Writing Stories from Queer History: A workshop with Fiona Wilkes

Spend a Sunday morning this Pride Month delving into queer historical writing with Fiona Wilkes. LGBTQIA+ history does not run parallel to straight history. At every point, queer lives and stories intersect and intertwine with the mainstream. So why is the queer community so often absent from the history books? In this workshop, local queer author Fiona Wilkes (she/her/hers) will offer insight into the research and writing of her queer historical fiction novel, I Remember Everything (Fremantle Press, 2026). Fiona will discuss the responsibility of writers to create queer characters who do more than serve a straight narrative, how to represent stories that are otherwise hidden from history on the page and the problems that can arise when writers attempt to write “authentically” about other places and times. All levels of writing experience are welcome, and morning tea will be provided. Fiona Wilkes is a writer, researcher and educator, specialising in English and Literary Studies. Her work has been published locally, nationally and internationally, and has garnered attention from several literary awards. Born in the United Kingdom, Fiona now lives and works in Perth, Western Australia, on unceded Whadjuk Noongar land. Her debut novel, I Remember Everything, was shortlisted for the 2024 Hungerford Award.