Brisbane Writers' Festival Has Revealed Their 2016 Program

Did reading (or watching the movie adaptation of) We Need to Talk About Kevin leave you feeling uneasy for weeks? Have you been getting your vampire fix by devouring The Passage trilogy? Did leafing through Looking for Alibrandi help you survive high school? If you answered yes to any of the above questions and you're keen to see your favourite authors chat about their work, then you're in luck.

Yes, it's Christmas time for anyone fond of the printed word — the Brisbane Writers' Festival is back for 2016. Celebrating its 54th year from September 7 to 11, this year's BWF is bringing the authors of the aforementioned novels, Lionel Shriver, Justin Cronin and Melina Marchetta, to Brissie — and that's just the beginning of their hectic program.

Keen on the comedy of English comedian Alexei Sayle? Or the complex fiction of Irish novelist Michael Collins? Maybe you've always dreamed of writing your own cookbook? Or perhaps you've been wondering why every second story seems to be about a dead girl? Well, you'll find sessions with all of the above on this year's lineup, alongside discussions of sensual reading that doesn't reference any shades of grey and a primer on making your own cryptic crosswords and other word puzzles. Basically, we could keep asking you about your reading habits for hours and we'd still come up with relevant BWF sessions for you to go to.

That's what happens when the State Library of Queensland becomes a hive of literary activity for five busy days, after all. The rest of the fest's topics include the struggles faced by female writers, how to ensure a picture really does convey a thousand words, and instructive seminars about everything from getting published to uttering phrases on the radio. And, if you don't feel like trekking into the city, you can still join in the fun as part of the free BWF in the 'Burbs series.

The Brisbane Writers Festival runs from September 7 to 11. To check out the full program — and to purchase tickets — visit the festival's website.