And, committee president Jan Sinclair is now eyeing off the 2018 edition after launching the fifth annual program last week.

The only writer’s festival in the Upper Hunter has grown from strength-to-strength from what initially was the idea of a few like-minded bookworms, writers and bush poets who felt there was a need to host an annual event in Scone.

They have been gathering speed and reputation since 2014 and this year the stellar line-up really takes the festival to the very next level.

The 2018 overarching theme is “The magic and power of literature” and the guest list is indeed magical.

“We are once again blessed with the involvement of the wonderful Phillip Adams,” Ms Sinclair said.

“Phillip has been involved in this festival now since its beginnings and, in 2018, will be in conversation with Guardian Australian journalist and author David Marr, fellow broadcaster Barry Jones and Sydney Morning Herald investigative journalist and Gold Walkley winner Kate McClymont.

“Adding even more girl power to the stellar line-up is Tracey Spicer who will be talking about her involvement in leading the Now Australia movement and her new ‘laugh-out-loud femoir’, The Good Girl Stripped Bare.”

The program also features a special commemoration to the Centenary of First World War Armistice on Sunday, November 11, with historian and biographer Ross McMullin. 

Other highlights of this year’s festival feature panels on crime and children and young adult fiction writing, storytelling through food, how to tackle writing a sex scene, diversity in Australian writing, historical fact or fiction, desert island books and workshops on the magic of children’s writing and creative writing for beginners.  

There is also a great schools day at Scone Library and Scone Grammar School on Friday, November 9.

Another new initiative of the 2018 program is the ‘Check it out’ writing competition. 

It’s open to any staff working at any supermarket or retail chain in the Upper Hunter and invites budding storytellers to recount some of their funniest anecdotes of their experiences of working at the check-out with a great weekend away at Russley Rural Retreat to be won for the lucky winner. 

In addition to ‘Check it out’, the Upper Hunter High School writing competition makes its return with great prizemoney to be won.  

The McDonalds Scone-sponsored event is open to all pupils studying at Scone High, Scone Grammar, St Joseph’s, Merriwa Central and Muswellbrook High.

“The committee would like to thank all its sponsors: Paradice Investments, Upper Hunter Shire Council, McDonalds Scone, Regional Bank of Australia, Total e Solutions, Kate Mailer, The Event Storeroom, Morgan & English, Scone Arts & Crafts, Hunter Writers Centre and Arts Upper Hunter, Strathearn Park Lodge,  Portman House, Russley Rural Retreat, Scone Motor Inn and Little Kickerbell,” Ms Sinclair said.

To read all about all of the authors and sessions that feature on the program, visit sconewritersfestival.com.au

Tickets go on sale on September 1.

For more information and updates to the program, go to www.sconewritersfestival.com.au