The Emerging Writers’ Festival work, learn and play largely on the land of the Kulin nation, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

EWF celebrates the history and creativity of the world’s oldest living culture.

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National Writers' Conference, Panel & Roundtable

NWC – The Book Deal Podcast: EWF Edition

Join The Book Deal Podcast for a special EWF Agony Aunt edition, with internationally bestselling author, Toni Jordan.  Live on stage, Toni will address your most pressing and confidential writing and publishing dilemmas – from rejections, to craft, to creative roadblocks and more. Hosts and debut authors Natasha, Tina and Madeleine will also reflect on the lessons they learned when they published their first books. 

You can submit your anonymous questions to our resident Agony Aunt here. 

This event is part of the National Writers’ Conference weekend. Purchase a full Weekend Pass to all NWC sessions or curate your experience with single session tickets.

Accessibility

Auslan Interpretation may be available on request, Close Captioned, Wheelchair Accessible, Accessible Toilet, Hearing Loop, Quiet Space.

Saturday 12 September, 4.15-5.15PM

National Writers’ Conference

Single session ticket or Full NWC Weekend Pass

Book tickets

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The Wheeler Centre, Performance Space (Level 2, ground level)
176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

Venue accessibility information

View location at 5XQ8+W5

Featuring...

Madeleine Cleary

Madeleine Cleary’s debut novel, The Butterfly Women (2025, Affirm Press), was shortlisted for 2025 Dymocks Book of the Year and the 2026 Indie Book Awards. Her writing has been shortlisted for The Australian Fiction Prize and featured in The Australian Weekend Magazine. Madeleine is the co-host of The Book Deal Podcast, a popular podcast where she interviews writers about their pathway to publication. Before she became a published author, Madeleine was a bookseller and served as an Australian diplomat in China. Madeleine is from Melbourne/Narrm and lives at the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges.

Toni Jordan

Toni Jordan is the author of eight novels including the international bestseller Addition, which was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award and adapted into a feature film. Her novel Nine Days was awarded the Indie award for Best Fiction and Our Tiny, Useless Hearts was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award. Her latest novel, Tenderfoot, has been shortlisted for the Indie Award for best fiction, and the ABIA award for Literary Fiction Book of the Year. Toni holds a Bachelor of Science in physiology and a PhD in Creative Arts and lives in Melbourne.

Natasha Rai

Natasha Rai is a writer, somatic counsellor, writing mentor and workshop facilitator. She is also the co-host of the Book Deal podcast, exploring writers’ publication journeys. Her debut novel, AN ONSLAUGHT OF LIGHT, published by Pantera Press, was longlisted for the 2017 Richell Prize, 2018 KYD Unpublished Manuscript award, and highly commended for the 2022 Ultimo Press/Westwords Prize. Her second novel will be published in 2027. Natasha’s short nonfiction and fiction appear in various journals and publications, including Mascara Literary Review and Overland.

Tina Strachan

Tina Strachan is a children’s author whose debut middle-grade book, ‘Neeka and the Missing Key’, was published by HarperCollins Publishers in January 2025. It’s the first book of the Wilder Zoo series which now includes ‘Neeka and the Storm’ and ‘Neeka and the Great Search’. The series was inspired by her career in wildlife conservation.

Tina is also the co-host of The Book Deal podcast, where she interviews authors and industry professionals about writing craft, author tips and publication journeys.

Tina lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland, with her husband, two kids and loudly-snoring cavoodle.

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