Hot off tonight's twitter feed are this year's winners of the Queensland Literary Awards. They combine specific state awards and awards for which all Australian writers are eligible. Here is the whole suite of winners in the order they were announced: Queensland Premier’s Award for a work of State Significance: Jackie Ryan's Expo 88 Young Publishers … Continue reading Queensland Literary Awards 2018 winners announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: Memorable homes in Aussie novels
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again" is a novel opener that many of us will recognise, I'm sure. It comes, of course, from Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca. For some reason it popped into my head recently, and it got me thinking, not about first lines, but about famous fictional houses - and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Memorable homes in Aussie novels
Nadia Wheatley, Her mother’s daughter: A memoir (#BookReview)
In Her mother's daughter: A memoir, Australian writer Nadia Wheatley has written the sort of hybrid biography-memoir that I've reviewed a few times in this blog. All of them, as I mentioned in my recent Meet the Author post, have been mother-daughter stories, Susan Varga’s Heddy and me, Anna Rosner Blay’s Sister, sister, and Halina Rubin’s … Continue reading Nadia Wheatley, Her mother’s daughter: A memoir (#BookReview)
Dymphna Clark Lecture: Clare Wright and You daughters of freedom
According to the University of Melbourne website, the Dymphna Clark Lecture "is delivered annually by a lecturer who exemplifies the deep commitment Dymphna Clark showed to Australia's intellectual and cultural life." Strangely, I can't find a description of the lecture series on the Manning Clark House site which, I believe, is behind the lecture series. … Continue reading Dymphna Clark Lecture: Clare Wright and You daughters of freedom
Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Shortlist, 2018, announced
I don't always announce all literary awards shortlists, but have decided to announce the Prime Minister's Literary Awards shortlist this year. The press release says that over 500 books were submitted across the 6 categories. Is that all? I guess I would have expected more, but it is somewhat expensive to submit, particularly for small publishers. … Continue reading Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Shortlist, 2018, announced
Monday Musings on Australian literature: the Australasian Home Reading Union et al (2)
You may remember that a couple of weeks ago I wrote a Monday Musings post on the Australasian Home Reading Union - and said at the time that I'd probably write more because I'd like to see what happened to it. Well, here is the next instalment. Please note, though, that my research isn't as … Continue reading Monday Musings on Australian literature: the Australasian Home Reading Union et al (2)
Sue Williams, Live and let fry (#BookReview)
Well, 2018 is clearly "the year of the Mallee" here at Whispering Gums, with Sue Williams' Rusty Bore Mystery, Live and let fry, being my third Mallee-set book so far this year. The others are Jenny Ackland's Little gods (my review) and Charlie Archbold's Mallee boys (my review). By the time I visit the Mallee … Continue reading Sue Williams, Live and let fry (#BookReview)
Nadia Wheatley in conversation with Marion Halligan
Nadia Wheatley is, I fear, not as well-known in Australia's literary firmament as she should be because her credentials are excellent. Not only is there My place (1987) - a wonderful multi-award-winning children's book about the history of place - but her biography of Charmian Clift, The life and myth of Charmian Clift, has been … Continue reading Nadia Wheatley in conversation with Marion Halligan
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Next Chapter
Two weeks ago I wrote a Monday Musings post on HarperCollins' new prize for unpublished manuscripts, the Banjo Prize - and this week I saw the announcement of the winners of another new "prize", the Wheeler Centre's Next Chapter initiative. It's a very different kettle of fish but is another program offering opportunities to writers … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Next Chapter
Six degrees of separation, FROM The outsiders TO …
Woo hoo, tomorrow Daylight Savings starts here in eastern Australia and I can't wait. I love the longer nights, and not being woken by the birds so early in the morning. But that's tomorrow, today is Six Degrees of Separation day. Most of you know by now what that means, but for those who don't, Six … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM The outsiders TO …
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