Hardie Grant, 9781921690624, June 2011 (Aus) See also UK, US London Lane can remember the future, but not the past. This is the simple yet compelling basis for Cat Patrick’s debut YA novel, Forgotten. Each morning at 4:33am London’s memory is reset, erasing all events from the previous day. London relies on her knowledge of … Continue reading Guest review: Jordi Kerr on Forgotten by Cat Patrick
Typecasting and narrative voice at the 2011 Emerging Writers’ Festival
The Emerging Writers' Festival, in its usual form, has thus far been about tequila shots and one long drunken conversation about The Wall. Yesterday I went to some actual sessions. Here's a write-up of two of those. Typecast The first session I attended yesterday was all about 'typecasting'. Do the authors on the panel agree with … Continue reading Typecasting and narrative voice at the 2011 Emerging Writers’ Festival
The epic qualities of outwardly ordinary lives: By Nightfall and Michael Cunningham in Australia
By Nightfall, Michael Cunningham, HarperCollins (Aus pb, Aus ebook, US and Kindle, UK) Over the past few days I’ve been in the audience of four sessions featuring my favourite American author Michael Cunningham. Cunningham’s latest novel is By Nightfall. I've drafted a few posts on it since I read it, but was never able to adequately … Continue reading The epic qualities of outwardly ordinary lives: By Nightfall and Michael Cunningham in Australia
Live from Sydney Writers' Festival, part two: tips for aspiring literary couples
Today I attended the session 'Au Pairs' featuring writer-couples James Bradley and Mardi McConnochie, and Louis Nowra and Mandy Sayer. Bradley and McConnochie have been together for 20 years; Nowra and Sayer for eleven. Although the questions were not those you'd ask a lawyer-couple, as Bradley pointed out, people are often curious as to how a relationship works between … Continue reading Live from Sydney Writers' Festival, part two: tips for aspiring literary couples
Live from Sydney Writers’ Festival 2011: part one
I’m sitting by the waterfront – Sydney Harbour. Sunstruck. That is, struck by this sunshine. Ill-equipped, in my wool dress. I’ve just seen Geordie Williamson interview David Mitchell, and I was going to go to another session (French Kissing – ooh la la) but the line for it was around the block and I was … Continue reading Live from Sydney Writers’ Festival 2011: part one
I wrote a winning haiku
I'm very excited to announce that a little haiku I wrote one morning is the winner of Australian Poetry's haiPhone competition. It goes: Potential faces In steamy bathroom mirrors Residue of stars I've been invited to read it out as part of the Emerging Writers' Festival on 1 June at the Poetry Cafe. G told me … Continue reading I wrote a winning haiku
Whole-hearted lovers and layers of history: an interview with Mardi McConnochie, author of The Voyagers
Viking, May 2011 9780670075966 (Aus, ebook) Stead, a sailor, arrives in Sydney Harbour in 1943. He hasn't seen Marina for five years, and yet he can't forget the three days they spent together prior to the war. Some undeniable connection had been forged. He finds out she failed to enrol in the music school she was … Continue reading Whole-hearted lovers and layers of history: an interview with Mardi McConnochie, author of The Voyagers
Mystery, strangeness and coming-of-age: an interview with Christopher Currie, author of The Ottoman Motel
Text Publishing, May 2011, 9781921758164 (Aus, US, UK) The parents of a young boy disappear in a small, strange town called Reception, in Christopher Currie's atmospheric debut novel The Ottoman Motel. The townfolk don't seem to be trying too hard to find Simon's parents, and it isn't the first disappearance in the area. Currie's debut … Continue reading Mystery, strangeness and coming-of-age: an interview with Christopher Currie, author of The Ottoman Motel
Verity La interview
Alec Patric has asked me a few probing questions over at Verity La. If you're interested in me as a writer (and person), or are curious about my work, you might want to check it out.
Let's read writing by women
A new committee is being set up to pursue equal rights for women writers in Australia. Besides research, lobbying and setting up mentorships, the committee is looking at establishing a literary prize for Australian women writers, along the lines of the UK's Orange Prize. The steering committee (including novelist and publisher Sophie Cunningham, critic and … Continue reading Let's read writing by women
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