The ACT Writers Centre has secured funding from the Australia Council for the Arts for a professional development program for fiction writers in 2014. It aims to help fiction writers produce the best possible manuscripts, facilitate relationships between writers and literary professionals, and break down the barriers of location and geography, linking Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney and the regional areas in between. The program will offer a range of master-classes and seminars throughout 2014 with some of the Australia's most highly regarded publishing professionals. It is expected that applications will open in March.

There are a couple of upcoming talks for which those interested will want to book. The Great Barrier Reef: A Passionate History is the subject of the ANU Emeritus Faculty Biannual Lecture by Professor Iain McCalman, a book in which he argues the reef has been the creation of imaginations as well as natural processes. It will be held on Wednesday, March 12, at 6pm at Theatre 3, Manning Clark Centre, Building #26a, Union Court, ANU. Registration required: apassionatehistory.eventbrite.com.au or email events@anu.edu.au or phone 6125 4144. The lecture is free and open to the public, as is an ANU/Canberra Times literary event - meet the author series 2014 on March 18 at 6pm. Prisoner X by Rafael Epstein is the true story behind Ben Zygier: son, soldier spy. Registration required online at http://prisonerx.eventbrite.com.au and inquiries can be made to ANU Events on 6125 8415. Books will be available for purchase and signing at both events.

Saturday, 11am At Paperchain Bookstore in Manuka, Elizabeth Brenchley will sign copies of and answer questions about the Anzac Centenary Edition of Stoker's Submarine: Australia's Daring Raid on the Dardanelles on the Day of the Gallipoli Landing which she co-wrote with her late husband Fred. It tells the story of Lieutenant Commander Dacre Stoker, who got his sub behind enemy lines on the day of the Gallipoli landing when others had failed.

Tuesday, 12.30pm Lizz Murphy is launching three books by Queanbeyan resident and former high school assistant principal Alan Watts at the Yass Library. Two - The Suitcase and Bushed - are poetry books and The Straight-Through House is a historical novel.

Thursday, noon Nibblez Catering and Paperchain Bookstore present a literary lunch with Karen Viggers (two courses plus tea and coffee $25). Viggers' book The Grass Castle tells the story of two remarkable women and their tales of forgiveness and acceptance. It will be held at Sports Club Kaleen, 16 Georgina Crescent, Kaleen. Bookings: 0438 718 190 or 6241 1560, in person at the Bistro at Kaleen Sports Club or email catering@nibblez.com.au

Litbits submissions should arrive by 9am on Wednesday to be considered for publication. litbits@canberratimes.com.au