This is cross-posted from Southerly, where I am blogging in December. The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary by Andrew Westoll, UQP (Aus), 9780702238468, July 2011 (paperback) This book has been near the top of my pile since July and I finally picked it up to start reading on a flight to Sydney recently. I am an … Continue reading Recently read: non-reviews of The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary, Flying with Paper Wings, The Cook
Commentary
Writers Victoria: a new name + the 2012 program
Writers Victoria is launching its new name (formerly the Victorian Writers Centre) and 2012 program tonight. Unfortunately I can't make it as I'll be out in the country for a wedding (of two writers!) but I had a chat with WV director Roderick Poole about the changes... The Victorian Writers Centre has changed its name … Continue reading Writers Victoria: a new name + the 2012 program
Tempeh matters: the launch of Janet De Neefe’s Bali: The Food of My Island Home
This is cross-posted from Southerly, where I am blogging in December. Recently I attended the launch of Janet De Neefe’s new cookbook Bali: The Food of My Island Home. De Neefe moved to Bali 26 years ago after falling in love with the place and with a local man. She has founded two restaurants in Ubud: Casa … Continue reading Tempeh matters: the launch of Janet De Neefe’s Bali: The Food of My Island Home
Blogging for beginners: a short course at the NSW Writers’ Centre
Are you keen to give blogging a go but don't know where to start? I'm teaching a short course at the NSW Writers' Centre in March. The full description is here. I must stress that this is definitely a beginner's course and if you're already blogging you might get a bit bored in the first … Continue reading Blogging for beginners: a short course at the NSW Writers’ Centre
The new-old blog
Welcome to LiteraryMinded's new platform, and the blog's third home. As you can probably see, a bunch has gone wrong with the import and it'll take me weeks to fix all those pictures, but I'll get there! I'm away a bit over the next few weeks, so be patient with me. Why has the blog moved? … Continue reading The new-old blog
And the winners are…
Thanks to everyone for your great entries in the #madnesscomp. If you want some suggestions on mad-lit, see the comments on the previous post. The winners of the two signed copies of Jon Ronson's The Psychopath Test, chosen by a random number generator, are @liza_belle and @semiordinaryjoe. The random number generator chose two people who … Continue reading And the winners are…
Vale Diana Gribble
As reported on the main website today, Diana Gribble, co-founder of Private Media (owner of Crikey) and a huge influence in the Australian publishing industry, has passed away. I only met Di once. She and Sarah Stokely took me to lunch after Crikey had invited me to become one of their bloggers, three years ago. … Continue reading Vale Diana Gribble
Reading fiction is addictive and unhealthy, says Corn Flakes guy
I just came across this astonishing passage, quoted by John Fiske in Understanding Popular Culture. It's from the Ladies Guide in Health and Disease by John Harvey Kellogg (yes, of Corn Flakes fame), published in 1882. There are also chapters on 'marriage', 'personal beauty', 'diet', clothing', and, ah, 'criminal abortion'. He says: 'The reading of … Continue reading Reading fiction is addictive and unhealthy, says Corn Flakes guy
Extrapolations: stories re-imagined from the tangible, a guest post by Kent MacCarter
By Kent MacCarter In the preface on page six of Dupain’s Sydney, an art book featuring photographic plates of cityscapes, city dwellers and urban whatnot by acclaimed photographer Max Dupain, there is a photograph of the artist fussing with the aperture on his 4x5 large-format camera perched on a fully extended tripod. You can detect … Continue reading Extrapolations: stories re-imagined from the tangible, a guest post by Kent MacCarter
The big bucks: Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2011
Last night I went along to the 'streamlined' Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, run by the Wheeler Centre. The awards took place in the grand Plaza Ballroom (part of the Regent Theatre), built in 1929. The decadent entrance and room is apparently in the Spanish Rococo style, but it seemed very eclectic to me: nouveau flourishes, … Continue reading The big bucks: Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2011
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