Whitsundays Writers Festival Opens with Panel Exploring the Journey from Idea to Published Book
The Whitsundays Writers Festival will open its 2026 programme with a lively and insightful panel discussion asking a question many aspiring writers have considered: Is there a book in you?
Returning on Sunday 13 September 2026 at the Whitsunday Marine Club, Cannonvale, the festival celebrates local voices, regional stories, and the readers who bring them to life.
Running from 10.30 am to 4:30pm, the one-day event will feature panel discussions, keynote presentations, literary award announcements, and a free community events designed to showcase the strength of storytelling across the Greater Whitsunday region.
Festival Director, Richard Evans, said the opening panel session reflects the festival’s strong commitment to supporting local writers and encouraging new voices.
“This year’s festival is about backing our region’s writers, stories, and creative identity,” Richard said.
“We’re building something that is proudly local. The quality of writers living across the Greater Whitsunday region is exceptional, and this panel is designed to give audiences an honest and inspiring look at the writing and publishing journey.”
The opening panel discussion will bring together three regional authors working across fantasy, thriller, and memoir writing.
A. L. Tippett
Urban Fantasy & Children’s Fiction
Now based in Mackay, A. L. Tippett rediscovered her passion for writing after years working as an insurance broker and raising her family. Once convinced writing was not a “real” career, she now lives out her childhood dream as a published author creating imaginative fantasy worlds for readers of all ages.
Greg Bourke
Thrillers
Former English teacher and communications professional, Greg Bourke, drew on his experience living and teaching in Far North Queensland to write his debut novel Under Silkwood. The novel has already received recognition through the Queensland Writers’ Centre Adaptable Program and the Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Award.
Rachael Smith
Memoir
Editor-in-Chief of Life Publishing Group, Rachael Smith leads a team producing regional newspapers and magazines across Mackay, the Whitsundays, and the Burdekin. Following her diagnosis with stage 3 bowel cancer, she began documenting her experience while balancing treatment, work, and motherhood. Her memoir, Surviving Cancer: A Working Mum’s Guide, shares practical insight and encouragement for women navigating similar journeys.
The panel will explore creativity, self-doubt, publishing pathways, and the realities of turning an idea into a finished book, offering audiences practical advice and personal reflections from writers at different stages of their careers.
The 2026 Whitsundays Writers Festival programme also includes the From the Heart keynote by award-winning romance author Rachel Armstrong, the presentation of the Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards, and Stories by the Sea — a free community celebration featuring more than 20 regional authors, book swaps, art demonstrations, live music, children’s activities, and a gold coin BBQ.
Event Details
What: Whitsundays Writers Festival — a day dedicated to local authors, readers, and regional stories
When: Sunday 13 September 2026
Where: Whitsunday Marine Club, 7 Altmann Avenue, Cannonvale
Tickets and full programme details are available via the festival website.