Announcement of the Eumundi Writers Festival 2026 Short Story, Young Writer and Poet Laureate Award Winners

A presentation by Emeritus Professor Roly Sussex from the ABC “A Word in Your Ear” on The rise and rise of BULLSH!T

A kiss goodbye from Award winning romance author Anna Campbell x

BULLSH!T– this term is in serious academic use – occurs when you don't care whether what you say or write is true or not. Bullshit is now endemic in public discourse, politics, social media, too much of mainstream media, and everyday conversation. As a result, truth is now compromised in the public space. That is bad news for democracy, science, public health, climate science, and many other domains. Is there an exit? A lively presentation by Roly that will keep you on your toes as writers until the next festival.

Roland (Roly) Sussex is Professor Emeritus of Applied Language Studies at the University of Queensland, where he had taught and researched from 1989 until his retirement in 2010. Before that he taught Linguistics and Russian at the University of Reading (UK) and Monash University in Melbourne, and was the foundation Professor of Russian at the University of Melbourne from 1977 to 1989.

He is currently doing research at the University of Queensland as an Emeritus Professor. He has been chair of the Library Board of Queensland, President of the Alliance Française of Brisbane, and President of the English-Speaking Union (Queensland). He is currently Vice-President (Digital Engagement) of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences. His current research is concerned with language, communication, inter-cultural communication and pain.

Roland Sussex has been broadcasting to Queensland on ABC Radio since 1997, and more recently to South Australia and the Northern Territory. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2012, and made a Chevalier des Palmes Académiques by the French Government in 2017, and a Fellow of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2020.

He enjoys working on his acreage to the west of Brisbane, riding bikes seriously in lycra for fitness and fun, reading, listening to classical music, and being a father to his two grown-up children, and grandfather to his two grandchildren.

Brisbane-based author Anna Campbell has written over 50 bestselling historical romances which have been published in 23 languages. In April 2026, she celebrated 20 years since her debut Claiming the Courtesan sold at auction to HarperCollins in New York. Anna’s books offer a rich, sensual exploration of the glamorous world of Regency Britain. Her books have won numerous awards, including Australian Romance Readers’ Favourite Historical Romance of the Year (5 times) and Novella of the Year from Romance Writers of Australia. Anna regularly conducts training and mentorships for many local organisations including the Queensland Writers Centre. Her website is www.annacampbell.com

Discover more about the Eumundi Writers Festival here: https://eumundiwritersfestival.com.au/

Contact the host of FREE 2026 Festival Closing Celebration - Professor Roly Sussex and Anna Campbell

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