Annual event the Melbourne Writer’s Festival is set top happen August 22 to September 1.

The festival first started in 1986. Participating writers this year include Felic Arena, Paul Jennings, Shuan Tan, Tony Palmers and Scott Westerfeld.   

Festival highlights include Feminism, Misogyny and Power (Aug 29), a talk by noted Australian feminist, Anne Summers (author of influential book Damned Whores and God’s Police) and Papal Bull: Where Now for the Catholic Church? (Aug 31), a discussion of the effect of child abuse scandals on the Catholic Church.

While in town, stay at Ovolo Melbourne, an intimate hotel with 43 rooms including luxury penthouses and rooms offering quirky details like chalkboard walls and shaving mirrors in the showers.