When columnist and commentator Kerri Sackville decided to stop filling every idle moment with distraction and learn to be comfortable alone, her quality of life soared.

In her book The Secret Life of You Kerri Sackville analyses society’s attitude towards solitude – why is it okay to eat breakfast at a café on your own but faintly tragic to dine alone? She identifies the roadblocks in the way to unplugging, contemplates aloneness vs loneliness, and looks at the difference between true connection and mere connectivity. Finally, she provides practical advice on how to become comfortable in your own company, in order to enjoy – and even cherish – time alone.

Kerri Sackville is an Australian author, columnist, and social commentator. She writes regularly for Sunday Life magazine, SMH online and news.com.au, on topics ranging from sex and relationships to parenting, mental health, current affairs, and whether white chocolate is real chocolate (it isn't).

Kerri's work has appeared in numerous publications, including the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Telegraph, Maddison, Women's Weekly Online, SBS Life, Mamamia.com, Grazia UK, The Sunday Times UK, Bide magazine, OK magazine and the Australian Jewish News. She has made frequent appearances on television programs including Sunrise, The Daily Edition, Mornings on Channel 9, Mamamia TV and The Circle, and regularly pops up on various radio stations including Mix 106.5, 2DayFM, 2UE and the ABC networks.

Michaela Kalowski is an interviewer, moderator and curator for writers and ideas festivals. Highlight interviews include Margaret Atwood, David Mitchell, Michelle de Kretser and Stan Grant. She's curator of Big Weekend of Books, ABC RN’s annual on-air writers’ festival. She produces and hosts a monthly books conversation event for Petersham Bowling Club. Michaela has conducted radio interviews and presented programs across ABC radio & TV. She's co-presenter and co-writer of a two-part podcast for ABC RN, tracing part of her family’s history, called Laya’s Way Home.

This is a Sydney Writers' Festival event. Books will be available for purchase.

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