The Art of Crime, Byron Writers Festival presents the Writers on the Road regional tour July 27-31, 2019

Michael Robotham, Jock Serong, Kristina Olsson, Omar Sakr
Visiting Ballina, Mullumbimby, Lismore, Kingscliff, Lennox Head, Nimbin, Casino,
Byron Bay (Byron Writers Festival)

Celebrated crime writers Michael Robotham and Jock Serong along with author Kristina Olsson and poet Omar Sakr are doing their time for crime, on the run with Byron Writers Festival for a series of community events 27-31 July throughout the Northern Rivers NSW region, before their final showdown at Byron Writers Festival (2-4 August).

Behind bars, pun intended, in venues from Kingscliff to Casino, catch the gang for a rewarding night of crime, art and entertainment, as they divulge their darkest literary secrets, where the bodies are buried and who they had to kill to get published in the first place.

A high point of the tour will be the return of internationally renowned crime writer, Michael Robotham, to his hometown of Casino. Ring-leader and MC, Zacharey ‘Calamity’ Jane, said of this year’s gang, ‘I understand that Michael is a person of interest in Casino – the local community leaders are keen to catch up with him. Frankly, I’m a little scared to be going on the road with such a talented group of writers; this road trip promises to be criminally entertaining.’

All jokes aside, Writers on the Road offers an exceptional evening of literary entertainment in each town, all free and open to the public, thanks to funding from Create NSW and Byron Writers Festival. The road trip will also be visiting schools in Mullumbimby, Nimbin and Casino, to work with the students in a series of free workshops and seminars as part of Byron Writers Festival’s StoryBoard program.

Festival Director Edwina Johnson said of this year’s road trip, ‘We are so proud to share these exceptional writers with the communities of the Northern Rivers, as the Byron Writers Festival heads towards its 23rd successful year as Australia’s largest regional writers festival. Having such a stellar line-up for Writers on the Road gives a taste of the amazing artists coming to Byron from all over Australia and the world for our 2019 Festival.’

Writers on the Road begins on Saturday 27 July with a heist…sorry, an event, at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery in Ballina, then on to the Byron School of Art at Mullumbimby; Sunday morning sees the gang at Lismore Regional Gallery for a session with the StoryBoard young crime writers; Sunday afternoon at Kingscliff Community Centre; Monday at Lennox Head Library (‘We have heard they have some very valuable first editions there,’ says Zacharey ‘Calamity’ Jane); Tuesday at Nimbin School of the Arts and finishing Wednesday evening at the Casino Community Centre.

All events are free and open to the public, so join us if you dare.

For more information visit: byronwritersfestival.com/roadtrip

Byron Writers Festival presents ‘Writers on the Road’
FREE events featuring Michael Robotham, Jock Serong, Kristina Olsson and Omar Sakr.

Saturday July 27, 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Northern Rivers Community Gallery (NRCG)
44 Cherry St, Ballina

Saturday July 27, 5.30pm -7.00pm
Byron School of Art, Mullumbimby
112 Dalley St, Mullumbimby

Sunday July 28, 11.00am – 12.00pm
Lismore Regional Gallery
11 Rural St, Lismore

Sunday July 28, 3.00pm – 4.00pm
Kingscliff Community Centre Hall
81 Marine Parade, Kingscliff

Monday July 29, 5.00pm – 6.30pm
Lennox Head Library
Cnr Park Lane & Mackney Lane

Tuesday July 30, 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Nimbin School of the Arts
47 Cullen St, Nimbin

Wednesday July 31, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Casino Community & Cultural Centre
35 Walker St, Casino