In conjunction with the Battunga Weekend Festival Announcing the Macclesfield Inaugural Literary Festival & Short Story Prize Sponsored by Moonglow Publishing and The Ozone Hotel, Kangaroo Island. All Details Below
Macclesfield Literary Festival 2026 Program Tickets are FREE but for catering purposes please email: info@moonglowpublishing.com.au or Phone 0414249842 to book your seat. Please tell us which session(s) you will be coming along to - limited seating.
9am WELCOME - Doors open, grab a coffee, browse the books.
9.45am Dr. Tanya Lyons from Moonglow Publishing – For the Love of Local Publishing and Local Printing – and announcement of the winners of the Macclesfield Inaugural Literary Festival Short Story Competition
10.15am BOOKS FOR KIDS Cate Ellis – One At A Time Don Oswald and Mark Rogers – Waylon’s Adventures and Skating Through Trouble
10.30am Coffeebreak for book browsing
10.45am ART, HISTORY, HEALTH, AND WELL BEING Margrit Warmer – Impressions of the Heysen Trail Maya – Bound by Compassion, and Hahndorf a History to Colour and Keep Laura D Martino – Cremona House – An Italian Migration Journey Dr. Jenny Slape – Personalising Dementia Care Lindsay Childs – Adapting to Hearing Loss
11.30am POETRY and More with Coffee Ez Knill – sleep well gut wrench Lisa McMurtrie - Unstoppable Force: Immovable Object
12pm CRIME & THRILLER Robert Koehne – Killer Island Judith Lees – The Silent Syringe & The Dispatch Leanda Herring – Beneath Her Lies Kerri Reeks – Cage of War & Castelle John Murray – A Very Ordinary Man
1pm LUNCH BREAK Book sales continue while everyone heads over to the pub or the café next door for lunch
2pm MEMOIR Sandra Kanck – Nothing and Everything: A childhood memoir Rick Sarre – Life Actually Andrew Ovenden – Meet Me in the Cool Room Peter Douglas – The Longest Day of My Life
3pm Coffeebreak for book browsing
3.30pm OFFICIAL BOOK LAUNCHES Craig Chapman - The Long Way Home: A Journey of Survival TBC - Dennis Oldenhove, The Macclesfield RSL - Rations for 60 Men by Trooper Fry. 5pm close
Macclesfield Inaugural Literary Festival Short Story Prize Sponsored by Moonglow Publishing and The Ozone Hotel, Kangaroo Island. In Recognition of Robert Koehne, author of Killer Island
Celebrating Book lovers, Local Readers, Local Writers and Local Stories, Moonglow Publishing invites local SA writers to submit a 500 word short story (this could also includes a 500 word extract, section or chapter from a longer novel or story) to be in the running to win one of 3 great prizes. Stories must include reference to Kangaroo Island and, or a significant place, issue or event on Kangaroo Island.
First Prize The Ozone Winter Residency* The Ozone Winter Residency invites you to embrace Kangaroo Island’s wild, soulful winter. Stay in one of our ocean-facing rooms overlooking Nepean Bay, where heritage meets the sea. Curl up with a hot drink, discover stories from the Ozone’s past. With postcards, nightcaps, and small rituals woven into your stay, this is Kangaroo Island in its purest season. Includes: ∙ 3-night stay in a Seaview room at the Ozone Hotel, Kingscote, SA. ∙ A taste of Kangaroo Island flavours on arrival ∙ A vintage-style postcard with postage included ∙ A heritage-inspired welcome letter from Parsons, the hotel’s architect ∙ A mysterious gift, left in your room to be discovered ∙ Complimentary winter nightcap in the historic Winch Bar ∙ Full cooked buffet breakfast for 2 daily at Parsons Restaurant *Please note: a) Winter Residency must be booked for stay between 1st May – 30th August 2026. b) This first Prize only available to adult authors. c) Travel to KI not included. d) Pack your own pen, paper and laptop as you will be inspired to write about the beautiful landscapes, views and wonders of the Island, or inspired to finish writing something else you may have already started!
First Prize also includes an opportunity to publish your story with Moonglow Publishing.
Second Prize $200 Moonglow Publishing Book Voucher and an opportunity to publish your story with Moonglow Publishing.
Third Prize $100 Moonglow Publishing Book Voucher and an opportunity to publish your story with Moonglow Publishing.
Conditions of Entry:
Previously unpublished stories must be 500 words or less, and submitted in Word format.
All stories must include reference to Kangaroo Island, or the Ozone Hotel in Kingscote, or a significant place, issue or event on Kangaroo Island.
Thursday, April 2nd 2026 (on the full moon, 12.41pm).
Include your full name, email, address, and please note if you are under 18 years.
All entrants must give permission for their entries to be considered for publishing and/ or promotional purposes with Moonglow Publishing and the Ozone Hotel in Kingscote.
Junior winners are eligible for 2nd or 3rd prize only.
Entries will be accepted from local SA writers only.
Winners will be officially announced on May 9th at the Macclesfield Literary Festival. Winners will be notified in advance and invited to read their winning entry at the Literary Festival.
Moonglow Publishing reserves the right not to award the prizes if the entries are deemed unsuitable.
Employees and family members of the sponsors are not eligible to apply.