WORDFEST PROGRAM

When: 10.00 am – 11.00 am
Where: Apollo Bay Community Hall

WordPLAY sessions are sponsored by Apollo Bay P-12 College.

In this session, award-winning author Sofie Laguna will speak to Primary students about the experiences of writing her picture books and novels for young people. Some of her many works for children include The Song of Lewis Carmichael and The Glow, both illustrated by Marc McBride, and the picture book The Last Egg illustrated by Jess Racklyeft.

When: 11.30 am
Where: Apollo Bay Community Hall

Hear more from our young emerging writers as author Sofie Laguna announces the winners of the 2026 Primary and Secondary Short Story Competitions.

When: 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm
Where: Apollo Bay Community Hall

A special story time session with Andrea Rowe, the best-selling award-winning author of Jetty Jumping and the companion picture books Sunday Skating and Castle Crashing, each illustrated by Hannah Somerville. Her latest picture book, Audrey Skips, was illustrated by Lisa Coutts and is a historic reimagining of Melbourne's Skipping Girl. Andrea is a passionate advocate for Australian children's literature, connected communities and is the inaugural ambassador for Victoria's Public Libraries.

When: 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm
Where: Apollo Bay Mechanics Hall

Food, good company and the spoken word combine for Poetry & Pies, a stand up poetry event.

The mic is open and all forms of expression and languages are warmly welcomed. Don’t want to read a poem? Strap on the guitar and belt out a classic. Your poetry/song may be an original or a personal favourite. The results of the 2026 Short Story Competition Adult Open Category will be announced during the evening.

*Drinks and pies will be available at the venue.

The Darkness Within

When: 9.30 am – 10.30 am
Where: Apollo Bay Mechanics Hall

Ask any librarian or bookseller and they’ll tell you: crime fiction is getting darker and more and more popular. J.P. Pomare (The Gambler, The Wrong Woman), Christian White (The Long Night, The Ledge) and Louise Milligan (Shellybanks, Pheasants Nest) will explore why we are increasingly drawn to true crime and darker fictional settings.

In conversation with Gina Chick

When: 11.00 am – 12.00 pm
Where: Apollo Bay Mechanics Hall

‘I didn't have to learn to be wild. Instead, I had to learn how to fit into boxes, and the lessons never really took. Now I'm old and ornery enough not to try.’

Gina Chick (We Are the Stars) is an Australian author, adventurer and rewilding facilitator. After surviving 67 days in the Tasmanian winter, she became the inaugural winner of Alone Australia–but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The First Page

When: 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm
Where: Marrar Woorn Neighbourhood House

In fiction writing, first impressions definitely count. The ideal opening of a novel should entice and invite the reader into the story — but how?

This workshop focuses on reading and analysing different approaches to beginning a novel to help decide which to apply in your own work.

We’ll conclude with a writing exercise with optional workshop, or you might prefer to bring along the opening of your work-in-progess to share.

WORDFest Book Club Session is sponsored by Geelong Regional Libraries.

When: 3.30 pm – 4.30 pm
Where: Apollo Bay Public Library

Come along for a special free book club session with Rhett Davis, discussing his book, Arborescence.

‘As absurd as it is utterly convincing, this is a book about holding onto love in a world of seismically shifting reality. In other words, a book about us, a book about now. It’s brilliant.’
-Shaun Tan

If you aren't a member of a book club, don't worry! The session is open to all.