Kathy Lette Brings Feminist Fire and Sisterhood to Newcastle Writers Festival
Renowned Australian author Kathy Lette is set to ignite the stage at the Newcastle Writers Festival this March, bringing her trademark wit and unapologetic advocacy for women's rights to the Hunter region. The bestselling writer, famous for works like Puberty Blues and Mad Cows, will open the festival at Newcastle City Hall on March 27, having even postponed her return flight to London to participate.
A Passionate Return to Newcastle
Lette expressed genuine excitement about her upcoming visit, reminiscing about past trips to the coastal city. "I love Newcastle, I can't wait to get there, I haven't been for years," she shared. "I used to swim at that lovely beach, Merewether? Oh it's so beautiful." With characteristic humour, she added a playful warning about marine life, joking about publishing industry sharks.
The author, who divides her time between England and Australia, has 21 books to her name, with several adapted into films, television series, and even opera. Her latest novel, The Sisterhood Rules, will be the focus of her festival appearance, where she'll be in conversation with host Yumi Stynes.
The Sisterhood Rules: A Rallying Cry for Women
Described as a "sharp, joyful, rallying cry for female friendship, political awakening and the power of women refusing to fade quietly from view," the novel explores themes of solidarity and resilience. Lette believes the sisterhood has never been more crucial, pointing to ongoing gender inequalities and concerning global political shifts.
"I sometimes wonder if anything has changed since I wrote Puberty Blues. I mean, we don't even have equal pay yet, for God's sake," she remarked, highlighting persistent challenges. Her commentary extended to international politics, with pointed observations about women's rights regression in some nations.
Challenging Ageism and Celebrating Women's Voices
Lette didn't shy away from discussing ageism in publishing and society, recounting how publishers once dismissed stories about middle-aged women as unmarketable. "They said to me 'No one wants to read about middle-aged women, they're just not sexy'," she revealed, noting her subsequent success with The Revenge Club proved them wrong.
She passionately advocates for women embracing their later years with confidence and sexuality, challenging societal expectations that often render older women invisible. "I say women don't give up sex when they're old, they give up being old if they have sex," Lette declared, encouraging women to reclaim their narratives.
Newcastle Writers Festival 2026 Program Highlights
The festival's 2026 program, themed "Where Stories Take Flight," promises an impressive lineup featuring writers like Bryan Brown, Tara Moss, Candice Fox, and Jane Caro. Founding director Rosemarie Milsom introduced several new initiatives designed to engage diverse audiences.
"I'm always looking for new ideas for how we can engage people, especially younger audiences," Milsom explained. One innovative addition is Read the Room, a year-round program kicking off with a large reading party at Newcastle Ocean Baths, weather permitting.
The festival also welcomes back the Family Fun Day, absent since COVID-19, responding to concerns about declining reading rates among children. "I've really missed having large numbers of children at the festival," Milsom admitted, anticipating a lively, noisy celebration of literature.
Other program highlights include food writing events with Stephanie Alexander and Laurie Woolever, cocktail masterclasses with Newcastle-born mixologist Michael Madrusan, and thought-provoking sessions like The Mushroom Tapes: Conversations about a Triple Murder Trial.
A Call to Action and Celebration
Lette concluded with a powerful message about solidarity and humour as tools for change. "We need to lean into our strengths, lean into our verbal dexterity, our sense of humour, our camaraderie, our sisterly solidarity, and wear it like armour," she urged.
The Newcastle Writers Festival runs from March 27 to 29, offering a vibrant platform for storytelling, discussion, and community connection. With Lette's fiery opening address and a diverse program celebrating Australian and international voices, the event underscores literature's enduring power to inspire and unite.
