Bookshop, Library & Festival Events – October 2025
| Date | Host | Event Details | ||
| 1st | Heads and Tales Bookstore | School holiday workshop with Amelia Mellor Ocean Forged Time: 11am Venue: The Makers Shed, Barwon Heads | ||
| BMI Ballarat | In conversation with Rozzi Bazzani One Night Time: 6pm Venue: BMI Library, Ballarat | |||
| Rowville Library | Meet the Author: Holly Cardamone Summer In Between Time: 11am Venue: Rowville Library | |||
| Stonnington Libraries | Author Talk & Workshop with Ingrid Laguna Edie Tells a Lie Time: 2pm Venue: Toorak/South Yarra Library | |||
| 2nd | Ramona Bookstore | LAUNCH: One Story by Pip Finkenmeyer with Emily Westmoreland and a gentle DJ set inspired by the music and the era of the novel, i.e. some 2010s and 90s classiques. Time: 6pm Venue: Library Portal, Northcote | ||
| Blarney Books & Art | Book Launch: The Keeper of the Octopus Neridah McMullin Time: 5pm Venue: in store, Port Fairy | |||
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of No Fence, No Limits by Kelly Donougher Time: 6pm Venue: Chadstone | |||
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of A Smart Girl’s Guide to Second Chances by Steph Vizard (HC) Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |||
| Readings | Ann Curthoys will be in conversation with Professor Joy Damousi about The Last Tour Time: 6.30pm Venue: Readings State Library | |||
| Readings | Clare Stephens in conversation with the hosts of Shameless, Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews (A&U) Time: 6.15pm Venue: Lido, Hawthorn | |||
| Hill of Content | Helen Goh in Conversation with Jaclyn Crupi EVENT IS SOLD OUT | |||
| 2nd-5th | FESTIVAL | National Young Writers Festival Newcastle NSW The National Young Writers’ Festival (NYWF) is an annual gathering of young writers. It’s a place to show work, share ideas, and learn. | ||
| 3rd | The Leaf Bookshop | 250 Words Workshop with Emma Gourley Kip of the Mountain Time: 11am – 12.15pm Venue: in store, Ashburton | ||
| Nice Stack of Books | Lyn Yeowart The Hollow Girl Time: 6.30pm Venue: Meeniyan Town Hall | |||
| Readings | Hear Helen Goh, Ottolenghi pastry chef and recipe developer, in conversation about Baking and the Meaning of Life SOLD OUT Time: 6pm Venue: Chadstone | |||
| Readings | Drusilla Modjeska in conversation with Andrea Goldsmith about A Woman’s Eye, Her Art (PRH) Time: 6.15pm Venue: Church of All Nations, Carlton | |||
| 4th | FESTIVAL | Romance Author & Reader Events RARE 25, Melbourne Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre | ||
| 4th | Brimbank Libraries | Write Crime with Bestselling Author, Anna Snoekstra The Ones We Love Time: 1-4pm Venue: Sunshine Library | ||
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Between by Anna Walker (Scribe) Time: 2pm Venue: Readings Kids | |||
| Northern Books | In conversation & book launch with Brigid Delaney The Seeker and The Sage Time: 4pm Venue: Castlemaine Bowling Club | |||
| Heads and Tales Bookstore | An evening with Helen Goh & Cara Waters Baking & The Meaning of Life Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Barwon Heads | |||
| Eltham Bookshop | Launch: Neighbourhood Nest by Jane Lightfoot Time: 3pm Venue: Eltham Bookshop | |||
| 5th | Antiopodes Bookshop | Book Launch: Flip, Rebecca Fraser & The Day the Bridge Fell, Coral Vass Time: 11am Venue: in store, Sorrento | ||
| Northern Books | High Tea at the Daylesford Convent with Helen Goh, to discuss her new book, Baking and the Meaning of Life Time: 11.30am Venue: The Convent, Daylesford | |||
| 6th | Melb Writers Club | Monthly meet with special guest Lauren Faller King (Elle Croft) Time:6pm Venue: Arbory Bar (bookings not required) | ||
| Sun Bookshop | Helen Goh & Melissa Leong in convo with Jacinta Parsons Time: 6.30pm Venue: The Sun Theatre, Yarraville | |||
| Readings | Hear Benjamin Stevenson in conversation with J.P. Pomare about Everyone in This Bank is a Thief (PRH) Time: 6pm Venue: Church of All Nations, Carlton | |||
| 7th | RMIT Culture | Bob Brown will discuss his latest book, Defiance Time: 7pm Venue: The Capitol | ||
| The Bookshop at Queenscliff | Author Talk: Anna Walker, between Time: 6pm Venue: in store | |||
| Bayside Libraries | Sally Hepworth Mad Mabel with Kate Mildenhall SOLD OUT Time: Venue: Brighton Town Hall with Thesaurus Booksellers | |||
| Glen Eira Libraries | Jacinta Parsons A Wisdom of Age in convo with Clare Bowditch Time: 7pm Venue: Glen Eira Town Hall | |||
| Readings | Hear Brigid Delaney in conversation about The Seeker and The Sage Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton (A&U) | |||
| Dymocks Tooronga | First Tuesday Book club featuirng: Darcy Green, Holly Cardamone, Steph Vizard, Pamela Nathan, Andrew Kilsby & Daryl Moran, Melanie Haley Time: 6.15pm Venue: Rivoli, Camberwell | |||
| 8th | Mornington Peninsula Libraries | Author Talk: Benjamin Stevenson Everyone in this Bank is a Thief Time: 11am Venue: Mornington Library | ||
| Dymocks Waurn Ponds | Books in Bars: Benjamin Stevenson Everyone in this Bank is a Thief Time: 6.30pm Venue: Waurn Ponds Hotel | |||
| RMIT Culture | David McWilliams Money: A Story of Humanity with Jacinta Parsons time: 6.30pm Venue: The Wheeler Centre | |||
| Yarra Libraries | Sally Hepworth Mad Mabel Time: 6.30pm Venue: Fitzroy Town Hall Ballroom | |||
| Readings | Hear S. Shakthidharan in conversation about Gather Up Your World in One Long Breath Time: 6.30pm Venue: Readings State Library | |||
| 9th | Bookgrove | Belinda Lyons-lee The Haunting of Mr & Mrs Steveneon AND Alli Sinclair A Woman’s Voice Time: 7pm Venue: in store, Ocean Grove | ||
| Bayswater Library | Author Talk: Alli Parker Until the Read Leaves Fall Time: 6pm Venue: Bayswater Library | |||
| Bayside Libraries | Author Talk: Sensible Money with Emily Stewart Time: 6pm Venue: Sandringham Library | |||
| Wheeler Centre | Callie Hart Quicksilver, Brimstone Time: 7.00pm Venue: The Capitol SOLD OUT | |||
| Readings | Hear Marika Sosnowski in conversation with Andre Dao about 58 Facets Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | |||
| Dymocks Knox | Books in Bars with Keshe Chow For No Mortal Creature Time: 6.30pm Venue: Urban Alley Brewery, Knox | |||
| Collins Ballarat | In conversation with Guy Sigley to celebrate his new novel Anxious Hearts Time: 6.30pm Venue: Old Colonists Club | |||
| 10th | Readings | Hear Tara Moss in conversation about her new book, The Italian Secret (HC) Time: 6.00pm Readings Emporium | ||
| Readings | Hear Phil Craig in conversation with Clare Wright about 1945: The Reckoning (Hodder & Stoughton) Time: 6.00pm Readings Hawthorn | |||
| Readings | Hear Omar Musa in conversation about his latest novel, Fierceland (Penguin) Time: 6.30pm Church of All Nations, Carlton | |||
| 11th | Readings | Launch of Millie Mak Makes Her Mark (Millie Mak #3) by Alice Pung and Sher Rill Ng (HC) Time: 11.30am Venue: Kathleen Syme Library, Carlton | ||
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of The 113th Assistant Librarian 2: Lost in a Book by Stuart Wilson (PRH) Time: 2.00pm Venue: Readings Kids | |||
| 9th-12th | FESTIVAL | Brisbane Writers Festival QLD As Australia’s oldest continuous writers’ festival, BWF has a long and storied history of connecting communities, showcasing creativity and finding just the right words. | ||
| 10th-12th | FESTIVAL | Tasmanian Poetry Festival TAS The Tasmanian Poetry Festival commenced in 1985 and is held annually, normally over the first full weekend in October, but this does change. Local and guest poets are invited to Launceston to share their work at a range of events held over the Festival weekend. | ||
| 11th | Mornington Peninsula Libraries | Author Talk: Stuart Coupe Saffron Incorporated Time: 11am Venue: Mornington Library | ||
| 11th-12th | FESTIVAL | Mansfield Readers & Writers Festival VIC Mansfield Readers and Writers celebrates storytelling in all its forms. The 2025 Festival Program is now live, featuring these amazing authors. Tickets available now. Download the full program here. | ||
| 11th-12th | FESTIVAL | Sketch and Scribe Festival – for children’s illustrators and writers The Sketch and Scribe Festival offers a range of development opportunities for writers and artists wanting to level-up their craft. Venue: Jan Juc SLSC | ||
| Book People | LOVE YOUR BOOKSHOP DAY Check with your local library to see what they have planned! | |||
| 12th | Clunes Booktown | Booktown on Sunday: Andrea Richards, President of the Jane Austen Society of Melbourne wil discuss all things Jane Austen Time: 2.00pm Venue: Clunes Railway Station | ||
| 14th | Mornington Peninsula Libraries | Author Talk: Emily Stewart Sensible Money Time: 11am Venue: Rosebud Library | ||
| Bayside Libraries | Chris Hammer Legacy, in conversation with Vikki Petraitis Time: 6:00pm Venue: Brighton Town Hall | |||
| Melbourne Writers Festival | Griffin Dunne: The Friday Afternoon Club Time: 7.30pm Venue: The Capitol | |||
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Do We Deserve This? by Eleanor Elliott Thomas (Text) Time: 6.00pm Venue: Readings Carlton | |||
| Readings | Hear Bri Lee in conversation about her new book, Seed (S&S) Time: 6.15pm Venue: Cinema Nova, Carltono | |||
| Heads and Tales | An evening with Adelaide Bragg & Robyn Lea City Coast Country time: 6pm Venue: private residence Barwon Heads | |||
| 15th | Readings | Esther Anatolitis When Australia Became a Republic with Jennifer Hocking Time: 6pm Venue: Carlton | ||
| Readings | Craig Silvey in conversation about his new book Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping (A&U) Time: 5.30pm Venue: Church of All Nations, Carlton | |||
| Readings | Hear Sarah Brill in conversation about Catch (A&U) Time: 6.00pm Venue: Readings Hawthorn EVENT CANCELLED | |||
| Readings | Hear Ivan Franceschini, Ling Li discuss their book Scam with Justin Bergman Time: 6.00pm Venue: Readings Emporium | |||
| Dymocks Waurn Ponds | Books in Bars with Dwayne Russell Killing for Sport Time: 6.30pm Venue: Waurn Ponds Hotel | |||
| 16th | Stonnington Libraries | Simon Mustoe: How to survive the next 100 years Time: 6.15pm Venue: Toorak/South Yarra Library | ||
| Antipodes Bookshop | Words After Dark: Alli Parker, Until the Read Leaves Fall Time: 6pm Venue: in store | |||
| Kingston Libraries | Celebrating Stories of Older Women: Menopause is Not a Use-By Date with Dr Rachel Matthews, Jacquie Byron, and Trish Bolton for an engaging conversation celebrating the lives of women in later years. Time: 11:30AM Venue: Cheltenham Library | |||
| Readings | Heather Rose A Great Act of Love (A&U) Time: 6.15pm Venue: Cinema Nova | |||
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Natalie Rose Dyer’s Nothing But a Fine Nerve Meter; New Maps at the Planetary Turn Time: 6.00pm Venue: Readings Carlton | |||
| Readings | Hear Keshe Chow in conversation about her new book, For No Mortal Creature (PRH) Time: 6.00pm Venue: Readings Emporium | |||
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Witch Power by Emma Quilty Time: 6.30pm Venue: Readings State Library | |||
| Northern Books | An evening with Craig Silvey Time: 7pm Venue: Phee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine | |||
| 17th | Wheeler Centre | Join Stella Prize-winning author Heather Rose as she unveils her powerful new novel, A Great Act of Love, in this special event at Montalto. Time: 6.30pm Venue: Montalto Winery | ||
| Readings | Hear Chris Hammer in conversation about his new book, Legacy (A&U) Time: 6.00pm Venue: Church of All Nations, Carlton | |||
| 17th-18th | FESTIVAL | Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival Hannah Kent headlines this inaugural festival that features over 30 author including Alli Parker, Alison Goodman, Amy Doak, Carly Findlay, Christine White, Christine Newell, Kate Mildenhall, Kate Solly, Kelly Gardiner, Kerryn Mayne, Kimberley Allsopp, Kylie Orr, Lia Hills, Madeleine Clearly, Mark Mupotsa-Russell, Matt Rogers, Paul Kennedy, Shelley Burr, Sue Smethurst and many more Venue: various venues in Belgrave | ||
| 17th-19th | FESTIVAL | Headland Writers Festival Tathra NSW Across three days, the spectacular Tathra headland will serve as a backdrop to an abundance of author in-conversations, panel discussions, workshops, poetry, exhibitions, theatre and music performances. | ||
| 17th-26th | FESTIVAL | Queenscliffe Literary Festival VIC The Queenscliffe Literary Festival is a celebration of Australian writers, books and ideas featuring some of our finest authors and thinkers in a program of events designed to stimulate thought and discussion. | ||
| 18th-19th | FESTIVAL | Festival of Fiction Perth, WA (ECU Joondalup) The inaugural 2024 Festival of Fiction at Edith Cowan University in Perth brought together 350 readers with their favourite Australian authors who they got to listen to in conversation on stage and then meet in person afterwards. | ||
| 18th | FESTIVAL | Mount Beauty Writers Festival VIC Experience an intimate connection and celebration of books with the amazing authors who write them, all taking place in the picturesque Alpine setting of Mount Beauty Victoria. Guests include Peter FitzSimons, Chris Hammer, Courtney Collins, Ashley Kalagian Blunt, Joe Matera, Peter Norris and Ruth Pollock | ||
| State Library Vic | Twenty-five years ago, acclaimed Australian author Peter Carey penned his tour de force True History of the Kelly Gang – a fictional autobiography of Australia’s most notorious bushranger, Ned Kelly. Now, hear from Carey direct from New York as he joins host Michael Williams (editor of The Monthly) for an exclusive online interview about his creative practice. Time: 10.30am Venue: Livestream | |||
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Elif’s Itchy Palm by Lora Inak and Kruti Desai Time: 2.00pm Venue: Readings Doncaster (UWA Publishing) | |||
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Here Come the Cousins by Maggie Hutchings and Sarah Zweck (T&H) Time: 2.00pm Venue: Readings Kids | |||
| 19th | Northern Books | An evening with Bob Brown Time: 7pm Venue: Phee Broadway Theatre SOLD OUT | ||
| Escape Hatch Books | An afternoon with Matt Stanton Funny Kid Seriously Soccer Time: 2pm Venue: in store, East Kew | |||
| Collins Booksellers Warrnambool | Bookwiz: Food, Wine, Music, Trivia, Books. Guests include Luke Johnson, Tanya Scott & Samuel Ridley Time: 12pm – 4.30pm Venue: Keyanc Maar Vineward | |||
| 20th | Readings | Hear Susan Neuhaus in conversation about The Surgeon of Royaumont (HC) Time: 6.00pm Venue: Readings Hawthorn | ||
| 20th | Avenue Bookstore & Stonnington Libraries | A Great Act of Love Heather Rose in conversation Time: 6pm Venue: Toorak/South Yarra Library | ||
| 21st | Bookgrove | Chris Hammer Legacy and Christian White The Long Night in conversation Time: 7pm Venue: OGSLSC | ||
| BMI Library | In conversation with J Mary Master Winds of Change Time: 6pm Venue: BMI Library | |||
| Mary Martin Bookshop | Author Mystery Night! Join fellow booklovers in a local bar for a glass of wine and entertaining conversation with a surprise author! A glass of wine and a copy of the author’s book are included in the ticket price. Time: 6.15pm MEET at the Queen Vic Bookshop | |||
| 22nd | Dymocks Waurn Ponds | Books in Bars: Steph Vizard A Smart Girl’s Guide to Second Chances Time: 6.30pm Venue: Waurn Ponds Hotel | ||
| Macedon Ranges Libraries | Chris Hammer Legacy Time: 1pm Venue: Romsey Library | |||
| Readings | Celebration the anthology Don’t Ask the Trees for Their Names: Stories of Leaving and Becoming (Gazebo Boks) Time: 6.00pm Venue: Readings Carlton | |||
| Readings | Hear Kate Mason discuss her book, Powerfully Likeable (PRH) Time: 6.00pm Venue: Readings Emporium | |||
| Warrnambool Library | Storytime with Sally Rippin The World We Can Build Time: 4pm Venue: Warrnambool Library | |||
| 23rd | Readings | Celebrate the launch of AUSTRAL 2025 from Meridian Australis Time: 6.00pm Venue: Readings Carlton | ||
| Collins Ballarat | In Conversation with Madeleine Cleary The Butterfly Women Time: 6.30pm Venue: The Old Colonists Club | |||
| 23rd-25th | FESTIVAL | Sydney Rare Book Fair A number of Australia’s best antiquarian book dealers eager to show wares and treasures will be exhibiting A gathering of buyers, sellers and lovers of books not to be missed. Glasshouse, State Library of NSW | ||
| 24th | Connected Libraries | In Conversation with Jane Harper Last One Out Time: 6.30pm Venue: Casey Grammar School | ||
| RMIT PWE | Odyssey Literary Festival Time: 11am – 8pm Venue: The Capitol Theatre | |||
| Launch: What Have they Done to Liza McLean Amy Doak Time: 6.30pm Venue: Harry Trott Pavillion, Bendigo | ||||
| 24th-26th | FESTIVAL | Canberra Writers Festival ACT Founded in 2016, the Canberra Writer’s Festival has become a beloved event in the national literary calendar – a favourite amongst Australia’s reading, writing and publishing communities. This year’s line-up is amazing, please head to their website for details. | ||
| 24th-26th | FESTIVAL | Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival, Geraldton, WA Celebrating 20 years! | ||
| 25th | The Little Bookroom | Grand re-opening! Time: 9am – 4pm 8 Village Ave., Brunswick East | ||
| Your Library Ltd | Author Talk: Toni Jordan Meet the Author – Toni Jordan Tenderfoot Time: 10.30am Venue: Mooroolbark Library | |||
| Readings Kids | We are delighted to invite you into the dark with authors Amy Doak, Margot McGovern, Adam Cece and Caleb Finn Time: 2pm Venue: Readings Kids | |||
| 27th | Dymocks | In conversation with Matthew Reilly The Detective Time: 7.30pm Venue: The Capitol | ||
| 28th | Heads and Tales Bookstore | An evening with Kate Mildenhall The Hiding Place Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Barwon Heads | ||
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of beautiful changelings by Maxine Beneba Clarke (Ultimo) Time: 6.00pm Venue: Readings Carlton | |||
| Readings | Join Hugh Mackay in conversation about his new book, Just Saying Time: 6.15pm Venue: Cinema Nova | |||
| Readings | Hear Emily Tsokos Purtill discuss her new book, Matia (UWA) Time: 6.30pm Venue: Readings State Library | |||
| Yarra Libraries | Sofie Laguna in conversation The Under World Time: 6.30pm Venue: North Fitzroy Library | |||
| Dymocks Hobart | Book Launch: A Disappearing Act by Jo Dixon Time: 6pm Venue: The Old Woolstore, Hobart | |||
| 29th | Geelong Libraries | Jane Harper Last One Out SOLD OUT Time: 6pm Venue: Geelong Library & Heritage Centre | ||
| Torquay Books | Author Talk: Luke Johnson King Tide Time: 7pm Venue: Torquay Taphouse | |||
| Frankston City Libraries | FrankTALK with Hugh Mackay Just Saying Time: 6pm Venue: Frankston Library | |||
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Chosen Family by Madeleine Gray (S&S) Time: 6.00pm Venue: Readings Carlton | |||
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Eternal Ruin by Tigest Girma (Hachette) Time: 6.00pm Venue: Readings Hawthorn | |||
| Readings | Celebrate the launch of Far Horizons: A Journey from War to Peace by Aaron Tait (HG) Time: 6.00pm Venue: Emporium | |||
| Sun Bookshop | Jeanna Lo Bianco (Love Al Dente) in convo with Pia Gava Time: 7pm Venue: The Younger Sun, Yarraville (Mac) | |||
| Collins Ballarat | In Conversation with Sofie Laguna The Underworld Time: 6.30pm Venue: The Old Colonists Club | |||
| 30th | The Bookbird Geelong | Sofie Laguna in conversaton The Under World Time: 6pm Venue: Boom Gallery, Geelong West | ||
| Escape Hatch Books | Love, Lies and Loyalty – An Evening with Kate Mildenhall and Anna Snoekstra Time: 6pm Venue: in store, Kew East | |||
| Readings | Hear Hugh Mackay in conversation about his new book, Just Saying Time: 6.00pm Venue: Chadstone | |||
| Readings | Hear Professor Julianne Schultz in conversation with Jacob Hickey, with Michael Williams (A&U) Time: 6.30pm Venue: Readings State Library | |||
| Port Phillip Libraries | Jacinta Parsons A Wisdom of Age in convo with Brian Nankervis Time: 6pm Venue: St. Kilda Library | |||
| 31st | Goulburn Valley Libraries | Peter FitzSimons The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop Time: 6.30pm Venue: Shepparton Library | ||
| Sorrento Writers Festival | It’s Time to Talk About Gough with Troy Bramston Time: 12pm Venue: The Baths, Sorrento | |||
| 31st Oct – 2nd Nov | FESTIVAL | Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival Katoomba NSW Presented by Varuna, the National Writers’ House, the Festival will take place in Katoomba amid the spectacular surrounds of the world-heritage listed Blue Mountains. | ||