A version of this post was first published on the Stoffers blog. At the Edinburgh International Book Festival I’ve been going along to many sessions about the brain, psychology, mental health and the psych industries. Of HUGE interest to me both generally and in relation to themes in my creative writing. Oliver James’ new book Office … Continue reading EIBF 2013: brainy stuff
Commentary
David Bowie is
It was a two-hour wait in the sunshine and then, inside, among statues, pillars and carved gates for the David Bowie is… exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London (soon to travel to Canada and—updated August 2014—ACMI in Melbourne).David Bowie is a singular, metamorphosing musical figure and artist (I've written about my love for him before). … Continue reading David Bowie is
Edinburgh International Book Festival 2013
I'll be brief as I'm on the road and very busy, but hopefully will write soon to tell you about going to the V&A in London to see the Bowie exhibition, and visiting Stratford-upon-Avon—Shakespeare's birthplace and grave! I just wanted to put up the panels/interviews I'm hosting at the Edinburgh International Book Festival this year, … Continue reading Edinburgh International Book Festival 2013
The Great Unknown: author reveal + comp closing soon
Above: sneak peek at the cover artwork by Michael Vale. It's just one week until entries are due for the Carmel Bird short fiction award, and the stories are coming in thick and fast. I'll be taking some on the plane with me tonight on my way to the UK! What I want to reveal … Continue reading The Great Unknown: author reveal + comp closing soon
Launching just_a_girl
Just a quick note to let you know that I'm launching Kirsten Krauth's complex, confronting, excellent debut novel just_a_girl in Castlemaine this weekend. It's only a hop from Melbourne so you should come. There will be music! See the Facebook invite here. And if you're not already following Kirsten's fantastic blog, do check it out.
Film review: Munch 150
The Sick Child (1896) Cross-posted from the Stoffers blog. There will be limited special screenings on 13 and 14 July of this film that takes the viewer inside two museums exhibiting Norwegian painter Edvard Munch's work on the 150th anniversary of his birth. The Munch 150 exhibitions are part of a year-long celebration in Norway: of Edvard Munch (1863-1944), … Continue reading Film review: Munch 150
Reading as resistance: The Taksim Square Book Club
Love these pictures from Taksim Square. Communal standing and communal reading as peaceful protest. As Al Jazeera reporter, George Henton, says: 'The chosen reading material of many of those who take their stand is reflective, in part, of the thoughtfulness of those who have chosen this motionless protest to express their discontent.' Take a look … Continue reading Reading as resistance: The Taksim Square Book Club
Fear, failure and fraudulence at the Wheeler Centre blog
I was very happy to be asked to springboard off my recent post Stella, and a digression on envy, work, inadequacy for the Wheeler Centre blog. Authors Krissy Kneen, Alan Baxter, Max Barry and Mel Campbell kindly and honestly responded to my probing questions about writerly anxieties and feelings of inadequacy, and some of their responses … Continue reading Fear, failure and fraudulence at the Wheeler Centre blog
Note to publicists & publishers re sending me books
In the absence of any kind of time lately I'm putting this note up here on the blog until I find time to try to email all the publicists/publishers who kindly send me books to consider for review. I'll be out of the country from 25 July until (probably) late January 2014. And up until I leave … Continue reading Note to publicists & publishers re sending me books
SWF 2013: writing & philosophy
Cross-posted on the Stoffers blog. — At the Sydney Writers’ Festival last week I went along to a session on writing and philosophy, and I thought a summary of the insights (and work of the panellists) might be of interest to some of you. The moderator was Joe Gelonesi from ABC Radio National’s The Philosopher’s Zone and the panellists were … Continue reading SWF 2013: writing & philosophy
LiteraryMinded 