Secondary Schools Day & Book Fair | Byron Writers Festival 2025

Join us for the renowned Secondary Schools Day and Book Fair at Byron Writers Festival, held at the festival site in Bangalow, proudly supported by: Southern Cross University.

Through eight engaging sessions, students will be invigorated by rich conversations about writing and storytelling, fantasy worlds and deadly reptiles, poetry and strange spirits, historical reckonings and inspiring futures.

Featuring the queen of fantasy Isobelle Carmody, the king of crime writing Michael Robotham, bestselling author Markus Zusak (The Book Thief) and deadly scientist Corey Tutt, alongside celebrated authors Anita Heiss (Dirrayawadha), Sarah Armstrong (Run), Santilla Chingaipe (Black Convicts) and poet Maxine Beneba Clarke (Stuff I’m Not Sorry For), students will enjoy their own Byron Writers Festival experience with author signings, books available to buy, as well as food and drink options.

Learn among the trees at the Bangalow Showgrounds for Byron Writers Festival’s Secondary School Day, tailored for high school students of any grade level.

Booking procedure - Register Now, Pay Later

Registration Open - Wednesday 30 April

Registration Close - Wednesday 18 June

Invoices will be issued - Thursday 19 June

Payment due by - Friday 4 July

Cost

Students - $25.00 per student

Teachers - Free (1 per 10 students)

Additional Adults / Parent: $35.00 per Adult

Schedule 

Meet The Authors

Michael Robotham 

Michael Robotham was born in Casino and is one of Australia’s most acclaimed crime writers, with over 8.5 million copies of his novels sold worldwide. A former journalist and investigative reporter in the UK, US, and Australia, he worked closely with forensic psychologists on complex criminal cases. His debut thriller, The Suspect, introduced Joe O’Loughlin and became an international bestseller and ABC TV series. Michael is a two-time winner of the UK’s Gold Dagger Award and the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger. His latest novel, The White Crow, is a gripping new thriller from a master of the genre.

Isobelle Carmody 

Isobelle Carmody is one of Australia’s foremost writers of fantasy, science fiction, Young Adult and children’s literature. She began the acclaimed Obernewtyn Chronicles at just fourteen years of age. Carmody went on to win multiple awards including the CBC Book of the Year, a Golden Aurealis, and a White Raven at Bologna. Her works include The Gathering, Greylands, Alyzon Whitestarr, and The Red Wind. In 2020, she completed her PhD at the University of Queensland. Her latest novel Comes the Night is a superb fantasy set in the near future, full of secrets, high stakes, peril, deceptions and dreamwalkers.

Anita Heiss

Anita Heiss (Wiradyuri Nation) is an internationally published, award-winning author of 23 books spanning fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s literature. Her novel Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray won the 2022 NSW Premier’s Literary Prize for Indigenous Writing, was shortlisted for the 2021 HNSA ARA Historical Novel (Adult Category) and longlisted for the 2022 Stella Prize. Her 2024 book Dirrayawadha (Rise Up) is a groundbreaking historical novel about resistance, resilience and love during the frontier wars. Her latest book is Red Dust Running. Anita is also the Publisher at Large of Bundyi, an imprint of Simon & Schuster cultivating First Nations talent.

Maxine Beneba Clarke

Maxine Beneba Clarke is the author of over 15 books for children and adults, including the ABIA and Indie Award-winning short fiction collection Foreign Soil, the bestselling memoir The Hate Race, and the critically acclaimed poetry collections Carrying the World, How Decent Folk Behave, It’s the Sound of the Thing: 100 new poems for young people, and Stuff I’m Not Sorry For: 99 poems for young people. She is currently the inaugural Poet in Residence at The University of Melbourne.

Markus Zusak

Markus Zusak is the international bestselling author of six novels, including The Messenger, Bridge of Clay, and The Book Thief—one of the most beloved books of the 21st century and a New York Times bestseller for over a decade. His work has been translated into more than 50 languages and honoured with numerous awards worldwide. His books have been adapted for film, television, and theatre. Three Wild Dogs (and the truth) is his first work of non-fiction.

Corey Tutt

Corey Tutt is a Kamilaroi man born on Yuin Country on the NSW south coast. A passionate advocate for STEM, he founded DeadlyScience in 2018 to provide science resources to remote schools and connect First Nations students with mentors. In 2020, he was named NSW Young Australian of the Year, and in 2022 he received an OAM for his service to Indigenous STEM education. Corey continues to champion access to STEM for all young people, especially in community schools. His latest book is Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles, inspiring kids to explore the wonders of science.

Santilla Chingaipe

Santilla Chingaipe is an award-winning filmmaker, historian and author whose work explores settler colonialism, slavery, and postcolonial migration in Australia. Her acclaimed documentary Our African Roots is available on SBS On Demand. In 2019, she was recognised at the United Nations as one of the world’s most influential people of African descent. Chingaipe is also the founder of Behind The Screens, a program dedicated to improving representation in the Australian film industry. Her latest book, Black Convicts, uncovers Australia’s hidden connections to slavery and the ways it shaped the convict system and the British Empire.

Sarah Armstrong 

Sarah Armstrong is an award-winning journalist and the author of three acclaimed novels for adults, including the Miles Franklin-shortlisted Salt Rain. Her novels for children include the CBCA Notable Book Big Magic and its sequel Magic Awry. Her forthcoming middle-grade novel, Run is a brilliantly suspenseful novel with gripping twists and thorny moral dilemmas that will keep readers glued to the page all night. Sarah lives with her partner and daughter in Mullumbimby and is an in-demand writing teacher, mentor and manuscript assessor.

Key Information

• Program designed for students in years 7 to 12.
• Gates open at 9:30am for first session beginning 10:30am, book fair & self guided Sculpture Walk
• On-site bus parking available (weather permitting)
• Open seating; students free to move between marquees. No supervision provided by festival staff
• Food and beverages available for purchase
• Authors available for book signings and books are available for purchase from the book shop. 
• Stay hydrated with our free water station; bring your water bottle!

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