When the programme for the 2009 Perth International Arts Festival arrived in our house last week there was a flurry of excitement: we love going to see the international films at the outdoor cinemas they set up (although we’re disappointed by the number of French films this year and not enough German ones …); and as for me, personally, finding out about next year’s Perth Writers Festival is exciting too.

The only problem is the Writers Festival doesn’t seem to be organised as far in advance as everything else, so this programme only gives a quick taste of what might be (and which weekend to keep free) and the actual programme of events isn’t due until the end of January. The festival itself is taking place over a long weekend this time – so Perth people, keep the last weekend of February/first weekend of March free. I’m not convinced that holding it over a long weekend is such a great idea – last year it was held over a normal working Friday plus the Saturday and Sunday (I had the Friday off work) – I’m concerned that a long weekend will mean more people go away and attendance might be down. I guess they’ve thought of that and we’ll wait and see.

In any case, some of the authors that will be attending, according to the tantalising blurb, include:

• Sebastian Barry – I’m reading his book The Secret Scripture right now, which was Booker short-listed; I’m only a couple of chapters in but it’s “lyrically lovely” so I’m keen to meet the writer …
• Kate Grenville – a fantastic Australian writer I’ve mentioned before as being a previous Vogel winner – several of her novels have a home in my bookshelves and she has a new book called The Lieutenant
• Robert Drewe – perhaps an equally famous Aussie writer, but one I’ve never read (I think; I could be wrong) – the book of his that’s most well-known is The Shark Net and that’s on my reading list right now.

I got so much out of attending last year’s Perth Writers Festival – not least of all because it’s in my hometown and nearly every event is free, so I could really make the most of it – so I’m definitely looking forward to that last weekend of February next year. Some day in the (maybe far, far) future, I hope I’ll be on the programme too!