Paige Turner - October

The first Saturday of the month sees the Claremont Community Library (which was opened by volunteers when the Claremont Library was closed) is holding a book fair between 10-3. This is a fully volunteer run community library and you’ll find it in the Claremont Hall. The Hobart Bookshop, along with Astrolabe, are also hosting a book fair, this one at the Battery Point Hall, on October 6 (possibly soon to be consecrated International Book Fair Day).

Jane Williams’ collection of poems for children My Nan Speaks Nanish, and her picture book Oskar Saves The Day World, are being launched by Anne Morgan at Hobart Bookshop, on October 4th at 5.30 pm. 

Also at the Hobart Bookshop, you will find the wonderful children's author Lian Tanner signing her new book Secret Guardians on Saturday, OCtober 13 between 10.30-11.30am.

On October 2 I’ll be in conversation with Krissy Kneen about her new novel, Wintering a thriller set in the deep south of Tasmania. Krissy’s one of Australia’s most transgressive and exhilarating writers and thinkers, and this foray into thriller (she has written memoir, erotica, spec fic and poetry) has me on the edge of my seat. Fullers Bookshop, 5.30.

The night after, you can hear Krissy in conversation with author of Flames, Robbie Arnott, with Island editor Vern Field guiding the conversation, umpiring a possible arm wrestle. This is organised by Island mag, and will incorporate the monthly Silent Reading Party – from 6pm in the Crystal Room at Institut Polaire. Check Island’s Facebook page, this is filling fast. This event is run in conjunction with Text Publishing.

Novelist and academic, Dr Rosie Dub, along with Neil Cameron, founder of the Festival Of Voices are taking bookings now for their writing workshop, The Heroic Journey. In this workshop you will take a close look at the stages in the Heroic Journey, their purposes and how they can be implemented in your stories in ways that are exciting and original. Salamanca Arts Centre on Saturday 3^rd & Sunday 4^th November. ($250 or $230).
For further information, visit Rosie's website.

Katherine Johnson's new novel, Matryoshka will be launched at Fullers Bookshop on October 18. This is Katherine's third novel and it covers territory of intergenerational trauma, migration, love and Tasmania.

Hobart Fringe Festival? Last I heard of this when I was crying on the Fringe secretary’s door step C2007, stepping away from all involvement, burnt burnt burnt out, like it did to so many of us – so I rejoice at the redux of a Hobart Fringe Festival. All power, and good night sleeps to the new Fringe heads.
 You can submit your expression of interest now – it is open and accepting of everyone and everything – though I do wonder if the Polish Club will be as um, avant-garde as we were – eg will there be a poetry show with wads of offal thrown around the stage. That said, the Hobart Fringes of yore featured some bloody amazing stuff, from here, from abroad, some of the absolute crazy gems that inform a lot of the current arts scene in Hobart (alongside that museum of course, of course). https://www.fringeattheedgeoftheworld.com.au/

Speaking of festivals, the Tasmanian Poetry Festival runs over the first weekend of the month, in and around Launceston. This year will feature, among other events, a night of Slamduggery, Tasmania’s pre-eminent slam poetry competition, and Arielle Cottington. More information can be found on their website -  

Alison Alexander’s new book, Duck and Green Peas Forever, finding Utopia in Tasmania is being launched by Professor Henry Reynolds at the Town Hall on October 12 at 4pm. It looks like another ripper of Tasmanian history from Fullers Publishing.

The Tasmanian branch of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators are holding a conference and professional development opportunity on Saturday 27^th of October. They are also offering manuscript assessments, and the opportunity to meet agents face to face. This is a wonderful opportunity for those on the ground in Tasmania, who are brewing books for children. More information contact Anne Morgan – morganataswa@gmail.com

Arts Tasmania have announced which organisations they are funding for 2018/2019. They had just over $700 000 available for all the arts organisations in the state for this period, and it is good to see that the Sydney Review of Books will be commissioning essays on the Tasmanian Writing Life, though no other support for literature orgs made it past the dollar sign – and nor do I know if others applied. The Tasmanian Writers Centre, which was not awarded funding from Arts Tasmania last year, has recently had Jill Eddington, formerly of the Australia Council looking in to their situation as well as the literature ‘scene’ more generally in Tasmania, and it is understood the centre did not apply in the latest funding round.

The twelfth Bushcare Walking Book Club, organised by scientist and writer Nicole Gill of the Hobart City Council will see a group of walkers strolling along the Sandy Bay Foreshore and discussing George Monbiot's Feral. This book is a "search for enchantment on the frontiers of rewilding", and a very readable call to arms by Monbiot, for us to consider returning some of our human landscapes to the natural world, and to enliven ourselves in the process. Monbiot is perhaps best known as a journalist covering social justice and environmental issues for The Guardian. He also hates sheep. During the stroll, Nicole will also explain­ a little about a rewilding program taking place beneath the waters of our own river.

Meet at the Sandy Bay Sailing Club car park, Long Point Road, Sandy Bay, at 2PM on Sunday 7^th October. RSVP to bushcare@hobartcity.com.au

If you have any books or writing news, I’d love to hear it – drop me a line racheledwards488@gmail.com