Li Cunxin AO

Li Cunxin AO’s remarkable life is recounted in his memoir Mao’s Last Dancer, which is one of the most successful autobiographies of all time. It was published around the world and has been adapted into a young readers’ edition, a picture book, a stage play and a major motion picture. Li’s new book, The Lucky Son – sequel to Mao’s Last Dancer, continues his inspirational journey. It’s about life, family, following one’s heart, and gratitude.

Li Cunxin          Li Cunxin       licunxin

Bernice Barry

Bernice writes historical fiction and non-fiction, reflecting her passion for discovering and telling women’s stories, dimmed or obscured by time. She has lived for twenty-five years on Wadandi country near Margaret River, researching local history and nurturing a native garden. The Names of a Hare is her fourth book.

Bernice Barry          Bernice Barry       bernicebarryauthor

Coral Carter

Coral Carter is a poet, who lives in Perth but grew up in Kalgoorlie. She has three publications Descended from Thieves Mulla Mulla Press 2012, Backyard Listening Mulla Mulla Press 2019 and Good Grief which was longlisted in Five Islands manuscript competition 2024 and published by Mulla Mulla Press 2026.

Coral Carter 

Mark C. Evans

Award-winning children’s author and professional actor Mark C. Evans delivers literary events with humour and high-energy storytelling. His internationally published books have captivated audiences around the world. As a former Geraldton Primary School student, he returns home to combine performance, audience interaction and imagination to inspire young readers and writers.

Mark C Evans         mark.c.evans

Kylie Howarth

Kylie Howarth loves the ocean and claims to be part fish. She’s an award-winning, internationally published children’s author and illustrator from Western Australia who creates accessible books for struggling readers, and was the recipient of the 2024 WA Premier’s Book Awards, Writers Fellowship.

Kylie Howarth        Kylie Howarth Creative    kylie_howarth

Dr Caitlin Maling

Caitlin Maling is a Western Australian poet with six books of poetry published (as of September 2026), her most recent book is "Midwest" out with Upswell Publishing. She teaches in the Discipline of Writing at Curtin University and lives near Walyalup/Fremantle with her young family.

Caitlin Maling        caitlinmaling

Geraldine Mellet

Geraldine has been a pate seller, pamphlet deliverer, telemarketer, apprentice puppeteer, philanthropy hunter, disability rights advocate, columnist, filmmaker and broadcast journalist. However she most identifies as someone who can't live without reading and writing and is proud to be releasing her first novel, Things I Cannot Say.

Photo credit: Jason Thomas

Geraldine Mellet       geraldine_mellet

Philippa Nikulinsky AM

Philippa Nikulinsky AM is a self-taught artist whose work begins far from the studio - camping in remote corners of WA, painting the flora and fauna she finds there.

Philippa Nikulinsky AM    Philippa Nikulinsky   philippa.nikulinsky

Angela Nikulinsky 

Angela is a businesswoman, designer, gardener and botany student. She is driven to share Philippa's extraordinary artwork far and wide.

STUDIO NIKULINSKY       studio.nikulinsky

Bruce Pascoe

Bruce Pascoe is an Aboriginal farmer and writer of literary fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essays and children’s literature, based on Yuin Country. His publications have won numerous awards including the NSW Premier’s Award for Literature, the Booksellers Association Prize and the CBCA Eve Pownall award. He is the author of the groundbreaking, bestselling book Dark Emu.

Bruce Pascoe

Holden Sheppard

Holden Sheppard is a Geraldton-born author whose novel Invisible Boys won multiple awards, became a bestseller and was adapted as a Peabody Award-nominated TV series with Stan Australia. His new novel Yeah the Boys is the long-awaited sequel. He lives in Perth’s north with his husband and his V8 ute.

Holden Sheppard        Holden Sheppard       holdensheppard

Tess Woods

Tess Woods writes modern fiction set in exotic locations starring women of all ages and the occasional bloke. After giving up writing for a few years, she gave it one more crack with The Venice Hotel which became an instant Australian Top 10 bestseller, was sold in a bidding war overseas and was shortlisted as the Australian fiction book of the year. So she decided not to quit after all and is back again with the book of her heart and her heritage, The Cairo Bridal Shop. Tess is also a physiotherapist with her own private practice and she’s a mother of two. She runs a street library, she’s a proud ambassador for A Land For All and she’s the creator and director of Perth’s largest literary festival, the Festival of Fiction, which is now in its third year. These are all her excuses for never going to the gym.

Tess Woods        tesswoods_author