These were just a taste of the conversations taking place at About the Book Merimbula on Saturday, March 11.

At the Merimbula RSL, authors John Blay, Mark McKenna and Glenda Guest questioned how one interprets landscape and the encounters with landscape.

Speaking to the audience, Mr McKenna said it was important for writers to be witness to the landscape they were writing about.

“Landscape changed my whole understanding of what I was trying to do as a historian,” he said.

“Landscape is nothing unless we give it life through stories.”

Meanwhile at St Clement’s Anglican Church across the road, former ABC presenter Ian Campbell facilitated a talk with local authors Karen Nelson and Melissa Pouliot.

Ms Nelson, a mother of six, raised the issue of finding time to commit herself to writing while juggling other responsibilities.

Ms Pouliot spoke about the challenges of being published, embracing online publishing and social media, as well as coping with negative feedback.

Richard Jermyn was on hand to show off part of a printing press at the Merimbula Scout Hall, while visitors to the Old School Museum were greeted with a 431-year old Bible printed in London.

Events continued throughout the day, including a conversation with Warren Foster, Bruce Pascoe, Noeleen Lumby and David Dixon about Indigenous literatures.

Kate Liston-Mills, Gabrielle Stround, Meg Brewster and Jessica Nelson also held an event called ‘Giving Voice to Ourselves’.

About the Book Merimbula will conclude with a dinner at the Merimbula RSL with keynote author Jane Caro.