Luke Bateman & the Debutants
ABOUT THE SHOW
Shailee Thompson, Jacob K Gallagher, Cameron Sullivan & Emily Lighezzolo in conversation with Luke Bateman
Ever since he burst onto BookTok in 2025, NRL-star-turned-fantasy-author Luke Bateman has been using his platform to champion the work of other writers. Now, ahead of his debut novel being released in 2027, he’s doing it in person!
Join Bateman as he chats with four of Australia’s most exciting new novelists – whose work runs the gamut from literary to speculative fiction and from fantasy to slasher romcom – to explore the thrills and spills of being a first-time author.
PART OF BRISBANE WRITERS FESTIVAL
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Luke Bateman comes with many labels, the one he likes most is ‘human’.
Shailee Thompson is a USA Today bestselling author and educator based in Brisbane, Australia. She’s always had a penchant for writing women with smart mouths, soft hearts, and strong wills going up against extraordinary odds. How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates is her debut novel.
Jacob K Gallagher is a writer of speculative fiction, fantasy and science fiction, and sometimes he tries poetry. Jacob is a Kamilaroi man from Gunnedah, who grew up in Dubbo, and finally moved to Canberra for Uni, where he has lived since.
Cameron Sullivan was born in Perth, Western Australia. He grew up with the dark fantasy and horror icons of the 80s and went on to study classics, languages and creative writing at the University of Western Australia. The Red Winter is his first novel.
Emily Lighezzolo has worked in Australian publishing for nearly a decade. Life Drawing won the Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer at the Queensland Literary Awards and is her first book. She lives in Meanjin/Brisbane.
PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES
VENUE
TICKETS
DURATION
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Suitable for all ages
18 months and under free on the knee; all other ages must hold a valid ticket
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Luke Bateman comes with many labels, the one he likes most is ‘human’.
Shailee Thompson is a USA Today bestselling author and educator based in Brisbane, Australia. She’s always had a penchant for writing women with smart mouths, soft hearts, and strong wills going up against extraordinary odds. How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates is her debut novel.
Jacob K Gallagher is a writer of speculative fiction, fantasy and science fiction, and sometimes he tries poetry. Jacob is a Kamilaroi man from Gunnedah, who grew up in Dubbo, and finally moved to Canberra for Uni, where he has lived since.
Cameron Sullivan was born in Perth, Western Australia. He grew up with the dark fantasy and horror icons of the 80s and went on to study classics, languages and creative writing at the University of Western Australia. The Red Winter is his first novel.
Emily Lighezzolo has worked in Australian publishing for nearly a decade. Life Drawing won the Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer at the Queensland Literary Awards and is her first book. She lives in Meanjin/Brisbane.
