Rachel Armstrong Announced as 2026 From the Heart Keynote Speaker
The Whitsundays Writers Festival announces multi-award-winning Townsville-based romance author Rachel Armstrong as the 2026 From the Heart keynote speaker.
A cornerstone event of the Festival, From the Heart is an annual oration exploring culture, identity, and the role of the writer in Australia. Each year, a leading Australian literary voice is invited to deliver a keynote reflecting on storytelling and its place in national life.
Festival Director, Richard Evans, said the keynote continues to grow as an important literary platform for Australian writers.
“From the Heart is about giving award-winning writers a platform to speak to the bigger picture — how stories shape who we are, both individually and collectively.”
The keynote has previously featured acclaimed authors including Miles Franklin Award winner Shankari Chandran and celebrated author and academic Dr Anita Heiss.
Rachel Armstrong has been invited to deliver the 2026 address in recognition of her sustained excellence and significant contribution to contemporary Australian romance writing.
A multiple award-winning and internationally recognised author, Rachel has received two Romantic Book of the Year Awards from Romance Writers of Australia and was named Favourite Australian Debut Romance Author by the Australian Romance Readers Association.
Based in Townsville, Queensland, Rachel writes rural, paranormal, and contemporary romance, blending small-town settings, suspense, and emotional storytelling. Alongside her writing career, she works as an exercise physiologist and lives with her border collie, Jacob.
The 2026 Whitsundays Writers Festival will be held on Sunday 13 September at the Whitsunday Marine Club, Cannonvale, including two panel discussions, 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, live music, art demonstrations, 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.