It’s hard to imagine that an event centred around the themes of trauma, shame and loneliness could be uplifting. Yet, this week’s gathering of hundreds of Future Women members and avid Penguin Random House Australia readers, proved to be exactly that. An evening filled with raw realities, honest storytelling – and even a few tears.

Our local Australian panellists were Rebekah Robertson, author of About a Girl, mother to actress Georgie Stone, and advocate for transgender kids and their families; Stella Prize shortlisted author, Caro Llewellyn, who has written Diving into Glass, an autobiography about growing up with a father with disabilities and then being diagnosed with MS herself.