Who Owns the Story: Writing Family Memoir with Care, Courage & Consequence

Family memoir sits at the most volatile intersection of truth, memory, and ethics. It involves real people, contested histories, emotional fallout, and increasing anxiety within the publishing industry. This 90-minute conversational seminar explores the ethical, emotional, and practical challenges of writing family memoir when truth is both demanded and disputed. It also examines the human realities of memory, how family stories affect those in them, and the responsibilities writers face when telling these stories. Topics include What is memoir, truth and honesty, legal risks, emotional and familial risks, as well as the gifts of writing memoir.

Mary Garden is an award-winning author and freelance journalist whose work has been published worldwide. She holds a PhD in Journalism (USC). In the early 1990s, she was editor and project manager for several publications of Maleny’s Black Possum Publishing Co-operative.

Gay Liddington is a feature writer whose work explores the stories and experiences of others. Her comedy, poetry, and stories span 40 years. A founding member of Mackay Writers, Gay has been involved in a range of community projects.