Somerset College in Robina is gearing up for the Somerset Celebration of Literature from 19 to 21 March 2014. The festival is open to the entire community and showcases a range of sessions and functions for all book lovers, from children to adults. The events range from panel discussions to writing workshops and literary lunches. Over 30 renowned authors and illustrators from Australia and around the world will come to the festival to support the celebration of literature in Gold Coast City. The full author line up can be viewed here.
Robina Group is proud to sponsor the writers’ festival for the Gold Coast, which will celebrate its 21st birthday in March. Some highlights of the festival’s 120 events include the prestigious Literary Long Table Dinner on Friday 21 March, where the College will welcome guest speaker Peter FitzSimons. The Literary Lunch will see the esteemed Robin de Crespigny discuss her controversial book, The People Smuggler.
Somerset College has recently launched the Somerset Literary Fund. Donations to the fund are used exclusively to bring students to the festival that would otherwise be unable to attend. Students are offered two author sessions along with transportation to and from the Festival, during their visit. Next year will see over 200 students from Goondiwindi State Primary School, St. George State Primary School, Burnett State College and Nyangatjatjara College welcomed to the festival. To make a tax deductible donation to the fund, contact Andrea Lewis at events@somerset.qld.edu.au or on 5559 7377. You can also complete an online Pledge Form here.
The festival also provides a variety of free events. On Wednesday 19 March the College hosts The Prologue Party, which is a fair type event with free drinks and food, an “In Conversation” session featuring Dave Hartley, who recently wrote Deadly D and Justice Jones with the Gold Coast’s Scott Prince. On Thursday 20 March, Mudgeeraba Markets Shopping Centre, just a short drive from Robina, hosts a free author panel session with authors Rebecca Sparrow, Danny Katz, Fiona Wood and Mark Pardoe who discuss the art of writing humour.
All Australian secondary students are invited to enter The Somerset National Poetry Prize and The Somerset National Novella Writing Competition. Entries for the Novella Writing Competition have now closed, but students may still enter the Poetry Prize competition with a poem on any subject, of no more than 50 lines. Entries close on Friday 20 December. For more information visit www.somerset.qld.edu.au/celebration-of-literature/competitions/poetry-prize/.
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