None of my writings or emails from the early festivals before 2008 is still in existence, or if I did in fact write emails in those days, they can’t be found. For the year 2009 only a compilation of highlights has survived. I have given the theme (often a Sanskrit or Balinese motto) and the names of a few of the better-known writers and other guests for each festival. from the hundreds invited. Those early festivals were already attracting some famous authors, both international and Indonesian, as you can see below for 2004-2007. By 2010, once we had our own wi-fi at the house and I did not have to go to a warnet (warung internet) - email café - with my USB after typing on Josh’s computer, there is a much fuller picture of the festival and my Bali life with Josh and Jasmin at festival time.
2004 Festival
Through Darkness to Light
Some of the big-name guests: Tony Wheeler, Bill Dalton, George Negus, Goenawan Mohamad, Dewi Anggraeni, Jan Cornall, Ron Brooks (children’s author), Katherine Thomson, Cok Sawitri, Toeti Heraty, Putu Oka Sukanta, Nury Vittachi, Lakshmi Pamuntjak, Jamie James, Inez Baranay,
2005 Festival
Antar Buwana - Between Worlds
Some of the big-name guests: Amitav Ghosh, Eka Kurnaiwan, Dewi Lestari, Ayu Utami, Graeme Blundell, Kirsty Sword, Xanana Gusmao, Michael Oondatje, Nury Vittachi, Putu Wijaya, Oka Rusmini, Taufiq Ismail, Panji Tisna, Jamie James
2006 Festival
Desa Kala Patra – Place Time Identity
Some of the big-name guests: Christopher Kremmer, Anita Desai, Eric Campbell, Gail Jones, Jan Cornall, Laksmi Pamuntjak, John Darling, Madhur Jaffrey, Robert Drewe, William Dalrymple, Rosemary Sayer, Helen Greenwood, Claire Scobie
2007 Festival
(No theme)
Some of the big-name guests: Kiran Desai, Shashi Tharoor, Kathy Reichs, Richard, Flannigan, Joanna Saville, Diana Darling, Debra Yatim, Ahmad Tohari