This week Mr Gums, Brother Gums and I went to one of the highlights of Canberra's literary calendar, the Seymour Biography Lecture at the National Library of Australia. It's an annual lecture devoted to life-writing, and was endowed by the Seymours in 2005. This is the third one Mr Gums and I have attended, the first in 2015 being … Continue reading Truth, Truthfulness, Self, Voice: Raimond Gaita’s Seymour Biography Lecture
Literary events
Canberra Writers Festival, 2017, Day 2, Pt 3: A panel of millennials
Unfortunately - for me, anyhow - this will be my last post on the Festival, as that cold I hoped (unrealistically) to hold at bay would not be held. Consequently, for both my benefit and that of others, I decided to keep my snivelling self at home on Day 3. I'm very disappointed however, as … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival, 2017, Day 2, Pt 3: A panel of millennials
Canberra Writers Festival, 2017, Day 2, Pt 2: Two book launches
At last year's festival, I attended a few excellent book launches, and so decided to do so again. Authors need all the support they can get after all. Book launch: Ian Burnet: Where Australia collides with Asia The first of today's two launches was for a book with a very long title, by geologist Ian … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival, 2017, Day 2, Pt 2: Two book launches
Canberra Writers Festival 2017, Day 2, Pt 1: A conversation with Tony Jones
Choices, choices. Such a surfeit of riches across such dispersed venues made today a difficult one. In the end I had to make the tough decision to not see Jane Rawson, whose session was across the lake, though it broke my heart. My decision was made harder by the fact that as I was drafting … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2017, Day 2, Pt 1: A conversation with Tony Jones
Canberra Writers Festival 2017, Day 1: A panel and a conversation
It's on again - the newly revamped Canberra Writers Festival, I mean. Due to a family commitment in Melbourne, from which I only returned at midday today, I didn't get to some of the first day's prime events. I missed, for example, a conversation with Graeme Simsion. I also missed a wonderful sounding panel titled … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2017, Day 1: A panel and a conversation
Festival Muse: Question time – Robyn Cadwallader with Irma Gold
Cadwallader (L) and Gold in the Muse bookshop Introducing the first event of their Sunday afternoon program, Dan, co-owner of Muse, commented on a peculiarity of Canberra: when they offer sessions on politics or history, they are packed out, but when the focus is fiction, the events are more intimate. Fine by me! I love small, … Continue reading Festival Muse: Question time – Robyn Cadwallader with Irma Gold
Festival Muse: Women of the Press Gallery
Muse is one of my favourite places in Canberra. It's a cafe-restaurant-winebar plus bookshop plus arts event space - self-described as "a meeting place for those who enjoy a grenache with their Grenville, and their Winton with a good washed rind". They have offered many short, mostly afternoon events, in the 18 months of their existence, but … Continue reading Festival Muse: Women of the Press Gallery
The natural way of things: Conversation with Charlotte Wood
I have just returned from an inspiring evening in which we got to see Aussie author Charlotte Wood in conversation with Guardian Australia's Katharine Murphy. It more than made up for our disappointment last year when Wood had to pull out of the Canberra Writers Festival due to illness. Tonight's event was presented "in association with the Canberra Writers Festival" and had the … Continue reading The natural way of things: Conversation with Charlotte Wood
Here I stand: David Marr’s Seymour Biography Lecture
This week Mr Gums and I went to our second Seymour Biography Lecture, an annual lecture devoted to life-writing which was endowed by the Seymours in 2005. Our first, last year, was given by Robert Drewe who discussed memoir as a form of life-writing that is differentiated from but as valid as autobiography. It was a wonderful lecture, so … Continue reading Here I stand: David Marr’s Seymour Biography Lecture
Monday musings on Australian literature: The inaugural Australian Short Story Festival
Promotion is hotting up for the inaugural Australian Short Story Festival (ASSF) to be held in Perth this year, from October 21st to 23rd. At least, it's hotting up, if you follow them on social media, because they've been actively promoting the event on Twitter and Instagram*. ASSF Inc is a non-profit organisation, and they are aiming … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The inaugural Australian Short Story Festival
Whispering Gums 