WITH an impressive line up of authors and events, this year's Bendigo Writers Festival will be one for the books.
This year's festival will take place from August 9-11 and organisers have unveiled an impressive program featuring a diverse range of acclaimed authors.
Feature events this year will include a World of Food event with Food Safari presenter Maeve O'Meara in Ulumbarra Theatre on the Friday night.
World renowned astrobiologist Paul Davies will tackle the greatest question of all - What is life? during a special event on the Saturday night.
The event's finale will feature a closing address by surgeon Munjed Al Muderis at 4.30pm on the Sunday, talking about how hope and courage can change lives.
Festival director Rosemary Sorensen said food was heavily featured in this year's program, but was just one of many items on the menu.
"We have food writer Jill Dupleix, sustainable farmer Charles Massy and food and mood expert Felice Jacka on the program," she said.
"We're welcoming British Philosopher AC Grayling fgr discussions about democracy, criminal psychologist Julia Shaw to talk about evil and from New York, Min Jin Lee to talk about Korea."
Other highlights of the program include Clementine Ford discussing her book Boys Will Be Boys and Louise Milligan, who will discuss her book Cardinal - which details the rise and fall of George Pell.
John Marsden will discuss parenting, Alan Kohler will talk about money and ethics, Benjamin Law will talk about growing up gay and Ranjana Srivastava will talk about her book A Better Death.
Other speakers include Peter Doherty, Chloe Hooper, Kerry O'Brien, Ginger Gorman, Kate Forsyth, Jessica Rowe, Don Walker, Jane Caro and Don Watson.
The Text Marks the Spot free schools program will take place on Friday and a series of Entree events on Friday morning will give audiences a chance to get out and about in Bendigo.
The event will also feature the launch of a book about Bendigo called Sludge.
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