Aspiring Far North Queensland writers will have a chance to hone their skills with some greats of the Australian industry at the Cairns Tropical Writers Festival 2014. 

The Festival, to be held on September 12-14 at the Rydges Tradewinds hotel on Cairns Esplanade, will feature bestselling author Andrew Matthews, ABC Open blogger Gemma Deavin, romance writer Helene Young and picture book expert Jacky Duffy. 

The event features a three-day program with separate workshops on writing for the screen, non-conventional approaches to writing and poetry and a panel with the featured writers. 

The Festival will also feature a bookshop filled with books by North Queensland locals.

Local writers Hazel Menehira, Juilia Fulford-Kirby and Andrew Matthews are also set to debut new books at the sessions.

Festival chairperson Oonagh Prettejohn said the event was an unmissable opportunity for aspiring local writers.

“Visitors can pick and choose to attend sessions that interest them in particular and acquire some real tips from the best skilled in the business,” Ms Prettejohn said. 

“Saturday and Sunday each provide a session with Geraldine Doogue and Ian MacCalman, in frank discussions about their life, their writing and their latest releases.”

More information on the festival can be found at www.cairnstropicalfestival.com.au