If you could sit down with one of Australia’s most popular and successful female crime writers Candice Fox, what would you ask? 

If you’re in Merimbula on Sunday August 28, you could have that chance in a 30-minute ‘Access All Areas’ speed date with Candice. 

The one-on-one sessions will headline a full day of writing workshops as part of a Sisters in Crime weekend on the Sapphire Coast that includes a Return to Cobargo writer’s festival on Saturday August 27. 

Other Sunday workshops are Telling True Crime Stories with author and podcaster Vikki Petraitis, Story Design with young adult author Fleur Ferris and Writing Your Life Story with Ilsa Evans. 

South East Arts have released tickets today! There are only four speed dates with Candice and limited places in the other three. All sessions are at the Bega Valley Learning Hub in Merimbula. 

Merimbula crime author Melissa Pouliot said it was a rare and unique opportunity to have so many skilled and talented writers in the one place at the one time, particularly in a regional area. 

“This is a fabulous opportunity for anyone with an interest in writing – whether it be crime writing or any other form of writing. We have the extra bonus of being able to tap into Vikki Petraitis’s exceptional podcasting experience which is a rapidly growing form of storytelling.” 

Melissa, who published her debut crime novel in 2013, says access to professional writing training was a challenge for rural and regional authors. 

“We have to travel to larger centres or capital cities to further our skills and training, so I feel extremely fortunate that we are able to offer something like this in Merimbula.” 

The workshops are part of the Sisters in Crime Festival weekend which is a Headland Writers Festival event supported by South East Arts and Well Thumbed Books. For regular updates follow South East Arts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

See sessions and tickets here.