EVENTS
Jaclyn regularly moderates events at writers festivals, literary organisations like The Wheeler Centre and Writers Victoria, as well as bookshops. She gives author talks about gardening and making pasta at libraries, community centres and food stores. Jaclyn also runs gardening workshops for children. She is regularly on ABC Radio reviewing books and making reading recommendations.
Veronica Sullivan, Festival Director,
Melbourne Writers Festival
“Jaclyn Crupi is one of my favourite people to program. Whether speaking with debut local writers or high-profile international guests, the hallmarks of Jaclyn’s interviewing style are her genuine warmth and passion for all things literary and/or culinary. Jaclyn invariably brings impeccable readerly acumen, wise and curious engagement with books, and infectious enthusiasm to every event she hosts.”
Jennifer Down, Miles-Franklin Award winning author of Bodies of Light
“Jaclyn is a shrewd and empathetic reader – traits that make her an excellent interviewer. Whether in conversation with Jaclyn myself, or watching her speak with another writer, I always feel I’m in the safe hands of someone who wants to share her passion and her intellectual curiosity with the reading public. She knows my books better, I suspect, than I do.”
Natalie Paull, Beatrix Bakes
“It’s an immense delight to be interviewed by Jaclyn. As soon as you are ushered through the discussion doorway with her generously flattering and impeccably researched introduction, the chat is like you are sitting with a close friend! Jaclyn makes you feel comfortable being yourself, encourages a giggle (or several) and gives you room to explore deeper emotions. She is a confident and charismatic conduit of conversation. ”
Sarah Krasnostein, multi-award winning author of The Trauma Cleaner and The Believer
“The depth of her reading and the breadth of her thinking make Jaclyn a rare and wonderful interviewer. Our conversation back in 2018 remains, for me, a highlight of my writing career.”
Upcoming Events
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Eat the Book: Emelia Jackson
Saturday 18 April, 2pm
BRUNSWICK KITCHENWe live in a cynical world: there's not nearly enough cake.
Baking holds and shares memories. Each slice of cake carries the scent, the flavour and the wonder of a birthday, a friendship, a celebration. The classic art of cake-baking is also a rhythm that can bring so much joy to the baker - especially when you're measuring, creaming, folding and scraping to foolproof Emelia Jackson recipes. Every style of cake imaginable is covered here across four approachable, delightful, fully photographed chapters:
Hello, is it cake you're looking for? For all the go-to classics, from one-bowl wonders like fluffy vanilla cake and carrot and pecan cake, to the code-breaking recipe for café-style banana bread.
All you need is cake. The perfect introduction to nut meals, syrups and more, this chapter features creative and simple cakes that will up your flavour and texture combinations, including a roasted plum, brown sugar and cinnamon pavlova for a very special summer celebration. May the (mini) cake be with you. Cake can come in all shapes and sizes, including mini lemon polenta cakes and cardamom and blackberry financiers, all purpose-designed for travelling to a friend's home or gifting (after saving one for yourself).
Around the world in 80 flavours. A delicious voyage through cultural cornerstones, from Syrian orange cake, to two wonderful Hungarian layer cakes to impress, and an incredibly easy but satisfying French yoghurt cake.In Emelia's hands, cake becomes limitless. Each of the 80-plus recipes are flexible, adaptable and designed to welcome bakers of any skill level. Now, show me the cake.
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Everybody Loves Cake by Alisha Henderson
Tuesday 21 April, 6.30pm
CARNEGIE LIBRARYJoin us for an irresistibly sweet talk with Dessert Masters star and creative cake visionary Alisha Henderson, as she shares the delicious world behind her new book Everybody Loves Cake.
Founder of Sweet Bakes and co-founder of Co.Bake Space, Alisha will take us on her journey and reveal what makes a truly glorious cake. She will be joined in conversation with writer and educator Jaclyn Crupi. And because no event about cake should be cake-less… you’ll also get to taste some of Alisha’s own creations on the day!
Suitable for adults. Tickets $10. Bookings essential. Please note: No refunds. Includes cakes, tea and coffee. Book signings and sales available. -
Victoria Brownlee, Garry Disher and Anne Olle with Jaclyn Crupi
Thursday April 23, 9am
Our three writers plus host Jaclyn Crupi all live on the Mornington Peninsula. Each day they are inspired by the natural world around them, and each day they write. Join this discussion about the importance of where we work and its impact on how we work.
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Write A Bestseller, Quit My Job? How authors find the courage to write full-time
Thursday April 23, 10.30am
For years, they forged successful careers in professions unrelated to the literary world. The desire to write a book was too powerful, however. At what point can writers in Australia afford to go full-time? How do they survive financially, and how precarious/scary/rewarding/joyful is their choice?
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Melbourne’s Hidden Interiors
Thursday April 23, 1.30pm
Stephen Crafti and Kristine Slawinski with Jaclyn Crupi
Interiors and architecture experts Stephen Crafti and Kristine Slawinski share their intimate knowledge of Melbourne's homes and buildings via their beautiful coffee table books.
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The Family Dynamic: Literature’s gift that keeps on giving
Friday 24 April, 10.30am
Tim Ayliffe, Toni Jordan and Anna Snoekstra with Jaclyn Crupi
What’s not to love about a family in crisis and its capacity to fuel a great plot? From the great epics that span generations to the modern family psycho-drama, there is something so compelling about the blood ties that bind - or destroy. Our three novelists discuss.
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On Not Climbing Mountains by Claire Thomas
Wednesday 29 April, 6.30pm
BEAUMARIS LIBRARYFrom the internationally acclaimed, prize-winning author of The Performance and Fugitive Blue comes a remarkable work of literary fiction.
On Not Climbing Mountains is a tender and compelling novel from the internationally acclaimed author of The Performance. Beautifully conceived and deftly crafted, it is an exhilarating feat of storytelling, concerned with the fragilities of the natural world, the pains of grief and memory, and the endless reverberations of art.
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Author Talk and Propagation Demo
Saturday 2 May, 11am
BELGRAVE LIBRARYWant to help the native wildlife in your area but not sure how to start? Are you keen to grow more native plants but have a small budget? Would you like to attract native birds, bees and butterflies to your outdoor spaces?
Countless Australian species of birds, bees and butterflies are in decline or threatened with extinction, but you can help. Writer and gardener Jaclyn Crupi shows us that protecting and fostering precious native wildlife starts in our own backyards. The first step: start planting! And choose native plants where possible. This alone presents endless opportunities for habitat creation – sometimes it’s the smallest actions that make the biggest difference. Providing a well-placed dish of water on a hot day, building and installing a simple insect hotel or allowing leaf litter to stay where it falls are among the many other super simple ways you can make your garden more attractive to native birds, bees and butterflies, and in turn benefit all species. Loads of practical advice for gardeners and novices alike.
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New Releases Round-Up (& Industry Goss)
Wednesday 6 May, 6:30pm
SUBSTACKNew Release Roundup + Industry Fireside Chat with Jaclyn Crupi & Bri Lee
Allow us to help you cut through the noise and never-ending lists, and bring your attention to the best of book world each month.
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Robert Forster In Conversation
Friday 8 May, 7pm
KEW COURTHOUSENow, Forster turns his brilliant mind to fiction, with a rock-and-roll joyride of a debut novel, Songwriters on the Run. Telling the story of a struggling band on tour in Central Queensland (featuring drug busts, prison breaks and a distinctly ‘90s flavour), Songwriters on the Run is a hectic, sometimes hilarious tale that’s as silly, profound and grand as the music it celebrates.
Join Forster at Kew Courthouse as he shares a very special musical performance and discusses music, life on the road and writing this high-octane fiction debut. Hosted by Jaclyn Crupi. -
Book Club with Bri Lee
Saturday 9 May, 1pm
THE MOATSpend the afternoon with Bri Lee and Jaclyn Crupi as Lee’s hit Substack News & Reviews goes IRL with an intimate book club event, discussing Helen Garner’s novella The Children’s Bach.
Immerse yourself in Garner’s beloved 1984 classic and wider body of work, as Lee and Crupi lead a discussion about the book’s lasting impact and Garner’s place in their own lives as readers. They’ll also offer a sneak peek at upcoming books they’re excited for, with an opportunity for you to share your own recommendations and recent reads. Drinks and nibbles provided.
Come solo or rally your book club for a deep dive into Garner’s work and an afternoon of bookish connection. Five-star nerds assemble! -
Dervla McTiernan & Louise Milligan In Conversation
Saturday 9 May, 5pm
HAWTHORN ARTS CENTRETwo of Australia’s most acclaimed and insightful crime writers come together to discuss their thrilling new novels.
Dervla McTiernan’s Three Reasons for Revenge is a gripping high-stakes novel of suspense about three seemingly unconnected people, caught in a lethal web of deceit and unhealed wounds. Louise Milligan's Shellybanks is a story of buried secrets, unimaginable trauma and how the love of family can pull you through to a brighter future. They speak with host Jaclyn Crupi.
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Author Talk and Propagation Demo
Wednesday 20 May, 6.30pm
NORTHCOTE LIBRARYWant to help the native wildlife in your area but not sure how to start? Are you keen to grow more native plants but have a small budget? Would you like to attract native birds, bees and butterflies to your outdoor spaces?
Countless Australian species of birds, bees and butterflies are in decline or threatened with extinction, but you can help. Writer and gardener Jaclyn Crupi shows us that protecting and fostering precious native wildlife starts in our own backyards. The first step: start planting! And choose native plants where possible. This alone presents endless opportunities for habitat creation – sometimes it’s the smallest actions that make the biggest difference. Providing a well-placed dish of water on a hot day, building and installing a simple insect hotel or allowing leaf litter to stay where it falls are among the many other super simple ways you can make your garden more attractive to native birds, bees and butterflies, and in turn benefit all species. Loads of practical advice for gardeners and novices alike.
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Author Talk and Pasta-Making Demonstration
Tuesday 2 June
BULLEEN LIBRARYAccording to Jaclyn Crupi – a proud Italian-Australian pasta maker and devotee – pasta is love, pasta is life. Pasta can be a quick and simple meal or a culinary masterpiece, but in essence it is about generosity, comfort and the beauty to be found in simplicity. Her book Pasta Love is a celebration of pasta and the people who make it.
Join Jaclyn to learn how to make fresh pasta at home and how to improve your dried pasta dishes (unlock the secrets of starchy salty pasta cooking water). Hear stories of the incredible pasta nonne (Italian grandmothers) Jaclyn has been making pasta with and learn their pasta-making ways. Jaclyn will demonstrate how to make a semola rimacinata flour and water pasta dough and then shape it into cavatelli, orecchiette, fusilli al ferretto, lorighittas and many more pasta shapes. So if you’re keen to give pasta making a go, or you just love all things pasta, this is the event for you.
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Eat the Book: Smoke, Rice Water
Thursday 18 June, 6pm
BRUNSWICK KITCHENJoin us at Brunswick Kitchen for a evening of delights with Kishwar Chowdhury. Kishwar will be presenting a recipe from Smoke, Rice, Water and discussing her approach to cooking, food and developing recipes with Brunswick Bound’s Jaclyn Crupi.
In Smoke, Rice, Water Kishwar Chowdhury shares 100 recipes from the vibrant, interconnected and culinarily underrepresented region of Bengal.
With warmth and clarity, she invites readers into her suburban Melbourne kitchen to discover traditional techniques, bold flavours and the foodways of more than 200 million people – from street snacks and Mughal court dishes to fish stews, green mango lentils and the cherished sweets of Bengal.
Drawing on her experience as a second-generation migrant, Kishwar brings cultural knowledge, personal history and a fresh perspective to the table, honouring her Bengali heritage while making its recipes accessible and deeply satisfying for modern home cooks.
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Eat the Book: Home Food
Thursday 25 June, 6pm
BRUNSWICK KITCHENJoin us at Brunswick Kitchen for a simply elegant evening with Elizabeth Hewson of Saturday Night Pasta. Elizabeth will be demonstrating elements from the recipes featured in Home Food and discussing her approach to cooking, food and developing perfectly imperfect recipes with Brunswick Bound’s Jaclyn Crupi.
Home Food delivers simple, comforting, sometimes nostalgic family eating - from weeknight ease to weekend pottering.
Food columnist and recipe writer Elizabeth Hewson's approach is all about what cooking should be, so it can be nourishing and still enjoyable - less pressure, more ease. These are perfectly imperfect recipes that don't chase trends, viral moments, or complicated techniques.
Including plenty of veg-forward recipes, plenty of tips and tricks for making the most of your precious moments in the kitchen, and delivered with the signature Hewson elegant ease, this is the book for when dinner needs to just be dinner.
PAST EVENT
New York Times-bestselling author Sloane Crosley was live in conversation with Jaclyn Crupi exploring the sharp comic edges of reality, writing the surreal and the fear of running into your ex.
Jaclyn in conversation with Sloane Crosley
Jaclyn has four author talks based on her book Garden Like a Nonno: Soil and Seeds, The Winter Productive Garden, The Autumn Productive Garden and The Spring Productive Garden. In each talk she shares wisdom and gardening knowledge taught to her by her grandfathers.
PAST EVENT
Jaclyn in conversation with Stephanie Alexander
Hear Stephanie Alexander reflect on her unparalleled five-decade career as a cook, writer and restaurateur, and the legacy she has built for generations of professionals and amateurs in kitchens around the country.
PAST EVENT
Jaclyn moderated several panels at the inaugural Sorrento Writers Festival and interviewed Chris Hammer, Sofie Laguna, Megan Rogers, Andre Dao, Saman Shad, Pirooz Jafari, Armando Lucas Correa, Joelle Gergis, Sam Vincent and Simon Holmes a Court.
Sorrento Writers Festival
PAST EVENT
Over a seasonal lunch prepared with Indigenous Australian ingredients, a panel of culinary superstars met at Big Esso to discuss their approaches to cooking and sharing food, and the intersections and impact of multiculturalism, immigration and First Nations cuisine on Australian food culture. Inspired by Griffith Review: A Matter of Taste, the event featured Mabu Mabu owner and head chef Nornie Bero and author and broadcaster Alice Zaslavsky with host Jaclyn Crupi.
On the Table: A Matter of Taste
PAST EVENT
Super Bloom: Jaclyn in conversation with Jac Semmler
Jaclyn Crupi visits Heartland, the home garden of Jac Semmler, author of Super Bloom: a field guide to flowers for every gardener to talk gardening, beauty, the book and of course maximum flowers in a special one off podcast.
PAST EVENT
Jaclyn in conversation with Anna Krien and Favel Parrett
For October’s Double Booked Club, we’ll hear from two acclaimed Australian authors, whose new works of fiction take readers to distant corners of the globe … and back again.
PAST EVENT
Jaclyn has programmed and hosted many events at Hill of Content Bookshop
The Writers on the Hill event program began in 2018 and has gone from strength to strength. Authors interviewed include Sarah Krasnostein, Helen Goh, Chloe Hooper, Laura Elizabeth Woollett, Jennifer Down, Paul Kelly, Alice Robinson, Guy Grossi, Jane Lopes, Charlotte Wood, David Holmgren, Kirsten Bradley, Nick Ratar, Belinda Jeffery, Natalie Paull, Scott Pickett, Lesley Harding and Kendrah Morgan.
Jaclyn was interviewed by The Age journalist Cara Waters at Basils Farm as part of Queenscliffe Writers Festival
PAST EVENT
This lunch event sold out in record time. Diners enjoyed Italian dishes, some of them from recipes in Jaclyn’s books, and good conversation about the Italian art of living well.
PAST EVENT
Soil and Seeds
The Winter Productive Garden
The Autumn Productive Garden
The Spring Productive Garden
