His debut children’s novel, ‘Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables’, hit the shelves just one year ago and proved an instant hit with kids, Harris has talked about his books across the nation.

This Saturday,  August 4, he’s looking forward to bringing his talk to the Nowra Library as part of the free Children’s Festival at the Shoalhaven Readers’ and Writers’ Festival.

“I hope I'm able to get people laughing and inspire creativity,”  he said.

“I'll share some of my stories and how they were developed, as well as challenge the audience to see ideas as opportunities to create.”

The children’s program will also feature former Children’s Laureate and immensely popular author, for children and adults, Jackie French, an enthusiastic advocate for literacy and reading.

“I give talks to kids to convince them that no one has ever written a book that all kids will like, but somewhere out there is a magic book that they can’t stop reading, and it will make them a reader forever,”Jackie said.

Saturday’s celebration of books and reading  is at the heart of festival director Karen Akehurst’s vision for the Shoalhaven Readers’ and Writers’ Festival.

“We’ve tried to bring together a wide variety of authors and ideas so that there’s something for everyone,” Karen said.

“Whether you’re a reader or a writer, love literary fiction or thrillers, or want to immerse your kids in the wonder of books,  there’s something for you.”

The adult festival program will take place at the School Of Arts , Nowra, with doors open from 9am, and will feature names such as Miles Franklin-shortlisted Catherine McKinnon, beloved YA author Melina Marchetta, Jackie French, Eleanor Limprecht, Dianne Blacklock and Alan Baxter. 

Tickets are available in full or half-day sessions.

Writers will also have the opportunity to attend intimate workshops with Blacklock and Baxter.

Visiting authors will be joined on stage by local writers, including Walkley-award-winning journalist Mark Whittaker, the author or co-author of 13 non-fiction books.

Mark is looking forward to his ‘in conversation’ with Catherine McKinnon.

“Catherine can pull a yarn out of very nook of the south coast,” he said.

“I’m really excited to see what stories I can drag out of her and her past.”

Other local authors involved include Emma Woods, who will chair the historical fiction discussion; Kathy Sharpe, winner of the 2017 Wollongong Writers Festival Short Story competition, who will host a discussion on the evergreen popularity of genre fiction; and internationally published bestselling children’s author A.L. Tait, who will be in conversation with Melina Marchetta.

Find full program details and bookings at shoalhavenreadersandwritersfestival.wordpress.com Tickets are also on sale at Dean Swift Books in Junction Street, Nowra, the official festival bookshop.

Tickets for the children’s program are free but bookings, through Nowra Library, are recommended.