About the Event
Day two of the Mandurah Readers’ & Writers’ Festival 2026 starts with Emily Tsokos Purtill, in conversation with Kathy Heys. Emily is the winner of the 2025 WA Premiers Book Award for Emerging Writer for her debut novel Matia
The Mandurah Readers’ and Writers’ Festival is an annual adult literature event presented by City of Mandurah Library Services. The aim of the festival is to foster a love of reading and literature and encourage creativity in our community.
In 2026 the festival will be held from 8 - 10 January at Seashells Mandurah, bringing together an array of established and emerging storytellers from across Western Australia. This three-day festival includes author talks, and panel discussions.
Emily Tsokos Purtill
Emily Tsokos Purtill is a Western Australian writer of Greek heritage. She lives in Perth / Boorloo, in Western Australia, on the lands of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people. Emily studied at the University of Western Australia and the University of British Columbia, Canada and has worked as a lawyer in Perth and Paris.
Emily is a 2024 winner of the Griffith Review Emerging Voices Competition for her essay, Know Thyself, a meditation on genetic inheritance and mythology. Her debut novel Matia (UWA Publishing) was released in October 2024 and won the 2025 Western Australian Premier’s Book Award for an Emerging Writer.
Matia
A woman in my village gave me four prophecies. They have all come true, so far.
Sia is a young Greek woman who has emigrated from Greece to Perth, Western Australia in 1945 for a better life. She carries with her four prophecies and four pieces of protective jewellery, matia, one for herself, her daughter, her granddaughter, and great-granddaughter. With a dooming prophecy hanging over each woman's head will their lives unfold as they want or are they chained to the fate that's been destined for them?
Over four generations and three continents, linking back and forth over 125 years from Greece to Perth to New York and back to Greece, Emily Tsokos Purtill has weaved a story that is utterly captivating and deeply moving.
Kathy Heys
Kathy Heys graduated from UWA with a degree in English Literature and a Graduate Diploma of Education and embarked on a career teaching in public schools. Recently retired from her role as Head of English at Coodanup College, after 18 years at the school, she is completing a creative writing and professional writing course at Curtin University. Kathy is looking forward to having more time to devote to developing her creative skills, while also working for Curtin University supervising beginning teachers as they embark on their internships.
What to Expect:
9.30am: In Conversation
10.15am: Q & A
10.30am: Book sales and signing
Tea and coffee provided.
Festival bookseller is Dymocks Busselton.
Places are limited. Bookings required.
Tickets per event $5, Book Here!
All day tickets $15, Book Here!
