Write Out West Festival: Local Contemporary YA Matters: A Panel Discussion

Join authors Felicity Castagna, Will Kostakis and Tegan Bennett Daylight as they discuss the importance of contemporary young adult fiction with moderator Wai Chim.

The session is best suited for young adults/adults, and anyone who loves YA Fiction! Light refreshments provided. Tickets cost $5 per person. Bookings are essential.

QBD Books will be there. Purchase books to have them personally signed.

About Felicity Castagna

Felicity Castagna has published four novels for adults and young adults including her most recent book, “Girls In Boys’ Cars” which recently won the Victorian and Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards was adapted for stage by Priscilla Jackman and is now being adapted to film.

She is currently a Senior lecturer in Creative Writing at Western Sydney University where she is the Convenor of Creative Writing.

About Will Kostakis

Will Kostakis is an award-winning, bestselling author for young adults.

“We Could Be Something” is his latest novel. It’s a humorous yet heart-rending look at family, fame and falling in love. It was shortlisted for the Victorian and New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards.

An advocate for young readers and writers, Will was awarded the 2020 Maurice Saxby Award by the School Library Association of New South Wales for service to children’s and young adult literature.

About Tegan Bennett Daylight

Tegan Bennett Daylight is a writer, teacher and critic who has published three novels: “Bombora”, ‘What Falls Away” and “Safety”, as well as several books for children and teenagers.

Tegan’s latest book is the YA novel “Royals”, which tells the story of six teenagers trapped in a parallel universe – only this parallel universe is a shopping mall (rumoured to be Penrith Westfield).

She works as a lecturer in English and Creative Writing at Western Sydney University.

About Wai Chim

Wai Chim is the Chinese-American-Australian author of a number of children’s and YA titles including the “Chook Chook” series, “Freedom Swimmer” and most recently “The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling” which was a Kirkus Prize Finalist in the US and was Shortlisted for the Prime Minister Literary Awards in 2020.

Wai also appeared as a contestant on “Australian Survivor: Brains vs Brawn”.

About Write Out West

Join us for Write Out West: Western Sydney Libraries and Literature Festival from Wednesday 27 November – Thursday 5 December for nine days of literary fun for all ages! Find out more at penrith.city/library