2026 Festival

Speaker Profile

Patrick Mullins

Patrick Mullins is a Canberra-based writer. He is the author of five books, including Tiberius with a Telephone and The Trials of Portnoy, and a winner of the NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction and the National Biography Award. He has a PhD from the University of Canbera and his writing has appeared widely in magazines, journals, and periodicals.

The Art Of The Bio: Sparking appetites for political gravitas

Friday April 24
The Ballroom, The Continental
3.00pm / 60 mins

Troy Bramston, Patrick Mullins and Amy Remeikis with Brendan Donohoe

Within the biography genre, stories of political leaders are often the most fascinating. Our three authors reveal why.


Special Event
Friday April 24
The Ballroom, The Continental
4.30pm / 60 mins

Erin Jensen, Sofie Laguna, Bri Lee, Patrick Mullins and Pip Williams with Hannie Rayson

Join us for a drink as we welcome The Prize Winners and hear what it’s like to have your writing work acknowledged by the literary and journalism communities. 

How Biographers Work

Saturday April 25
Ellen Grant Hall
4.00pm / 60 mins

Patrick Mullins, Paul Strangio and Lisa Wilkinson with Peter Wilmoth

What is it about someone else’s life that inspires a writer?  How do you decide their story is one worth telling, and where do you begin with your research?