Murder and mystery will abound on November 27 when the Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival (TARWF) 'CSI: TASMANIA' officially opens to the public online.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Though plans for a live audience have been temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions, festival director Dr LJM Owen said the team had successfully shifted the panel sessions online.
"Many panel sessions planned for the live weekend have now be added to the CSI:TASMANIA Digital Weekend program, creating an epic online festival on November 27-28 and at no extra cost to ticket buyers.
Dr Owen said pivoting to online was made possible by the festival's existing work to digitally transform.
"Earlier this year, we won a three year, $120,000 grant from the Regional Arts Fund to undertake digital transformation of our events.
"The work we'd already undertaken as part of the project meant we could make the shift from in-person to online in a matter of days."
Dr Owen said bringing people together to celebrate and explore books was at the heart of the festival, whether that be in person or online.
"We're still pinching ourselves in disbelief at the incredible line-up of local, Australian and international best-selling authors who've joined us this year.
"The awe-inspiring line-up of more than 35 writers of crime and mystery includes Val McDermid, the creator of Wire in the Blood, Ann Cleeves, the creator of Vera and Shetland, Garry Disher, Candice Fox, David Owen and Anita Heiss."
Dr Owen said ticket-holders could hope to see lively panel discussions, author interviews, intimate book clubs and writing masterclasses.
"TAF2021's 'CSI: TASMANIA' isn't just for readers of crime and mystery - anyone with an interest in books, reading, writing or the publishing industry will find something to suit them.
"During our online digital weekend we'll share the love of Tasmanian, Australian and international crime and mystery fiction with an audience tuning in from around the world.
"The panel sessions will explore questions including why the Tasmanian landscape inspires so much dark and atmospheric fiction."
Dr Owen said there would also be 20 book club sessions and writing masterclasses with some of Australia's most loved writers, for instance Sulari Gentill, Debra Oswald and Meg Keneally.
"For those living in remote areas or who are unable to travel - even outside the pandemic - it's important, too, that we demonstrate Tasmanian enjoyment of the festival to help maintain our offer of accessible programming."
As the founder and creative director of the festival, Dr Owen said, while the festival was a great social event, it was also important to acknowledge the critical need for literary activities in the community.
"In our state, where just 50 per cent of the adult population is functionally literate, it's also crucial that we all support continuing community engagement through regional literary activities like this.
"It's a lot of fun and offers opportunities to find new books, meet some favourite authors and connect with other readers."
For more information about the festival, visit: terroraustralisfestival.com
Kate Stark
Living and working on Turrbal Country, Kate is an experienced multi-platform journalist focused on the issues that impact national food sovereignty. Presented with the 2015 Rural Press Club award for excellence in rural print journalism, Kate is passionate about telling 'the story behind the produce' to close the gap between consumers and growers.
Living and working on Turrbal Country, Kate is an experienced multi-platform journalist focused on the issues that impact national food sovereignty. Presented with the 2015 Rural Press Club award for excellence in rural print journalism, Kate is passionate about telling 'the story behind the produce' to close the gap between consumers and growers.
