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

Paige Turner - September

Many times have I begun this column with a breathy incitement to get some bookish events into you. This month you’ll be struggling not to – what, with ingenious and lovely People’s Library, the Tamar Valley Writers’ Festival and a resounding swathe of other events, both north and south, I challenge you to stay by the hearth with a cat on your lap.

As well as the above two celebrations of the word, which you can read more about in these pages, I am really looking forward to hearing Sholeh Wolpe (Iran/US) discuss her translation of The Conference of the Birds by Farid ud-Din Attar. Originally written in Persian in the twelfth century it is considered one of Persian literature’s most celebrated masterpieces. Rumi (who is the number one bestselling poet in the United States today, all these centuries after he first penned his earthy and ethereal beauty) believed Attar to be “the Master” of Sufi mystic poetry. Sholeh will read from her translation and discuss the process of bringing this luminous, allegorical tale to a contemporary English translation. All this, at Fullers on September 19, 5.30pm. Make sure you drop Fullers a line to rsvp (@fullersbookshop.com.au).

You’ll also find her performing some of her own poetry – and a performance to behold it will be- (I’ve had the fortune to see her perform twice before, once in Guangzhou, China and once in Singharaja, Bali, I travel for beautiful words, I really do)– at The People’s Library on September 18 at 7pm. I hope she will also be delivering a workshop – check out Transportationpress.net for more details (Transportation Press is sponsoring her visit to our island, and yep, that’s me).

Ray Glickman is in the state for the Tamar Valley Writers’ Festival and after the festival he’s travelling south to deliver, with Ian Andrew, a special workshop on democratic publishing called Publishing Power to the People. This will take place on the afternoon of September 20. This workshop will cost $30, run for three hours and cover subjects such as they lay of the land in independent (self) publishing, what the merits of independent publishing actually are, especially compared to the traditional publishing space, and it will also include a panel discussion, as well as a Q & A opportunity for participants. Drop me a line for more details. 

Let’s jump ahead a little to October 2 at Fullers Bookshop, when I’ll be chatting withKrissy Kneen about her new novel, Wintering. This novel takes Queensland author Kneen, who has in the past delved deep into some transgressive erotica, pushed boundaries with futuristic imaginings and smashed paradigms with sexy blue goo to the deep south of Tasmania. Krissy makes for a generous interview subject – and this book is rich pickings for an entertaining conversation.

Margaretta Pos has edited Among the Willows and Wild Things: The Fingal Valley Nature Diary of a Young Girl in the 1930s. This was written by Ann Page, Margaretta’s mother and will be launched at the Tamar ValleyWriters Festival at the Tamar Valley Resort at Grindelwald, on Saturday, September 15^th at 1.15pm. It is a free public event and legendary raconteur and editor of the Tasmanian Times, Lindsay Tuffin, will be doing the launching honours. He will be in conversation with Margaretta Pos about the book. The Governor, Professor Kate Warner, has written a foreword, the preface is by Margaretta Pos, with illustrations by Sabina Gillett, who lives in Perth (Tasmania). The Hobart launch will be at the Hobart Bookshop, Salamanca Square, on Friday, September 21^st at 6pm. It will be launched by Don Knowler. Knowler writes the weekly column, On the Wing, for the Mercury. He is the author of The Shy Mountain, a year in the life of kunanyi/Mount Wellington and other books.

Among the Willows and Wild Things is a limited edition of 300 copies published by Forty South. It retails for $35. 

Poet Jane Williams will be bringing her work to an appreciative audience alongside Susan Austin at the next Republic Readings, on Sunday, 2nd September at 3pm. This will happen at the Republic Hotel in North Hobart. It’s a free event, with a welcoming open mic.

I’m super stoked to see Robbie Arnott’s book Flames shortlisted for The Readings Prize, and it is equally lovely to see playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer win the Brotherhood of St Lawrence’s national Hope Prizefor his short story ‘Like Dresses in a Tree’.
Robbie has also been shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards' University of Queensland Fiction Book Award. 

Silent Reading returns in September. In September it is coinciding Australian Reading Hour (some days I have a few of those) and is happening as part of the soon to be fabled People’s Library. For more details, check out the Island Facebook page.

You’ve read here about the progressive monthly gathering Reading For the Revolution, organised by Millie Rooney. These are now a regular instalment at 0730 on the second Tuesday of the month at the Food Store in South Hobart.

As always Fullers Bookshop is providing a buzzing space of culture, hosting book launches including Andrew L Urban’s Murder by the Prosecution on the 6^th of the month, and Clementine Ford discussing her new book Boys Will Be Boys on September 27.

If you’ve got any book news or interesting word related elements, drop me a line

Racheledwards488@gmail.com

Paige Turner - May

May seems that it should be a slowing month, one where we wend our ways a little closer to the fire, stay a little longer in our beds. It’s busy though, in the world of stories, of books and writing in Tasmania, who has time for hibernation? – well, maybe just in bed for one more chapter, one more chapter.

May 3 sees the launch of the debut novel from Robbie Arnott, a surreal novel about the intricacy of family, fissures running through Tasmania and a novel very distinctly of this island, with our shores and innards pulsing through the pages. It will be launched by Richard Flanagan at Fullers on May 3, 5.30pm. Mark my words, Robbie will be heralded as the new Flanagan.

You can read an extract of Flames in the latest Island magazine (which is a ripper edition by the way) – and you can also show your tax deductible support for the long running Tasmanian literary magazine by making a donation (which will be doubled by Creative Partnerships Australia. Participate in their survey, too, and go in the running for some good prizes.

The Australian Book Review’s State of Poetry, Tasmania is back again. Edited by Sarah Day it features work from poets including Ben Walter, Gina Mercer, Anne Kellas and Jim Everett-puralia meenamatta. It’s free and available on the ABR website.

The Story Island Project are running free storytelling workshops for young people of all abilities, aged around 6-11 starting on Tuesday, May 15 at the West Moonah Community House. They will run these afterschool workshops between 3.30-5pm over the next 6 weeks. Come for one, come for all!

The Dick and Joan Green Family Award for Tasmanian History is a new book prize delivered by UTAS that recognises works that have made contributions to understanding Tasmanian history. The inaugural shortlist includes Alison Alexander’s Beneath the Mountain, Tony Fenton’s wonderful Fleeting Hopes, a history of Port Davey – and the winner of the Tasmanian Book Prize Into the Heart of Tasmania, by Rebe Taylor which I have recently had the informative pleasure to read. The winner will be announced in June.

The Tasmanian Writers Centre, with less than two months worth of operating costs and a new board, elected after all former incumbents announced they were not renominating at an AGM late last month are still running Seasonal Poets - and I would definitely be heading along if it weren't for my wisdom teeth removal earlier that day-  as this is a valuable event on our poetry scene. Seasonal Poets for Autumn will include readings from Susan Austin, Ben Walter and Gina Mercer. $15 waged, $10 members and unwaged. Hadleys Hotel, May 21, 6-8pm

I'm super delighted to hear that a new SLAM night is starting down South, maybe we can rival the wickedness of Launceston's Slamduggery.
LINC Tasmania are hosting a SpecialStorytime with Victoria Ryle on May 16, to celebrate National Families Week. Discover how to transform a simple piece of paper into a book! This is a seriously excellent thing to do – and I’m speaking from experience. Take your kids along and they will walk away with books of their very own making. 

Speaking of All That We Are, you have until this Sunday, May 6 to get your EoI in to ArTELIER: Artists in Tasmania: Ecology of Learning, Intergenerational Exchange and Reflection, a new project that invests in Tasmanian young people by empowering the artists who work with them. ArTELIER will build the capacity of the Tasmanian arts ecology of artists, creative activists and educators who currently work, or wish to work, with children and families.
For more information click here.

The shortlists for the 2018Norma K Hemming Award have been announced. This award is presented by the Australian Science Fiction Foundation for a work of speculative fiction published in 2016-17 in Australia or written by an Australian citizen that explores the themes of race, gender, sexuality, class or disability – and for the first time, this year’s award has categories for both long works and short fiction. For the first time, this year’s Norma K Hemming Award comprises two categories: long works and short fiction and included in the short fiction category is Did We Break the End of the World’ (Tansy Rayner Roberts, Defying Doomsday, Twelfth Planet Press). The winners will be announced in June. 

The Society of Women Writers Tasmania Short Story Competition 2018 is now open for entries (closing August 31^st but don’t put it off until then). They are seeking entries of short stories of 1200- 1500 words on the theme ‘Life Changing’. Word Count. Prizes of $200, $50, HC and C certificates are up for literary grabs in this competition which is open to all. For furtherinformation visit this link.

The recently announced Vogel Prize (awarded to Emily O’Grady for The Yellow House) has seen Tasmanian writer Kate Gordon commended by the judges for her manuscript The Light Between the Trees. I think that this wonderful writer, author of my favourite YA, Vulpi and Thyla has also been brewing a children’s book. Prolific!

                                   

The TamarValley Writers’ Festival, which is coming up in the middle of September (mark your diaries), The Star Cinema and Foot And Playsted are hosting The Sydney Writers Festival Live and Local at the Star Cinema in Invermay May 4-6. Authors who will be live broadcast are Jane Harper, bestselling crime writer, author of The Dry and Force of Nature, Peter Greste, Australian journalist and author of The First Casualty and Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage. 

Sustainable Living Tasmania has a graphic animator, Pan, doing an internship. He’s creating a video to inspire people about Tasmania’s role in securing a stable global climate. The concept is great and now they need a writer to volunteer their time and words to write a 2-3 minute script. Contact Todd Houstein at Sustainable Living Tasmania for more information.

If you have any book or writing related news drop me a line racheledwards488@gmail.com