TAF2019 is thrilled to announce it’s Prime Suspect: author of the heart-racing Mak Vanderwall series and brilliant new Billie Walker, PI series, TARA MOSS.

TAF2019’s Podcaster, Barbie Robinson, spoke to Tara recently about DEAD MAN SWITCH, Billie Walker, PI: click here for a downloadable podcast and review.

Tara is the bestselling author of eleven books of fiction and non-fiction published in nineteen countries, a journalist, doctoral candidate at the University of Sydney, public speaker and outspoken advocate for children’s rights and women’s rights.

She is UNICEF Australia’s National Ambassador for Child Survival, Patron for the Full Stop Foundation for ending rape and domestic violence and an ambassador for Our Watch. She was Norton’s 2015 Family Ambassador for child e-safety and cyberbullying.

In 2015 she received an Edna Ryan award for making a feminist difference, inciting others to challenge the status quo. Tara currently lives in New South Wales with her husband and daughter.

Visit her at taramoss.com.

TARA’S EVENTS

On Friday 1 November, Tara will join PITCH TO A PUBLISHER participants for afternoon tea.

Tara will also be at NOIR AT THE BAR and Curse of the Sphinx MURDER MYSTERY PARTY, along with the TAF2019 Panellists.

TARA’S PANEL SESSIONS

9.45 am, Sat 2 Nov, MEANS

11 am, Sun 3 Nov, THE FEMALE GUMSHOE

1.45 pm, Sun 3 Nov, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

TAF2019 is excited to announce our marvellous International Guest of Honour: author of the Inspector Singh Investigates series, SHAMINI FLINT.

TAF2019’s Podcaster, Barbie Robinson, spoke to Shamini recently about A FRIGHTFULLY ENGLISH EXECUTION, Inspector Singh No. 7: click here for a downloadable podcast and review.

Shamini lives in Singapore with her husband and two children. She travelled Asia extensively as a corporate lawyer, before resigning to be a stay-at-home mum, writer, part-time lecturer and environmental activist - all in an effort to make up for her 'evil' past as the corporate lawyer!

Shamini has written many books for children but is best known for her Inspector Singh Investigates series of crime fiction for adults. Her latest book, published in 2019, is an international thriller, The Beijing Conspiracy.

SHAMINI’S EVENTS

On Friday 1 November, Shamini will join PITCH TO A PUBLISHER participants for afternoon tea.

Shamini will also be at NOIR AT THE BAR and Curse of the Sphinx MURDER MYSTERY PARTY, along with the TAF2019 Panellists.

SHAMINI’S PANEL SESSIONS

11 am, Sat 2 Nov, OPPORTUNITY

12 pm, Sat 2 Nov, THE MIRROR CRACK’D

2.45 pm, Sat 2 Nov, SCENE OF THE CRIME

8.45 am, Sun 3 Nov, THE USUAL SUSPECTS

1.45 pm, Sun 3 Nov, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

Our TAF2019 line-up of authors plotting (fictional) murder needed a foil - enter one (fictional) Crown Prosecutor: the seriously talented MARTA DUSSELDORP. Yes!

Marta plays both the eponymous Janet King and Linda Hillier - intrepid reporter - in Jack Irish with grit and determination. Marta is renowned for her dedicated preparation before commencing each new acting role, lending her a series of riveting anecdotes to share with the Murder She Wrote crowd.

Outside her theatrical pursuits and family, Marta is an ambassador for Save the Children Australia and Australia for UNHCR. We’re thrilled to welcome her!

MARTA’S EVENTS

Marta will be at NOIR AT THE BAR (Fri 1 Nov) and the Curse of the Sphinx MURDER MYSTERY PARTY (Sat 2 Nov), along with her sister (and fellow) Murder She Wrote Panellists.

MARTA’S PANEL SESSIONS

9.45 am, Sat 2 Nov, MEANS

9.45 am, Sun 3 Nov, THE LADY VANISHES

TAF2019 is delighted to welcome writer-publisher-whisky virtuosa DR ANGELA MEYER.

Angela’s writing has been widely published, including in Best Australian Stories, Island, The Big Issue, The Australian, The Lifted Brow and Killings. She has worked in bookstores, as a book reviewer and for the past few years has published a range of Australian authors for Echo Publishing, including award-winners and an international number one bestseller.

She grew up in Northern NSW and lives in Melbourne. A Superior Spectre is her debut novel (Peter Bishop Books/Ventura). She previously published a book of flash fiction, Captives (Inkerman & Blunt).

TAF2019’s Podcaster, Barbie Robinson, spoke to Angela recently about A SUPERIOR SPECTRE: click here for a downloadable podcast and review.

ANGELA’S EVENTS

12.30 pm, Thurs 31 Oct, CHARACTER AND VOICE MASTERCLASS

Fri 1 Nov, Angela will be providing feedback at PITCH TO A PUBLISHER.

4 pm, Sun 3 Nov, WHISKY & WORDS WITH FIRST DOG ON THE MOON

Angela will also attend NOIR AT THE BAR and Curse of the Sphinx MURDER MYSTERY PARTY.

ANGELA’S PANEL SESSIONS

4 pm, Sat 2 Nov, CSI: TASMANIA

8.45 am, Sun 3 Nov, THE USUAL SUSPECTS

11 am, Sun 3 Nov, THE FEMALE GUMSHOE

1.45 pm, Sun 3 Nov, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

TAF2019 is proud to announce our Murder(sHe) Wrote line-up will feature the author of Tasmania’s much loved long-running Pufferfish series, DAVID OWEN.

A prolific author, David’s most recent crime fiction works include Pufferfish 9, Big Red Rock, and the standalone crime fiction/teaching novella, Why Neville Shot Gus.

TAF2019’s Podcaster, Barbie Robinson, spoke to David recently: click here for a downloadable podcast, alongside a review of BIG RED ROCK and WHY NEVILLE SHOT GUS.

David Owen was born in Zimbabwe in 1956. He lived in Malawi, Swaziland and South Africa before migrating to London, and then to Australia in 1986 where he worked at CSIRO in Melbourne before moving to Tasmania. He edited Tasmania’s Island magazine for five years. He also worked for Arts Tasmania curating literary festivals and the Tasmania Book Prizes. He is author of 18 fiction and nonfiction titles, the nonfiction books being a natural history series – Thylacine; Tasmanian Devil; Shark. He is married to Leisha Owen. They have two adult sons, Hilton, an artist, and Larry, a doctor. He is the Official Secretary to the Governor of Tasmania.

DAVID’S EVENTS

David will attend NOIR AT THE BAR and Curse of the Sphinx MURDER MYSTERY PARTY.

DAVID’S PANEL SESSIONS

8.45 am, Sat 2 Nov, MOTIVE

4 pm, Sat 2 Nov, CSI: TASMANIA

1.45 pm, Sun 3 Nov, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

The TAF2019 team is in awe of Debi Marshall, our Hobart-based Walkley-award winning investigative crime journalist.

Debi is the host and investigative producer of a five-part true-crime series based in South Australia, entitled Debi Marshall Investigates: Frozen Lies.

Starting her career at a newspaper in 1986, Debi moved to hard news at the ABC in radio and television. She later freelanced for Australian radio stations including 3AW and 2UE, covering major stories such as the Port Arthur massacre.

A feature writer, Debi has written for all Australian magazines including the Bulletin, Woman’s Weekly, Madison, Marie Claire and WHO and worked for two years as a senior feature writer for New Idea magazine in the mid 90’s.

From 2011 – 2016, Debi was an Associate Producer for Sunday Night, 7, covering major crime stories. She has also freelanced crime stories for 60 Minutes. She has a reputation for fearless investigative research and for her handling of sensitive stories and talent with respect and dignity.

Debi has written eight books with Random House publishing, including five true crime titles and three biographies. Most have been best-sellers. She is presently writing her ninth true-crime book.

DEBI’S PANEL SESSION

12 pm, Sat 2 Nov, THE MIRROR CRACK’D

TAF2019 is excited to welcome the multi-talented reporter-radio producer-SCUBA diving instructor MEG KENEALLY.

Meg’s first solo novel, Fled, based on the escape of First Fleet convict Mary Bryant, was published early in 2019.

TAF2019’s Podcaster, Barbie Robinson, spoke to Meg about FLED recently: click here for a downloadable podcast and review of FLED.

She is co-author with Tom Keneally of The Soldier’s Curse, The Unmourned, The Power Game and The Ink Stain, the first four books in the Monsarrat Series of historical murder mysteries. The fifth in the series, The Valley of the Swells (the first Monsarrat story to involve a serial killer), will be published in Australia in 2021.

Meg is currently working on her second solo novel, The Wreck.

MEG’S EVENTS

3 pm, Fri 1 Nov, HISTORY AS INSPIRATION MASTERCLASS

Meg will also be at NOIR AT THE BAR and Curse of the Sphinx MURDER MYSTERY PARTY, along with the other TAF2019 Panellists.

MEG’S PANEL SESSIONS

11 am, Sat 2 Nov, OPPORTUNITY

1.45 pm, Sat 2 Nov, PICK YOUR POISON

12 pm, Sun 3 Nov, MARPLE VS. HOLMES

1.45 pm, Sun 3 Nov, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

TAF2019 gleefully welcomes recent convert to the dark side of adult crime fiction, JACK HEATH.

With the publication of Hangman in 2018, Jack is now the bestselling author of 25 thrillers for adults and children, which have been translated into six languages, shortlisted for many awards and adapted for film. His first novel was written in high school and published when he was still a teenager. He also created Lights, Camera, Pitch!, a story-telling based card game.

Jack lives on the land of the Ngunnawal people in Canberra.

JACK’S EVENTS

3 pm, Thurs 31 Oct, PLOT MASTERCLASS

Fri 1 Nov, Jack will deliver a masterclass on pitching at PITCH TO A PUBLISHER.

Jack will also attend NOIR AT THE BAR and Curse of the Sphinx MURDER MYSTERY PARTY.

JACK’S PANEL SESSIONS

9.45 am, Sat 2 Nov, MEANS

1.45 am, Sat 2 Nov, PICK YOUR POISON

9.45 am, Sun 3 Nov, THE LADY VANISHES

1.45 pm, Sun 3 Nov, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

TAF2019’s Murder She Wrote would be incomplete without Melbourne crime fiction mafiosa DR ANGELA SAVAGE.

Author of the Jayne Keeney, PI series, Angela is an award winning crime writer who has lived and travelled extensively in Asia. Her debut, Behind the Night Bazaar, won the 2004 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript. She won the Scarlett Stiletto Award and was thrice shortlisted for Ned Kelly awards, with The Dying Beach also shortlisted for a Davitt Award.

Angela spoke to TAF2019’s Podcaster, Barbie Robinson, recently about all things writing and THE DYING BEACH: click here for a downloadable podcast and review.

Alongside Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers, she is a contributor to the 2017 anthology, Deadlier: 100 Of The Best Crime Stories Written By Women. Angela holds a PhD in Creative Writing, lives in Melbourne and currently works as Director of Writers Victoria.

‘While I’m thrilled to be part of the Terror Australis Festival and can’t wait to share my passion for reading and writing with locals and visitors alike, make no mistake: behind the friendly exterior, in my imagination, I’ll be finding the menace in your beautiful environment, turning your excellent local wines and produce into poison, scattering your exquisite Huon Valley with dead bodies…’ - ANGELA SAVAGE

ANGELA’S EVENTS

9.30 am, Thurs 31 Oct, DEVELOPING YOUR CREATIVE WRITING PRACTICE MASTERCLASS

12.30 pm, Fri 1 Nov, PERFECTING YOUR CRIME FICTION MASTERCLASS

Angela will also be at NOIR AT THE BAR and Curse of the Sphinx MURDER MYSTERY PARTY, along with the TAF2019 Panellists.

ANGELA’S PANEL SESSIONS

8.45 am, Sat 2 Nov, MOTIVE

2.45 pm, Sat 2 Nov, SCENE OF THE CRIME

8.45 am, Sun 3 Nov, THE USUAL SUSPECTS

1.45 pm, Sun 3 Nov, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

Livia Day is the crime-writing alter ego of award winning science fiction and fantasy author DR TANSY RAYNER ROBERTS. Her café-and-cozy-crime Tabitha Darling novels are set around Hobart and Southern Tasmania.

Livia has lived in Tasmania all her life, and is delighted that her state is now known as a hub of great culture and coffee, because when she used to put that in her books no-one believed her.

After attending Murder She Wrote, they’ll have no doubts!

TANSY’S EVENTS

9.30 am, Fri 1 Nov, STORYWORLD MASTERCLASS

10 am to 4 pm, Fri 1 Nov, STALL IN THE HALL OF WRITERS

TANSY’S PANEL SESSIONS

1.45 pm, Sat 2 Nov, PICK YOUR POISON

4 pm, Sat 2 Nov, CSI: TASMANIA

1.45 pm, Sun 3 Nov, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

TAF2019 Panellist JOANNA BAKER was educated at The Friends’ School, Hobart, the Australian National University and RMIT. She writes murder mysteries.

She has won a Davitt Award from Sisters in Crime Australia. Her work has been described as ‘intelligent and sensitive’ (Sisters in Crime judges) and ‘outstanding’ (Jane Sullivan in The Age).

Joanna’s fourth novel, The Slipping Place, set in Hobart, was published by Impact Press in November 2018.

Joanna lives in Hobart and is currently working on another Tasmanian mystery novel. She also writes online about murder mysteries, why they are so enduring, and why they are not trivial.

JOANNA’S EVENTS

On Friday 1 November, Joanna will join PITCH TO A PUBLISHER participants for afternoon tea.

Joanna will also be at NOIR AT THE BAR and Curse of the Sphinx MURDER MYSTERY PARTY, along with the other TAF2019 Panellists.

JOANNA’S PANEL SESSIONS

2.45 pm, Sat 2 Nov, SCENE OF THE CRIME

12 pm, Sun 3 Nov, MARPLE VS. HOLMES

1.45 pm, Sun 3 Nov, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

Wannabe astronaut, warrior chick and Apache helicopter pilot, LINDY CAMERON is a crime fiction author, publisher-in-chief at Clan Destine Press and President of Sisters in Crime Australia.

Before plunging into the world of make-believe, Lindy worked as a journalist and a book editor. Her first published novel was the archaeological adventure Golden Relic, followed by three award-winning instalments in her Kit O’Malley, Melbourne PI series. 

TAF2019’s Podcaster, Barbie Robinson, spoke to Lindy recently about GOLDEN RELIC: click here for a downloadable podcast and review of GOLDEN RELIC.

Lindy’s latest fiction is the espionage adventure thriller Redback featuring Bryn Gideon and her team of retrieval agents.

LINDY’S EVENTS

12.45 pm, Thurs 31 Oct, SHORT STORY COMPETITIONS WORKSHOP

1 pm to 4 pm, Fri 1 Nov, Lindy will be providing feedback at PITCH TO A PUBLISHER.

10 am to 4 pm, Fri 1 Nov, Clan Destine Press will have a STALL IN THE HALL OF WRITERS

Lindy will also attend NOIR AT THE BAR and Curse of the Sphinx MURDER MYSTERY PARTY.

LINDY’S PANEL SESSIONS

12 pm, Sat 2 Nov, THE MIRROR CRACK’D

12 pm, Sun 3 Nov, MARPLE VS. HOLMES

1.45 pm, Sun 3 Nov, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

We’re excited (and a little scared) to announce TAF2019 will feature reformed lawyer-baker-truffle grower SULARI GENTILL.

As serious about cakes as she is books, Sulari is the award winning author of the Rowland Sinclair Mysteries, the Hero Trilogy, and Crossing the Lines (winner of the 2018 Ned Kelly Award).

She lives in her pyjamas in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains and refers to her writing as “work” so that no one dares suggest she get a real job.

Click here for a recent interview of Sulari by our Festival Director.

Click here to see Sulari reading excerpts from a Rowland Sinclair novel at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

Click here for a recent radio interview with Sulari.

Click here to read a Rowland Sinclair novella - THE PRODIGAL SON.

Our heist mastermind…er…Festival Director, Dr L.J.M. Owen founded the Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival as a criminally good celebration of literature and literacy in southern Tasmania.

With degrees in archaeology, forensic science and librarianship, L.J. is also an author. She was inspired to write the Dr Pimms series by the neglected women's stories she discovered between the cracks of popular archaeology. Three books in this series have been published by Echo Publishing.

L.J.'s new novel, The Great Divide, introduces a new story world and characters. Darker than Dr Pimms, The Great Divide is atmospheric Australian rural crime fiction. The Great Divide will be launched on the Saturday afternoon of the festival.

L.J.’S EVENTS

L.J. will launch her latest novel, THE GREAT DIVIDE, at 5pm on Sat 2 Nov. For program information, click here.

L.J. will attend NOIR AT THE BAR and wrote Curse of the Sphinx, the festival’s MURDER MYSTERY PARTY.

L.J.’S PANEL SESSIONS

9.45 am, Sat 2 Nov, MEANS

4 pm, Sat 2 Nov, CSI: TASMANIA

9.45 am, Sun 3 Nov, THE LADY VANISHES

12 pm, Sun 3 Nov, MARPLE VS. HOLMES

1.45 pm, Sun 3 Nov, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

MORE…

For more on L.J., please see this ArtsHub article introducing our director.

For more on Dr Pimms, click here.

For more on The Great Divide:

- read the blurb of The Great Divide here;

- read an excerpt from The Great Divide;

- if you’re a NetGalley reviewer, read and review The Great Divide now.

Dear TAF2019 Attendees

It is with disappointment, but understanding, that we must share some sad news.

Due to unforseen circumstances, our lovely Mistress of Mystery, Kerry Greenwood, is no longer able to join our TAF family at Murder She Wrote. Kerry is deeply upset by this turn of events, and wishes everyone at the festival well. We will miss her company dearly.

For those of you who were particularly looking forward to spending time with Kerry at the festival, we hope that the recent addition of the marvellous Marta Dusseldorp - along with our existing line up of wonderful panellists - will compensate.

Warmly

The TAF team

…

TAF2019 is honoured to announce we’ll be joined by Australia’s Mistress of Mystery: historian-lawyer-cat whisperer KERRY GREENWOOD.

Author of the phenomenally successful Phryne Fisher series (seen on TV as Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) and the much-loved Corinna Chapman series, Kerry can detect second-hand bookshops from blocks away.

She is the unpaid curator of seven thousand books, three cats (Attila, Belladonna and Ashe) and a computer called Apple (which squeaks).

KERRY’S EVENTS

On Friday 1 November, Kerry will join PITCH TO A PUBLISHER participants for afternoon tea.

Kerry will also be at NOIR AT THE BAR and Curse of the Sphinx MURDER MYSTERY PARTY, along with the TAF2019 Panellists.

KERRY’S PANEL SESSIONS

12 pm, Sat 2 Nov, THE MIRROR CRACK’D

12 pm, Sun 3 Nov, MARPLE VS. HOLMES