The Courier

Why bestselling thriller writer Josh Pomare now calls book-focused Clunes home

Crime writer and Clunes' resident Josh Pomare is one of the panel of acclaimed writers on this year's program at the Clunes Booktown Festival. Photo credit: James Howarth
Crime writer and Clunes' resident Josh Pomare is one of the panel of acclaimed writers on this year's program at the Clunes Booktown Festival. Photo credit: James Howarth

This is sponsored content for Clunes Booktown Festival.

When Josh Pomare visited Clunes for the first time he was smitten with the village and the picturesque region. The next time he came, not long after, it was to look at real estate and plan his move there.

The 30-year-old New Zealand-born writer whose debut novel, psychological mind-bending thriller Call Me Evie, has reviewers hailing him as the next big thing, now calls the historic Victorian village home.

Josh - better known to his fans as J.P. Pomare - says Clunes' literary reputation was one of the reasons that drew him there but it was also the natural beauty, the rural lifestyle and the local people that sold him.

"We just loved it," Josh said. "I grew up out of the city and was used to a smaller community and Clunes reminded me of that.

"It has that community that was engaged and friendly, so that was a big part of it. But it's just a really beautiful place, surrounded by lots of other cool little places likes Creswick and Talbot."

"I had heard of Clunes because of its literary festival then when we came here we found that there was a real interest in culture and engagement with the art world. Everyone we met seemed to be really widely read."

After a momentous start to this year with promotional commitments for the launch of his novel keeping him on the road, Josh is now excited about being home for Clunes' annual literary extravaganza, the Clunes Booktown Festival, coming up in early May. He's taking part this year as one of 25 acclaimed writers included in the packed program of talks and conversations.

"I've done quite a few of these sorts of festivals but I've never done one where my family and friends have been able to come along and stay with me at my home," he said.

"It's one of those festivals that is really a destination festival because you've got this amazing program of events but also the fact that it's set in a really beautiful place, it's a hidden gem.

"This festival is unique I think because of that, it's a really immersive experience."

Immerse yourself in books: More than 18,000 people will flock to Clunes for its annual celebration of books, reading and more.
Immerse yourself in books: More than 18,000 people will flock to Clunes for its annual celebration of books, reading and more.

Among his appearances, Josh will be sharing a panel with two of the Australian crime writers he most admires, Jock Serong and Sarah Bailey, to discuss the topic, Writing about Men and Violence in the Contemporary Thriller.

It's a topic he's fascinated by.

"I think my book is about the social pressures on particularly young men but older men as well to be a certain shape or act a certain way," he said. "Writers have a real opportunity to explore those ideas."

Josh is now working on a second novel also in the literary thriller genre and is planning a third which he says will most likely feature his new hometown and the region as a setting.

"I'm formulating ideas for book three and I've got my eye very closely on somewhere like Clunes or Creswick. It's split between the city and some sort of country retreat and I'm drawn to Clunes.

"I definitely write about places I know really well and so Clunes will influence whatever I write about next."

The annual Clunes Booktown Festival is back on May 4 - 5 with more than 18,000 people expected to join what's billed as the most amazing whole town bookshop experience in Australia. Along with author talks, panel discussions and literary luncheons, festival-goers can discover the largest collection of rare, out-of-print and collectible books in Australia, go inside heritage buildings, listen to live music, watch street performers, and sample local food and wine. Go to Clunes Booktown for tickets and see the full program here.

This is sponsored content for Clunes Booktown Festival.