Chance to hear writers speak volumes at Newtown Festival
Inner West Courier, 11th November 2010
STORIES from across the globe are being shared at the Newtown Festival’s Writers’ Tent this Sunday.
Presented by Newtown book store Better Read Than Dead, speakers will be discussing fiction, crime, social responsibilities, the world and politics.
Organiser Derek Dryden said they’re back for the seventh year as it’s the shop’s literary gift to the readers of Newtown.
“There’s authors to make you think, authors who will amuse you and plenty of authors who will simply entertain, but most of all it’s fun,” he said.
“It’s not the Miles Franklin or the Premier’s Literary Awards, it’s a group of authors having a fun day out at a great festival.”
Cabramatta travel writer
Walter Mason will be in conversation with his publisher Maggie Hamilton at the tent about his latest book Destination Saigon.
“It’s very prestigious and it’s a tremendous privilege (to be part of the festival) as an author as Newtown is my readership,” he said.
Mason spent four months travelling from the south to the north of Vietnam to see the countryside, discover religions, and experience the culture and humanity of the people.
“I fell in love with it the first time I went there in ‘94 and have been back 11 times in 16 years,” he said.
Mason said the book is about friendships more than travelling and the experience of the people.
He said one of his favourite experiences was visiting a friend, who is a monk, who took him to stay at a temple on an ocean cliff. “Every night, with his fisherman friends, they would say a prayer for me and the people of Australia,” he said.
“I thought that was such an amazing gesture because they didn’t know me, they didn’t have too, but I felt so included.”
Mason will not only speaking about Destination Saigon, but will also be speaking about the writing process for all budding authors in the audience.
Mason said he’s looking forward to seeing the two speakers he has been placed between, Geesche Jacobsen speaking about crime and political commentator Annabel Crabb.
Mason will fly to Cambodia in a couple of weeks to start a new adventure and write his second travel book.
