hourani, author of rock flight, will be guiding writers through poetic resistance
Hasib Hourani is a Lebanese-Palestinian writer and educator whose debut book, rock flight, releases in September of this year. Hasib is one of the writers headlining EWF’s new Writers’ Salon experience, where budding writers come together to learn new techniques and grow their community. Hasib’s 'Writers Salon: Poetic Resistance' is an evening set to highlight poetry's power to preserve culture, provoke change, and speak truth to power.
Hasib Hourani will appear at 'Writers’ Salon: Poetic Resistance' on 9 September, 6:30pm at The Wheeler Centre. Full details here.
Melanie Saward, author of Love Unleashed, will be revelling in the EWF boudoir at an evening of romance and erotica readings
Love Unleashed is Bigambul and Wakka Wakka author Melanie Saward’s debut as a romance novelist. Melanie will be stepping into EWF’s (metaphorical) boudoir at 'Do You Think I’m Sexy?', an evening of sensual and scintillating readings hosted by queer erotica writer Orlando Silver.
Melanie Saward will appear at 'Do You Think I’m Sexy?' on 6 September, 8pm at Studio Take Care. Full details here.
Raeden Richardson, author of The Degenerates, will be taking writers to the edge of reality
Raeden Richardson’s debut book The Degenerates provides a glimpse of the journey he will be taking writers on in his EWF24 Writers’ Salon. With Raeden, writers will be traversing writing that defies categorisation and developing a new vocabulary for writing to the edge of reality.
Raeden Richardson will be appearing at 'Writers’ Salon: Writing to the edge of reality' on 11 September, 6:30pm at The Wheeler Centre. Full details here.
Quinton Li, author of Chrysalis & Requiem, will be spilling all the secrets on self-publishing in Australia
Local nonbinary author Quinton Li’s latest release, Chrysalis & Requiem was self-published this year and marks their debut as a thriller novelist. Quinton will be spilling all the secrets of self-publishing success at this year’s National Writers’ Conference. The Conference is the centrepiece event of Emerging Writers’ Festival and runs for a whole weekend. This weekend conference is a budding writer’s chance to grow their network, hone their skills and learn from publishing industry professionals.
Quinton Li will appear at this year’s National Writers’ Conference running 7-8 September at The Wheeler Centre. Full details here.
Cher Tan, author of Peripathetic: Notes on (Un)belonging, will appear on a line-up of experimental readings and musical acts
Critic and essayist, Cher Tan’s debut essay collection was released earlier this year. At this year’s Emerging Writers’ Festival, Cher will feature on an exciting line-up of artists and musicians for an EWF edition of 'Make It Up Club', a series of readings and performances that play on the threshold of music and literature.
Cher Tan will appear at 'Make It Up Club: EWF Edition' on 6 September, 7:30pm at narrm ngarrgu Library. Full details here.
