My latest review for Cordite Poetry Review is of Kristin Henry's compelling, neatly written verse novel All the Way Home. It's about Jesse, the son of a travelling salesman, who falls in love and takes his small family to go live on a commune in NSW. The book is full of tension, music, and careful imagery. Read the full … Continue reading Review of All the Way Home by Kristin Henry on Cordite
New centre for literacy in Melbourne: 100 Story Building
I was excited to learn that a new centre for literacy will soon be launched in Melbourne, called 100 Story Building. The centre and its programs are the brainchild of Jenna Williams, Lachlann Carter and Jess Tran. Williams and Carter previously formed the publishing project for young writers, Pigeon Letters, in which Tran was also … Continue reading New centre for literacy in Melbourne: 100 Story Building
Dignified survival: Courtney Collins on The Burial
Allen & Unwin September 2012 9781743311875 (buy paperback, ebook) When Courtney Collins' debut novel The Burial landed in my pile last month, it went straight to the top. Set in the early C20th, it's inspired by the story of Australia's last bushranger, Jessie Hickman. Jessie has done something she can't turn back from, and spends the majority … Continue reading Dignified survival: Courtney Collins on The Burial
Online writing at Offset Fest
Just a quick missive, I'll post another author interview in the coming days... The Offset Creative Arts Festival is coming up in Melbourne, and I'm on a panel about online writing. The details are below and places are limited so email john.weldon@vu.edu.au to book. It's free. Write Online Sat 20 Oct, 10am to 11:30am Footscray Community … Continue reading Online writing at Offset Fest
Home, strange home: Fishing for Tigers by Emily Maguire
Picador, 9781742610832 September 2012 (buy paperback, ebook) A version of this article was originally published in The Big Issue no. 415. Somewhere around the six-week mark of Emily Maguire’s 2008 visit to Hanoi, she realised she was in love: 'Actual love—the kind where you wake up smiling in anticipation, and you fall asleep deeply, deeply happy every … Continue reading Home, strange home: Fishing for Tigers by Emily Maguire
20 classics #13: The Fortunes of Richard Mahony by Henry Handel Richardson
I’m reading 20 classic, modern-classic or cult books. Read more about this project here. See the other classics here. Why did I want to read it? I haven’t yet reviewed an Australian classic in this series, and The Lifted Brow also asked me to choose one of the Text Classics range to introduce for their October issue. There was a … Continue reading 20 classics #13: The Fortunes of Richard Mahony by Henry Handel Richardson
On blogging, social media, reading & writing
I was recently interviewed by David Minh Tran at The Signal Express, a publication by Express Media. He asked me about my long-term blogging life, my thoughts on social media, my short stories, and he asked some very tricky questions about favourite books and authors. You can check it out here. Express Media are a great organisation, I've … Continue reading On blogging, social media, reading & writing
Treasures from the past: Belinda Castles on Hannah and Emil
Belinda Castles is the author of Falling Woman and The River Baptists (for which she won the 2006 Australian/Vogel Award). Her latest novel is Hannah and Emil, which traces two characters across Europe, the UK and Australia and charts their complex struggles, and the love that pulls them through. Emil fights for Germany in WWI but is forced from his … Continue reading Treasures from the past: Belinda Castles on Hannah and Emil
A character unearthed in family history
I was in Wollongong late last week for a lovely service for my grandmother, attended by much of her family, including her brother, nieces and cousins from Captain's Flat, NSW. I learnt so much more about my Nanna, particularly through hearing stories about her father, a family legend, 'Bullocky' Bill Thompson. But I'm not going … Continue reading A character unearthed in family history
Qantas SOYA People’s Choice: love me love me love me
Earlier this year I entered the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards in the Written Word category. I was highly commended, which was lovely—something to put on the CV—but now I have a chance at the People's Choice Award, which comes with a flight voucher (which would truly come in handy). If you're a fan of my writing, … Continue reading Qantas SOYA People’s Choice: love me love me love me
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