The Ninth Annual
SPRUNG FESTIVAL

Sexy and socially aware 

Vancouver Arts Centre, Albany WA
Friday 19 to Sunday 21 September 2008

Sprung is a festival of fun and inspiration for lovers of books, writing, words, ideas and laughter! This year Sprung marks its ninth outing with a sexy and socially aware program. Leading Australian social commentator Hugh Mackay, novelist Tobsha Learner and children’s author Elizabeth Honey lead the line-up. They are joined by acclaimed Singaporean poet Alvin Pang, returning for his second Sprung.

First-time authors Chris Pash and Amanda Curtin also feature on the program, both with books connected to Albany. Pash's book The Last Whale is a closely observed account of Greenpeace's first Australian campaign, to end whaling in the south coast town, and Curtin's novel The Sinkings draws on a mysterious 19th century murder near Albany in which the victim was of ambiguous gender.

Also on the program are: poets Dennis Haskell, Barbara Temperton and Maree Dawes; Noongar author Eric Hayward; songwriter and musician Geoff Waldeck; performance poet Vivienne Glance; along with regular MCs Glenn Swift and Jon Doust.

• Hugh Mackay Sage social commentator
• Tobsha Learner Sexy tales, slices of history and contemporary questions
• Elizabeth Honey Children's favourite in words and pictures
• Chris Pash Human dimension of whaling's end
• Amanda Curtin Historical-contemporary novel of intersex, love and belonging

Join us in September for an entertaining program of meet the writer sessions, panel discussions, book readings, a photographic exhibition of whaling and the beginnings of Greenpeace Australia, workshops, and the legendary “pub poetry with legs” evening and music.

Big Book Club

Join an entertaining and insightful discussion of Amanda Curtin's The Sinkings at the Albany Public Library at 5.30pm on Tuesday September 9. Panelists Andrew Wenzel, Joan Blight, Valerie Milne and Brian Malone will give their views on this historical-contemporary novel that draws on a real-life gruesome murder near Albany in the 19th century. The Big Book Club is free but bookings are essential by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or on 9841 9390.