Back in 2018, I wrote a post on local author Nigel Featherstone's first theatrical work, an art-song piece titled The Weight of Light. Seven years later, his second work of theatre, The Story of the Oars, has just finished its short season at The Street Theatre. Having just got back from Japan on Friday afternoon, … Continue reading The Story of the Oars
Monday musings on Australian literature: Trove treasures (14), Louise Mack, the “colonial”
(Courtesy OCAL, via clker.com) Early in 2023, I created a Monday Musings subseries called Trove Treasures, in which I share stories or comments, serious or funny, that I come across during my Trove travels. Having posted on her two sisters the last two Mondays, I thought it might be fun to round off the series with … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Trove treasures (14), Louise Mack, the “colonial”
2025 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award shortlist
This is a quick post because I'm on the road in Japan, but I do like the Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Awards, and their shortlist has just been announced, so here is a quick post. Just to recap if you don't recollect my previous posts on this award, it is not limited by … Continue reading 2025 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award shortlist
Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 14, Gertrude Mack
Gertrude Mack is the third of the Mack literary sisters, and by far the least known, though at the time she was well-recognised, with her activities and thoughts frequently reported in the newspapers. Her "disappearance" from view is most likely because, unlike her sisters, all her writing was for newspapers and magazines. She did not … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 14, Gertrude Mack
Six degrees of separation, FROM Ghost cities TO …
Last #SixDegrees I was driving to the Wurundjeri Wandoon people of the Greater Kulin Nation, that is in my part of Melbourne, but this month, I'm somewhere exotic - Japan. When this post is published, I expect to be on a train between Tokushima, in northern Shikoku, to Hikone, near Lake Biwa in Honshu. I … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Ghost cities TO …
Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 13, Amy Mack
In the first decades of the 20th century, a family of sisters made some splash on Australia's literary scene. I have already written about the eldest of them - Louise Mack - but there were also Amy (this post's subject) and Gertrude, all of whom appeared in newspapers of the time as writers of interest. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 13, Amy Mack
Monday musings on Australian literature: Michael Crouch Award
The Michael Crouch Award is part of the National Biography Award (NBA) suite of prizes. I have written about the NBA before, but have never specifically focused on the Michael Crouch Award. But first, a quick recap ... the National Biography Award has been going since 1996, and celebrates excellence in life writing, that is, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Michael Crouch Award
Helen Trinca, Looking for Elizabeth: The life of Elizabeth Harrower (#BookReview)
Like many, I was astonished when I read Elizabeth Harrower's The watchtower (my review), upon its publication by Text Classics in 2012. Astonished not so much for its writing, though that is excellent, but for its subject, which is what we'd now call coercive control. The astonishment comes from the fact that The watchtower was … Continue reading Helen Trinca, Looking for Elizabeth: The life of Elizabeth Harrower (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Publishing Prize, progress report
Nearly three years ago, I reported on a new literary prize, the 20/40 Publishing Prize which was being offered by the non-profit publisher, Finlay Lloyd. It has now been awarded in both 2023 and 2024, and preparations for announcing the 2025 winners are well under way. Briefly, the aim of the award is to "encourage … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Publishing Prize, progress report
Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Shortlist 2025, announced
I haven't announced the Prime Minister's Literary Award shortlists for a few years, but for various reasons, including the fact that there is a Poetry section which works nicely with this month being National Poetry Month (see my Monday Musings), I've decided to share this year's shortlists. Creative Australia's page for the announcement says they … Continue reading Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Shortlist 2025, announced
Whispering Gums 