I read fewer books than ever this year. I finished thirty-three books and will probably get through three or so more by the year’s end, now that I’ve given myself a little time off. (This, of course, does not include all the books I worked on as an editor!) It wasn’t just the broad-sweeping anxiety … Continue reading Books that got me through 2020
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Reading (and dreaming) highlights of 2019
Every year I get on here at this time of year and say: 'Holy shit, it's been a big year...' I'm a bit bored of it, but, well, in 2019 my novel A Superior Spectre was published in the UK and was shortlisted for a bunch of awards, and I went over to the Edinburgh International … Continue reading Reading (and dreaming) highlights of 2019
What I read in 2018
This was the most stressful year of my life! And... the most successful. I learnt so much – some hard lessons, but I learnt a lot about my own strength and capacity, too, which is a positive I'm sitting with at the end of the year. I went through a company restructure and took on … Continue reading What I read in 2018
Books I read in 2017
I feel so inadequate, really. It's not the number I would have liked, and honestly I think I bought more books than I read – so at least I am supporting the industry! But... I have a great excuse. I make books. In 2018, at this stage, 16 books I have acquired or co-acquired are … Continue reading Books I read in 2017
What I’m Reading, for the Meanjin blog
I lost [my enthusiasm] for a while, recently. Another part of me took over, a part that couldn’t make those connections, couldn’t really envision those pathways. Every now and then, a lamp flickered and I caught sight of a few stones. For the most part though, I lost my capacity. It was an effort to … Continue reading What I’m Reading, for the Meanjin blog
Appearance on Jennifer Byrne Presents: Envy
I was honoured to be a guest on Jennifer Byrne Presents, an offshoot of the First Tuesday Book Club, to discuss one of the seven deadly sins, envy, along with Greg Sheridan, Lyndon Terracini and Kate McClymont. The show aired on 19 August on ABC, and will be available for a limited time on iview. There's also an outtake … Continue reading Appearance on Jennifer Byrne Presents: Envy
Whisky Literature: I’m playing with video again
This is the first in a series called Whisky Literature (combining two loves), where I will muse on literature, discuss recent reads, or read aloud over a dram of whisky. This episode features Ardbeg Uigeadail and the books Deeper Water by Jessie Cole, The Empress Lover by Linda Jaivin, and Tampa by Alissa Nutting, with mention … Continue reading Whisky Literature: I’m playing with video again
#555writers: Coffs to Grafton
This morning Zacharey Jane interviewed Craig Sherborne and myself in the Coffs Harbour Library. The crowd was fantastic, and asked lots of intriguing questions. Coffs all up was WONDERFUL. I'll never say a bad word about my home town again. Maybe. Poor Nick Earls is right now performing his Word Hunt talk at the Grafton … Continue reading #555writers: Coffs to Grafton
#555writers: Lismore to Coffs
With limited time, these blog posts just have to flow from my head onto the screen. Please forgive all unfiltered thoughts, badly chosen words, grammatical errors and digressions of narrative and theme... I want to start with what just happened. I invited the five writers Zac, Craig, Ash, Sam and Nick, and filmmaker Tim, into my … Continue reading #555writers: Lismore to Coffs
#555writers: Tweed Heads & Kingscliff
I flew into the Gold Coast in glorious weather, staring out at the mountains and inlets, the blue green ocean. I was ready to get some sun on my skin. When you thrust seven strangers together, there's no guarantee they'll get along. Some of us had gotten up at 5:30am, some were feeling poorly, and … Continue reading #555writers: Tweed Heads & Kingscliff
