It
will be almost impossible to avoid a book or story related event if you are in
Tasmania during March. Non-stop reading and writing parties, it will be NONSTOP.
Or at least a variety of word related events that will tickle your wordiest
desires. Read on, dear devourer of symbols, read on.
Look
out for newly minted, gorgeously devised and positive change creating local
story telling organisation The Story Island Project. They want to hear your
Stories of the Brooker Highway. If you have something to share about the
currently chaotic arterial, they are gathering these stories as part of a
larger project that will bring together the diverse communities that have
lived, worked and travelled along the highway. You can share yours on March 5
at the Mona Market, the Showgrounds Market on Sunday 12 and 19 March and at the
Moonah Taste of the World Festival on Sunday March 26. For more details about
this, check their website.
Local designer Jennifer Cossins has had her
delightfully illustrated books, A-Z of
Endangered Animals and 101 Collective
Nouns snaffled by international publisher Hachette (Australia). This is a
major achievement and I send a hearty round of applause, smattered with
anticipation for Jennifer’s new audiences. These books are slated for June
release and in the mean time you can check her work at Red Parka in Criterion
Street, Hobart.
James Boyce, award winning historian and writer, is
becoming increasingly recognized as an incisive social commentator. He has been
particularly vocal about gambling in Tasmania and the destruction it causes individuals
and communities, while a few people get very rich. His latest book Losing Streak, How Tasmania was Gamed by the
Gambling Industry, (pictured) is impeccably researched, calm in execution
and beautifully written – and an indictment of the nuances of Tasmanian power
structures. This will be launched at the Republic on Tuesday, March 14 at
5.30pm
Kate
Gordon, author of YA novels, including the amazing Thyla and Vulpi that tell
of shapeshifting girls up kunanyi/Mount Welly, is working with
multi-award-winning publisher, Twelfth Planet Press. She’s in charge of their
children's imprint, and getting the word out about their YA anthology, Kaleidoscope. This anthology includes
twenty original stories that are fun, edgy, meditative YA science fiction and
fantasy with diverse leads. The stories tell of scary futures, magical
adventures, and the joys and heartbreaks of teenage life. The book contains New
York Times best-selling and award winning authors along with newer voices
including Tasmanian locals Tansy Rayner Roberts, Holly Kench and Dirk Flinthart. More information here.
In Hobart, Blue Pollen Beautiful by Elizabeth Goodsir, with etchings by her daughter Madeleine Goodwolf (I love their complementary names) will be launched on March 21 at the Hobart Bookshop. It’s also World Poetry Day and what a way to honour poetry than celebrate the launch of a new collection.
In Hobart, Blue Pollen Beautiful by Elizabeth Goodsir, with etchings by her daughter Madeleine Goodwolf (I love their complementary names) will be launched on March 21 at the Hobart Bookshop. It’s also World Poetry Day and what a way to honour poetry than celebrate the launch of a new collection.
The Writers’ Centre is hosting Maria Tumarkin in
March. Tumarkin, who will host a workshop on long form creative non-fiction,
has taken my breath away with her concise and beautiful essays. She faces the
world unflinchingly and this comes across in her work. It’s a unique
opportunity and one I wish I could attend. This is happening on March 12. They
are also hosting children’s illustrator Christina Booth for a full day workshop
on How to Create a Picture Book. This is happening, as with the Tumarkin one,
at the Moonah Arts Centre, and it is on March 26th. For more
information, and for other upcoming events see their website.
The State Cinema Bookstore is hosting local author Katherine Johnson for a Meet the Author event on
Sunday March 26th at
2pm. She will be discussing her book The
Better Son. This event will be held in the bookstore more information to
follow on their website.
Fullers Bookshop in Hobart is bursting at the
proverbial seams in March. Starting on March 3, a play adaptation of the book The Shape of Water by Anne Blythe-
Cooper, tells the heretofore untold story of Sophia Degraves, wife of the
founder of Cascade brewery. On March 5 they are hosting, with the Theatre Royal
“Meet the Cast” with Nathan Maynard about The Season.
The launches they are hosting in March include Flame Tip, by Karenlee Thompson, with an
introduction by David Walsh and on March 28, Krissy Kneen will be there for the
launch of her new book An Uncertain Grace.
On March 30, Caroline Cochrane’s book A
Changed and Uplifted Life will be launched and on the 31st Melanie Thompson
will launch her book All the Birds in the
Air. On March 24 and March 26 Damon Young and Ruth Quibell will be discussing
The Art of Reading and The Promise of Things, and My Brother is a Beast, respectively.
More information? Visit Fuller's website
If you have any book news or events please get in
touch
Rachel Edwards
