Paige Turner - April

If you’re reading this, you can read, yep. It may seem like a silly statement, but being able to read makes you part of the 50% of Tasmanians who can read and write. Only 50% of us are functionally literate, which is of significant concern for all of us. What to do? There are lots of things, but to begin the drip feed, start reading on the bus, reading in public. Be a public celebration of reading, a very embodiment of reading – and volunteer as an adult literacy tutor through 26Ten.

You can also attend other celebrations of reading and writing, such as the launch of Word Fall by Betty McKenzie-Tubb at the Hobart Bookshop on April 12 at 5.30pm. This is her new collection of poetry, following on from a book of memoir of her last 80 or so years. She has a love and mastery of language, and as poet Robyn Mathison notes, she was moved to tears, deep contemplation or laughter as she read these poems.

Tasmanian writer Shirley Patton will have her northern launch, following a successful Hobart event in March. Her new novel, The Secrets We Keep is a compelling novel of the transcendental love of children and the truth's unwillingness to stay hidden. This is happening on April 12, 6pm at Petrarch’s Bookshop in Launceston. https://www.facebook.com/events/764450100412147/

On April 18 I am heading to Launceston to do a lunchtime talk for the National Book Council of Tasmania. This is open to the public and I’d love you to come along and say hello. Who am I when I’m at home? – well, Editor in Chief of Transportation Press, erstwhile non-fiction Editor of Open Road Review, South Asia’s leading mag of literature and culture, reviewer, writer, columnist, and recently I’ve had the great pleasure to be working with lower literacy inmates at Risdon Prison as Writer in Residence, doing slam poetry. April 18, 1pm on the second floor of the Launceston LINC, this is a free event.

Reading for the Revolution returns in April, this time with readings and discussion around the concept ‘democracy’ – which is something which history teaches us, time and time again that we should not take forgranted. The next one is taking place at 7.30am (yes, in the morning sleepy heads) on Tuesday, April 10 upstairs at the Food Store in South Hobart. Readings include ‘How Politics Works in Australia’ a recent essay in The Monthly by Scott Ludlum, and Tim Lo Surdo’s discussion from Democracy in Colour. For further information contact the inspirational Millie Rooney – millie.rooney@gmail.com

I’m getting conflicting information about the ‘officialness’ of the announcement – but Ellen Harvey has updated her Twitter profile to note she is the new director of the TasmanianWriters’ Centre. I imagine this means that contracts are signed and she is on her way to relocate to Tasmania for the role. This is exciting times for a centre which has a grand opportunity to be the go-to space for writers and readers of all ilks, diversities, propensities and desires. I wish her all the best for her new role. UPDATE APRIL 7- her Twitter profile no longer includes this in her bio. Oh! The intrigue! Stay tuned, I understand the Centre are issuing a press release this weekend or coming Monday.

It's excellent to hear that the first two titles from Emily Conolon’s exciting new interactive children’s series, The Freedom Fighters, Break your Chains and Touch the Sun, are being launch at Fullers on April 7^th at 2.30pm. Emily is a Tasmanian of the Year, humanitarian as well as being an author, and these books offer the opportunity for young readers (9+) to choose their own destinies, putting themselves in the shoes of migrants and refugee children and experiencing the twists, turns and life or death choices of finding your way to a new home in Australia. This is a free event, but please make sure you RSVP to rsvp@fullersbookshop.com.au

Fullers is also hosting the launch of From Limerick to Campbell Town to Detroit by Meredith Hodgson. This book traces the remarkable life of Eliza Williams who was transported to Van Diemen’s Land for theft in 1851, where she served as indentured labour for John Leake at his magnificent estate Rosedale. Her letters have survived and they tell a fascinating tale of the journey from convict woman, to prosperity. The author will be in conversation with historian Kristyn Harman on Thursday, April 12 at 5.30. (see also the review of Kristyn Harman’s latest book, Cleansing the Colony, in this issue).

Private Projects, a distinctive, glorious small gallery in Moonah, has copies of artist Duncan Blanchard’s new book available now. This is the only Tasmanian distribution outlet.

A little ahead of myself this month, but a significant event on any reader’s calendar should be the launch of Robbie Arnott’s first novel, Flames. The book will be launched by MAN Booker Prize winner, Richard Flanagan at Fullers on May 3, at 5.30pm. I cannot wait, this book is already being lauded as a surrealist version of the island state, and what some are calling “one of the finest works of Australian literature in recent years”. Woot.

The latest in Tansy Rayner Robert’s Creature Court series is available for pre-order here.

Do you have any writing or reading news? Drop me a line – 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