Literary delights at events

Broome was swept away on a wave of words last weekend when the inaugural writers’ festival, Corrugated Lines: a festival of words, was launched.

Fuelled entirely by the passion of enthusiastic volunteers and organisers, and support from the community and local businesses, Corrugated Lines delivered an array of diverse and engaging literary events to the community.

Presented by Broome publishers Backroom Press and Magabala Books and in collaboration with other locals and organisations, it featured a plethora of talented youngsters, home-grown authors, rising playwrights and charismatic storytellers.

Backroom Press chairwoman Sudha Coutinho said the festival started as a pipe dream and was further inspired by the National Year of Reading (2012). When she took the idea to Magabala Books marketing manager Nic Murray, she said it bloomed into an unforgettable festival for Broome, leaving locals hungry for more.

“Magabala had always wanted to start an indigenous writing festival and we were full of enthusiasm,” Ms Murray. “We couldn’t say no.”

Ms Coutinho said they were both delighted the festival developed into a tremendous success purely from a shared passion, as opposed to funding.

They approached local librarians, writers and performers, who in turn organised their own events for the festival.

Ms Murray said the community’s response had been overwhelming, attending each event in great numbers and buying out all ticketed events. She said she was thrilled Corrugated Lines had come together so well, especially as it had been organised in less than six months.

Acclaimed Aboriginal author Kim Scott who featured in Corrugated Lines said writing festivalslike this one were extremely valuable.

Literary fans devoured performances of the written and spoken word at 16 ticketed and free events during the three day literary feast.

They included a Tall Tales Drama Workshop with St Mary’s College drama students, and a party under the stars with Australia’s “deadliest” storytellers to celebrate Magabala Books’ 25-year anniversary.

Renowned indigenous author Anita Heiss and Broomebased author Peter Docker wowed audiences with engaging discussions about their extraordinary journeys to being published.

Children’s authors and storytellers Kerry Anne Jordinson, Melanie Prewett and Bronwyn Houston captivated youngsters’ imaginations as they read their stories aloud at the Courthouse Markets. A panel of local playwrights and authors including Howard Pedersen, Jacqueline Wright and Pat Lowe discussed the transition from manuscript to the stage, while aspiring poets played with words in a dynamic workshop with local poet Cath Borthwick.

A huge crowd enjoyed a medley of spoken word performances at the Word of Mouth event, and young author Luisa

Mitchell joined writer Jacqueline Wright for relaxed discussions at Cable Beach Club Resort as an audience sipped sparkling wine in lush surrounds.