This year's line up is quite awesome and includes: Leeza Baric freelance writer, mentor and editor who will run the Creative Writing Workshop. Sarah L'Estrange is a producer on Books and Arts Daily on ABC Radio National. She was producer for 5 years on The Book Show. She has met many writers, publishers and publicists in the process. Prof. Chris Turney is a British geologist with an Australian Research Laureate Fellowship with the University of NSW. Author of popular science books Bones, Rocks & Stars: The Science of When Things Happened and Ice, Mud and Blood: Lessons From Climates Past and has been called 'the new David Livingstone'. Chris Flynn is books editor at The Big Issue and Fiction Consultant at Australian Book Review. He writes for the Age, the Australian and Paris Review and ABC radio national. He was born in Belfast and was a sumo wrestler referee at a travelling fair! David Hill has had a remarkable career including chairman ABC,Australian Football and Railways Australia, Sydney Water and CREATE,reponsible for representing the interests of children in institutional care. He is author of bestsellers The Forgotten Children, 1788 and The Gold Rush. Cory Taylor is an award-winning screenwriter who has also published short fiction and children’s books. She lives in Brisbane. Me and Mr Booker is her first novel. This promises to be an entertaining weekend where authors and guests will mix over wine and good food. Special rates at Coral Sea for participants. Accommodation can be booked through Coral Sea Resort direct. PROGRAMME Friday Creative Writing workshop ($95) Drinks 5.30 pm. Saturday conference 9-5 pm includes lunch, morning and afternoon tea. Gala dinner on the jetty. Sunday conference 9-12 and farewell lunch ($395 inclusive) TO BOOK send cheque to Whitsunday Writers Festival, P O Box 1400, Airlie Beach 4802 or direct payment Commonwealth Bank account 064826 10220777 and send email to GloriaBurley@bluepeace.com.au. Call Gloria on 0422026793 for further details. FLIGHTS to Hamilton Island or Proserpine can be booked through your local agent.