Harking back to New York's Gilded Age, when the witty repartee of the literati kept midnight suppers at glamorous hotels bubbling along, the literary soiree seems to be making a comeback in Australia and New Zealand.

Spots at this weekend's event, starring Man Booker prize winner Eleanor Catton discussing her book The Luminaries, were snapped up at the luxurious Huka Lodge in New Zealand.

Now MGallery hotels in Australia are following suit with a Writers in Residence program. Ten Australian authors will move into 10 hotels with a brief to create short stories inspired by their MGallery experience.

They'll also host an exclusive dinner at the hotel, giving a sneak preview of their work to guests.

Among the hotel-author pairings, B. Michael Radburn will be ensconced in the Harbour Rocks Hotel in Sydney and Jane Gilmour will grace the halls of the Hotel Lindrum in Melbourne.

The Sydney dinner is on October 9 and costs $150 a head, and the Melbourne dinner is on October 30 and costs $160 a person.

See accorhotels.com.au/mgallerywir.