Mr Gums and I spent last weekend in the lovely historic town of Beechworth staying with two other couples in the gorgeous 1890s Indigo Cottage (owned by one of the couples). Quite coincidentally, we discovered that this weekend was Beechworth's WRAP Festival. That's Writers, Readers and Poets, an annual event that has been sponsored by the Beechworth … Continue reading Wrapping in the rain
Literary events
Poetry at the Gods … with Les Murray
What can I say but that it was wonderful to be in the presence of the man who is arguably Australia's greatest living poet, Les Murray. Poetry at the Gods is a monthly event which has been run for many years by local poet Geoff Page*. (The Gods is a cafe-bar attached to the Australian … Continue reading Poetry at the Gods … with Les Murray
Monday musings on Australian literature: Writing the Australian landscape (3)
Back in August I wrote two posts (here and here) about the National Library of Australia's conference, Writing the Australian landscape. At the time I said that I would provide a link when the talks became available on-line. Well, they apparently went on-line a month or so ago and the NLA very kindly tweeted the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Writing the Australian landscape (3)
Monday musings on Australian literature: GenreCon
I returned from seven weeks of gallivanting abroad to several emails* about something called GenreCon, which will take place next week from October 11 to 13 at the State Library of Queensland. I hadn't heard of this before, which is probably not surprising as it seems to be a new event. As you've probably guessed … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: GenreCon
Monday musings on Australian literature: Writing the Australian landscape
Wide Brown Land (National Arboretum) This weekend just gone I had the privilege - well, I paid to go, but still it was a privilege - to attend a conference at the National Library of Australia titled Writing the Australian landscape. You can see why I had to go ... wild brumbies couldn't keep me … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Writing the Australian landscape
Monday musings on Australian literature: Notes on the Sydney Writers’ Festival from a non-attendee
One day I swear I will get to the Sydney Writers' Festival - properly, I mean. I have been to one session once, but that barely counts. Late May, though, tends to be one of my busiest times of the year, so the years pass and I don't get to the Festival. I do, though, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Notes on the Sydney Writers’ Festival from a non-attendee
Woven Words: What a night!
As we were driving home from Woven Words, the most recent event associated with The invisible thread anthology, it occurred to me that the evening, which blended words with music, was rather like a three movement musical composition. It went a bit like this: Sara Dowse's bright and slightly quirky allegro Alex Miller's intense adagio … Continue reading Woven Words: What a night!
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
