Author, poet and educator Jude Aquilina will visit the Limestone Coast as part of the Writers and Readers in Residence project.

The project involves South Australian authors visiting regional communities to inspire writing and reading and sharing skills and knowledge about writing and publishing.

Ms Aquilina will connect with writers, published or aspiring, at a Writers’ Muster at the Limestone Coast Pantry in Mount Gambier on February 26 from 2pm to 4:30pm.

“The aim of the muster is to encourage participants to engage in the vibrant community of Australian writing,” Ms Aquilina said.

“There are so many opportunities for writers these days with hundreds of magazines, journals and publishing outlets looking for creative writing and of course, writing is so therapeutic, even if you do not wish to publish.”

The muster will include a diverse panel of writers speaking about a range of writing genres, including writing, poetry, short fiction, memoir, children’s writing, cross-genre writing and writing from an indigenous perspective.

Panel members Ms Aquilina, Jean McArthur, Doug Balnaves, Linda Walker, Auntie Michelle Jaquelin-Furr and Jacqui Davies will be chaired by community arts worker Monica Hart and a Q&A session will follow the panel, with drinks and food available from the Limestone Coast Pantry kitchen.

One of the aims of the Writers’ Muster is to glean interest in starting an ongoing writers’ group in the area.

Following the muster, Ms Aquilina will run a workshop at the Mount Gambier Library on March 5 from 10am to 1pm.

The workshop will focus on starting a writers’ group as well as entertaining writing exercises to get creative juices flowing.

One-on-one consultations with Ms Aquilina at various venues in the South East are also on the agenda, with further information available at local libraries.

Ms Aquilina will also be available for one-on-one sessions at the Mount Gambier Library on March 2 and March 4 to chat about anything to do with writing or publishing.

Contact the Mount Gambier Library to book for the one-on-one sessions.