Saturday at the Perth Writers Festival

Late again! After missing the first session, I caught up with friends who expressed their frustration with not being able to split themselves five ways so that they could attend all five sessions that they had marked in their progam for 9.30. They had chosen well with "The Frailty of Man" in which Major General John Cantwell and Kevin Powers discussed the true cost of war. Another two avid readers will now be able to gain a deeper understanding of the issues through the writing of these two authors.

At 10.30 we went together to listen to two wonderful Australian writers Natasha Lester (What is Left Over After, and If I Should Lose You) and Andrew Croome (Document Z and Midnight Empire). The session was called, "The Devil is in the Details" and the authors discussed the places that researching their novels has taken them. Natasha Lester's latest novel If I Should Lose You is one which concerns itself to a large extent with a mother-daughter relationship and the vexed issue of organ transplantation told from the point of view of a female heart surgeon. Andrew Croome's new novel Midnight Empire is about drone warfare, and his research took him to Las Vegas and a casino located in the desert next to a US military base. Both of these books will have to be on my rapidly growing 'to read' list. You have to pace yourself at these things. We needed time out to discuss and digest, so half an hour between sessions is not really enough.

My own first session ever at a writers festival was at 2.15pm in the Juliet Tent where people were able to sample wine as they listened in on the discussion between Amanda Curtin and me, a great indulgence where I was given free reign to talk about my book, the meaning of life, and writing generally, supported by an insightful writer and editor who asked some great questions. Amanda's first novel, The Sinkings was a deeply thought-provoking and beautifully crafted book that moved between the present day and early days of European settlement in Australia, following the fortunes of a convict, little Jock. Get hold of it and read it if you get the chance. It was encouraging to see all the friendly faces, although in the swimming sense of otherworldliness that took over my head, I experienced some difficulty placing and contextualising, so if I looked and didn't register, I beg tolerance. I missed the next session but managed to get back for the discussion with Emma Chapman (How to be a Good Wife) in the same tent. After hearing her speak, another book has gone on the list.

I caught some of Anna Funder and Robin DeCrespigmy (great, great, great) before dashing off for a salted peanut, coffee and wine dinner and a great night with Margaret Atwood at the Perth Concert Hall. Margaret Atwood and Jennifer Byrne. How could you lose? Two great plerkers (or more accurately plorkers - plork: to play and work; activity otherwise known as writing). The session will be televised on Australian ABC 1 - not the first Tuesday Book Club, but the other one. I, for one, will be eagerly looking out for the encore viewing.

Last day!