A book town, according to the International Organisation of Book Towns, is “a small rural town or village in which secondhand and antiquarian bookshops are concerned”.
The concept was first initiated in the town of Hay-on-Wye in Wales in 1961, and the international organisation was formally registered in the Netherlands in 2001.
As book towns are typically established in places of historical interest and/or scenic beauty, they offer “exemplary models of sustainable rural development and tourism”.
They help to strengthen the rural economy, and to maintain regional cultural heritage and raise national and even international public awareness about it.
Clunes, about 36 kilometres north of Ballarat, launched its first “Booktown for a Day” event in 2007, and formally gained its “International Book Town” status in 2012.
This year, the Clunes Booktown Festival will take place on March 22-23, offering “a rich and immersive experience for book lovers and rookie readers of all ages” as promised by its official website.
The event will feature author talks and panels on a wide range of contemporary topics, workshops on writing and other art forms, and more than 100 book stalls showcasing tens of
thousands of secondhand, new and collectible books.
Also available are street performances, live music, local food and drink, and a special Historical Walking Tour of the town.
There are the Kids Village and a Hay Bale Maze for the young and the young-at-heart.
Then there is the screening of the iconic dystopian film Mad Max (1979), part of which was actually shot in Clunes.
As usual, it is the author talks that attract this reviewer’s eyeballs. Prominent authors Helen Garner and Kate Grenville will discuss their latest books, and renowned ABC journalist Heart
Ewart will highlight some of her favourite Aussie road trips.
Meanwhile, there are many interesting panels, such as “Shipwrecks, Pirates, and Oceanic Memories” and “Cosy Crime: Plot, Puzzles and Characters Minus the Gore”.
There are academics discussing Irish literature, history, film and dance, and experts tackling the complex relationship between media and big businesses.
Other panels explore the art and craft of storytelling. Topics include writing on country and across disciplines, the tropes and hopes of romantasy, unmasking neurodiversity, celebrating ageing, writing about music, and humour writing – just to name a few.
The special “Sustainability in a Changing Climate” panel will feature Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiadis.
Finally, some of the workshops cover topics such as writing intergenerational trauma, how to compose authentic non-fiction, new perspectives on Australian history, pitching do’s and don’ts, and pathways to children’s publishing.
Particularly worth noting is the “Making Medicine from your Garden” workshop – think of spiced elderberry syrup and summer berry ice cream!
Ticketing information and details about the Clunes Booktown Festival can be found on the event’s website: clunesbooktown.org.au
