Yearly Archives: 2011

… Without evidence of this nature, defendant is not “media”

So I found this article about a blogger in America who is in court with investment firm Obsidian Finance Group and its co-founder Kevin Padrick after she 'went out of her way' to bad-mouth them on various sites.

It's really interesting to read, and I particularly like the below definition of a journalist, and it demonstrates how the blogger doesn't fit that mould and thus isn't given the same protection/allowances as journalists are:

'Defendant fails to bring forth any evidence suggestive of her status as a journalist. For example, there is no evidence of (1) any education in journalism; (2) any credentials or proof of any affiliation with any recognized news entity; (3) proof of adherence to journalistic standards such as editing, fact-checking, or disclosures of conflicts of interest; (4) keeping notes of conversations and interviews conducted; (5) mutual understanding or agreement ...

D Publishing: AUTHORS BEWARE

Am I allowed to act like a teenager and say "Ha ha told you so!"?

Because I think I should be.

Ever since my interview with Don Grover, former CEO of Dymocks, about D Publishing I knew it wasn't good.

Finally, they've released the contracts and self-publishing deals.

And, well, let's just say, AUTHORS BEWARE.

Steph first told me about it last night and my jaw was literally wide open as she briefly described some of the terms and conditions.

I think the easiest and most concise way to find out is to read The Australian Literature Review's summary of the contracts.

Some of the 'highlights' of the contract include:

Dymocks are given editorial control

The relevant clause here is under the heading of Legally Objectionable Material but don’t let that fool you, because another clause states that:

“headings are [for] the ease of reference only and do not affect ...

4.30am and Eulogies

Hello to my poor neglected website!

Boy it's been a long time and a rough few weeks.

Firstly, to explain my absence over the past week or so: my grandfather died.

He was sick and in a home, but it happened suddenly (stroke Wednesday, died Friday, funeral yesterday) so since last Wednesday I've been in a crying-and-family bubble and haven't done much else.

I spoke at the funeral, saw people I haven't seen for years and generally was a mess the whole time.

It's hard to believe he's really gone, you know?

I am also very far behind in my new degree considering the lack of study over the past week.

Also, two Saturday's ago my car broke down and on Monday that cost $500 to repair. Fun. Times.

This morning I took my sister and her best friend to the airport - I had to be up at 4.30am! ...

The Catch-Up

This week has been a-crazy!

Here's why:

1) My housemate and I re-arranged my desk area in my bedroom. It took us over five hours to clean, move and finally re-assemble everything.

Here's the finished picture:

There's a printer behind the television, that's crushed pineapple in the bowl and the red thing on top of the monitor is my childhood alarm clock! I was so excited to find that (buried under piles of crap :P).

(Don't judge my Taylor Swift poster - focus on all the book things! :P)

I decided earlier that day that I missed using the huge desk I got from the side of the road, because that's in the study and not in my room. So I decided to move it!

The jumbled mess of cords under my old, small desk was an electrical hazard: there was three power boards on top of ...

Publishers Showcase at CYL (SLV) – win Divergent!

Last night was the Pulisher's Showcase at The Centre for Youth Literature at the State Library of Victoria.

I went with Steph from My Girl Friday and after filling ourselves up with yummy cupcakes and milkshakes (which was a bad idea considering the event was catered!) we headed over there.

Steph, because she is a legend, has already put up a very comprehensive summary of all the new books coming out in the coming year!

Each publisher presented four books to the crowd - most did two from this year and two coming next year.

Many authors were there too, presenting on behalf of their publishers, including Fiona Wood, Cath Crowley and Michael Pryor to name a few.

As Steph scribbled madly beside me (honestly, check out her post! Look at the detail!) I just sat back and marveled at all the new books.

At the train ...

Melina is back! Win a copy of Froi of the Exiles

Blood sings to blood, Froi . . .
Those born last will make the first . . .
For Charyn will be barren no more.

Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home - or so he believes.

Fiercely loyal to the Queen and Finnikin, Froi has been trained roughly and lovingly by the Guard sworn to protect the royal family, and has learned to control his quick temper.  But when he is sent on a secretive mission to the kingdom of Charyn, nothing could have prepared him for what he finds.  Here he encounters a damaged people who are not who they seem, and must unravel both the dark bonds of kinship and the mysteries of a half-mad Princess.

And in this barren and mysterious place, he will ...

What Are You Thankful For?

So yesterday it was Thanksgiving in America and despite not being American, I really think the holiday has some good values that the rest of the world could see fit to introduce.

A holiday without presents where everyone gathers around to give thanks for what they have? Yes, please!

(It's also hilariously ironic that they often call it Turkey Day and that I have a picture of a Turkey on here as my nick-name in primary school was Turkey! My surname is Burke, then you go Burkey-Turkey... get it? My best friend even named her new gold fish after me when we were 12, Turkster and Gobbling :P)

However if I ever were to go to America to celebrate it, I wouldn't eat the Turkey  - ewww! My best friend always refers to that as me not wanting to be a cannibal by ...

Because I Am A Nerd…

This arrived in the mail for me today:

It's a first-edition Virginia Woolf My Moment. It is BEAUTIFUL.

It even came with some old newspaper clippings from the 1960's which are articles about Woolf:

It's pretty much the coolest thing ever. It has the yellowing paper, that delicious old-book smell.

It's golden-embossed spine has 'The Hogarth Press' on it which is just fantastic, and I love love that it is a first edition.

As some of you may know, I collect Woolf like she's going out of fashion. I have all her dairies, all her letters, all her books and essays, almost every biography written on her, and lots on other people in her life: Leonard Woolf, Vita Sackville-West.

I found this in a second-hand bookshop in Lorne (Fowlers, just a great store) when I went a few weeks ago. (Sadly, I was down to my ...

The Slap: Special Screening of Richie with Christos Tsiolkas – Please Go For Me!

So I'm guessing everyone in Australia has been watching The Slap?

It seems everyone has been watching it - yesterday I was out having lunch in a cafe and three middle age men were behind me and they were talking about how 'bloody good' The Slap was.

The mini series, by ABC, has had generally positive reviews, and, if my Facebook feed is anything to go by, it well-loved by general viewers.

Me? I've been watching it (obviously!). I haven't watched last night's yet (Aisha) as I was out, but I plan on watching it tonight.

Can I be honest for a second?

I really enjoyed the first episode, Hector. Thought it was great. I also loved Anouk.

But as the weeks have gone by, I'm finding my liking for it has been dwindling...

Last week's, Manolis, I was on my phone for most of it and ...

The Sending: Competition

WELL! It's been a long time for Obernewtyn Chronicles fans as The Stone Key was published in 2008.

Thankfully, The Sending, is out now!

The series, first published in 1987, has been a huge hit with devoted fans all over the world - and critics, with plenty of awards won too.

The Sending:

 The sixth book in The Obernewtyn Chronicles. The time has come at last for Elspeth Gordie to leave the Land on her quest to find and stop the computermachine Sentinel from unleashing the deadly Balance of Terror arsenal. But before she can embark on her quest, she must find a lost key. And although she has long prepared for this day, nothing is as she imagined. Elspeth's search will take her where she never thought to go, and bestow upon her stranger companions than any she thought to have. It will ...