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Q-Lit's Story
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Q-Lit celebrates queer voices across Victoria through literature, storytelling, and community. We create spaces for connection, amplify LGBTQIA+ writers, and empower the next generation of storytellers. Q-Lit was founded in 2022 by Kate Hall and Timothy Ryan.
Connect
We build community by bringing LGBTQIA+ writers and allies together through writers groups, festivals, and statewide programming.
Our Focus
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Showcase
We champion queer stories by placing them centre stage through events and festivals, giving visibility to diverse voices.
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Empower
We share skills, provide opportunities, and nurture confidence so LGBTQIA+ writers and storytellers can thrive.
Michael Earp
Chair
Michael, non-binary writer, editor and owner of The Little Book Room, champions queer storytelling, children’s literature, and community publishing.
The Board
Madison Whitmond
Board Member
Madison is a proud trans woman dedicated to uplifting queer creatives, with lifelong experience and passion in the literary space.
Reimena Yee
Board Member
Born in Malaysian and living in Melbourne, Reimena is a graphic novelist & illustrator, and the curator behind the Comics Devices Library.
Steff Fenton
Board Member
Steff is a pastor, author and speaker who happens to be transgender. Their mission is to flip the man-made script to reveal God’s loving truth about LGBTIQA+ people.
Marcel Liemant
Board Member
Marcel is an Indie Fantasy Author based in Naarm. They write queer-centered magical adventures that explore the power of trans embodiment, the tricks of fate & queer love.
Kin Francis
Board Member
Kin is a writer and artist exploring queer futurity, disobedience, and community, with work spanning poetry, curation, and DJ’ing.
Dylan Holdsworth
Board Member
Dylan, a Gippsland-based academic and writer, explores disability in media, queer identity, and nature through research and creative work.
Timothy Ryan
Creative Director
Timothy has 15 years of experience in producing theatre, exhibitions, community events and festivals across Australia with a focus on LGBTQIA+ communities.
The Team
Dylan Holdsworth
Writers Group Manager
Dylan, a Gippsland-based academic and writer, explores disability in media, queer identity, and nature through research and creative work.
Em Barton Grace
Access & Inclusion
Em is a Bachelor of Arts/Science graduate with a background in local government and the youth and queer sectors. Outside of work, you'll find them reading or horse riding.
Sarah Giles
Social Media Team
Sarah Giles is a writer, PhD candidate, and a sessional academic who teaches creative writing courses.
Jessica Fanwong
Social Media Team
Jessica is a Naarm/Melbourne based writer, theatre-maker and creator, currently studying a Master of Arts and Cultural Management at The University of Melbourne.
Maddi Johnstone
Communications Team
Maddi is an aspiring queer storyteller from Melbourne. If they're not entrenched in their latest sapphic tragedy, find them playing guitar (or searching for their pick).
Rory Jones
Communications Team
Rory is a Melb based marketing and events professional with a regional Victorian background, focused on accessible communication and practical support for community events.
Sally Grage-Moore
Volunteer Coordinator
Sally Grage-Moore is a dancer, choreographer and writer, currently studying writing at RMIT. She is passionate about all things literary and amplifying queer voices.
Hazel Li
Grants Assistant
Hazel has a passion for fiction writing from women writers and non-fictions on social policy.
Sue Malta
Grants Assistant
Sue is a sociologist and qualitative researcher with research interests as diverse as health promotion, human interactions.
Kate Hall
Grants Assistant
Kate is the award-winning author of From Darkness, a romance set in the Otways and the Classical Underworld.
Nat Poon
Community Events Team
Nat is an queer non-binary artist born in Naarm with a Chinese background. Though based in illustration, they have always had a passion for literature.
Taya Van Beuge
Community Events Team
Taya is a Melbourne based creative.
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Inclusion, Diversity & Equity
At Q-Lit, we champion an intersectional, trans-inclusive, and queer-affirming approach that promotes accessibility, de-colonising practices, and embracing diversity through non-judgemental spaces, guided by a calling in vs. calling out ethos.
Core Values
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Community & Collaboration
We build Q-Lit’s grassroots community by connecting people to share resources, amplifying marginalised voices, and supporting growth opportunities that empower and promote holistic development.
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Kindness, Compassion & Wellbeing
Q-Lit fosters kindness and compassion by centering queer wellbeing and creating safe spaces where individuals can find hope and belonging.
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Creativity, Joy & Celebration
We celebrate spunky self-expression through play and joyful experiences, embracing the awkward moments that unite us and bring vibrancy to our community.
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Growth & Leadership
Through empowering leadership grounded in courage, Q-Lit nurtures continual learning and fuels both personal and collective growth.
Our 5 Year Plan
Metro festivals offer well attended and easily accessible networking on a national scale.
Looking Ahead
Q-Lit is moving forwards with a trajectory of sustainability and growth, whilst maintaining a financially resilient base and responding to the communities evolving needs.
Yearly Writers Retreats, presented over a long weekend in a regional location, offer relaxed connection on a state level.
Local writing groups offer monthly moments for meaningful connection with writers from the surrounding area.
Connecting Communities
In 2025 we have begun our work to connect communities locally, statewide and nationally, with an aim for sustained and meaningful connections.
The online members forum offers year-round connection and conversation for isolated writers and between states.
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Supporting Writers and Storytellers Across Australia
We’re slowly expanding to yearly festivals in multiple capital cities so that queer writers and readers across Australia can participate where they live. A national footprint reduces travel barriers, elevates local voices (including First Nations and under-represented communities), and deepens partnerships with libraries, venues, and grassroots groups. Staging regular city-based editions also strengthens our writers’ group network, keeps momentum between tours, and builds a shared, year-round platform for showcasing, connecting, and empowering LGBTQIA+ storytellers.
Diverse Offerings
Queer communities have always been at the forefront of creativity and Q-Lit's events will reflect this, evolving to best present how we're sharing and consuming our stories.
Prepare for all new events that encourage playful and sensory filled ways to engage with stories, not only at our festivals but also touring nationally.
Expect traditional literary events at our festivals like panels, in-convo's, and showcases - events that effectively showcase our community.
Empowering Nationally
Q-Lit started with a strong regional focus and we aim to maintain that as we branch out across Australia with a range of touring events and online learning opportunities.
We'll showcase LGBTQIA+ writers in a podcast that will playfully share their work and creative practices.
Q-Lit will offer monthly webinars with professional writers sharing lessons and provoking conversations.
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What will Q-Lit look like in 2030?
Q-Lit is a truly national platform with annual queer literature festivals in Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra. We'll foster a widespread network of monthly local writers’ groups that tune into shared monthly webinars alongside our member community. Twin winter and summer weekend-long Writers Retreats will bring connection, while year-round touring shows will bring LGBTQIA+ stories to communities. We'll host school workshops for students and teachers and a Storytellers podcast showcasing Australian queer writers.
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