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.’
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’
Where?: UTS Art Gallery, Sydney
What? An evening in discussion about the impact of terror on our lives
How? With a panel of 5 authors and 2 editors from the anthology ‘Fear Factor: Terror Incognito’
Who?
Panel Chair: Devleena Ghosh, Director of Transforming Cultures, Associate Professor Social Inquiry Program UTS
Editors: Professor Meenaskshi Bharat University of Delhi; Sharon Rundle, Lecturer UTS
Authors: Andrew Kwong, Susanne Gervay, Rosie Scott, Sujata Sankranti, Meenakshi Bharat
Audience: Academics, authors, students, general public.
Special guests: Authors Mabel Lee renowned translator of Nobel Prize winning Chinese author Gao Xingjian’s ‘Soul Mountain’
Authors: Hazel Edwards and Moya Simons
Storytellers: Sue Alveraz
Outcome?: Exciting discussion opening a wide range of views and emotions on terrorism from refugees by Rosie Scott, escape from China by Andrew Kwong, young people drawn into terrorism by Sujata Sankranti and recognition of the difficult and important journey by Australian editor Sharon Rundle and Indian editor Meenakshi Bharat to create an anthology that opens vital discourse on terrorism.
Hazel Edwards is one of Australia’s most loved children’s authors as well as an author of adult fiction and non fiction. She has represented Australian Authors nationally and internationally and I regard her as a close friend.
It was wonderful to see her receive the award among her peers - including many people in publishing and of course authors and illustrators such Libby Gleeson, Sophie Massion, Jeremy Fisher, Elise Hurst, Rosie Scott, Pamela Freeman and many more … 
Fear Factor: Terror Incognito ed
Bharat, Meenakshi and Rundle, Sharon
Just released in India and to eb released in UK and Australia
Fear Factor: Terror Incognito is a collection of 20 unforgettable stories by well-known and emerging authors from Australia and the Indian subcontinent including David Malouf, Salman Rushdie, Neelum Saran Gour, Tom Keneally, Rosie Scott, Jeremy Fisher, Susanne Gervay, Tabish Khair, Denise Leith, Andrew Y M Kwong, Devika Brendon, Gulzar, Meera Kant, Guy Scotton, Sujata Sankranti, Kiran Nargarkar, Temsula Ao, Jaspreet Singh, Janhavi Acharekar and Meenakshi Bharat; with a foreword by Yasmine Gooneratne.
A unique collaboration between Australia and India, the stories represent these writers protests against the phenomenon of modern terror. They do not offer solutions. Instead, they lead readers along the hidden paths of an unfamiliar psychology to make their own discoveries.
A joint publication with Picador UK and Picador India, Fear Factor: Terror Incognito is essential reading for anyone interested the global phenomenon of terror.
Author Information
Meenakshi Bharat is a translator, reviewer and critic. Her special interests include children’s literature, women’s fiction and English studies – areas which she has researched extensively. Currently, she is engaged in translating a volume of Hindi short stories. She is also getting a volume of short fiction ready for publication. She teaches at the University of Delhi. Sharon Rundle is a writer, editor and lecturer. Her stories, essays and articles have appeared in various publications and have been broadcast on radio, in Australia and internationally, since 1992.
Imprint:
Picador 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
