Crime Stories – Author Panel

Join Ashley Kalagian Blunt, Tim Ayliffe and Natalie Conyer in conversation with Hayley Scrivenor for an engaging panel discussion on crime fiction today.

Secrets. Suspense. Crime. 

Crime fiction continues to captivate readers with its high stakes, moral grey areas and razor‑sharp tension. From psychological thrillers and political intrigue to stories rooted close to home, the genre reflects our fears, curiosities and obsession with uncovering the truth. 

Join Ashley Kalagian Blunt, Tim Ayliffe and Natalie Conyer in conversation with Hayley Scrivenor for an engaging panel discussion on crime fiction today. Together they’ll explore why crime stories are so compelling, the themes and questions that sit at the heart of the genre and how Australian crime fiction continues to resonate with readers. 

This event is perfect for crime readers, thriller fans and anyone who loves a story full of twists and tension. 

Purchase the authors' books from the pop-up QBD Books store at the event and have them personally signed. 

Tickets cost $5 per person. Register for the Crime Stories – Authors Panel.  

This is a Write Out West: Western Sydney Libraries and Literature Festival event. 

About the authors: 

Ashley Kalagian Blunt 

Ashley is the number one bestselling author of Dark Mode, which was shortlisted for the 2024 ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year, the Ned Kelly Awards for Best Crime Fiction, and the Danger Award for Debut Fiction. She teaches writing workshops across Australia. Her latest thrillers are Cold Truth, which was also shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Awards and Like, Follow, Die. She co-hosts James and Ashley Stay at Home, a podcast about creativity, writing and health and teaches writing workshops across Australia. 

Tim Ayliffe 

Tim is an award-winning author whose thriller novels have been informed by his 25-year global career as a journalist. He writes about crime, espionage, extremism and the global power games at play in the 21st Century. He has been the Managing Editor of Television and Video for ABC News and also Executive Producer of News Breakfast. He is the author of the ‘John Bailey’ series including The Greater Good, State of Fear, The Enemy Within, Killer Traitor Spy – which won the People’s Choice Award at the 2024 Danger Awards – and The Wrong Man. Tim's thrillers are also in development for TV. He lives in Sydney.  

Natalie Conyer 

Finding the Bones is her third novel. Her first novel, Present Tense, won a Ned Kelly Award and her second, Shadow City, has been shortlisted for both the Ned Kelly and Danger Awards. Her short stories have won several awards and been featured in anthologies such as The Only One in the World and Dark Deeds Down Under Volume 2. A collection of her stories, The Book Club & Other Stories, was published in 2024. Natalie lives in Sydney. She is a swimmer, a TV addict, a world-class procrastinator and a crime fiction tragic who loves the genre so much she did a doctorate on it. 

Hayley Scrivenor 

Hayley is an internationally best-selling author. Her novels Dirt Town and Girl Falling have won major awards in Australia, the UK and USA and her work has been translated into several languages. She is based in Wollongong, Australia. 

Guidelines for entry and attendance:  

• Bookings are essential  
• To gain entry please show your email booking confirmation with a valid ticket. 
• No refunds, exchanges, or make-ups if you miss the event   
• We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment for all. If you require any accommodations to attend this event, please contact 4732 7891.