In conjunction with the Battunga Weekend Festival
Announcing the Inaugural Macclesfield Literary Festival, May 9th 2026
​& 
Short Story Prize
Sponsored by Moonglow Publishing and The Ozone Hotel, Kangaroo Island.
All Details Below
&
The Young Writers’ Short Story Prize 
Sponsored by the Macclesfield COmmunity Association, Battunga Youth, and Moonglow Publishing Youth Writers Initaitive
​Click here for details

Macclesfield Literary Festival
​2026 Program
Tickets are FREE but for catering purposes please rsvp via 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 at the Macclesfield RSL Hall.

MORNING SESSION A
9am  - WELCOME - Doors open, grab a coffee, browse the books.

9.15 am  Dr. Tanya Lyons from Moonglow Publishing – For the Love of Local Publishing and Local Printing – and announceming the winners of the Macclesfield Inaugural Literary Festival Short Story Competition - and Youth Writers Initiative.

9.45 am BOOKS FOR KIDS and YOUNG ADULTS
Cate Ellis - One at a Time
Don Oswald and Mark Rogers – Waylon’s Adventures (kids) and Skating Through Trouble (YA Fiction)

MID-MORNING SESSION B
10 am Coffee break for book browsing

10.15 am ART, TRAVEL, HISTORY, & HEALTH
Margrit Warmer – Impressions of the Heysen Trail
Priyambudi Sulistiyanto - Finding Captain Boodieman - Travels in Indonesia and Australia
Laura D Martino – Cremona House – An Italian Migration Journey
Lindsay Childs – Adapting to Hearing Loss
Maya – Bound by Compassion, and Hahndorf a History to Colour and Keep
Questions.

11.20 am YA, POETRY and More with Coffee
​Aayan Adhora - Crown of Knives (YA Fiction)
Ez Knill – sleep well gut wrench
Lisa McMurtrie - Unstoppable Force: Immovable Object
Questions.

MIDDAY SESSION C
12 pm  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
Questions.

1.10 pm LUNCH BREAK Book sales and signing continue (optional to head over to the pub or the café next door for lunch)

AFTERNOON SESSION D
2.20 pm  MEMOIR
Sandra Kanck – Nothing and Everything: A childhood memoir
Rick Sarre – Life Actually: A feast of 500-word memories
Andrew Ovenden – Meet Me in the Cool Room
Peter Douglas – The Longest Day of My Life
Questions.

3.20 pm Coffee break for book browsing

LATE-AFTERNOON SESSION E
3.30pm ​ OFFICIAL BOOK LAUNCH
Craig Chapman - The Long Way Home: A Journey of Survival
(Light refreshments available, Bar facilities, and books!)

5pm close

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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 invited local SA writers to submit a 500 word short story to be in the running to win one of 3 great prizes. Stories had to include reference to Kangaroo Island and The Ozone Hotel in some shape or form.
Winners will be announced at the Literary Festival!

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First Prize
The Ozone Winter Residency*
The Ozone Hotel Kingscote, Winter Residency invites you to embrace Kangaroo Island’s wild, soulful winter. Stay in one of the 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 copy of the Limited 3rd Edition book, Killer Island by Robert Koehne
∙ 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, and a special treat from Kangaroo Island Spirits.* 
Third Prize
$100 Moonglow Publishing Book Voucher and an opportunity to publish your story with Moonglow Publishing.
Special Prize
A special treat from Kangaroo Island Spirits will also be awarded.*

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 and The Ozone Hotel in some shape or form.
• All submissions to be emailed to info@moonglowpublishing.com.au by the deadline of​ 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.
• 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. 
• *Please note alcohol prizes and first prize stay at Ozone hotel will only awarded to winners over 18 years. Junior author winners will be offered an alternate prize.

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