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James McKenzie Watson

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James McKenzie Watson

James McKenzie WatsonJames McKenzie WatsonJames McKenzie Watson
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UPCOMING EVENTS & TEACHING

'The Forsaken' Book Launch

Harry Hartog Mosman is hosting the Sydney launch for The Forsaken by Matt Rogers. James McKenzie Watson will be in conversation with Matt to discuss his blockbuster novel. With praise from authors such as Candice Fox and Hayley Scrivenor, The Forsaken is set to be the next big Australian thriller.


Where: Harry Hartog Mosman (888 Military Rd, Mosman NSW 2088)

When: July 9 2025, from 6pm

Tickets are free - RSVP here!

Book here

Full-day writing workshops - dates TBA

Full-day writing workshops with Writing NSW and others to be announced for late 2025/early 2026.

SELECTED Past Events & Teaching

2025

  •  Cold Truth  Book Launch - February 6 2025 at Royal Oak Hotel, Balmain. A recording of this event is available here. 

2024

  • Writing Setting and Landscape (Writing NSW) - October 26 2024. Full-day course.
  • Laneway Learning - July 23 + September 11 2024. Creative writing classes for adults. 
  • In Conversation with Michelle See-Tho, winner of the 2023 Penguin Literary Prize - August 14 2024 - at Warringah Mall Library, Brookvale.
  • Bathurst Writers and Readers Festival - May 25 2024. Panel: Rural Crime Fiction: A Cross Examination with Rhys Gard, Aoife Clifford and Jenny Barry (convener). 

2023

  • In Conversation with Benjamin Stevenson - December 6 2023 - at Warringah Mall Library, Brookvale.
  • Podcast Education Session for High School Students - August 15 2023 at Cromer High School. 
  • National Young Writers' Festival - September 30 2023. Panel: Partners in Crime with Hayley Scrivenor.
  • Dubbo Writers' Festival - September 9 2023 - judge of the 2023 Dubbo Writers' Festival Cup short story competition.
  • South Coast Writers Festival - August 19 2023. Panel: Writing and Bodies with Ashley Kalagian Blunt and Hayley Scrivenor (convener).
  • In Conversation with Ashley Kalagian Blunt - August 8 2023 - at Northern Beaches Library, Mona Vale.
  • Feast of Words - July 24 - 26 2023 at Coonabarabran High School. Three days of teaching writing workshops to students in Years 7 - 11, with Jeff McGill, Melina Marchetta, Mandy Nolan and George Catsi.  
  • On a Bright Hillside in Paradise Book Launch - July 20 2023 - at George Street Dymocks. In conversation with 2022 Penguin Literary Prize winner Annette Higgs.
  • Boorowa Literary Festival - July 14 2023 - panels with Ashley Kalagian Blunt and Hayley Scrivenor. 
  • Yarram Storyfest - July 1 - 2 2023. Panels: Hearts and Minds: Celebrating Community with Kgshak Akec, Tom Ballard, Ben Hobson, Janine Garvey, Eric Collier and Ben Langdon (convener); Good Mental Health: Writing and Writers Exploring Trauma and Recovery in Regional Australia with Kgshak Akec, Eliza Henry-Jones and Scot Gardner (convener); Breakfast with James McKenzie Watson.
  • Sydney Writers Festival - May 22 - 28 2023. Events: Denizen in conversation with Ashley Kalagian Blunt (Penrith); Life in the Landscape with Robbie Arnott, Fiona McFarlane and Susan Wyndham (convener) (available as a podcast); Beginnings (reading from Denizen).
  • Newcastle Writers Festival - March 31 - April 2 2023. Panels: I'd Like You to Meet... in conversation with Lee Kofman; New Blood with Shelley Burr, Matthew Spencer and Anna Downes (convener) (available as a podcast).
  • Scone Literary Festival - March 11 - 12 2023. Panels: Looking Forward to My Brilliant Career with Catherine du Peloux Menagé (convener); What Book Would You Change the Ending to and Why? with Dominic Smith, Michael Burge and Richard Glover (convener).

2022

  • Reflective Writing Workshop - November 2 2022  at the Western Cancer Centre, Dubbo. 
  • In Conversation with Chris Hammer - October 30 2022 - at The Book Nest, Mudgee.
  • The Guardian Rural Network Book Club - October 5 2022 - author appearance via Zoom.
  • BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival 2022  - September 8 -10 - Panel: Three Prizewinners Walk into a Bar... with Vicky Petraitis, author of The Unbelieved, Veronica Lando, author of The Whispering and Phillipa McGuiness (convener).
  • Writers Unleashed - Sutherland Shire Writers Festival - September 3 2022 - Panel:  Black and Blue: The Craft of Rural Noir with Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town, and Michelle Barraclough (convener). 
  • Port Macquarie Author Talk - August 27 2022 - at Port Macquarie Library.
  • Amy + Laura's Book Club (Secret Book Stuff) - August 22 2022 - author appearance via Zoom.
  • Coonabarabran Author Talk - August 20 2022 - at Coonabarabran Library. 
  • Denizen Melbourne Launch - August 3 2022 - at Readings Emporium, Melbourne, in conversation with Lee Kofman (author of The Writer Laid Bare and The Dangerous Bride).
  • Denizen Sydney Launch - July 28 2022 - at Gleebooks, Glebe, in conversation with Ashley Kalagian Blunt (author of How to Be Australian). 
  • Denizen Online Launch - July 21 2022 - presented by the Words and Nerds Podcast, hosted by Dani Vee. With special guests Lyn Yeowart (author of The Silent Listener) and Petronella McGovern (author of Six Minutes and The Good Teacher).  A video recording of this event is available at the Dani Vee Books - Words and Nerds Facebook page. Also available as an audio podcast episode via James and Ashley Stay at Home.
  • Denizen Dubbo Launch - July 19 2022 - at Dubbo Library, hosted by The Book Connection, in conversation with Nic Healey (host of ABC Western Plains Breakfast). 

2021

  •  In Conversation with Michelle Tom - Avid Reader's Festival of Cancelled Events - October 18 2021 -  A recording of the event is available here.

EVENT PHOTOS

In Conversation with Ashley Kalagian Blunt for the 'Cold Truth' Sydney launch - February 6 2025 - at Royal Oak Hotel, Balmain.

In Conversation with Michelle See-Tho, winner of the 2023 Penguin Literary Prize - August 14 2024 - at Warringah Mall Library, Brookvale.

Bathurst Writers and Readers Festival - 'Rural Crime Fiction: A Cross Examination' panel, with Rhys Gard, Aoife Clifford and Jenny Barry (convener) - May 25 2024

In Conversation with Benjamin Stevenson about his new novel Everyone On This Train is a Suspect - December 6 2023 - at Warringah Mall Library, Brookvale

National Young Writers' Festival 2023 - 'Partners in Crime' panel with Hayley Scrivenor - September 30 2023

South Coast Writers Festival 2023 - 'Writing and Bodies' panel with Ashley Kalagian Blunt and Hayley Scrivenor (convener) - August 19 2023

In Conversation with Ashley Kalagian Blunt about her best-selling novel, Dark Mode - August 8 2023 - at Northern Beaches Library, Mona Vale

Feast of Words 2023 - Coonabarabran High School, Writing Workshops - with Jeff McGill, Melina Marchetta, Mandy Nolan and George Catsi - July 24 - 26 2023

Book launch for 'On a Bright Hillside in Paradise' by Annette Higgs (winner of the 2022 Penguin Literary Prize - George St Dymocks - July 20 2023

Boorowa Literary Festival - with Ashley Kalgaian Blunt, discussing 'James and Ashley Stay at Home' with festival coordinator Jeremy Clarke - July 15 2023

Boorowa Literary Festival - In conversation with Gab Corcoran about 'Denizen' - July 15 2023

Yarram Storyfest 2023 - 'Good Mental Health: Writing and Writers Exploring Trauma and Recovery in Regional Australia' panel, with Kgshak Akec, Eliza Henry-Jones and Scot Gardner (convener) - July 1 2023

Yarram Storyfest 2023 - 'Hearts and Minds: Celebrating Community' panel with Kgshak Akec, Ben Hobson, Janine Garvey, Tom Ballard, Eric Collier and Ben Langdon (convener) - July 1 2023

Sydney Writers Festival - 'Beginnings' reading (opening of Denizen) May 25 2023 

Sydney Writers Festival - 'Life in the Landscape' panel, with Susan Wyndham (moderator), Fiona McFarlane and Robbie Arnott - May 25 2023 

Sydney Writers Festival (Penrith City Library) - Denizen in conversation with Ashley Kalagian Blunt - May 24 2023

Newcastle Writers Festival - 'New Blood' panel, with Anna Downes (moderator), Shelley Burr and Matthew Spencer - April 2 2023

Newcastle Writers Festival  - April 1 2023

Newcastle Writers Festival - 'I'd Like You to Meet...' in conversation with Lee Kofman - April 1 2023

Scone Literary Festival -  Looking Forward to My Brilliant Career with Catherine du Peloux Menagé (convener)  - March 11 2023

Scone Literary Festival - What Book Would You Change the Ending to and Why?  with Dominic Smith, Michael Burge and Richard Glover (convener) - March 11 2023

In Conversation with Chris Hammer about his new book 'The Tilt' - The Book Nest, Mudgee - October 30 2022

BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival 2022   - panel with Phillipa McGuiness (convener), Vicky Petraitis and Veronica Lando - September 9 2022


Writers Unleashed (Sutherland Writers Festival) - Rural Noir Panel - with  Michelle Baraclough (Convener) and Hayley Scrivenor - September 3 2022

Port Macquarie Author Talk - August 27 2022

Coonabarabran Library Author Talk - August 20 2022

Denizen Melbourne Launch - August 3 2022 - Readings Emporium

Denizen Melbourne Launch - August 3 2022 - Readings Emporium

Denizen Sydney Launch - July 28 2022 - Gleebooks, Glebe

Denizen Sydney Launch - July 28 2022 - Gleebooks, Glebe

Denizen Dubbo Launch - July 19 2022 - Dubbo Library

Denizen Dubbo Launch - July 19 2022 - Dubbo Library

Copyright © 2025 James McKenzie Watson - All Rights Reserved.

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