Outspoken arose, quite simply, from the idea that, living here in the regions, we were isolated from the larger literary and political world. Tyyni and I wanted to see if we could persuade some of Australia and the world’s most exciting writers to come here and to speak with us, in person.

Well, writers, it turned out, have responded very positively to the invitation. As of November 2025 we have been operating continuously for fifteen years.

In that time we have held approximately ninety events with authors as diverse as Kate Grenville, Karen Joy Fowler, Ann Patchett, Kevin Rudd, Tim Winton, Richard Flanagan, A C Grayling, Gina Chick and Alexander McCall Smith.

As a demonstration of our support for writing we start each event with an interview with an ‘introducing’ author, someone less-well-known, and most often local to south-east Queensland. It is our way of giving back to the literary community.

We couldn’t have done this without the support of you, our audience. But it still costs a lot to stage. We pay our visiting authors and any staff involved – sound, lights, etc..

Now we are asking for your support, so that we can continue to host events; so that we can maintain our independence; so that we can build on our reputation and keep going.

You can help by making a tax-deductible donation through the auspices of the Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation.

We thank you.

Tyyni and Steven Lang

Outspoken Maleny