Yesterday I climbed the mountain Beinn Eighe, and it was breathtaking. I get a bit of vertigo; when there's a drop by the path I have to lean away from it and not look down or else my legs crumble and my head spins. As I laid in bed last night, my muscles humming with … Continue reading Vertigo
travel
‘I’m Holbeck Ghyll’
First published on the Stoffers blog. You have to allow yourself one indulgence while travelling: one wild night, one big purchase, two nights at a five star hotel... I just had my one indulgence for this trip. And it relates to a 2010 TV series (that was also turned into a film) called The Trip, starring … Continue reading ‘I’m Holbeck Ghyll’
Travel update
A 'working holiday' is kind of how we're describing it, though it's hard to explain to strangers the work I'm doing: preparing for a book festival, writing occasional travel blog posts (many of which I can re- or cross-post here), editing an anthology and writing a chapbook. Not to mention the research I want to … Continue reading Travel update
David Bowie is
It was a two-hour wait in the sunshine and then, inside, among statues, pillars and carved gates for the David Bowie is… exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London (soon to travel to Canada and—updated August 2014—ACMI in Melbourne).David Bowie is a singular, metamorphosing musical figure and artist (I've written about my love for him before). … Continue reading David Bowie is
Edinburgh International Book Festival 2013
I'll be brief as I'm on the road and very busy, but hopefully will write soon to tell you about going to the V&A in London to see the Bowie exhibition, and visiting Stratford-upon-Avon—Shakespeare's birthplace and grave! I just wanted to put up the panels/interviews I'm hosting at the Edinburgh International Book Festival this year, … Continue reading Edinburgh International Book Festival 2013
The books of life: By the Book by Ramona Koval
This feature interview was first published in The Big Issue no. 421. Text Publishing 9781922079060 November 2012 (buy hardcover, ebook) Ramona Koval’s enthusiastic explorations of literature would be familiar not only to those who enjoyed her long-running ABC Radio National program, The Book Show, but also to audiences at writers’ festivals around the world. As an interviewer, … Continue reading The books of life: By the Book by Ramona Koval
New York, Noo Yawk for Killings
I wrote a piece for Killings (the blog of literary magazine Kill Your Darlings) on my eventful trip to New York City. It begins: Like Loco, Pola and Schatze I was drawn to New York City to find a millionaire playboy. Wait, that’s not right. But in my nine days in NYC I did sometimes feel that I was acting … Continue reading New York, Noo Yawk for Killings
Reading for pleasure
The last week of my overseas trip and the week to come (in Fremantle for my best friend's wedding) were and are my final weeks of leave from Uni, so I was keen to sneak in some 'pleasure reading', which basically means that I don't take notes. Nonetheless I wanted to share with you some … Continue reading Reading for pleasure
New York, New York
It's election day in America and I'm about to go spend the day at MoMA. People seem a little anxious; here on the east coast they've just been through Sandy and New York City is only just beginning to get back to normal. Last night it was very loud on the Lower East Side when … Continue reading New York, New York
Going to America
Feels strange that I'm flying to the US tomorrow as I sit here glued to live feeds from Hurricane Sandy. I'm due to arrive in Dallas on Wednesday afternoon, then fly straight to Atlanta. But it probably depends how far inland/south the storm comes. I'm a bit worried as I'm due at a conference at … Continue reading Going to America
