Writer
I was in Sydney a few weeks ago for the launch of The Anthology: Non-Fiction Faber Writing Academy at Allen & Unwin. That's a mouthful. The Faber Writing Academy, which I attended earlier this year, publishes an anthology of students work, to send to publishers and agents in the UK and Australia. As contributors we … Continue reading When Things Go Write
I really love libraries. I love the State Library of Victoria; it's my happy place. I also love my local library, Belgrave Library. They host my writing group, Mountain Ash Chapter, every month, and look after us so well. I love the other libraries in my local area, the Eastern Regional Libraries. I often visit … Continue reading Local Library Love
I had an epiphany today. A real, bolt-from-the-blue, body tingling, mind-expanding epiphany. And it was good! Really good. I was listening to Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Big Magic on Audible. Elizabeth wrote Eat, Pray, Love back in 2007. A book which incited in me an inspiration for adventure which hasn’t really dissipated in the fifteen years … Continue reading Big Magic
Just moments ago I heard on the news that a person in Antarctica had stabbed a co-worker for spoiling the ending of a book he was reading. The news story was about workplace stress. But I was more interested in the obvious investment the stabber had in his reading material. I wonder what book it … Continue reading Raising The Stakes
I grew up near Readings Bookshop in Hawthorn. Receiving a Readings voucher was by far my favourite gift to receive. I would wander the shop, reading blurbs, and take forever to make a decision about how to spend my cherished book money. I have many wonderful memories of Readings, but by far the most vivid … Continue reading American Psycho
Indulge me, if you will... Imagine I am a school librarian, in Des Moines, Iowa. I am slowly walking through the stacks, removing titles as I go. The Kite Runner, The Handmaid's Tale, Brave New World, The Colour Purple. You may picture me in a pencil skirt, with a fitted jacket, my hair in a … Continue reading The Rise of Banned Books
Here we are again on my least favourite, quippy-acronym day of senseless tokenism. I mean, RUOK Day? We can't even spell it correctly. It might make it too real. A day of corporate yellowness and box ticking, self-congratulatory, fake altruism and empathy. Actually, in fairness, I must concede to the fact RUOK Day has raised … Continue reading Is it ok to not be ok?
Today, 31st August, is officially We Love Memoirs Day. Personally, I love memoirs everyday. In fact, I love all kinds of books, every day of the year. However, I do particularly love memoirs. Especially if I have recently read other books of fiction by the same author. It's fascinating to see the differences and similarities … Continue reading We Love Memoirs Day
It's the beginning of 2021 and Melbourne is in a lull between two COVID lockdowns. I have been writing a blog for six years and decide I would like to improve my writing. I happen across a Reflective Writing Course on a local Facebook group. It is partly funded by a government grant and sounds … Continue reading Impostor Syndrome
Going to bookshops is one of my favourite things to do. I am sure no-one is surprised by this. Last week I wandered into Dymocks and was immediately drawn to one of the end shelves. The book displayed on the top shelf and the accompanying signage was covered in cherry blossom. Cherry blossom is another … Continue reading At the Foot of the Cherry Tree
