Kill Your Darlings: Issue Four (Aus) Ed: Rebecca Starford January 2011 reviewed by Lisa Down Call me a philistine, but I wasn’t previously familiar with the Australian quarterly Kill Your Darlings. It means I don’t have a standard by which I can judge this edition but I walked away satisfied that it had provided the … Continue reading Guest review: Lisa Down on Kill Your Darlings: Issue Four
20 classics in 2011 #5: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
I’m reading 20 classic, modern-classic or cult books in 2011. Read more about this project here. Why did I want to read it? I’d always heard Oscar Wilde was a wit, and the supernatural element of the story appealed to me. When was it published? It was first published in 1890, as an issue of Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine. A later … Continue reading 20 classics in 2011 #5: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
1001 Australian Nights: Gerard Elson interviews Dave Graney, part two
1001 Australian Nights Dave Graney 9780980790436, Affirm Press (Aus) by Gerard Elson Read part one here. Have you tried your hand at prose fiction? Would you ever be interested? I’d prefer to write fiction than something like 1001 Australian Nights. I’m having the heebs a bit with this book coming out and people reading it! … Continue reading 1001 Australian Nights: Gerard Elson interviews Dave Graney, part two
1001 Australian Nights: Gerard Elson interviews Dave Graney, part one
1001 Australian Nights Dave Graney 9780980790436, Affirm Press (Aus) by Gerard Elson Dave Graney likes his coffee weak and his public spaces swarming. So we meet at Starbucks. It’s not exactly rock 'n’ roll, but then that’s Graney: never one to play the scummy, hard-worn rock pariah (thank god). He arrives early and I’m embarrassed … Continue reading 1001 Australian Nights: Gerard Elson interviews Dave Graney, part one
A literary proposal
A review copy of Christopher Currie's debut novel The Ottoman Motel is sitting neatly in my to-read pile, but the final edition that is officially released on 2 May and is circulating now contains a very special message on the acknowledgements page. Click here to take a look: Chris Currie's proposal But how did it all … Continue reading A literary proposal
Ashes in the Air by Ali Alizadeh
This review first appeared in the March 2011 issue of Bookseller+Publisher magazine. UQP, March 2011 (Aus) 9780702238727 What do we want from a book of poetry? We want each poem to paint a picture, to shake us up a little, and to ultimately reach down inside us and peel something back. Ali Alizadeh’s poems do all … Continue reading Ashes in the Air by Ali Alizadeh
Australian Book Review Online Edition launches today
Australian Book Review, as you may well know, is a monthly magazine featuring lengthy, considered book reviews plus poetry and essays (and soon fiction). It is 50 years old this year. Today they’re launching their Online Edition, which is an enhanced version of the magazine accessible to subscribers. ABR OE can be read on any device with … Continue reading Australian Book Review Online Edition launches today
Sydney Writers Festival program out now
In case you missed it on Twitter and Facebook (where I do most of my 'festival program' linking as there are just too many to blog about), the program for the 2011 Sydney Writers Festival (16-22 May) has been announced. The blurb: 'The 2011 Sydney Writers' Festival proudly presents some of the world's finest poets, … Continue reading Sydney Writers Festival program out now
Guest review: Rachel Edwards on Armistice by Nick Stafford
9781849160230 Quercus, 2011 (Aus) (also US, UK) reviewed by Rachel Edwards Armistice recreates the disorientated, discombobulated world of London post World War One and looks at the effect that war had on the lives of those who survived. It is a semi-mystery, semi-romance novel and it tells the story of Philomena Bligh, seamstress of Manchester. … Continue reading Guest review: Rachel Edwards on Armistice by Nick Stafford
Willy Lit Fest & my blogging workshop
Williamstown Literary Festival runs from 29 April to 1 May 2011. Williamstown (or 'Willy') is a gorgeous waterfront suburb of Melbourne, easily accessible by train. Last year Lisa Dempster and I spoke on blogging to a small crowd and this year they've asked me back to teach a short (hour-and-a-half) workshop on blogging and social … Continue reading Willy Lit Fest & my blogging workshop
LiteraryMinded 