Last November, I announced the creation of the new 20/40 Publishing Prize by the wonderful (and local-ish to me), independent, non-profit publisher, Finlay Lloyd. Now, eleven months later, the awarding of the inaugural prize is imminent, with the shortlist being announced last Friday and the winners to be announced on 28 October. But, just to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Shortlist for the inaugural 20/40 Prize
Monday musings
Monday musings on Australian literature: Spineless Wonders
For a small, specialist, independent publisher, Spineless Wonders has appeared on my blog more times than you might expect, sometimes in passing, sometimes as the publisher of an author I've reviewed, and a few times in posts on publishing and publishers. All that, I've decided, has earned them their own post. The first - and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Spineless Wonders
Monday musings on Australian literature: Introducing Uninnocent landscapes
You heard it here first - or, first(ish) anyhow, as the webpage is up and orders are already coming in for a new, beautiful book, Uninnocent landscapes: Following George Augustus Robinson’s Big River Mission. Yes, I admit it isn't out yet so I haven't actually seen it, but I know it is beautiful because I've … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Introducing Uninnocent landscapes
Monday musings on Australian literature: Series or standalone?
I started my recent post on Shelley Burr's crime novel Ripper with a statement that crime novels are often written in series and that I am not a big series fan. Ripper looked at the start to be a standalone novel, but a few chapters in the protagonist from her first novel Wake appears. From … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Series or standalone?
Monday musings on Australian literature: Elizabeth Webby (1941-2023)
This might be a first for me, an obituary-style post for an academic/literary scholar rather than for an author. However, this post seemed appropriate as, Elizabeth Webby, who died last month, is someone whom I've mentioned several times in my blog due to her having written in areas that are of interest to me. Specifically, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Elizabeth Webby (1941-2023)
Monday musings on Australian literature: 2023 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award shortlist
Occasionally, as you know, I use my Monday Musings post to make awards announcements, particularly if the announcement is made on Monday, as this award usually is. And so it happened again today, a Monday, that the shortlist for this award was announced. I have written about it before and so if you are interested … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 2023 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award shortlist
Monday musings on Australian literature: Masterpieces of fiction, 1910-style
A straightforward post this week, and one shared in the spirit that readers love lists of books. This list is not Australian (despite my posting it in my Monday Musings series) but it was shared in multiple Australian newspapers in 1910 which makes it part of Australia's literary history, don't you think? The list was … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Masterpieces of fiction, 1910-style
Monday musings on Australian literature: Thoughts on literature’s moral purpose
I struggled with titling this post because I don't want it to sound like a thoroughly thought through treatise on the topic. However, I jettisoned my original plan for today's post to respond to Angela Savage's question on my CWF post on the Robbie Arnott interview because it seemed worth exploring. If you haven't read … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Thoughts on literature’s moral purpose
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian literary biographies (2, poets)
Eight years ago, I wrote a Monday Musings on Australian literary biographies, but the main focus there was on novelists. With this month being National Poetry Month and with, coincidentally, this year's National Biography Award going to a biography of a poet, it seemed a match made in heaven. In other words, it seemed appropriate … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian literary biographies (2, poets)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry Month 2023
This year Red Room Poetry is running their third annual National Poetry Month. How excellent is that? I don't know how successful it is at reaching its goal of increasing "access, awareness and visibility of poetry in all its forms and for all audiences" but sometimes you just have to hang in there and build … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry Month 2023
Whispering Gums 