It's Canberra Writers Festival time again. The theme continues to be Power, Politics, Passion, reflecting Canberra's specific role in Australian culture and history. I understand this. It enables the Festival organisers to carve out a particular place for itself in the crowded festival scene, but the fiction readers among us hunger for more fiction (and, for … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2019, Day 1, Session 1: Capital culture
Irma Gold
Festival Muse: Question time – Robyn Cadwallader with Irma Gold
Cadwallader (L) and Gold in the Muse bookshop Introducing the first event of their Sunday afternoon program, Dan, co-owner of Muse, commented on a peculiarity of Canberra: when they offer sessions on politics or history, they are packed out, but when the focus is fiction, the events are more intimate. Fine by me! I love small, … Continue reading Festival Muse: Question time – Robyn Cadwallader with Irma Gold
Monday Musings on Australian Literature Special: Book Giveaway Winners
Two weeks ago I announced my first blog giveaway, courtesy the generosity of Irma Gold, editor of the Canberra Centenary anthology, The invisible thread. Irma offered me two copies to give away, both signed by most of the authors represented in the anthology - and who are still living of course! Entries closed midnight, AEST, … Continue reading Monday Musings on Australian Literature Special: Book Giveaway Winners
Reminder: a Book Giveaway
Time is running out to win one of the multiply signed copies of The invisible thread. Anyone from anywhere can enter as the editor and donor of the copies, Irma Gold, and I have agreed to quarantine one copy for an overseas address, and the other for an Australian address. To read more about the … Continue reading Reminder: a Book Giveaway
Monday Musings on Australian Literature Special: a Book Giveaway
Actually, the exciting thing is that this is not A book giveaway, as I have TWO books to give away. And, not only are there two books, but the books are signed by multiple authors! Intrigued? Then read on … As many of you know this year is Canberra’s centenary. And, if you’ve been reading … Continue reading Monday Musings on Australian Literature Special: a Book Giveaway
Irma Gold and Craig Phillips, Megumi and the bear (Review)
Now here's something different at the Gums! I don't, as you'd know, make a practice of reviewing children's literature, though I have done a few cross-over adult-young adult novels. So, when Irma Gold and Craig Phillips' children's picture book, Megumi and the bear, landed in my letterbox a week or so ago I was challenged. … Continue reading Irma Gold and Craig Phillips, Megumi and the bear (Review)
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!
Irma Gold (ed), The invisible thread (Review)
I even get nervous when I open a book, you know, for the first time. It's the same thing, isn't it. You never know what you'll find, do you? Each person, each book, is like a new world ... (from Mark Henshaw's Out of the line of fire, in The invisible thread) At last, you … Continue reading Irma Gold (ed), The invisible thread (Review)
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: Canberra’s centenary
In 2013 Canberra, Australia's national capital, will celebrate its centenary. A whole raft of events and activities has been planned to keep us busy and buzzing all year - and I look forward to them - but for me, a reader, one of the most exciting projects inspired by the centenary is The invisible thread. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Canberra’s centenary
Whispering Gums 