Sunday 29 November 2026 at 10:00 am — 3:00 pm
Sydney Shia Writers Festival
A day-long gathering for readers, writers, illustrators and thinkers within the Shia tradition. Join us in Sydney for workshops, discussions, a bookfair and a writing competition — a chance to meet the people shaping the next generation of our literature.
Venue
TBA — Sydney
To be announced
Lantern Publications is proud to host the inaugural Sydney Shia Writers Festival — a day of workshops, conversation, and community for anyone shaping, or being shaped by, the words of our tradition.
Whether you are a seasoned author, an aspiring illustrator, a parent choosing your children's next book, or simply a reader who wants to hear from the people writing today, this day is for you.
Across five hours we will move through a plenary opening, three concurrent workshops, a live authors' discussion panel, and a bookfair by Shiabooks running throughout. Entries to our writing competition will be judged during the festival and prizes awarded at the closing session.
Programme
Plenary Session
10:00 am–11:00 amAn opening address setting the scene for the day — where our writing tradition stands, where it's headed, and why the work of storytelling matters more than ever for our communities.
Included for all attendees
Drawing & Illustration WorkshopChoose one · Workshop — pick one
11:30 am–12:30 pmA hands-on session for aspiring illustrators of all ages. Explore the visual language of children's books and picture-story work, guided by working illustrators. Materials provided.
30 of 30 spots left
Children's Reader SeminarChoose one · Workshop — pick one
11:30 am–1:01 pm · Room BA conversation for parents, teachers and anyone shaping young readers. What are our children actually reading? What should they be reading? A practical discussion of building meaningful reading lives from the earliest years.
60 of 60 spots left
Writing for Young Adults Choose one · Workshop — pick one
11:30 am–12:30 pm · Room- CA workshop for writers ready to tackle the hardest audience of all — teenagers. Craft, voice, and the particular challenges of writing YA fiction that honours our tradition without preaching to it.
60 of 60 spots left
Authors' Discussion Panel
2:00 pm–3:00 pm · Main HallA live on-stage conversation with our featured authors. Bring your questions — this is your chance to hear directly from the writers shaping contemporary Shia literature about their craft, their struggles, and the books they wish they'd read growing up.
Included for all attendees
Additional information
Bookfair by Shiabooks runs throughout the day (10am–3pm) alongside all sessions. Browse and buy from our full catalogue, plus new releases, rare finds, and festival-only offers.
Writing Competition — entries close before the festival. Winners announced at the closing session. Submit your entry at lanternpublications.com/competition.
Lunch is not included in the ticket price. There are cafes nearby, and a mid-day break is scheduled between the workshops and the panel.
Refund policy
Refunds available up to 7 days before the event. For refund requests, contact info@lanternpublications.com.