Happily Ever After
PresentationMorris Gleitzman, Shamini Flint
Festival Pass| Festival Talk Pass
Two acclaimed children’s authors explore how stories find their most meaningful conclusions. In this engaging discussion, they discuss endings that offer hope, humour, or reflection—whether through laughter or tears. Drawing from their own works, Gleitzman and Flint reveal how the right ending gives readers both satisfaction and space to imagine well beyond the final page.
writingstorytelling
Morris Gleitzman (Australia)
Morris Gleitzman is one of Australia’s most beloved authors for children and young adults, renowned for combining humour with heartfelt storytelling. His award-winning books, including Once, Then and Two Weeks with the Queen, tackle complex themes with warmth and wit. Gleitzman’s stories feature resilient young protagonists who apply creative thinking to life’s challenges in ways that inspire empathy and optimism in readers worldwide. A former screenwriter and columnist, he has received numerous literary honours, was the Australian Children’s Laureate, and in 2019 appeared on a stamp. He believes that storytelling helps children overcome obstacles and find their place in the world.
Shamini Flint (Malaysia/Singapore)
Shamini Flint is a Malaysian author best known for her lively and engaging children’s books. Her popular Sports Diary 10-book series, published by Allen & Unwin, follows the misadventures of a sporting superhero (not!) while Ten is a powerful middle-grade novel about a young Malaysian girl who dreams of playing football (used in Singapore’s P5 syllabus). Through Ten, Flint inspires readers to challenge stereotypes. Flint’s picture books—such as Turtle Takes a Trip—combine humour with gentle lessons about conservation. A lawyer turned writer, Shamini has delighted readers with side-splitting humour and an unmistakably Southeast Asian voice.
Programme dates and times are subject to change.