Presenters

2023 Presenters

We have an incredible line up of speakers and presenters attending the 2023 Capricorn Coast Writers Festival and we cannot wait for you to meet them. Read a little bit about each of the wonderful authors, illustrators and industry professionals you will have a chance to learn from and find out which events are a must see.

Michael Robotham

Before becoming a novelist, Michael Robotham was a former feature writer and investigative reporter working in Britain, Australia and America, and with clinical and forensic

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Chris Hammer

Chris Hammer is a leading Australian crime fiction author. His books have been praised for their sense of place, their intricate plots, their colourful characters

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Jade Goodwin

Jade Goodwin is an illustrator, producer and proud Gamilaroi woman.  Her passion for creating colourful work aimed at a younger audience (such as children’s illustrations)

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Mirandi Riwoe

Mirandi Riwoe’s Stone Sky Gold Mountain won the inaugural ARA Historical Novel Prize and the Queensland Literary Award as well as being shortlisted for the

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Ally Blake

Award-winning Australian romance author Ally Blake has sold over four million copies of her more than forty published novels.   An ambassador for romantic literature

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Kylie Kaden

Plucked from the Random House slush pile, Kylie Kaden is an internationally published author of women’s fiction and domestic noir novels.    She knew writing

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Joel McKerrow

Based out of Melbourne, Australia, Joel McKerrow is an award winning poet, creativity specialist, educator, artist, and, having performed for hundreds of thousands of people

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Shelby Rhodina

Shelby Rhodina was born and raised in Rockhampton, Australia, and always dreamed of becoming a published author. She started writing her first original series The

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Alex Adsett

Alex Adsett is a literary agent with 25 years’ experience working in the publishing and bookselling industry. She has managed Alex Adsett Literary since 2008,

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Cathy Vallance

Cathy Vallance is a senior editor with over fourteen years’ experience in the publishing industry. She has collaborated with many talented and award-winning writers, including

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Jan-Andrew Henderson

Jan-Andrew Henderson is the author of 38 children’s, teen, YA and adult fiction and non-fiction books, published in the UK, USA, Australia, Canada and Europe

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Kate Cuthbert

Kate Cuthbert is the Editor/Publisher at Pantera Press. Previously, she held senior roles at Writers Victoria and launched the Escape Publishing brand at Harlequin Australia. 

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Lori-Jay Ellis

Lori-Jay Ellis is a creative executive leader, with a diverse and eclectic background in global marketing. She is a skilled builder of brands and a

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Sandra Makaresz

Sandra Makaresz is the editor of Queensland Writers Centre’s quarterly magazine, WQ. She is a freelance editor and writes for the screen.   She’s worked

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