Brisbane Writers Festival 2011

I did two days on the schools program at the BWF this year, and had a terrific time. I was on 2 panels, one with Peter Stanley, author of Simpson and his Donkey, and Maggie Steifvater, author of the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy—the third book of which is my commuting book for this week. We talked about writing from animals' points of view, which was a great topic and one I hardly ever get asked to address, which surprises me, in retrospect. Jessica Miller wrangled us beautifully.

The other panel was withmymate Marianne de Pierres, author of a trilogy too—I must dream up a trilogy to write! Joy Lawn got us talking about building fantasy worlds—where to start, what to include, how not to get lost in your own new world.

I also did three solo talks about writing short stories, which went well. Although I basically made the same points in each talk, I used three different stories to demonstrate what I meant, to keep things interesting for myself.

In all sessions, the audiences were very attentive and had great questions to ask, more than we/I could get through in the time available. Very smart and curious school students, they have, in Queensland.

One charming thing: In the show bag given to every guest of the festival were two bottles of bath products, with a letter from the Brisbane Store Manager of Aesop, beginning: "Dear Talented Individual, You will find enclosed a selection of products from Aesop's body care range. We anticipate that you will enjoy using Aesop products as much as we delight in your artistic gifts."

One eye-opening thing: the panel titled "Women, Drugs and Madness" run by QNADA, particularly Debbie Kilroy's blistering commentary on how Indigenous women are treated by the health and justice systems.