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
Monday musings on Australian literature: Bushfire fiction
Last week I reviewed Karenlee Thompson's short story collection, Flame tip, which was inspired by (if "inspired" is quite the right word here) the horrendous Tasmanian bushfires of 1967. Lisa at ANZLitlovers had also reviewed this book, and in discussion on her post we discussed the apparent dearth of books on a topic so critical … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Bushfire fiction
Karenlee Thompson, Flame tip: Short fictions (#BookReview)
Short story anthologies usually have some sort of organising principle - a theme, perhaps, such as Australian love stories, or a prize, such as the Margaret River Short Story Competition - but single author collections tend to be looser. Not so Karenlee Thompson's Flame tip which she describes as containing "creative writing pieces that weave in … Continue reading Karenlee Thompson, Flame tip: Short fictions (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Northern Territory Writers’ Centre
Back in June, I wrote a post on the ACT Writers Centre, and indicated then that I would gradually write about other state centres. So, today I am writing about the other pseudo-state aka territory centre, the Northern Territory Writers' Centre. I've chosen this as my second one because I think the Northern Territory is … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Northern Territory Writers’ Centre
Susan Varga, Rupture (#BookReview)
Finally, eight months after receiving Susan Varga's poetry collection, Rupture, I've finished it. The delay had nothing to do with the quality of the book, but just with my ineffectiveness at keeping up with review books. I apologise to Susan Varga and all the other authors and publishers whose books I still have to get … Continue reading Susan Varga, Rupture (#BookReview)
Yuri Herrera, Signs preceding the end of the world (#BookReview)
While I was travelling in the USA last month, I wanted to read at least one book relating to the regions we were visiting. I started by looking for a novel set in/about the northwest, but then Yuri Herrera's Signs preceding the end of the world, set in the southwest, popped out at me, and … Continue reading Yuri Herrera, Signs preceding the end of the world (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Road novels
Having just returned from the madness of LA's freeways to the calm of Canberra's roads, I found myself thinking about road novels! Road movies are often talked about, but not so much road fiction, particularly in Australia - so today I'm going to have a go. Defining the term I've labelled this post "road novels" … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Road novels
