7:00pm – 9:00pm

Late Night Lit

$20 + booking fee (beverages and food optional extras)

Settle into the old-world charm of Bar Toto for Late Night Lit, our regular evening of spoken word, poetry, literary readings and other surprises.

For this winter edition, we welcome comedian and author Jennifer Wong to share some stories laden with quirk. Her book Chopsticks or Fork? is a celebration of Australia’s unique culture of regional Chinese restaurants will charm and delight… and no doubt, make you a little hungry. Novocastrian author Amy Lovat will warm us with the hilarity and heartbreak of her latest release, anti-rom-com, Big Feelings. Billed as ‘for fans of Fleabag and High Fidelity,’ that’s us hooked!

And then, we would love to hand the mic to you. We are taking expressions of interest for aspiring or established writers to join the line-up in a handful of short reading slots. If you have a piece you would like to present on this evening, email us on program@wordsonthewaves.com.au with an example!

Don’t miss Late Night Lit, Words on the Waves’ much-loved evening at Ettalong’s beloved neighbourhood trattoria.

Please note: seating is unallocated.

Umina Beach Book Nook will be the bookseller for the evening; please support the authors, purchase their books and have them signed at the event.

Jennifer Wong

Jennifer Wong is a writer, comedian, and presenter of Chopsticks or Fork? (ABC iview). She is the co-author of Chopsticks or Fork?: Recipes and Stories from Australia’s Regional Chinese Restaurants (Hardie Grant), and a contributor to the anthology Admissions: Voices within Mental Health (Upswell).

Amy Lovat

Amy Lovat is the author of Mistakes and Other Lovers, founder of Secret Book Stuff, and the current program manager of the Newcastle Writers’ Festival. She has a PhD in English and Writing and lives with her wife, a brood of animals, and thousands of books across unceded Awabakal and Gadigal Country in NSW, Australia. Her second novel Big Feelings came out in July 2025.

This event is made possible through the unwavering support of Venue Partner, Bar Toto Ettalong.

And our Festival Bookseller, Umina Beach Book Nook.