‘Your future is not guaranteed. And isn’t that fucking freeing? If you found out you had less time to live than the average bear, how might you spend it?’
Beloved comedian Michelle Brasier asks this question in her heartbreaking and hilarious memoir My Brother’s Ashes are in a Sandwich Bag, which chronicles her life after losing her brother and father to cancer, too young, and being told there’s a high chance she’ll get cancer too.
Facing his own cancer diagnosis later in life, poet and bestselling novelist Peter Goldsworthy’s thoughts turned immediately to the creative possibilities of the experience, relayed in his own memoir, The Cancer Finishing School: Lessons in Laughter, Love and Resilience.
Peter and Michelle discuss turning to humour and creativity in the face of their own mortality, with ABC Radio Sydney’s James Valentine.
Michelle Brasier is an actor, singer, comedian and screenwriter who has won several awards for her work including a Sydney Comedy Festival Directors Choice, as well as a coveted nomination for Most Outstanding Show at Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Her memoir My Brothers Ashes Are in A Sandwich Bag has just been released.
Peter Goldsworthy combines writing with the practice of medicine. He has won several awards including the Commonwealth Poetry Prize, the FAW Christina Stead Award for fiction, and, together with composer Richard Mills, the inaugural Helpmann Award for Best New Work. His most recent book is The Cancer Finishing School.
James Valentine is a musician and presenter on ABC Radio Sydney. A familiar face on Australian television, James was the movie reviewer for many years on Showtime, a reporter and commentator on shows such as Sunrise, It Takes Two, Midday, Good Morning Australia and TVTV.
This venue is wheelchair accessible, but please visit our Accessibility page or email hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au if you have any other accessibility requirements.
Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival will have Auslan interpreters available for the Festival and will schedule them into sessions on request. Please complete the Auslan request question at checkout.
Festival Ticket Information
To take full advantage of all the events on offer, we recommend purchasing a weekend or day pass. Subject to availability, a strictly limited number of single tickets may become available, see below.