Monday musings on Australian literature: Inaugural First Nations Australia Writers Workshop

I had planned another topic for today's Monday Musings, but when I heard via AustLit News about the inaugural First Nations Australia Writers Workshop to be held in May this year, I decided to write about it sooner rather than later ... The workshop aims to bring together established and emerging writers of Aboriginal and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Inaugural First Nations Australia Writers Workshop

Monday musings on Australian literature: ACT Writers Showcase

It's been a good week for literature in the ACT. Not only was the UC Book Project announced but on Thursday, our centenary anthology The invisible thread was launched. The launch was a well-organised event: it found the perfect balance between formality and informality, and didn't run too long! The book was launched by writer … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: ACT Writers Showcase

Monday musings on Australian Literature: Australian Literary Festivals

I've been thinking for some time about writing a Monday Musings on Australia's Literary Festivals but I have finally been spurred to do it after attending the Canberra Readers' Festival last weekend. This is partly because I actually managed to attend a festival and partly because the last speaker was Australian literary doyen, Frank Moorhouse, who caught … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian Literature: Australian Literary Festivals

Canberra Readers’ Festival 2012: For the love of reading

You could all be looking at tulips ... said Kate Grenville, the first speaker at today's Canberra Readers' Festival. She was referring to Floriade, Canberra's popular, crowd-drawing annual spring festival, and the fact that today was a glorious day. Just right, in fact, for tiptoeing through the festival's stunning tulip beds. But instead, we keen readers … Continue reading Canberra Readers’ Festival 2012: For the love of reading

Monday musings on Australian literature: Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2012

Last year I attended and reported on the post-announcement panel for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards, held at the National Library of Australia. I attended again this year and, since it occurred today, Monday, I've decide to devote this week's Monday musings to it. First, the winners: Fiction: Gillian Mears' Foal's bread (My review) Poetry: Luke … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2012

Monday musings on Australian literature: Some Australian Literature online events for 2012

What better way to kick off Monday Musings in 2012 than by heralding some exciting Australian Literature initiatives from around the 'net. Here they are, in no particular order: Australian Women Writers Challenge 2012 by Elizabeth Lhuede. Her aim is to promote women writers across all fields and genres of writing. The challenge involves signing up … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Some Australian Literature online events for 2012

Winners of the 2011 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards

Brought to you straight from the afternoon presentation with Caroline Baum in the National Library of Australia Theatre: Fiction: Traitor, by Stephen Daisley Non-fiction: The hard light of day, by Rod Moss Young adult fiction: Graffiti moon, by Cath Crowley Children's fiction: Shake a leg, by Boori Monty Pryor and Jan Ormerod This afternoon's panel discussion followed the formal … Continue reading Winners of the 2011 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards

Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest authors at the Sydney Writers’ Festival

Regular readers of Monday musings will remember that a recent post in the series was inspired by the Qantas flight magazine, The Australian way. Well, I've been in the air again ... this time for a longer trip, as Mr Gums and I have again left daughter and dog in charge at home, and are … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest authors at the Sydney Writers’ Festival