Lay The World Bare

Schedule

Sun, 26 Oct, 2025 at 02:30 am

UTC+11:00

Location

The Australian National University | Canberra, CT

Advertisement
Telling stories can be an act of truly seeing the world around us, from Colombo to Tehran to Soweto. Author of Chai Time in Cinnamon Gardens, Shankari Chandran, returns with the gripping political thriller Unfinished Business -- where the busy streets of Sri Lanka's capital are dangerously alive. In Desolation, Hossein Asgari explores the power of storytelling after a man loses his brother during the violence and chaos of 1980s Iran. And Irma Gold's Shift delves into a family's love while living in one of South Africa's most famous, and notorious, townships. Together, Shankari, Hossein and Irma, in conversation with Nicole Abadee, will discuss how their characters are moulded, and their stories guided, by the places in which they live.
Hossein Asgari studied physics and creative writing. His debut novel, Only Sound Remains, was shortlisted for both the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards in 2024. His second novel, Desolation, was published by Ultimo Press in 2025. He currently works as a researcher at UniSA Creative.
Shankari Chandran was raised on Ngunnawal Country. She is an Australian Tamil lawyer and author of Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens, Song of the Sun God, The Barrier, Safe Haven and Unfinished Business. In 2023 she won the Miles Franklin Literary Award 2023 for Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens.
Irma Gold is an award-winning Australian author, full-time freelance book editor and podcaster based in Naarm/Melbourne. Her books have been published in the US, UK, Canada, South America, Spain, China and Poland. She is the author of two novels, The Breaking and Shift, both of which have received widespread critical acclaim. Irma’s short fiction has been widely published in literary journals, and her acclaimed short fiction collection is Two Steps Forward. She is also the author of five children’s picture books, with another two forthcoming, and is the founder and co-host with Karen Viggers of the writing podcast Secrets from the Green Room.
_________________________________________________________
Concession Tickets apply for children under the age of 16, full-time students, Commonwealth Health Care Card holders, Commonwealth Seniors Card Holders and Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card holders. Please have your eligible card with you at the venue.
Concession 🎟️: $25
Adult 🎟️: $28
Advertisement

Where is it happening?

The Australian National University, East Rd,Canberra,ACT,Australia

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Icon
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Canberra Writers Festival

Host or Publisher Canberra Writers Festival

Ask AI if this event suits you:

Discover More Events in Canberra

The Comfy Gutters - Full Band Debut @ Smith's
Sun, 26 Oct at 06:00 am The Comfy Gutters - Full Band Debut @ Smith's

Smith's Alternative

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Spider-Man: Friendly Neighbourhood Draft
Sun, 26 Oct at 07:00 am Spider-Man: Friendly Neighbourhood Draft

Shop 1-B4/B5, 7 Neptune St, Woden Valley, ACT, Australia, Australian Capital Territory 2606

Owen Campbell Band Show "Cosmic People" EP Launch
Sun, 26 Oct at 09:00 am Owen Campbell Band Show "Cosmic People" EP Launch

181 City Walk , Canberra Central, ACT, Australia, Australian Capital Territory 2601

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Canberra 5k SCADaddle for Research
Sun, 26 Oct at 10:00 am Canberra 5k SCADaddle for Research

Parkes Place West

NONPROFIT CHARITIES
Japanese Film Festival 2025 | Canberra
Mon, 27 Oct at 12:00 am Japanese Film Festival 2025 | Canberra

Palace Electric

FESTIVALS THEATRE
Sublime Voices
Mon, 27 Oct at 08:00 am Sublime Voices

The Big Band Room, ANU School of Music

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Pok\u00e9mon TCG - Pok\u00e9ween!
Mon, 27 Oct at 08:00 am Pokémon TCG - Pokéween!

38 Garema Place, Canberra, ACT, Australia, Australian Capital Territory 2600

POKEMON HALLOWEEN
Big Open Mic! with That Poetry Thing
Mon, 27 Oct at 09:00 am Big Open Mic! with That Poetry Thing

Smith's Alternative

OPEN-MIC ART
CWF Kids and YA Day at the Museum
Sat, 25 Oct at 11:30 pm CWF Kids and YA Day at the Museum

National Museum of Australia

KIDS ART
Poems of Love and Rage
Sun, 26 Oct at 02:00 am Poems of Love and Rage

Patrick White Lawns

ART LITERARY-ART
NZ Family Reckoning: Family Secrets & Coming Of Age
Sun, 26 Oct at 02:00 am NZ Family Reckoning: Family Secrets & Coming Of Age

National Portrait Gallery

ART LITERARY-ART
Lay The World Bare
Sun, 26 Oct at 02:30 am Lay The World Bare

The Australian National University

ART LITERARY-ART
Murder, Mayhem, Manners
Sun, 26 Oct at 04:00 am Murder, Mayhem, Manners

National Library of Australia

ART LITERARY-ART
Hearts, Humour & Growing Up: Does True Love Exist?
Sun, 26 Oct at 05:00 am Hearts, Humour & Growing Up: Does True Love Exist?

National Museum of Australia

ART LITERARY-ART
Book Launch: K*ll Your Boss
Wed, 05 Nov at 09:00 am Book Launch: K*ll Your Boss

50 Northbourne Ave, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

PARTIES ENTERTAINMENT

What's Happening Next in Canberra?

Discover Canberra Events