Blue Mountains Writers Festival brings together incredible minds and exciting new talent set against the stunning backdrop of the Blue Mountains.

Stephen Downes is a writer and a journalist with an expansive career in news, TV and radio. His debut novel The Hands of Pianists was shortlisted for the 2022 Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Awards. He joins us today with his new work Mural.

With the death of her husband, Martye must take care of the family’s hollows. She is not alone, although her daughter Austeja has always fiercely resisted her families vocation as beekeepers. There is more loss to come though when the Hollow Watcher is found dead beneath an abandoned hollow. With suspicion turning onto the community Martye and Austeja must learn to rely on each other, and they must trust to the bees. Bees don’t sting good people.

Lauren Crozier won the 2023 Text Prize for her debut novel The Best Witch in Paris.

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki has been many things in his life from a physicist, a roadie and a taxi driver, but that’s not my story to tell, because today Dr Karl, who is the author of nearly fifty books, is joining Andrew with his latest, the book only he could write. A Periodic Tale - My Sciencey Memoir is the Dr Karl story.

Maryam Master is a screenwriter, playwright and author. Her novels Exit Through the Gift Shop and No Words were both critically acclaimed gaining listings and prizes and today Maryam joins Andrew with her new novel Laughter is the Best Ending.

When Clare wakes in a bed in the hospital where she works as an anesthetist she has only questions. When doctors inform her she was in a car accident, that it took the life of her beloved husband, she realises how much she has lost. Clare can’t remember a thing about the accident. Why were they on the deserted road? Why was Ray wearing chainmail armour? And why is a towering figure stalking Clare, leaving her threatening warnings?

I’m a reader but no expert on romance and so to help me celebrate this literary milestone I’m joined by three Mills & Boon writers Clare Connelly, Ally Blake and Melanie Milburne to talk all things romance.

Beloved science communicator Dr Karl Kruszelnicki shares with Andrew some incredible takes of how he became the storyteller and communicator he is today!

In the Free Republic of East Australia where everything is just bonza and we all toe the line because whatareya a tall poppy or something?! Julian Ferryman’s been summoned home lest he lose his spot on Bass for his band’s sophomore album. Julian’s not returning alone though; he’s seen the world and the FREA doesn’t love outsider perspectives. Julian’s also seen the future courtesy of the new designer drug ‘F’, but once you’ve seen your future, where does that leave your present?

Evie Wyld is the award winning author of five novels including the 2021 Stella Prize winning The Bass Rock.

Max Porter is the critically acclaimed author of Grief is the Thing With Feathers and Lanny.

On today's show Tim Ayliffe is in conversation with the indomitable Felix Shannon!

Get your favourite bookish costume ready it's time to celebrate Book Week 17th - 23rd August

Rachel has left Australia and is determined to find herself in the world. When London fails to offer her the adventures she is seeking, Rachel and a friend travel first to Egypt and then into Israel. Rachel still feels unsure of herself, but surely somewhere in the world she’ll discover the person she’s meant to be?

The Echoes is a novel about trauma and the ways we deal with or avoid it. As she did in The Bass Rock, Wyld reminds us that we are not alone in time but that we must look to the stories that have come before us to understand our place.

Patrick Holland is a novelist and short story writer. He is the author of seven books, most notably The Mary Smokes Boys (2010), which was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award.

Jordan Prosser is a writer, filmmaker and performer from Victoria. His short story ‘Eleuterio Cabrera’s Beautiful Game’ won the Peter Carey Short Story Award in 2022. Big Time is his first novel.

Esther awakens in a strange room. Strapped to a table, hooked up to machines and with a breathing tube down her throat, Esther has no memory of what this place is and how she got here.

Oblivion transports the reader into a world far above the everyday.

It’s not nice being invisible but there’s also a lot you can get away with when no one’s looking.

Tom Edwards has spent most of his life running the farm by himself. He’s not well pleased that his kids never came back to take their place on the land as he wanted. Tom’s also dying and so he’s come up with a plan. His kids will return to the farm and build him a coffin, in four days no less. They’ll build him a coffin and they’ll do it right, or he’ll disinherit the lot of them.

Esther awakens in a strange room. Strapped to a table, hooked up to machines and with a breathing tube down her throat, Esther has no memory of what this place is and how she got here. As the days pass Esther is attended by a single woman. Grace is attentive but Esther is in no mood for mystery and in her disoriented state she struggles to understand her situation. Where are her children and how did she get here?

Jenna Lo Bianco is a writer, teacher and Italophile. Her debut novel The Italian Marriage came out in 2023 with Pan Macmillan, part of a three book deal. Today Jenna joins us with her latest; Love & Rome.