Unlike my last two posts in this "supporting genres"series, today's is a true-blue genre. The problem is, as many of you will realise, that it takes me way, way out of my comfort zone. However, with this week being National Science Week in Australia, I decided that it was a good time to tackle this … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 8: Science fiction
Canberra Writers Festival 2022: (My) Session 3, Germaine Greer in conversation with Rick Morton
My third choice of sessions was also somewhat sentimental, because, with Germaine Greer now in her 80s, I wasn't sure how many more opportunities I'd get to see her in the flesh. But, I was disappointed because, the night before the event, the following email was sent out: Sadly, Ms Greer has had a fall … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2022: (My) Session 3, Germaine Greer in conversation with Rick Morton
Canberra Writers Festival 2022: (My) Session 2, Her last words: The inspiring life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
My second choice of sessions was, partly, sentimental, because Ruth Bader Ginsburg is such an inspiration for feminists like me and I also wanted to see ABC journalist Fran Kelly strut her stuff in person. I wasn't disappointed. The session was subtitled, Amanda Tyler In Conversation With Fran Kelly, and was framed as follows: Justice … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2022: (My) Session 2, Her last words: The inspiring life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Canberra Writers Festival 2022: (My) Session 1, Writing the precipice
A preamble After a long pandemic-caused hiatus during which it didn't, like many others, "pivot" to an online format, the Canberra Writers Festival is back. Unfortunately, it clashed with a time we could visit our Melbourne family, so the best I could do was reduce that trip by a day so I could at least … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2022: (My) Session 1, Writing the precipice
Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 7: Poetry
As with the last post in this series, which was on novellas, poetry isn't so much a genre as a form. However, to repeat what I said then, when I started this sub-series, I couldn't find one all-inclusive word to cover all the types of literary works I thought I'd cover, so settled on "genres". … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 7: Poetry
Six degrees of separation, FROM The book of form and emptiness TO …
Last month, as I wrote this post, I had just got back from Melbourne, and this month I am back in Melbourne. Next Six Degrees, I should be in Sydney, all being well. Life is busy at the moment, but we are enjoying catching up with family and friends after two years of limited opportunities. … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM The book of form and emptiness TO …
Peter Wegner’s Centenarians
In 2021 Australian artist Peter Wegner won Australia’s prestigious portrait painting prize, the Archibald, with his painting of the Australian artist Guy Warren, who also happened to be a centenarian. That year also happened to be the prize's centenary. Coincidence? Who knows! Regardless, the portrait was in fact part of a Centenarians project which Wegner … Continue reading Peter Wegner’s Centenarians
Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry Month 2022 and Verse novels
Having launched their Poetry Month in 2021 which I wrote about at the time, Red Room Company (or, Red Room Poetry) clearly felt it was successful, because they are back again this year with another Poetry Month. Its aim is to "increase access, awareness and visibility of poetry in all its forms and for all … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry Month 2022 and Verse novels
#54321 Challenge – Just for fun
Lisa posted this challenge, which she got from Lizzy Siddal, who nicked it from somewhere on Instagram! Love the provenance here! Each of us has interpreted it in ways that suits us. For me, my interpretation is to draw on authors who have died (except for #1) because there are too many living authors that … Continue reading #54321 Challenge – Just for fun
Larissa Behrendt, After story (#BookReview)
Larissa Behrendt's latest novel After story has been on my wishlist since it came out last year, so I was thrilled when my reading group chose it as our 2022 NAIDOC-Week read. What self-respecting reader, after all, doesn’t like a literary tour? After story, for those who haven't caught up with it yet, is framed … Continue reading Larissa Behrendt, After story (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 