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Australian readers overlook poetry to our loss. Fortunately there are a number of excellent publishers who publish poetry either exclusively or as part of their list. Many of our literary awards have poetry sections and these remind us that poetry deserves attention. The Queensland Literary Awards shortlist, for example, will be announced this Friday, 11th […]

May was packed full of exciting book events, a number linked to the Sydney Writers’ Festival. My SWF week began with the evening announcement of the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards at the Mitchell Library. It was a great opportunity to catch up with people and meet new authors. The other awards evening I attended was […]

The NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, held at the Mitchell Library last night, was an opportunity to recognise some of our literary greats, as well as newcomers to the winners’ stage. Eminent author/poet, David Malouf, won the Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry for Earth Hour (UQP), another award to honour the exquisite writing of this distinguished, […]

The Christmas holidays are most likely your best chance in the year to read. If your family or close friends aren’t as keen as you, send them off on other pursuits – the Sydney Festival if you’re in NSW (or even if not); bush walks, tennis or whitewater rafting; the beach; the movies, especially moonlit […]

Christmas holidays are all about catching up with friends and family, and catching up on all the books that I haven’t had a chance to read during the year. I’m not a fan of reading on the beach – too sunny, too many kids to watch, too many friends to chat with. But once I […]

The  2014 Brisbane Writers Festival had an inspiring launch on Thursday night when author/publisher Dave Eggers (A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, What is the What – about the lost boys of Sudan) told a full tent  about the genesis of McSweeney’s publishing company and its 826 Valenica Writing Centres. The tutoring behind these pirate, […]

A pantheon of eminent Australian poets descended onto a marquee slated on a grassy tennis court in leafy Sydney. The canapés, wine and congenial company were to celebrate the launch of esteemed poet, Geoffrey Lehmann’s new book, Poems 1957-2013 (UWA Publishing). Geoffrey and his vivacious wife, Gail Pearson, hosted a large but attentive group of […]

Kiran Nagarkar  is both loved and hated in homeland, India

- one of the most significant writers of postcolonial India.

One of India’s finest bilingual authors, writing in both English and Marathi, decries fundamentalism and calls religion a mental disturbance.

His novels are epic - Cuckold, Ravan and Eddie, God’s Little Soldier, and just released The Extras:- the slums, the chawls, the abuses and the interwoven plots were all there in the guts and all of the city of Bombay.

Kiran’s ‘In Search of Essar’ is one of the stories in ‘Fear Factor: Terror Incognito’ edited by Meenakshi Bharat and Sharon Rundle (published Picador India and Australia)

– an anthology where 10 Indian and 10 Australian authors wrote about the impact of terrorism from a personal perspective in narrative fiction.

Included stories by Sulman Rushdie, David Malouf, Thomas Keneally and my own story ‘Days of Thailand’.

The new cross Indian-Australian anthology ALIEN SHORES edited by Meenakshi Bharat and Sharon Rundle (published Brass Monkey) – just released.

The warm and intimate lunch with Kiran Nagarkar at the University of Western Sydney with translators, writers – Sharon Rundle, Professor Ivor Indyk, Roanna Gonzales – was a very special experience in sharing Kiran’s courage of his convictions.

Desperately on Sunday morning at 9 am, I rang Berkelouw’s Bookshop Paddington and IGOR answered.

‘Help’ – I have a book launch of ‘Alien Shores’ at The Hughenden Hotel this afternoon except there are NO books for sale.

Igor organised the Berkelouws’ bookshops to help me out. I drove from Mona Vale, to Balgowlah to Rose Bay to Newtown collecting ‘Alien Shores’ books on the way.

The Book launch was saved – and all the books sold out at the event too!

The Consul General for India, editor Meenakshi Bharat and Sharon Rundle, authors Linda Jaivlin, Rosie Scott, David Malouf, Andrew Kwong, Mabel Lee, writers, readers and people packed the Hughenden sun lounge for readings that moved us about those who are dislocated by war and poverty to seek new lives.

Roanna Gonzales writer was the MC for the event.

It was a fantastic launch with sweet treats baked by The Hughenden chef and plenty of talking and celebrations.

Great little reviews in Sydney’s Sun Herald and Melbourne’s The Age:-

‘This collection is overall strong and affecting.’

Lovely Lucy Christopher was on a quick Sydney stop over on her way to Melbourne. She flew in from the UK to go to the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards where her new young adult book ‘Flyaway’ was shortlisted.  

Lucy’s first book ‘Stolen’ won the Honour Prize for the  Prinz, which is a major international YA award.

Lucy’s YA work is confronting modern day fiction dealing with kidnapping, terrorism and relationships. Great writing. Lucy called me, to meet. We shared news and friendship- we’re both adapting our books into film – exciting times ahead.

Please check out her website: – www.lucychristopher.com

Sharon Rundle was also staying at the Hughenden, so she joined us for breakfast which was great.  Sharon is co editing another Picador Anthology, this time called ‘Alien Shores’.  It’s a cross Indian-Australian anthology with 10 stories from Indian  and 10 stories from Australian authors. In her first anthology, ‘Fear Factor: Terror Incognito’ , it included stories by So Salman Rushdie, David Malouf and even one by me.

Then authors Moya Simons and Hilarie Lindsay came by and we talked writing of course.

Great morning.

Fear Factor Terror Incognito. Stories from India and Australia, published by Picador – unock the personal in terrorism, open discussion as a way towards peace.

The 6th Annual  World Matters 2010 Writers – Disturbing the Peace

Dates: October 27 & 30-31

Venue: Montsalvat, Hillcrest Avenue, Eltham

An International and Regional Programme featuring: Fear Factor Terror Incognito Indo-Australian Authors’ Anthology Panel, chaired by Sharon Rundle:-

-with excerpts of short stories from a unique Indo–Australian collaboration, which includes David Malouf, Salman Rushdie, Kiran Nagarkar and Yasmine Gooneratne;

-followed by an in-depth discussion, by authors Susanne Gervay, Devika Brendon, Jeremy Fisher and author and Professor of Literature at Delhi University, Meenakshi Bharat.

- Titi Amaral and Jude Conway’s audio visual narrative of East Timor Women’s brave stories of resistance and survival from the anthology Step by Step, this is Supported by East Timor Women Australia and an Exhibition and sales of East Timor textiles in the Resident Artist’s Gallery

- Ouyang Yu, The English Class, Roger Averill, Keeping Faith

-  Jane Carswell Under the Huang Jia Tree: Two Journeys in China through story and memoir

Please pass the word wherever you can, here are some additional websites:

http://www.montsalvat.com.au/News/BOOKFESTIVALAweekendofliterarybrilliance.aspx

http://apwriters.org/general/world-matters-2010-writers-disturbing-the-peace-near-melbourne-aus

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 Courtney Severini is gorgeous, singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah on a baby grand piano -among the writers and music lovers at The Hughenden. I love it.

Leonard Cohen creates mystical and searching lyrics from his poetry, books to creating and singing some of the greatest songs of the world.

I was moved by Leonard’s music as I wrote my story on the impact of terrorism for  ’Fear Factor: Terror Incognito’  (anthology) published by Picador. It  was launched in the piano lounge. Many of the writers were there – David Malouf, Rosie Scott, Sharon Rundle …

Leonard is touring New Zealand and Australia Nov 6-24th.

Courtney Severini performs at The Hughenden on Thursdays and Friday. Drop by. Chat to Courtney. Share a glass of wine with me. I’ll be there if I’m in Sydney.

Check Courtney’s music – www.myspace.com/courtneyseverini 

Nearly 150 people partied at The Hughenden for this grand celebration of 3 years of passion, committment and idealism to bring FEAR FACTOR: TERROR INCOGNITO to Australia at last.

This important anthology driven by Indian Professor Meenakshi Bharat and Australian academic Sharon Rundle, has connected Australia and the world through the commonality of us all when faced with terrorism. They sought to open discourse on terrorism as a pathway to peace.

Highlights:-

Melina Marchetta’s speech launching Fear Factor: Terror Incognito

David Malouf generously signing and relating to fans

Andrew Kwong’s story of escaping as a boy from the Chinese Cultural Revolution

Rosie Scott’s passion for social justice

Support from so many divergent groups

-including writing groups, teachers, authors, the media – from ABC radio to 2UE

Sharon Rundle summarised the feelings -  ‘It was a magical event’

Fear Factor: Terror Incognito  ed
Bharat, Meenakshi and Rundle, Sharon

Just released in India and to eb released in UK and Australia

Picador Australia has The Australian edition on their website with a March release.

http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/display_title.asp?ISBN=9780330426213&am

Bernie expecting a baby, Susanne Gervay and editor Sharon Rundle

Barry Humphries, well his double edged portrait by Jules Sevelson, is watching over the pre-publication celebration of ‘Fear Factor: Terror Incognito’.

It’s a unique book - a cross cultural Indian anthology with 10 stories by Indian authors and 10 stories by Australian authors to be published this week by Picador India. Then Picador UK and in March by Picador Australia.

Who are the other authors? Booker Prize winners and shortlisted authors including Sir Salmon Rushdie, Thomas Keneally, David Malouf and many reknowned authors.

Barry Humphries portrait by Jules Sevelson at The Hughenden

Fear Factor: Terror Incognito