Sessions I Can't Wait To See | MWF 2019

Yesterday the program for the 2019 Melbourne Writers Festival was released and today I wanted to share the events that I hope to get to. As tickets are already live I’ve bought some tickets, but I’m hoping to make it to some other sessions as well.

The program for this years looks pretty fantastic with the theme ‘When we talk about love.’ I love that we get a whole day of YA events – although, some events do collide it’s pretty cool. There is also some romance events – which I cannot wait for. Like yes, please. Overall, I think there is something for everyone. And here we go, these are the sessions I cannot wait to see.

Watching Them Grow: From Page to Screen – Authors Becky Albertalli, Melina Marchetta and Christos Tsiolkas talk all about the journey of their novels turning into tv and movie adaptations. With Angela Savage as moderator.

This session sounds so interesting and it’s something that I am always interested in as a reader, therefore, it will be really cool to hear 3 different authors takes on adaptation and everything that comes along with it.

Saturday, August 31 1:00 PM. The Capitol

Why YA? – Randa Abdel-Fattah and Melina Marchetta will talk about why they write for the YA audience. These are two authors that I both admire and have wanted to see for quite some time now and this sounds like the perfect way to see them. With Mellisa Keil.

Sunday 1 September, 11.30am. State Library Victoria, Isabella Fraser Room

It’s Complicated – Nina Kenwood and Jodi McAlister will talk about the ups and downs of young love. You know I love my romance and I do love how complicated it can be especially in young adult novels. So I am really excited to see what comes from this discussion.

Sunday 1 September, 1 pm. SLV, Isabella Fraser Room

Pop Culture Currency – Jenna Guillaume and Lili Wilkinson discuss the phenomenon of YA books being turned into series and mini-series on streaming services like Netflix and Stan. And the impact they both have on each other with Adele Walsh.

Sunday 1 September, 2.30pm. SLV, Isabella Fraser Room

YA’ll Are Thirsty: Romantic FanFic Showcase – This one features Alison Evans, Will Kostakis, Jes Layton, and CB Mako as they talk about the what if’s of YA romances. Overall, this one just seems like a lot of fun.

Sunday 1 September, 4 pm. State Library Victoria, Village Roadshow Theatrette

Becky Albertalli: Love, Simon – Becky Albertalli talks with Jenna Guillaume about the success of Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda and its movie adaptation. They will also explore adolescent love and the importance of diversity. I’m always up to listening about success in the YA industry especially if diversity is involved.

Sunday 1 September, 5:30 pm. The Capitol

Eve L Ewing: Ironheart – Sami Shah will speak with Marvel’s Ironheart writer Eve L Ewing about what it’s like working with Marvel and combining power and the notion of a moral compass. This one just sounds amazing. I mean it’s Marvel why wouldn’t it be.

Wednesday 4 September 7:00 pm. State Library Victoria, Isabella Fraser Room

Romance as Resistance – Anne Gracie, Melanie Milburne and CS Pacat discuss how romance novels can challenge in the status quo of the world right now, with Jodi McAlister. A session all about romance and how it’s pretty cool, um yes, please.

Sunday, 8 September 10:00 am. The Wheeler Centre, Performance Space.

Who Gets to Love? – With romance novels being populated for those that are white, straight and able-bodied, Daniel de Lorne, Maria Lewis, and Maureen Matthews, discuss this lack of diversity. With Kate Cuthbert as moderator. A romance session that talks about diversity – and this is totally for me.

Sunday 8 September 11:30 am. The Wheeler Centre, Performance Space

Unpicking Classic Romances – This one here is about how and if classic romances would hold up to today’s standards. Clare Connelly, Anne Gracie, and Toni Jordan will talk with Calla Wahlquist. I’m just ready for all these romance sessions really.

Sunday 8 September 2:30 pm. The Wheeler Centre, Performance Space

And that is it! That is most of the sessions at this years Melbourne Writers Festival. A mix of YA and romance seems like a pretty good mix for me. I’ve gotten tickets to most of these events now, but I am hoping to get a couple more session tickets closer to the festival. Nevertheless, what sessions are you looking forward to? Let’s Chat!