The South Coast Readers & Writers Festival returns to Thirroul over the weekend of July 5 and 6 with a vibrant lineup of literary talent. General admission and single session tickets for the festival program are on sale now, featuring local voices, return guests, and internationally bestselling authors.
Join us at the festival for gripping and challenging conversations, tales ancient and new, poetry readings, current affairs, and insights into the business of publishing. Discover new authors and find your next favourite read.
Ahead of a talk by Kate Forsyth (Psykhe) at 2025's event, we sat down with the bestselling, award-winning author to talk all things writing and reading.
What is your latest writing project?
I'm working on a historical fantasy novel set in Scotland during the earliest witch hunts which imagines that the evidence tortured out of women during their trials was true. It draws on the turbulent history of the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, and on eerie, magical Scottish folktales about changeling children, curses and faerie queens.
What are you reading right now?
Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks.
What is the book that made you want to be a writer?
I've always wanted to be a writer, for as long as I can remember, and so I don't think there was a single moment of epiphany when I read something and knew that's what I wanted to do. If I had to think of one, it was probably The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, which was my favourite book when I was 7 or 8.
What does your writing space look like?
A room with a big desk, a comfortable chair, art hanging on the walls, and bookcases full of books.
What is your writing routine?
I write in my journal every morning, go for a walk by the ocean, make a cup of tea and settle down to work. I'll read through what I wrote the day before, and cut, edit and polish before trying to push my story along as far as I can. On Mondays, I do admin and marketing tasks, and I try to have one day a week in which I don't turn on my computer (though I usually fail!)
