The 2015 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize is now open. It's worth a total of $8000, with a first prize of $5000 and supplementary prizes of $2000 and $1000. Entries must be a single-authored short story of between 2000 and 5000 words, written in English. Entries close at midnight on May 1, 2015. More information: australianbookreview.com.au.

JUGIONG WRITERS FESTIVAL

From March 6 to 8, the village of Jugiong will hold its first annual Writers Festival. Catering to all writing experience levels, a wide range of activities will be on offer including the Small Schools' Day and Kids Zone activities for children and students under the age of 14, author talks and book signings for reading buffs, and writing workshops and manuscript assessments for those with ideas or pieces already under way. For further details, visit the website at jugiongwritersfestival.com, or contact Joy Coggan, Festival Coordinator (02 6945 4272), Freda Nicholls, Author and Event Coordinator (02 6944 8225), Vivien Thomson (0408 282899) or Charlotte Nicholls, Marketing and Media Coordinator (02 6944 8225).

HAZEL EDWARDS

On May 22 from 5 to 7.30pm at ALIA House, 9 Napier Close, Deakin, Hazel Edwards, author of many books including There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake, will talk about her new memoir, Let Hippos Eat Cake: Being a Children's Author or Not? RSVP essential by May 18 to trishmilne@gmail.com.

EVENTS

BAPO

February 24: Nicholas Jose and Linda Jaivin will be in conversation at Asia Bookroom at 6pm. They will discuss Jose's latest book, a collection of short stories, Bapo. Asia Bookroom is in Lawry Place, Macquarie. Entry by gold coin donation to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. RSVP: By February 23 to 62515191. More information: asiabookroom.com/events.

MICHELLE DE KRETSER

February 26: Michelle de Kretser, winner of the Miles Franklin Award and Prime Minister's Award for Fiction in 2013, will talk about her writing with Dr Julieanne Lamond in the ANU Reading Across Borders series in the Sir Roland Wilson Building from 6 to 7pm. Admission is. free. Bookings 6125 2895.

MALOUF

March 2: Join award-winning writer David Malouf for dinner. Malouf will be in conversation about his new book Being There with the director of the National Gallery of Australia Gerard Vaughan. There will also be a music segment by school of music graduates. University House at 6.30pm. Tickets $54.50. Bookings: eventbrite.com.au.

POETRY AT THE GODS

March 10: Poets Geoffrey Lehmann (Sydney) and Jeri Kroll (Adelaide) will read at The Gods Cafe, ANU Arts Centre. Dinner from 6pm. readings at 7.30pm. Admission $10 waged, $5 unwaged. Bookings essential on 6248 5538. Seating limited to 80 people.

LATHAM AT LARGE

March 11: In a Canberra Times/ANU event, former Labor leader Mark Latham will discuss his book Latham at Large. in which he e scrutinises the Australian political landscape. Manning Clark 3, Australian National University at 6.30pm. Enquiries:6125 8415.

* Contributions to Litbits are welcome. Please email litbits@canberratimes.com.au by COB on the Monday prior to publication. Publication is not guaranteed.