SOME of Australia’s top writers will gather in Canberra this September for the first Canberra Readers’ Festival. 

The festival, which celebrates this year’s National Year of Reading, will be held on September 22 at The Playhouse.

ACT Chief Minister and National Year of Reading ACT Primary Ambassador Katy Gallagher said the list of authors attending would include Bryce Courtenay, Anita Heiss and Kate Grenville.

“With the spotlight on reading this year, event organisers Libraries ACT, with support from the Canberra Theatre Centre, wanted to mark the National Year of Reading with a special event to inspire and entertain, and to get people excited about books and the power of reading,” she said.

As well as getting the chance to hear from notable Australian authors, avid readers will get the opportunity to debate, discuss and share their views on books with each other, the authors and the community.

“The Canberra Readers’ Festival provides us with the opportunity to find out what makes these famous authors tick, what their inspiration is and to put a face to the many stories we know so well,” Ms Gallagher said.

Tickets to the festival will go sale on August 6. More information is available on the Libraries ACT website or by calling 6205 9000.