The Red Rotunda at the Cowen Gallery at the State Library of Victoria is filled with silver-haired literary giants, and a young woman enters, sweaty and carrying two bags (she has walked from work). She sees a couple of familiar faces but is too intimidated to talk to them. She clasps a glass of champagne and … Continue reading Melbourne launch of the Macquarie PEN Anthology of Australian Literature
Self-indulgence
Observations, rants, fun stuff, links…
They will give me new parts
part blog-post, part insight into current creative development I ate banana pancakes this morning. I saw an old man on a bike in matching denims and a stackhat. I looked into somebody's eyes. There are nine paper tasks on the floor. They will give me new parts like Frankenstein's monster. A producer this week told … Continue reading They will give me new parts
Literary heroes
Today was the first day of the Overland Masterclass for Progressive Writers. There are nine of us, giving (hopefully) constructive feedback of each others' stories, plus taking in feedback from Overlandassociate editor Rjurik Davidson. Each day, an established writer also participates in the workshop, and today it was Tony Birch. Tomorrow will be the incomparable … Continue reading Literary heroes
I wanted to marry Michael Jackson
<-- Little Ange with my first love on the wall. The first short story I ever wrote, and read aloud, was called 'Michael Jackson and the Magic Hat'. I was in Year 3. Besides the magic hat, there was mystery, romance and intrigue. My best friends in Year 3 - Genna and Rebecca - both messaged … Continue reading I wanted to marry Michael Jackson
The inability to relax (an experiment in the confessional)
It's not often that I feel calm. I have supernovas going off in my head, squirmy things in my muscles and fingertips. I'm sore all the time because I exercise so much. It's one of the only ways to expend the energy, wear me down, expend the effort effort effort. And I love the zing … Continue reading The inability to relax (an experiment in the confessional)
LiteraryMinded turns two
Happy 2nd birthday to LiteraryMinded! Two years! I was going to link to the very first review but to tell you the truth I find it clumsy, and my writing a little too presumptuous and bold. But this is a good thing because the cringe shows I have come quite a ways since that virgin … Continue reading LiteraryMinded turns two
So what's happening with Smoke & Dancing?
I have been asked a few times lately what's happening with this novel manuscript, as people know I'm also working on a new one. Well lit-lovelies, here's the juice. I'm restructuring, rewriting, adding, subtracting, overhauling Smoke & Dancing this long weekend. This is the story so far, in point form (because my brain is mush after the first … Continue reading So what's happening with Smoke & Dancing?
I might be related to Stephenie Meyer
I keep seeing my name around lately. One thing I'm glad of is that Stephenie pronounces it the same way as me. Not Mayer, but Mier. I haven't read the books yet. Maybe I will someday. I don't mind the odd bit of Undead sexual tension here and there. Sure, hype can often be a turn-off. … Continue reading I might be related to Stephenie Meyer
A LiteraryMinded New Year's Resolution
I do make New year's resolutions. Last year I vowed to travel to Europe and move to Melbourne. Although these things were planned in November and December, I resolved to follow them through, and I did. The year before I resolved to write more, and 2007 was when I wrote Smoke & Dancing. It can … Continue reading A LiteraryMinded New Year's Resolution
LiteraryMinded 