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

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

At the Celebration of Reading Author Panel 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 first panel features Suzanne Leal, Dinuka McKenzie and James McKenzie Watson, hosted by Ashley Kalagian Blunt.

The author talk kicks off our first Reading Takeover weekend. Stay for book 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.

This panel will feature live Auslan interpretation. Reserved seating with a clear line of sight to the interpreters is available at the front of the venue.

About the authors

Suzanne Leal

Suzanne Leal is the author of novels The Watchful Wife, The Teacher’s Secret and The Deceptions, for which she won the Nib People’s Choice Prize and was shortlisted for the Davitt Awards and the Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award. Suzanne’s debut novel for junior YA readers readers, Running with Ivan, is a time travel adventure inspired by true events in wartime Europe.

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.

Dinuka McKenzie

Dinuka McKenzie is the author of the Detective Kate Miles crime series, The Torrent, Taken and Tipping Point, published in Australia and the UK. She is the winner of the 2020 HarperCollins Australia Banjo Prize. Her writing has been shortlisted for the Sisters in Crime Davitt Awards, the Bad Sydney Crime Danger Awards, and longlisted for the Richell Prize. Dinuka lives with her family in Southern Sydney on Dharawal country. She Lied First, a standalone psychological suspense, is her fourth novel.

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
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
Author Panel Talk, 10am to 12pm,
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.