Hayley writes young adult novels full of heart and hope, often inspired by her work as a lawyer. She lives in the seaside town of Port Macquarie with her five wild daughters where she stays up too late, too often, writing into the witching hours of the night. Her novels have been shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council Awards, The Vogel Literary Prize for young writers, and in 2023, her novel The Other Side of Tomorrow received an Honour Award from the Children’s Book Council of Australia.

Hayley is our Writer in Residence 2025 Mentor, and will be appearing at Literary Allsorts as part of Meet the Resident Writer Panel.

Daniel is an award-winning Bundjalung and Kullilli writer, journalist and radio broadcaster. Currently he presents The Art Show and Arts in 30 podcasts for ABC Radio National. Hailed as “an outstanding contribution to arts journalism”, his first book, Close to the Subject: Selected Works won the 2024 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction. In the same year the book won the Indigenous Writing Prize at the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards and was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards in the same category. Most recently he was First Nations Writer-in-Residence at Trinity Hall College, Cambridge.

Melaina is the author of 68 books, published nationally and internationally, a trained teacher, manuscript appraisal consultant, and an oral storyteller who performs in Australia and overseas. As well as facilitating programs for Writing NSW, TasWriters, Northern Territory Writers Centre, Queensland Writers Centre, Outback Writers, Kyogle Readers and Writers Inc, he is also an ongoing mentor for the Byron Writers Festival Storyboard program.

Melaina will be appearing at Literary Allsorts as part of our KRAW School’s Program Showcase.

Sharlene was born on Bundjalung Country into the Olive mob. Her debut novel The Great Undoing, released with Ultimo Press, won the QLD Literary Awards Fiction Book of the Year 2024. She is currently studying for her Masters in Creative Writing and developing her next novel. Sharlene lives in Meanjin/Brisbane with her family and beloved doggo—Morty.

Sharlene will be appearing at Literary Allsorts as part of the Local Writer: First Book Panel

Angela is a well-known Australian broadcaster and media veteran. She has presented numerous programs across the ABC broadcasting channels.

Angela will be appearing at Literary Allsorts, hosting the Local Writer: First Book Panel

David is a memoir writer and author of Fantastic Street (Picador, 2003), State of Origin (Puncher & Wattmann, 2019), and Host City (Puncher & Wattmann, 2024). Shorter pieces have appeared in Best Australian Stories, The Lifted Brow, and The Monthly. Host City has been nominated for a Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, 2025.
David is appearing at Literary Allsorts as part of the Life Story: Memoir Panel

Annika is a freelance writer living in the rainforests on Bundjalung Country. Born in Brisbane, she studied a Bachelor of Business Communications which took her around the world as a copywriter and Creative Director. Her debut novel Downstream was published in 2024. Her short stories have also won awards and appeared in anthologies.
Annika will be appearing at Literary Allsorts as part of the Local Writer: First Book Panel

Jarrah was raised on Bundjalung country in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. His debut novel Hey Brother, about the challenges faced by a teenage boy when his brother returns from war in Afghanistan, was selected for a Byron Writers Festival Residential Mentorship, a Varuna fellowship and shortlisted for the Australian/Vogel Literary Award. Jarrah is a board member for WritingNSW and a current Creative Australia grant recipient.
Jarrah is convening the KRAW Writer in Residence Program and will be appearing at Literary Allsorts as part of the Meet the Resident Writer Panel.

Maggie is a mother of three young adults children, and has been in the Northern Rivers for over 15 years. Her debut memoir SPLIT is an international winner of the 2024 Goodie Awards for psychology and self-help. Maggie regularly shares her story, dispelling myths around complex trauma and reducing stigmas around mental health.
Maggie will be appearing at Literary Allsorts as part of the Local Writer: First Book Panel

Hani is a Somalian poet living in Sydney. Hani is an honorary member of PEN International, a lead member of Writing Through Fences, and an Ambassador for the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS). Her work has appeared in ABC, SMH, Shark Island Productions and has received numerous awards for her community work and creative art.
Hani will be appearing at Literary Allsorts as part of the Life Story: Memoir Panel