Creativity, Joy, Grace

Find sanctuary in this uplifting celebration of creativity, chaired by Michaela Kalowski.

Award-winning journalist Julia Baird follows her international bestseller, Phosphorescence, with Bright Shining, a stunning and insightful call for grace in a world which has forgotten its importance. 

Bestselling author Holly Ringland, whose debut novel, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, was published in 30 countries and adapted into an Amazon miniseries starring Sigourney Weaver, invites readers into her creative practice in The House That Joy Built.

Learn how to recognise, cultivate and express these nourishing qualities, even in the darkest of times.

Julia Baird – Presenter

Julia Baird is a bestselling author and award-winning journalist. She hosts The Drum on ABC TV and writes columns for a range of publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The New York Times. Her first book, Media Tarts (2004, revised edition 2021) was based on her history PhD about the portrayal of female politicians. Her biography of Queen Victoria was published in 2016 to critical acclaim and was one of The New York Times' top ten books of 2016. Her third book, Phosphorescence, was a critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning international bestseller. Julia lives near the sea with two children and an abnormally large dog.

Holly Ringland – Presenter

Holly Ringland is a writer, storyteller and television presenter. Her bestselling debut novel, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, has been published in 31 countries/territories and has been adapted as a seven-part TV series for Amazon Prime starring Sigourney Weaver. Holly is the co-host of ABC TV's series Back To Nature, which aired to critical acclaim in 2021. Upon publication, her second novel, The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding, became an instant national bestseller and it was named 2022 Book of the Year by Booktopia.

Michaela Kalowski – Facilitator

Michaela Kalowski is an interviewer, moderator and curator for writers and ideas festivals. Highlight interviews include Margaret Atwood, David Mitchell, Michelle de Kretser, Stan Grant and Etgar Keret. She's the curator of ABC RN's on-air writers festival, Big Weekend of Books. She hosts a monthly books conversation event for Petersham Bowling Club in Sydney. Michaela has conducted radio interviews for ABC RN's The Music Show, Big Ideas and The Bookshelf, ABC Classic and has presented programs across ABC radio.

This event will be Auslan interpreted.