From 24 May to 3 June the Emerging Writers' Festival is on in Melbourne. The full program has just been released. It consists of workshops, panels, performances, networking events and the always stimulating Town Hall writers' conference over the weekend of 26 and 27 May. Please come along to the Late Night Book Club session … Continue reading Emerging Writers’ Festival 2012 program out now
Commentary
Vintage Children’s Classics launching in August
Vintage Classics (Random House) are launching a new Children's Classics range in August that excites me very much. It includes some novels that had a huge effect on me in childhood, such as The Silver Sword by Ian Serralier (of which I accidentally stole a copy from school), Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and The Secret … Continue reading Vintage Children’s Classics launching in August
Newman! The Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards axing
You've probably heard by now that one of the first acts of the new QLD Premier Campbell Newman was to get rid of the state's own literary awards. Of course, the literary community across Australia is pissed off, particularly because the awards have given many emerging and Indigenous writers their break, including Amy Barker, Karen … Continue reading Newman! The Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards axing
Sydney Writers’ Festival 2012: tickets on sale
I've attended the Sydney Writers' Festival as 'media' before but this year I'll get to chat with some great authors on stage. I'm chairing three panels in one day, Thursday 17 May. If you see me that night, don't be surprised if I'm drunk or asleep in the corner of the hotel bar. Two of … Continue reading Sydney Writers’ Festival 2012: tickets on sale
Miles Franklin Literary Award longlist 2012
The Miles Franklin longlist has been announced. You can find it here. I've read four of the books (Wood, Miller, Mears and Jones) and thought they were all wonderful. I have a few more of the longlisted titles in the 'tower of hope'. Congrats to all the authors, I'll write something more when the shortlist … Continue reading Miles Franklin Literary Award longlist 2012
Best Australian Blogs 2012 Competition: enter now
I was very happy to be asked to be the judge of the Words and Writing Category again this year in The Sydney Writers' Centre's Best Australian Blogs Comp. The category winner last year was Bothersome Words. You can check out the other 2011 shortlisted* blogs (from the Word category) in this post. The other categories for … Continue reading Best Australian Blogs 2012 Competition: enter now
Bellingen Readers and Writers Fest 2012 special: The Lake Woman by Alan Gould + The Rip by Robert Drewe
In the lead-up to the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival, I’ll be putting up a series of (short) reviews of books I’m reading in preparation. The Lake Woman, Alan Gould, Arcadia, 9781921509346 Alec Dearborn is an Australian in British service in WWII. In his first moments of war he parachutes from an attacked plane (over … Continue reading Bellingen Readers and Writers Fest 2012 special: The Lake Woman by Alan Gould + The Rip by Robert Drewe
On blogging
In the lead-up to my 'Blogging for Beginners' course this weekend for the NSW Writers' Centre, I answer some common questions I get asked about my blogging life...
Thoughts on Shakespeare and Anonymous
Are you a Stratfordian or an Oxfordian? For a long time I’ve avoided the debate around Shakespeare’s ‘true identity’. Partly because, like many people, I enjoy the romantic idea of the enigmatic genius. And partly because any debate around authorship (I believed) could potentially take away from the focus on, and the enjoyment of, the … Continue reading Thoughts on Shakespeare and Anonymous
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore
Book lovers, you'll be moved by this year's Oscar-winning animated short The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore. It's a delight. via @ReadingsBooks
LiteraryMinded 