Various locations on Darkinjung, Gurungai and Awabakal Country (NSW Central Coast)
Words on the Waves Festival 2025
Words on the Waves Writers Festival is a celebration of words and ideas set on the scenic Central Coast, NSW, Australia. With author talks and panels, as well as evening conversation events, writing workshops, local book launches, a literary cruise, family fun day, schools program and more, the festival offers a diverse range of high quality literary events for both the Central Coast community and visitors to the area.
In 2025 we celebrate our fifth year from May 28 – June 1, with the theme burning bright. We acknowledge the swirling forces that darken our world. But we look forward with hope – with a deeply held conviction in the human capacity to share, create and blaze a path forward. Over each swell, a new horizon rises.
Check out the UQP author sessions below:
Laura Elvery:
Workshop: Crafting Short Fiction
Saturday May 31, 2PM-4PM
CWA Umina
Join award-winning author Laura Elvery for an engaging session devoted to the difficult but rewarding task of writing short fiction. This two-hour workshop will be practical and packed with new approaches. You will leave with advice on how to generate ideas, how to lay out the bones of a captivating new short story, and some tips to refine your work at the sentence level.
Tickets here.
Trailblazers
Sunday June 1, 3PM-4PM
Umina Beach SLSC.
Laura Elvery, Vicki Hastrich & Josie McSkimming. Moderator: Amy Lovat
Our esteemed panellists each investigate someone who has blazed their own path, leaving an indelible impression on the world. Florence Nightingale is woven into new fiction from Laura Elvery; Vicki Hastrich brings us the untold story of Hollywood legend, Zane Grey, and his adventures in Australia; and Josie McSkimming brings it closer to home with a behind-the-scenes look at her sister, Dorothy Porter.
Tickets here.
Wrongfully Imprisoned
Sunday June 1, 10AM-11AM
Umina SLSC
Peter Greste & Sean Turnell. Moderator: Steve Vizard
Foreign correspondent Peter Greste spent 400 days in an Egyptian jail on a trumped-up terrorism charge. Economist Sean Turnell spent 650 days in jail in Myanmar after the coup for ‘handling state secrets’. Both have managed to retain their humour and faith in humanity. Join us for this essential conversation about life beyond the bars.
Tickets here.
Trailblazers
Sunday June 1, 3PM-4PM
Umina Beach SLSC.
Laura Elvery, Vicki Hastrich & Josie McSkimming. Moderator: Amy Lovat
Our esteemed panellists each investigate someone who has blazed their own path, leaving an indelible impression on the world. Florence Nightingale is woven into new fiction from Laura Elvery; Vicki Hastrich brings us the untold story of Hollywood legend, Zane Grey, and his adventures in Australia; and Josie McSkimming brings it closer to home with a behind-the-scenes look at her sister, Dorothy Porter.
Tickets here.
Late Night Lit
Thursday May 29, 7PM-9PM
Bar Toto 83/189 Ocean View Rd, Ettalong Beach
Slip into the velvety low-light of Bar Toto with a trademark cocktail in hand and an open mind, and prepare to be startled and delighted in equal measure at Late Night Lit.
For this fifth birthday party, we will celebrate in style with the electrifying Australian-Māori poet, editor, producer and weaver Anne-Marie Te Whiu(Mettle). She will be joined by disarming and hilarious Egyptian-Australian journalist Daniel Nour reading from his memoir How to Dodge Flying Sandals and Other Advice for Life, and painter and poet Joseph Earp with his ‘droll and deeply funny’ Painting Portraits of Everyone I’ve Ever Dated. Prepare yourself to be amused and delighted.
Don’t miss this much-loved evening of spoken word, poetry, open mic performances and other revelations.
Tickets here.
Nightingale
Ordinary Matter
Trick of the Light
Gutsy Girls
