7:00pm – 9:00pm

Late Night Lit

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

Slip into the velvety low-light of Bar Toto with a trademark cocktail in hand and an open mind, and prepare to be startled and delighted in equal measure at Late Night Lit.

For this final, fabulous instalment for 2024, we will be joined by the scriptwriter and horror writer Zahid Gamieldien (All the Missing Children), acclaimed poet Suneeta Peres da Costa (The Prodigal), alongside an array of open mic performers.

Don’t miss this much-loved evening of spoken word, poetry, literary readings and other revelations.

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.

Zahid Gamieldien

Zahid Gamieldien is an author, screenwriter, editor and writing tutor. His short fiction has been published in literary journals including Overland, Meanjin, Kill Your Darlings, Island Magazine and many others. His co-written screenplays have been listed for awards such as the Australian Writers’ Guild’s John Hinde Award and the AMC One-Hour Pilot Award at the Austin Film Festival. His work has also been included in the ‘best of’ Forty Years of the UTS Writers’ Anthology, listed for the Richell Prize and rewarded with funding to undertake a residency at Varuna House. Most recently, he was awarded a major grant from Create NSW to complete his debut novel, All The Missing Children.

Suneeta Peres da Costa

Suneeta Peres da Costa was born in Sydney, on Gadigal land of the Eora, and is of Goan heritage. She writes fiction, non-fiction, plays and poetry. Her novella Saudade was shortlisted for the 2019 Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and the 2020 Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature, and was a finalist in Field Notes’ 2020 Tournament of Books. Her earlier novel was Homework. Her honours include fellowships and residencies from Asialink Arts, the Australia Council for the Arts, Varuna, MacDowell, the Yaddo Corporation and the Fulbright Program. She holds an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College, New York.

Emily Taylor (Host)

Emily Taylor is an actor, writer and theatre maker based in Sydney. She has worked as a director and teaching artist for Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse, Arena Theatre Company, Melbourne Playback (where she was Artistic Director for two years), First Impressions Youth Theatre, NIDA and Options Theatre Company.

A multi-award winning actor with over 15 years experience, Emily has appeared in a number of television programs including Get Krack!n, The Dr Blake Mysteries, It’s A Date and Underbelly.

Emily has created multiple solo shows, winning a Green Room Award for Hello You and the Melbourne Fringe Tiki Tour Ready Award and NZ Fringe Best Solo Show Award for Cannonball.

The Umina Beach Book Nook is friendly spot for book lovers at beautiful Umina Beach on the Central Coast. They’re packed with the latest new releases, classic reads, a comprehensive kids selection and oodles of lovely gifts and cards. Whether you’re a serious bibliophile or just want an easy holiday read, this cosy bookshop can help.

And our Venue Partner, Bar Toto Ettalong. This event is made possible through their unwavering support.