First of all, happy ANZAC Day. It's great to take some time to think about the young soldiers who have been sacrificed for our country, and the sadness of war - conflict, power, greed. I know that books and films have been beneficial to my knowledge and understanding of war, and of nationalism, patriotism (the genuine, the … Continue reading Peace, EWF & 'Helloooo, my name is Number One…'
Promethea: Book 1 by Alan Moore, JH Williams III, Mick Gray
Written by Alan Moore, art by JH Williams III and Mick Gray (Aus, US) An enhanced version of modern-day New York (1999) is the main setting of Promethea Book 1, alongside an alternate realm where all the vivid imaginings that go on in the collective consciousness (and unconscious) live, the Immateria. Main character Sophie and … Continue reading Promethea: Book 1 by Alan Moore, JH Williams III, Mick Gray
Kirk Marshall's Literary Space – Emerging Writers' Festival special #1
Kirk Marshall says... For my part - and in this forum for intimate, writerly expression - I've got to openly submit here to conceding that for the longest time I've resented the contention that a tactile, geographical environment impacts on the quality of an author's work. I do, however, freely and cordially embrace the notion … Continue reading Kirk Marshall's Literary Space – Emerging Writers' Festival special #1
LiteraryMinded April haiku comp
Hi lit-lovelies, Inspired by the Vintage Books Easter Twitter haiku comp in which I won a copy of Richard Yates' The Easter Parade (score!), I thought it would be much fun to hold a little haiku comp of my own. The rules: 1. Write a haiku (the wiki entry explains the form quite well if … Continue reading LiteraryMinded April haiku comp
Sausage-fest (token Miles Franklin shortlist post)
The Miles Franklin Literary Award 2009 shortlist. So they're all dudes. But hey, thankfully the judges didn't attempt to be politically correct and throw in a chick 'for the sake of fairness'. I have so far only read one of the shortlisted titles (and have another in my reading pile … Continue reading Sausage-fest (token Miles Franklin shortlist post)
Machine Man… an interview with Max Barry
Max Barry, author of Company, Jennifer Government and Syrup, agreed to satisfy my curiosity about his online novel Machine Man, and other writing projects... It's not like it's never been done before, but you may be one of the first Australian authors depositing installments of a novel into cyberspace day-by-day with Machine Man. What made you decide … Continue reading Machine Man… an interview with Max Barry
South-west. A poem by Geoff Lemon
South-west By Geoff Lemon I'm driving south. Or roughly south I'm sure of that. The car's a Mustang, 60s build rich with that old leather smell. Adam West is in the passenger seat, window halfway down. It's night and warm outside. The air rolls in like oil. Adam West is smoking - Chesterfields. Somehow this … Continue reading South-west. A poem by Geoff Lemon
Loco
Hey lit-sexies, a brief round-up this weekend, because, as you know from the previous post I'm up to my neck in my own words (up to my forehead, really, being a bit suffocated by them). I'm half-way through the rewrite, and it's going alright, but to be completely, searingly honest - it's really, really hard … Continue reading Loco
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?
Turner's Paintbox by Paul Morgan
Viking, 9780670071364, 2007 (Australia) Gerard Moyne is an extremely successful Sydney-based art consultant, art lover, and all round philosophical aesthete. He falls for the independent, earthy, and oft-scattered Julia. They're not exactly opposites, but nor do they complement each other entirely. Their relationship, and its undoing (it begins with this) are chronicled, alongside the narrative … Continue reading Turner's Paintbox by Paul Morgan
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