ONE-DAY LITERARY CELEBRATION
Words at Pearls
Saturday 15 November 2025, 10:00am – 4:15pm
Pearl Beach Memorial Community Hall, 9 Diamond Road, Pearl Beach, NSW
DAY PASS $89 + booking fee
Our annual literary celebration, Words at Pearls, will take place on Saturday November 15, 2025.
After a successful first outing in 2024, we are delighted to once more bring this one-day literary soiree to the readers of the Central Coast, in partnership with Pearl Beach Progress Association.
Nestled in amongst lush green trees and ferns and hosted at a charming community hall, this will be an intimate day of deep-dive author conversations and book signings.
For this year’s theme Wandering Wild, we take our inspiration from the much-loved natural surrounds of Pearl Beach to engage deeply and diversely with nature, in all its guts and glory.
We will hear the unsettling truth about what is happening in our tall eucalypt forests with ‘Australia’s most cited scientist’ and forest expert, Professor David Lindenmayer. Bestselling author of The Book Thief, Markus Zusak, will speak to his tender memoir about animals and our relationship with them, Three Wild Dogs and the Truth. Award-winning environmentalist Natalie Kyriacou OAM will discuss the tales of wonder in an age of extinction explored in her book, Nature’s Last Dance (Bob Brown called it ‘astonishingly good.’) And Yuwaalaraay storyteller and musician Nardi Simpson explores the intertwining of place, nature and life itself in her poetic homage to Country, The Belburd. What’s more, we are delighted that Nardi – who is one-half of powerful musical duo The Stiff Gins – has agreed to conclude our magical day with a song.
Wander into the wild with us.
Doors open from 9am.
Program
From approximately 9:45am
Introductions & Acknowledgement of Country
10:00am – 11:00am
The Forest Wars
Professor David Lindenmayer in conversation with Benny Agius
Native forests are the lifeblood of not only our nation, but the world. And yet in Australia we have been frantically logging them since colonisation. World-leading forest expert and Australia’s ‘most cited scientist’ Professor David Lindenmayer shows how this leads to bushfires, species extinction and a radical reduction in carbon storage. And it’s not even profitable: taxpayers are funding it. Lindenmayer reveals the unholy alliance between state forestry, the timber industry and unions… and what can be done about it.
11:00am – 11:30am
Book Signings with Umina Beach Book Nook
11:30am – 12:30pm
Nature’s Last Dance
Natalie Kyriacou OAM in conversation with Charlotte Connell
Sit in for tales of wonder in an age of extinction with award-winning environmentalist, board director and social justice advocate Natalie Kyriacou. Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia and the Forbes Under 30 honour for her services to wildlife and environmental conservation, Natalie harnesses curiosity to solve nature crises. In Nature’s Last Dance – a book Bob Brown dubbed ‘astonishingly good’ – we are guided through a love letter to biodiversity, from the world’s heaviest parrot to whales, Costa Rica to Canberra. Bracingly lyrical and politically inspiring, you will laugh, feel, and reimagine your relationship with nature.
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Book Signings with Umina Beach Book Nook & Lunch Break
Please note: Coffee and tea will be available to purchase at the front of the Hall, with thanks to The Mad Coffee Van.
Words at Pearls lunches can be ordered before the start of the event, from 9:30am. You will be given a voucher, and then at lunchtime on the deck you can choose from wraps or sandwiches and cake – vegetarian options available.
1:30pm – 2:30pm
Three Wild Dogs and the Truth
Markus Zusak in conversation with Suzanne Leal
What happens when the Zusaks open their family home to three big, wild, pound-hardened dogs? The answer can only be chaos … and a reckoning of shortcomings and failure, a strengthening of will, but most important of all, an explosion of love – and the joy and recognition of family. We are beyond elated that Markus Zusak, the internationally bestselling author of The Book Thief, will be joining us to speak to his tender memoir about animals and our relationship with them, Three Wild Dogs and the Truth.
2:30pm – 3:00pm
Book Signings with Umina Beach Book Nook
3:00pm – 4:00pm
The Belburd
Nardi Simpson in conversation with Georgie McClean
In The Belburd, Yuwaalaraay storyteller and musician Nardi Simpson brings us a fierce young poet who buries her words around the city on the lands her ancestors roamed. Protagonist Ginny Dilboong is a daughter of Country, but the place that shapes her is not her own. How can she protect the truth of others while learning her own? This masterful tale comes from the same pen as Song of the Crocodile, Nardi’s much-lauded, much-loved breakout novel. Hear more about Nardi’s incredible written work as well as her broader creative oeuvre as a member of Indigenous duo Stiff Gins, founding member of all-female vocal ensemble Freshwater and musical director of Barayagal, a cross-cultural choir based at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
*Nardi will conclude our magical day with a short musical performance*
4:00pm – 4:30pm
Book Signings with Umina Beach Book Nook
As a fundraising event, proceeds will be shared between the not-for-profit community organisations Words on the Waves and Pearl Beach Progress Association. Your support is warmly appreciated.
Speakers
Professor David Lindenmayer AO
Professor David Lindenmayer AO is a world-leading expert on forest conservation. Winner of the Macfarlane Burnet Medal, he is ranked among Australia’s top 50 scientists. Based at The Australian National University, he has led some of the largest scale environmental research programs in Australia for over four decades. He is the author of 49 books on forests, including The Great Forest.
Benny Agius (Moderator)
Benny Agius has been in the book industry for over 45 years. She has owned her own publishing house and worked for several international publishers in various roles. Benny has written her own book ‘I’m Staying at Richard’s’ and she is co-founder of Words on the Waves Writers Festival.
Natalie Kyriacou OAM
Natalie Kyriacou OAM is an award-winning environmentalist, writer, professional public speaker, and company director. She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia and the Forbes 30 Under 30 honour for her services to wildlife and environmental conservation in 2018. She is a Board Director at the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, a Board Committee Member at CARE Australia, the Founder and Chair of My Green World, a UNESCO Green Citizens Pathfinder, and an Australian Delegate and Climate Justice Lead at the W20.
Charlotte Connell (MODERATOR)
Surfer, mother and lousy-but-enthusiastic shower singer, Charlotte is an award-winning sustainability leader. As Director of Innovation and Investment at Greenhouse, Charlotte works on innovative programs to unlock Australia’s potential as a climate leader. Currently leading a program to catalyse climate capital. Charlotte founded The Sustainability Collective to democratise sustainability so that all businesses can create positive change for people, planet and a prosperous future. Working with innovative businesses to ensure they’re not just solving customer problems but also creating solutions for people and planet. An advocate for social change, Charlotte volunteers her time as a Director on the Board of Surfers for Climate.
Markus Zusak
Markus Zusak is the international bestselling author of six novels, including The Messenger, Bridge of Clay and The Book Thief – one of the most loved books of the 21st century and a New York Times bestseller for more than a decade. His work is translated into more than 50 languages, and has been awarded numerous honours around the world, ranging from literary prizes to bookseller and readers choice awards. His books have also been adapted into film, television and theatre. He was born in Sydney, and still lives there with his wife, two children, and the last dog standing in a once thriving household of animals. Three Wild Dogs (and the truth) is his first book of non-fiction.
Suzanne Leal (moderator)
Suzanne Leal is the author of novels The Watchful Wife, The Teacher’s Secret and The Deceptions, winner of the Nib Literary Award People’s Choice Prize. A lawyer working in criminal law and child protection, Suzanne is an experienced facilitator at community, corporate and literary events. She is a board member of the BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival and founder of Thursday Book Club, a relaxed book club connecting readers online.
Nardi Simpson
Nardi Simpson is a Yuwaalaraay storyteller from New South Wales’ (NSW) northwest freshwater plains. As a member of Indigenous duo Stiff Gins, Nardi has travelled nationally and internationally for the past 22 years. She is also a founding member of Freshwater, an all-female vocal ensemble formed to revive the language and singing traditions of NSW river communities.
Nardi’s debut novel, Song of the Crocodile, won the 2017 Black&Write! Fellowship and the ALS Gold Medal, and was longlisted for the 2021 Stella Prize and Miles Franklin Literary Award. Nardi currently lives in Sydney and continues to be heavily involved in the teaching and sharing of culture in both her Sydney and Yuwaalaraay communities.
Dr Georgie McClean (Moderator)
Dr Georgie McClean is a Central Coast local, sometime writer and a media/ arts leader who has shaped creative industries’ dynamics, programs and policy for 25 years.
Most recently, Georgie was Executive Director of Development and Partnerships at Creative Australia. Georgie has served on several Boards, including Diversity Arts Australia and the Advisory Board of Westen Sydney University’s Institute for Culture and Society.
Event Partners
The Pearl Beach Progress Association was formed in 1929 by some of the original residents of Pearl Beach. The Association now works to promote the best interests of the ratepayers and residents of Pearl Beach, protect and enhance the environment and encourage nature conservation within the village of Pearl Beach, and to maintain the Association’s Memorial Community Hall.
The Umina Beach Book Nook is friendly spot for book lovers at beautiful Umina Beach on the Central Coast. Although we’re small we’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, we can help.
