Australian debut releases have been taking publishing by storm this year. It can be hard to keep up!
What better way to check out some of the most exciting debut releases of 2025 than by seeing these new authors live at Australia’s festival of new literature – the Emerging Writers’ Festival.
Running across Melbourne and online over 11-18 September, this year’s Emerging Writers’ Festival has something for everyone – from avid bookworms to budding wordsmiths. EWF25 is bringing you over 70 events with more than 200 exciting writers and artists to discover. Below are our picks for some Australian debuts of the last year of who will be sharing their talents at the Emerging Writers’ Festival.
Samantha Byres, author of Dead Ends, will be embracing her cringiest self with other writers.
Debut author of Dead Ends, Samantha Byres, is showing everyone that even before the debut novel, writers have to start somewhere. Her and other writers are embracing the cringe of their early writing.
Samantha Byres will appear at ‘Embrace the Cringe’ on Tuesday 16 September, 8pm at Hope Street Radio. Full details here.
Author of Nock Loose, Patrick Marlborough, is asking the question: can Australian literature be fun?
WA debut author Patrick Marlborough will be appearing alongside other writers to probe and interrogate what it means to create literature that dares to be irreverent, playful, and alive. A sharp, cheeky dive into what Australian literature is, and what it refuses to be.
Patrick Marlborough will appear at ‘Can OzLit Be Fun?’ on Friday 12 September, 7:30pm at Jolt Arts. Full details here.
Nadia Mahjouri, author of Half Truth, is getting together with other new authors to unpack the experience of being an Australian debut author in 2025.
These authors will be sharing the insider knowledge anyone will need to prepare for publishing in 2025, including the truths about agents, editing, marketing and peer support.
Nadia Mahjouri will appear at ‘Finding Your Crew: The Debut Author Experience’ on Wednesday 17 September, 5:30pm at narrm ngarrgu Library and Family Services. Full details here.
Miriam Webster will be discussing her experience of putting together her debut short fiction collection, The Slip.
Appearing at the National Writers’ Conference, Miriam Webster will be discussing what it’s like working with traditional publishers, and the wider publishing landscape, in 2025.
Miriam Webster will appear at ‘Emerging in Print’ on Saturday 13 September, 11:30am at The Wheeler Centre. Full details here.
Deborah Pike, author of The Players, welcomes writers into an intensive on character and narrative point-of-view.
In this special writers’ salon, Deborah Pike will be teaching writers how to research and define their characters using dialogue, perspective and crucial action. A perfect workshop for any writers looking to hone their craft.
Deborah Pike will appear at ‘Writers’ Salon: Diving Deep’ on Wednesday 17 September, 6:30pm at the EWF Festival Hub. Full details here.
The 2025 Emerging Writers’ Festival runs from 11-18 September across Melbourne and online. Book your tickets here.
