Three authors, three very different books. But one common thread: families in the 21st century. From parenting together and apart, to how the concept of “family” has changed, to what happens when pregnancy doesn’t end with a baby, this session featuring Katia Ariel, Isabelle Oderberg, Marina Kamenev and Roz Bellamy as moderator, delves into familial themes – some comforting, some confronting and some unspoken.

Speakers:

Marina Kamenev: former Moscow Times deputy arts editor, writes widely on family for publications like the Atlantic, Time, Sunday Life, The Monthly, and Marie Claire. Based in Sydney and mother of two.

Isabelle Oderberg: seasoned journalist with two decades of experience across Europe, Asia, and Australia, currently serving as the Deputy CEO of the Public Interest Journalism Initiative. Her work has appeared in major outlets like The Age, SMH, The Guardian, and ABC.

Katia Ariel: author, book editor, and educator from Melbourne/Naarm, whose memoir The Swift Dark Tide was longlisted for the 2024 Stella Prize. She has been published in various literary journals, with her second book, Ferryman: The Life and Deathwork of Ephraim Finch, forthcoming in late 2024.

Roz Bellamy (moderator): Melbourne-based writer and researcher whose book Mood: A Memoir of Love, Identity and Mental Health explores mental illness and identity. Roz completed a PhD in 2022 on life writing's impact on young people's wellbeing and has been published in major outlets like The Guardian and The Age.

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Contact the host of Modern Family: The ties that bind