Paige Turner - July

July already! Two more months of darkness to go, but two months which offer opportunities for all of you wonderful writers and readers hidden in pockets around our obscure and beautiful island. These include:

1) Lots of reading time. The weather, the darkness calls us to refine our activity. Reading is the ultimate in refined.

2) Submitting to the Wheeler Centre’s wonderful initiative The Next Chapter. This is for ‘the stories that aren’t being told, the voices we’re not hearing, and the ideas that need patience, care and work to introduce to the world.’ Such a gorgeous premise I could weep. It translates as $15 000 and a mentor to help you develop your work, as well as easing your way towards being published. For more information, head to the Wheeler Centre’s website.

3) Are you a writer who identifies as from Tasmania, Iran or India? Transportation Press is lurching towards our third international collection. Submissions for original short stories close on July 8th. Check out Transportation Press for more details – or email me directly, I am part of the lurching machine that is Trans. Racheledwards488@gmail.com

4) Hachette are offering the Richell Prize for an unpublished manuscript again, as well as the chance to apply for a 4 day residential intensive, for which they are partnering with the Queensland Writers Centre. Hachette or Qldwriters.org.au for more.

5) On the reading side of things, Silent Reading is in hiatus for July but we hope to be quietly back in August. But Reading for the Revolution’s happening again, this time discussing the notion of Universal Basic Income. 10th July, 7.30am, upstairs in the Food Store in South Hobart. This is organised by the irrepressible Millie Rooney (the world needs more Millies) Contact her for more details, and for a list of the readings. millie.rooney@gmail.com

6) I was disappointed to miss Greg Lehman’s discussion at Society of Editors (Tas) about writing with and about Aboriginal people, and while this roams some different territory, I hope to make it along to the discussion about cultural appropriation at Page and Cup in Hobart on July 18th. They will explore the fine line between cultural appropriation and appreciation, and how it can be navigated sensitively. More details are on their FB page, but get in quickly as places for this mediated discussion are limited.

 7) July 3 will see the launch of a collection of opinion pieces that were gathered as inspirational groundswell for the Communicating: The Heart of Literacy public dialogue, driven by Chatter Matters. Literacy is one of Tasmania’s biggest challenges, and as much as I can harp on about the beauty, challenges and transcendence offered by reading a good book, there are only half our us who have the skills to do this. Half of us Tasmanians do not have functional literacy folks. Ask your politicians what they are doing to address this. Her Excellency the Governor, Kate Warner is launching this collection at Fullers Bookshop.
https://chattermatters.com.au/

8) On July 11^th in Launceston there’s a great opportunity for authors and prospective authors at Stories Bookshop. This is a free event, starting at 5.15pm. It’s excellent to see Stories stepping into this place, and offering writers a chance to discuss their books, and talk about how the bookshop can help promote. It’ll also touch on traditional versus independent publishing, and some elements of marketing and distributing.

9) I hope to see you at Fullers on Friday, July 6 for the ‘in conversation’ I’m doing with Adam Courtenay about his book The Ship That Never Was, a rollicking history, about the convicts that fled by sea from Tasmania’s wild west coast. https://www.fullersbookshop.com.au/event/the-ship-that-never-was/

10) Entries are open for Forty South’s new history writing prize, the Van Diemen History Prize. It’s a generous contribution to this space, offered by a prolific and necessary publisher. Check their website for more details. https://fortysouth.com.au/tasmanian-writers-prize/

11) Slamduggery will welcome Canadian spoken word artist and educator, Brandon Wint, to the stage for an exclusive Tasmanian performance. As a two time national poetry slam champion and published writer, it is safe to say Brandon knows a thing or two about poetry. July 24^th at the Royal Oak in Launceston.

12) The Hobart/nipaluna launch of The Tension by Josh Santospirito, a comic he made to mark the 5th anniversary of the most difficultest graphic novel he'll probably ever make 'The Long Weekend in Alice Springs'. Happening on July 6^th at Yambu and you can buy a comic there for $8. Performances from 8:30 or so. Supported by Island magazine. https://www.facebook.com/events/1957385577905563/

13) Pop along to the launch of Tony Caplice’s memoir of love,loss, pain – those vital elements of life Just One Word, Just One Smile, Life and Love after an Aneurysm. Tony was in Bolivia with his long term partner when she suffered a massive aneurysm. It’s a story of resilience. I’ll be in conversation with Tony about the book, and in the esteemed launching company of Tony, Senator Carol Brown, Federal Shadow Minister for Disability and Carers, and Dr Jane Tolman, one the leading dementia care specialists in Australia. Saturday 7 July, 5.30 upstairs at the Republic.

14) Kate Gordon’s new book, Girl Running, Boy Falling are fresh off the press. You can pre-order your copy witha limited-edition pin here.

15) completely over my word count – but check out Stories in September, Slam Nationals and the Chocolate Poetry Comp.

16) And! I hope to see you all at the MACq01 Storytellers Cup on the Saturday evening of The Huon Valley Mid Winter Festival, I’m pretty excited to be MC’ing this high energy, delightful storytelling competition.

16) Seasonal Poets this Winter will take place on July 23rd in the George Cartwright Room (now just who was this George Cartwright?) at 6pm. This season's poets are Liz Winfield, Christiane Conesa-Bostock and Liz McQuilkin. Cost is $15 or if you are a member of the Tasmanian Writers Centre, $10. A light supper will be served. 

PS – this is in August, but it’s SARA MANSOUR speaking in Launceston. This amazing woman started the Bankstown Poetry Slam, which is now an essential component of the strong, diverse and exciting literary work happening in Western Sydney. Sher’s speaking on the future of feminism and diversity, as a guest of the Tamar Peace Festival and the Institute for the study of Social Change. Launceston, August 1.
Road trip anyone?

Paige Turner - February

A Silent Reading Party is nigh on my favourite type of party and I’m delighted that Transportation Press and Island magazine are hosting their first one at Quartermasters Arms in Hobart on February 7 at 6pm. Simple. Bring a book (the library’s open until just before we start and we will have some books on hand too), buy a drink and a snack, read silently. No chatting. This will tease some reading wheat from chatting chaff. See you there my darlings!

Reading for the Revolution is another excellent idea launching in Hobart this month. This is a group that will discuss readings that can change the world. The first session is happening on February 12 at 7.30am at the Food Store in Macquarie Street in Hobart and will discuss writing from Stan Grant, Ursula Le Guin’s National Book Award speech and more. Drop me a line and I can pop you in touch with the organiser for more information. This is a beautiful and inclusive event, no need to contribute to discussion, you can simply be there to listen. It is organised by Millie Rooney, who actively works for the betterment of the world.

New Philosopher and Womankind, along with Island and Poet Store are presenting the third iteration of Bright Thinking on February 15 at the Salamanca Arts Centre. The discussion will be around Nature and Climate. This is a free event and doors open at 6.45pm. While we’re still on an Island note, keep an eye out for the upcoming issue (late February) in which I am most looking forward to reading an extract from Tasmanian writer, Robbie Arnott’s upcoming novel Flames.

The prolific and adored playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer has decided to convert on of his plays into a picture book. Artshub said of the play, The Girl Laughs that it ‘follows in the best tradition of fairytales through the ages – an engagingly told yarn for the children of today, with lessons for adults also,’ and nine year old Luca said ‘somewhere between hilarious and human,' in Big Kids Magazine. Seek it out on Amazon online.

Vibrance Festival returns this month and on Sunday 25^th there will be a Thylazine fair with some local and interstate zines for ‘saaaaaale’. 12-4pm with more information available on the Vibrance Facebook page.

Seasonal Poets is back at 6pm on 19 February at Hadleys in Hobart. The poets reading are Helen Swain, Lyn Reeves and Cameron Hindrum.

Jacqui Lambie is one of Tasmania’s more colourful politician and her memoir is set to be published in February. The Tamar Valley Writers Festival which is coming up in September this year (mark your diaries, this has been a glorious event in past years) is hosting the Launceston launch in partnership with Petrarchs and publisher Allen and Unwin. For more information, head over the Tamar Valley Writers FestivalFacebook page.

Forty South is running its annual short story competition. Entries for The Tasmanian Writers' Prize 2018 close on February 18. Visit fortysouth.com.au to download your entry form. 

The Tasmanian Society of Editors will conduct a session on the arcane and challenging aspects of copyright. Taking place on February 15 at 7pm at the Rosny LINC it will cover subjects like expiration of copyright, moral rights and how to ascertain if something is subject to copyright. Contact the society directly for more details (though I can tell you that it is $10 for a member and $15 for a non member).

Making Books, Making Readers is three workshops hosted by the delightful Victoria Ryle, founder of Kids’ Own Publishing. These workshops are designed to be relaxed and hands-on and are designed for artists, writers, educators and parents to explore simple approaches to creating and publishing books with, by and for children & young people. For more information including dates and costs, click here.

Fullers has a busy event calendar for February, hosting the launch of Farewell my French Love by Nadine Williams on February 7 and on February 8 (my Mum’s birthday, Happy Birthday Mum) the inimitable Christopher Lawrence from ABC RN will launch his book Symphony of Seduction.

On March 1^st GetUp! founder, Simon Sheikh will launch an exciting new book called The Rich Greenie (pictured) by Stuart Barry. This is an ethical Barefoot Investor, with clear guidance about how to grow your wealth, while living a wise life, stepping gently on our earth.

Keep an eye out for the Tasmania based dynamo Polly McGee’s recently released The Good Hustle, creating a happy, healthy business with heart, and also keep your eyes peeled for long term forest activist/saviour and exquisite artist, Aviva Reed’s Eon, The Story of Fossils.

Poet Jeremy Limn has released a collection of lyrics, poems and love ballads. The Auguries of Lost Lilacs. The book is based on the myth of love through poetry.

If you have any story or book related news, I’d love to hear from you – racheledwards488@gmail.com

Paige Turner, June 2017

Waaay too much going on to allow space for any chitchat banter or personal rhapsodisations on recent reads. (I took Paul Auster with me to Bangkok, The New York Trilogy, adored it to pieces, three stories of detectives and identities lost and assumed and as slippery as fiction. Then Olga Masters’ Collected Short Stories which was dry and dusty and I did not persist, then Gao XingJian, Nobel laureate and his One Man’s Bible, sexy, lively alongside a despotic regime. I will return to him.

Loud MouthTheatre Company presents SHIT by Patricia Cornelius at The Backspace from June 21. The fabulous Maeve Macgregor is directing and the precis runs like this -Bobby and Sam are survivors who combat the restrictions enforced on them by their gender and their class, and our expectations of them: but how much can they get away with? Tickets at Theatre Royal.

Poet Gina Mercer and yoga teacher, Shanti Panaretos are hosting a retreat with yoga, writing and very good food. Gina is a recognised Tasmanian poet and this sounds like a lovely weekend; guided in movement, encouraged in writing and eating good food. It is taking place in Dodges Ferry at the end of July. Get in touch- shantimacan AT hotmail.com

Forty South have got a few newbies out, I’m reading Tasmania’s Forgotten Frontier, a history of exploration, exploitation and settlement around Tasmania’s Far North-East Coast by John Beswick. Fergus Gives a Hoot (pictured) by Kathleen McLaren is being launched by Donald Knowler, journalist, author and the most wonderful writer of birds on 1 June, 5.30pm at the Hobart Bookshop. The book is about roadkill and it is for kids.

The Tasmanian Writers Centre are in a busy and curious space in the lead up to their Writers and Readers Fest, the program is coming soon. They are also hosting the sharply generous Benjamin Law, on June 18 for a workshop on Memoir and Life Writing.
22 June is a Twitch event, Twitch being the centre’s youf arm, currently without a rudder I believe. I’ll still celebrate the Young Writers in the City: Glenorchy event, 5.30pm at the Moonah Arts Centre. More information? Click here.
The wonderful James Dryburgh is also hosting a workshop with TWC about writing essays. James' collection Essays from Near and Far gives an introduction to his thoughtful writing.

The Comic Art Workshop do excellent things. They did a residency on Maria Island and the next one is in Yogyakarta, Indonesia later this year. Some of the work from the Maria residency is in an exhibition at the chapel in the Penitentiary on Maria, at Darlington. More reason to visit Maria and remember to tell the tourists to watch out for the waist high devils that may attack.

Hobart local Kate Gordon is working with multi-award-winning publisher Twelfth Planet Press to launch their new children's imprint. Titania's books will be aimed at children between the ages of 3 to 13 and will have a focus on diversity and inclusiveness, within magical worlds. The first project for Titania will be a children's book by award-winning writer and scholar Nike Sulway. You can follow Titania on Twitter at @Titania_TPP, or via their their Facebook page.

Twelfth Planet has also launched crowdfunding for an ambitious anthology, Mother of Invention, which will feature diverse, challenging stories about gender as it relates to the creation of artificial intelligence and robotics.

On June 2 at Utas the Human Rights Art and Film Festival, is screening Constance on the Edge. There’s a panel discussion and more details can be found here or by searching HRAFF on Facebook. The eponymous Constance is a strong Acholi woman who was one of the first refugees from South Sudan to settle in Wagga Wagga with her family in 2005

Alongside the stylish and interesting quarterly Island mag publishes, they also host one of Australia’s most important poetry prizes, The Gwen Harwood. Entries close in August. Utas is running a writing prize with Island, open to all current and former students and staff of the institution. Well worth a look. Island 149 will be out for winter reading and contains an art feature on Sonia Heap’s the Armoury,  Bruce Pascoe’s Lin Onus Oration- Sea Wolves and a piece on Chauncy Vale and Nan Chauncy by Brigid Magner plus an essay on Queenstown and the Unconformity fest, by Tas Poetry Festival Director Cameron Hindrum.

Fullers in Hobart, on June 8 is hosting the launch of Nic Gill’s book Animal Eco Warriors, Humans and animals working together to protect the planet which looks wonderful. Nicole is one of Australia’s increasingly recognised science writers and this is her first book.

Tansy Rayner Roberts is leading a workshop called Scavenger Fiction at the Resource Coop in South Hobart on June 25. This is a creative workshop set amongst the South Hobart Tip Shop Bookshelves; the works as inspiration and Tansy there to guide through the writing process. Bookings are essential for this June 25 workshop, education@resource.coop or call 6332 3891

Make sure you check out the Huon Valley Midwinter Festival’s call for entrants to the Storytelling Cup - coming soon.

And if you want to drop me a line, tell me what you’re reading or what you’re writing or any other news – racheledwards488 AT gmail.com

A version of this column was also published in Warp, June 2017