Brisbane Writers Festival

I'm heading down to the Brisbane Writers Festival tomorrow, an event I've been looking forward to with great anticipation since I first got the invite eight months ago. After a few nightmarish days bouncing between passport and visa offices, I'm finally ready to leave (almost). It'll be my first time in Australia, and I'm thrilled.

For those with a chance to check it out, I'll be appearing on three panel (details below). You can also keep pace with Festival happenings on Twitter, by following @BrisWritersFest.

Session 1: An Evening with International Writers

Date: Monday, 5 September
Time: 5:00-6:00pm
Venue: The Village Theatre, Sanctuary Cove, Gold Coast
Panellists: William Powers, Jay Bahadur, Catharine Ann
Chair: Joseph Braude
Description: For one night only, four international writers appear at Sanctuary Cove for an evening of intriguing conversation. Joseph Braude talks with William Powers, Jay Bahadur, and Cathrine Ann about adventure, survival, and philosophy in the digital age.


Session 2: Villains or Heroes 
Date: Saturday, 10 September 
Time: 5:30-6:30pm
Venue: Auditorium 1, State Library of Queensland

Panellists: Nigel Brennan, Jay Bahadur, Kay Danes

Chair: Robert MacDonald

Description: Former hostages Nigel Brennan and Kay Danes, along with Canadian journalist Jay Bahadur, discuss captivity. Who are the heroes and who are the villains? Is it possible to be both?

Presented by 612 ABC Brisbane

Session 3: Media-Led Revolution
Date: Saturday, 10 September 
Time: 11:30am-12:30pm

Venue: The Edge, State Library of Queensland

Panellists: Annabel Crabb, Jay Bahadur, Joseph Braude,     

Chair: Paul Barclay

Description: WikiLeaks, social media or citizen uprising: just who or what is responsible for the Arab Spring? Journalists Jay Bahadur, Joseph Braude and Annabel Crabb discuss with Paul Barclay new ways of reporting, how their roles have changed and the effects of the media revolution on political movements throughout the world.

Presented by Radio National

Please note this session will be recorded for later broadcast

Session 4: Deadly Waters: The Pirates of Somalia
Date: Sunday, 11 September 
Time: 11:30am-12:30pm

Venue: Breezeway, Maiwar Green

Panellists: Jay Bahadur

Chair: Jonathan Fulcher

Description: Jay Bahadur ventured deep into Somalia to meet with groups of pirates as they conducted business, their cheeks bulging with khat and their cellphones ringing incessantly as they orchestrated the hijacking of huge ships owned by international conglomerates.