After days of sun, sea, whale watching, walking and, of course, a writer’s festival, in Byron Bay, Booked Out speakers are struggling to readjust to wintery Melbourne. Booked Out commander-in-chief Lauris Pandolfini was there, and hasn’t stopped enthusing since.

Star spotting started on the flight where ‘Rosie Project’ author Graeme Simison, ‘Phryne Fisher’ creator Kerry Greenwood, comedians Denise Scott & Justin Heazlewood, and musician Dave Graney rubbed shoulders on an early flight to Byron.

As usual it was a perfectly organised and packed Festival. The most difficult thing for three days was choosing between concurrent sessions.

Highlights included Benjamin Law, Alice Pung, Maria Tumarkin & Yasmine Abdiel-Magied discussing their migrant backgrounds in the session Acquiring a Taste for Vegemite, (well, Benjamin admitted that he had never quite acquired it!)

A session with Tony Birch & Anita Heiss discussing 21st century Aboriginal stories was riveting. Singers Paul Kelly & Archie Roach on their collaboration together charmed everyone and Dave Graney & Justin Heazlewood entertained with their take on Improvisation. Sessions on Dysfunctional Families, Longevity, & Complacency saw capacity audiences in every marquee.

For those interested in YA Literature, Melina Marcheta, Phillip Gwynne, Judy Horacek & Libby Gleeson were interviewed by local authorTristan Bancks.

There were too many literary stars to name them all. Add to this mix great food, fine wine and clear blue skies every day and it all added up to a blissful Byron Bay experience.