Stories, laughter and inspiration shine as 1300 attend Geraldton’s Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival

The Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival lit up Geraldton over the weekend, drawing more than 1300 attendees for a celebration of stories, ideas, connection and reflection on the festival’s last 20 years. The program featured panels, workshops and performances from local and visiting authors, with Geraldton’s own Tasma Walton making a much-anticipated return to the city. The coveted Big Sky Short Story Prize was awarded to up-and-coming Geraldton author Serena Moss for her piece Roadhouse Wives. Runner-up was Carrie Puzzar for her story The Family Stand, while highly-commended awards went to Annie Chandler, Adrian Doyle, Courtney Evans and Lorraine Lambert. Moss described the weekend as “a fabulous event which was very well attended,” and said she was grateful to all who made it happen. Member for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr praised the festival as a “weekend of stories, laughter and inspiration in Geraldton”. The festival closed on a high note with a relaxing afternoon at the Greenough Museum and Gardens on Sunday, where guests were invited to sit back and enjoy a selection of readings from invited authors Stefanie Koens, Gillian O’Shaughnessy, Catherine Greer, Mabel Gibson, Serena Moss and K.T. Downs. The Big Sky Short Story Prize Booklet, which features all shortlisted entries, will soon be available for those who wish to read the entries from this year’s competition. Audio versions of the winning stories will soon be available on audiobooks player OverDrive. Trudi Cornish, manager libraries, heritage and gallery at the City of Greater Geraldton, said the event was a “blast”. “With the 2025 theme being A Celebration Of Stories, crowds flocked to opening night and Kids Sunday Funday at the library, plus the Saturday Talk Fest at QPT, sessions at the Art Gallery, Poetry in the Club at The Merc Lounge, plus Readings on the Green at the Greenough Museum and Gardens,” she said. “Some 1300 tickets were booked, up from last year. Pre-festival sessions were also very well attended with events hosted by Irwin Districts Historical Society and The Sound of Picture Books.” To access the shortlisted and winning stories, head to the City of Greater Geraldton Regional Library website.