Out and About

On June 29th, at the wonderful Children’s Bookshop Beecroft, author to watch, Amelia McInerney, launched her second picture book. On a basic level, Bad Crab, is the story of a crab who likes to pinch, but it’s so much more! Amelia ‘read’ the almost wordless book with Scary Lobster, Nat Amoore, on hand (or claw) to do some pinching of her own. If you’re looking for a book that is very child-parent interactive, with lots of opportunity for ‘book talk’ check it out.

August was a busy busy month. On Monday 5th of August Westwords ran its first Hemingway’s Polydactyl Kitten Club and Speakeasy spoken word event at the Avalon Café, in Katoomba. Around the cosy fire in the cocktail bar, around 40 people gathered to listen and participate in poetry and short fiction readings. Poet and musician, Kate Fagan, was special guest and the rest of the program was open-mike (I even got up and read – scaary!). This will be a regular event (first Monday of the month, 7pm-9pm), so if you're interested, click on the link above for further details.

Tuesday 6th of August saw the launch of Susanne Gervay and Marjorie Crosby-Fairall’s new picture book, The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses, at the Randwick Public Library. Lots of fun, activities and mayhem followed as Marjorie taught us all how to draw penguins, and the irrepressible Susanne traded quips with a lively audience of littlies.

Saturday 17th of August was ‘Writers’ Unleashed’ – the Sutherland Shire’s Writers’ Festival. Pamela Hart lead us through 'Family history revealed in story', Alexandra Nahlous ran a wonderful session on 'Thinking Like an Editor' as you draft and redraft and redraft etc. Oliver Phommavanh had us in stitches, Kate Forsyth had us plotting and planning and the amazing Lisa Shanahan ran a 'Seed to Story' session on Picture Books. Lastly, Mark Brandi talked about his life growing up as an Italian migrant in an Australian country town and his knock-out novel Wimmera, and its journey to publication. And that was only half of it. What a day!

Friday 23rd of August to Sunday 25th was the inaugural Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival. The program was chock-a-block with great sessions – so hard to choose! Stephanie Bishop ran a wonderful workshop on freeform prose and experimental writing, saw Patti Miller (The Joy of High Places) and Leah Kaminsky (The Hollow Bones) in conversation with Carol Major, attended a session with Gangalidda political leader, Clarence Walden and Alexis Wright, and one with Miran Hosny and Wafa Kazal in conversation with Sara Saleh. Poetry by the Fire at Varuna, completed the weekend. A great afternoon of sharing poetry, song and community.