Sydney Writers Festival 2026 - Chris Hammer and Hayley Scrivenor

From the award-winning Australian crime author, Chris Hammer, author of Scrublands comes Legacy – a gripping thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Detective Martin Scarsden is on the run. Someone is hunting him. The harsh, unforgiving outback offers no refuge… will it save him, or bury him?

Join Chris Hammer in conversation with fellow crime writer Hayley Scrivenor for an evening of suspense, storytelling, and a deep dive into the making of his latest heart-stopping novel.

Join us after the talk for a Q&A and book signing with Chris Hammer and Hayley Scrivenor.

When: Friday 22 May

Where: Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre, 80 Rickard Road, Bankstown

Time: 6 -7pm

Cost: $5.00

Borrow Legacy (and all of Chris Hammer's titles) from the CBCity Library collection - in print and or digitally via Borrowbox, Libby and Indyreads.

Our event venue is accessible with ramp and lift access, accessible bathrooms and parking available.

Space is limited and reservations are essential; seating is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please contact 9707 9704 for more information regarding seating and additional accessibility requirements needed.

Accessibility Information:

Canterbury-Bankstown Library is committed to providing inclusive library services and programs. Please email [email protected].

Our event venues are physically accessible with lift access, accessible bathrooms as well as parking spots and wheelchair seating available for your convenience.

About the Author:
Chris Hammer is a best-selling, award-winning Australian crime fiction author. He has written eight crime novels, attracting praise for their sense of place, their intricate plots, their colourful characters and their emotional depth.

Scrublands and Silver have been adapted for television, with more currently in production. His latest Martin Scarsden novel, Legacy, was published late last year, while his 2012 narrative non-fiction book The Coast was re-issued in January.

Chris was a journalist for some 30 years before becoming a full-time writer.

In conversation host:

Hayley Scrivenor is an internationally best-selling author and former festival director. Her first novel, Dirt Town, won a number of national and international awards, including the ILP John Creasey 'New Blood' Dagger, a Lambda Literary award and an ABIA for General Fiction Book of the Year. Her second novel, Girl Falling, won a 2025 Danger Award in the People's Choice category. She is currently working on a crime novel loosely inspired by the lives of her circus-performer grandparents.

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Host or Publisher Canterbury Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centres