I feel like I should be stacking the chairs at the writers’ festival not on stage in the writer’s chair.

This is my first time as an invited author to the Byron Bay Writers’ Festival. My first time as an author at any festival. I’ll be discussing intimacy, addictions and the process of becoming a writer.

On stage in these discussion panels I will be introduced by a chairperson but the whole time, I’ll be thinking — they’re gonna ask me to stack the chairs.

For years I was a volunteer at the Byron Festival and I helped ferry authors to the airport, looked after them at book signings, made sure they had water on stage — and I stacked chairs.

I told myself, one day you’re going to be up there with all those writers.

In between my day job writing real stories as a journalist, I wrote my story early in the morning and late at night.

Now I have a book with my name on it.

At the festival, in these discussions with other authors the audience will see me nodding my head and talking about the topics but on the inside I will will be dancing.

And screaming.

And jumping up and down.

I just wanted you to know, what a thrill it will be, just being there.

Here are some of the authors who will be in writers’ chairs with me.

Find out about my book Losing February, Graeme Simsion’s The Rosie Project, Jesse Blackadder’s Chasing The Light, Lisa Walker’s Sex, Lies & Bonsai, Mary-Lou Stephens’ Sex, Drugs and Meditation and Ahmad Fuadi ‘s The Land of Five Towers.

More information about BBWF events here.