Melbourne Writer's Festival

I'll be appearing at the MWF this year, along with (eek) Margo Lanagan. I hope I don't melt into a pool of fannishness. I'll have to play it very cool. Very cool.

If you've never read Margo Lanagan, drop everything and go and do it now. Her short stories are the bomb (Singing My Sister Down is a beautiful story with a gorgeous title), but I love her novels too.

We're doing two sessions, one on the 25 and one on the 27 of August.

Myths with a twist
Do fantasy writers avoid reality, or confront it more directly? Are stories with magic in them just a matter of make-believe and play, or do they say serious things? What happens when you allow orcs, ogres and weather-workers into your written world? Margo Lanagan is the award-winning author of many books, including Black Juice, while Penni Russon’s earlier books for young adults include the popular fantasy titles Undine, Breathe and Drift.