Randwick's Reading Takeover: Celebration of Reading Author Panel November

Part of Randwick City Council's Town Hall Takeover.

Make more time for the books in your life! Over two weekends, Randwick’s Reading Takeover celebrates books through a variety of events. Hear authors from across genres discuss their favourite books, then luxuriate in dedicated reading time, with snacks provided! Plus, for emerging writers, we’ve got workshops and writing space.

About this event

Hear some of Sydney’s favourite authors from across genres celebrate their favourite books. They’ll share what inspires them, what keeps them reading late into the night, and what they secretly wish they’d written.

Our November panel features the legendary Kate Forsyth, debut sensation Josh Hortinela and Penguin Literary Prize winner Mary Colussi, co-hosted by Ashley Kalagian Blunt and James McKenzie Watson of James and Ashley Stay at Home.

The author talk kicks off our final Reading Takeover weekend. Stay for books signings, dedicated reading time, and snacks.

Plus, The Rose Read Bookshop will be onsite throughout the weekend, sharing some of their favourite titles as well.

The panel discussion will begin at 10:30am, with light refreshments available from 10am.

About the authors

Kate Forsyth

Kate’s first published books, The Witches of Eileanan, were inspired by a dream she had when she was sixteen. Ten years later she began to turn the dream into a story, which ended up as a series of nine books, totalling more than a million words. She has since written historical fiction, CNF, poetry and children’s books, and won the American Library Award for Best Historical Fiction for her novel Bitter Greens. She has taught writing retreats in Australia, Fiji, Greece, and the United Kingdom. Her latest novel is The Changeling, inspired by the true story of Scotland’s first witch hunt.

Josh Hortinela

Joshua Hortinela is a writer and bookseller who also works in social media marketing. A passionate reader, he has worked in the book industry for nearly ten years. He also works as a freelance writer, photographer and moderator for events. He lives in Sydney and can tell you where to find the best coffee or cocktail in town. His debut novel is Hate You to Love You.

Mary Colussi

Mary Colussi is an Australian American writer currently based in Sydney. A graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and the National Institute of Dramatic Art, she was shortlisted for the 2025 Katie Lees Fellowship and received a 2025 Residential Fellowship at Varuna, the National Writers' House. As well as fiction, she writes satire, plays and screenplays. Touch Grass, her first novel, won the 2025 Penguin Literary Prize.

James McKenzie Watson

James McKenzie Watson writes fiction with a focus on health and rural Australia. His novel Denizen won the 2021 Penguin Literary Prize, was shortlisted for Best Debut in the 2023 Ned Kelly Awards and was named one of the best books of 2022 by multiple Australian publications. He co-hosts the writing and health podcast James and Ashley Stay at Home and works as a nurse.

Ashley Kalagian Blunt

Ashley Kalagian Blunt is a multi-genre author who's passionate about reading. She's the number one bestselling author of Dark Mode, a psychological thriller published in multiple territories and languages, and shortlisted for the ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year, the Ned Kelly Awards for Best Crime Fiction, and the Danger Award for Debut Fiction. Her latest crime novels are Cold Truth and Like, Follow, Die.

Randwick's Reading Takeover features the following other events and workshops:

Saturday  12 September
Author Panel Talk, 10am – 12pm
Read-in and Write-In, 12pm to 4pm,

Sunday 13 September
Workshop: Creating Character through Dialogue, 10am to 12pm,
Read-In and Write-in, 12pm to 4pm,

Saturday 28 November
Read-in and Write-In, 12pm to 4pm,

Sunday 29 November
Workshop: Writing Your Novel, Balancing Plot and Theme, 10am to 12pm,
Read-In and Write-in, 12pm to 4pm,

About the Artist
Randwick's Reading Takeover is organised by Ashley Kalagian Blunt, a multi-genre author who’s passionate about reading. She’s the number one bestselling author of Dark Mode, a psychological thriller published in multiple territories and languages, and shortlisted for the ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year, the Ned Kelly Awards for Best Crime Fiction, and the Danger Award for Debut Fiction. Her latest thrillers are Cold Truth, which was also shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Awards, and Like, Follow, Die.

Her earlier books are How to Be Australian, a memoir, and My Name Is Revenge, collected fiction and essays. She co-hosts James and Ashley Stay at Home, a podcast about creativity, writing and health, and teaches writing workshops across Australia.

Ashley is teaming up with authors from across genres to celebrate reading and support emerging writers.

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Access

Randwick Town Hall is located on the ground floor at 90 Avoca Street, Randwick.

The main entrance is via double doors located on Frances Street. From this entrance there are 8 steps with handrails to reach the hall.

There is a wheelchair accessible entry via the carpark on Avoca Street. There is an accessible car park located on Frances Street.

If you would like a Council staff member to reach out to you and discuss your access requirements, please select the checkbox on ticketing registration.

Town Hall Takeover takes place on the land of the Gadigal and Bidjigal people. We pay respect to Elders past and present, recognising their strength, wisdom and creativity.