Sydney-based arts and culture journal Ampersand Magazine sits somewhere between literary journal, art glossy, and street mag. Eschewing cool irony, it explores notions of humanity and societal change through rare, unorthodox topics with a historical or technological bent. The publisher, Ampersand, is now the local distributor of niche artistic and literary journals like New York’s Cabinet Magazine and San Francisco’s The … Continue reading Guest review: Raili Simojoki on Janus Faces: Ampersand Magazine, Issue 2
Vladimir Nabokov’s Mary
Mary Vladimir Nabokov (translated from the Russian by Michael Glenny, in collaboration with Nabokov) Penguin Great Loves series (Aus, US) 9780141032900 (First published under pen name V Sirin in 1926.) Love is part attraction, part emotion and much imagination. In Mary, Vladimir Nabokov's first novel, a Russian man in Berlin, Ganin, recounts his one passionate love affair, … Continue reading Vladimir Nabokov’s Mary
Blogging officially for Melbourne Writers Festival 2010
I've been asked to join last year's wonderful bloggers, Estelle and Simon (who has the best moustache), as a blogger for this year's Melbourne Writers Festival, which runs from the 27th of August to the 5th of September. As I always write a bunch on the festival anyway, I'm chuffed to be invited to do … Continue reading Blogging officially for Melbourne Writers Festival 2010
Both ways is the only way she wants it: an interview with Maile Meloy
As the title indicates, Both Ways is the Only Way I Want it (Text, May 2010 in Aus, Riverhead US), Maile Meloy's engaging collection of stories, is about the fear, desire, pleasure, confusion and complications of wanting it both ways and sometimes having it so. It's like Guido's dilemma in Fellini's 8 1/2 - he wants … Continue reading Both ways is the only way she wants it: an interview with Maile Meloy
The traveller, and her crushes
It's an excuse kind of post, but I've been away and fluey and thinking of the book and stuff and only blogged once last week (ARGH). Sorry. Still working on the Colm Toibin interview, an interview with Maile Meloy, a review or two, and lining up some more guest reviews. I also just reviewed Chris … Continue reading The traveller, and her crushes
What I’m learning about my writing process
Thanks to the wonderful Victorian Writers' Centre, I received a fellowship which allows me three months in a studio in Glenfern, St Kilda - a gorgeous heritage house. Seventy percent of my Doctor of Creative Arts will be fiction, and so - I have begun the novel. As this is the first time since I was … Continue reading What I’m learning about my writing process
Guest review: Sam Cooney on I Can See My House From Here: UTS Writers’ Anthology 2010
I Can See My House From Here: UTS Writers’ Anthology 2010 Reviewed by Sam Cooney University anthologies are often pedestrian and insular. Even worse, at times they smack of desperation - you can almost wring it from the pages like water from hair. ‘Here is my story,’ each writer seems to say. ‘This is what … Continue reading Guest review: Sam Cooney on I Can See My House From Here: UTS Writers’ Anthology 2010
Dog’s Tails: storytelling nights at Dog’s Bar, St Kilda
It's a Thursday. G and I put on our coats and walk briskly down Acland Street, St Kilda, to the warm, busy, art-filled Dog's Bar for the weekly storytelling event 'Dog's Tails'. It's about 7:30 and we order a glass of the Dog's Shiraz. Curators of the storytelling event, Chris Flynn and Josephine Rowe, are there already, eating … Continue reading Dog’s Tails: storytelling nights at Dog’s Bar, St Kilda
Never surrender! (But do read the submission guidelines) – EWF 2010
So first of all, I had too many wines at the Emerging Writers' Festival artist party on Friday, so I didn't roll up until about 1pm yesterday. The Town Hall was PACKED with moleskine-carrying, tweeting, emerging writer-types of all ages. Pictured: Tiggy Johnson and I at the EWF artist par-tay. Before I go into the … Continue reading Never surrender! (But do read the submission guidelines) – EWF 2010
2010 Emerging Writers' Festival in full swing
With the beaming Lisa Dempster at its helm, the 2010 Emerging Writers' Festival, here in Melbourne, is in full swing. So far I've attended The First Word (the opening night), one of the Fifteen Minutes of Fame Sessions (which received a great write-up here by Thuy-Linh Nguyen), the Page Parlour, and last night's Wordstock performance - … Continue reading 2010 Emerging Writers' Festival in full swing
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