2026 Keynote – Chris Hammer
Chris Hammer is a leading Australian crime fiction novelist, author of the internationally bestselling Martin Scarsden series: Scrublands, Silver, Trust and Legacy. Chris has also written two non-fiction books The River (2010) – winner of the ACT Book of the Year – and The Coast (2012).
Scrublands was an instant bestseller upon publication in 2018, topping the Australian fiction charts.In the UK it was named the Sunday Times Crime Novel of the Year 2019 and won the prestigious UK Crime Writers’ Association John Creasey New Blood Dagger Award.
Chris’s books are well known for their atmospheric Australian settings, a range of colourful characters, intricate plots, descriptive language and emotional depth.
His upcoming book Full Circle is his first stand-alone thriller, releasing in September later this year.
Aaron Lamb
Aaron Lamb, a storyteller from childhood, hails from the gritty terraces of an industrial town in South East England. His adventurous spirit has led him to trek the wilderness of Norway and Finland, live in eastern Cambodia, run ultra-marathons and host a cabaret show in London’s West End.
He has self-published 5 novels with his latest book Cults, Coffee and Close Encounters outsold George Orwell and Margaret Atwood for 24 hours on Amazon earlier this year, launching him into rare and elite company.
He has lived in the hills for 13 years with his partner and two sons and can be found writing his sixth book at the Patch General store.
Garth Nix
Garth Nix OAM has been a full-time writer since 2001, but has also worked as a literary agent, marketing consultant, book editor, book publicist, book sales representative, bookseller, and as a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve.
Garth’s books include the Old Kingdom fantasy series; SF novels Shade’s Children and A Confusion of Princes; the Angel Mage fantasy novels; and a Regency romantasy, Newt’s Emerald. He has also written several novels for children including the Keys to the Kingdom series. He is also the author of more than sixty published short stories. More than seven million copies of Garth’s books have been sold around the world, they have appeared on multiple international bestseller lists and his work has been translated into 42 languages. His upcoming book Massif is his first foray into adult science fiction with a brilliant and poignant stand-alone story. Massif releases in September 2026.
He has won multiple Aurealis Awards, the ABIA Award, Ditmar Award, the Mythopoeic Award, CBCA Honour Book, and has been shortlisted for the Lodestar Award, the Locus Awards, the Shirley Jackson Award and others. In 2025, Garth was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for ‘services to literature’.
(Photo credit: Wendy McDougall)
George Ivanoff
George Ivanoff is a Melbourne author who’s written more than 100 books for kids and teens, including Monster Island, the interactive You Choose series, the RFDS Adventures, the OTHER WORLDS series, the Gamers trilogy, and the non-fiction Survival Guides; as well as a ton of school readers and educational books.
George’s books and stories have been shortlisted for numerous awards and he’s even won a few of them.
George drinks too much coffee, eats too much chocolate and watches too much Doctor Who. He has one wife, two children and an uncontrollable imagination.
Sally Hepworth
Sally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, most recently Mad Mabel. Sally’s novels have been called “darkly charming” and praised by authors Emily Giffin and Liane Moriarty as “totally absorbing” and “fiction at its finest.”
Sally’s novels have sold millions of copies worldwide and been translated into over 30 languages.
Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia with her family.
(Photo credit: Mrs Smart Photography)
Zeno Sworder
Zeno Sworder is a writer and artist who lives in Melbourne, Australia. He is a husband, and father of two very creative daughters.
He has worked as a window washer, journalist, English language teacher, consular officer, tribunal advocate for refugees and immigrants and a jewellery designer. But he’s most at home sitting at his desk drawing pictures and making up stories.
Zeno is a lover of all stationery but has a particular soft spot for pencils.