Monthly Archives: September 2011

The Illusion of Intimacy

Yesterday, Marieke Hardy made a reference to the 'illusion of intimacy' in writing - making it seem that the reader really knows you.

While actually keeping a distance.

It made me think.

Some blogs I read and some books I read make me feel as if I know the writer. So well.

Which is kind of weird, as you go up to them to get them to sign your book and you're all, "I KNOW YOU. I LOVE YOU."

I think that can showcase some of the best writing if you give people the impression that they know you.

And that last sentence has nothing to do with what I'm about to say :P

I remember last weekend at A Thousand Words when I met the lovely Jess for the first time. As I was saying goodbye, I said that we (Jess + I) should go get a coffee at ...

Marieke Hardy at Readings St Kilda

Tonight Marieke Hardy was at Readings! Hoorah!

It was so awesome and really really worth it, despite the hilarious/awful night I had there. (More on that later.)

So, I was half an hour late. Bad traffic/work/rain/you know how it is.

But it turned out it was okay, because as I rushed in the place was PACKED, but the  couches were empty...

Which was sort of odd. So I asked the nearest woman if Marieke had come yet - and she said no.

Success! I quickly purchased a copy of Marieke's book, and then went and sat down in the front (I may have been late but I can still be a true nerd up the front!). A man from Readings came and said Marieke was running late, and everyone else just chatted.

Finally, she came in to thunderous applause.

Like last weekend, I didn't take any notes (shock!).

I was ...

Literary Heroes

I was lying in bed last night thinking about WHAT A GOOD TWELVE MONTHS IT HAS BEEN FOR ME.

In the space of not even twelve months, I've met TWO of my literary-author-hero-Gods (Michael Cunningham and Kate Morton) and clearly, the literary Gods have been shining down on me as GUESS WHO IS NEXT?!

LIANE MORIARTY!!!

I'm sure everyone is sick of me going on and on and on about Three Wishes but BOY do I love that book! (Example A, Example B, Example C.)

So I was SUPER EXCITED to find a new blog post from Liane yesterday - who only blogs about once every six months or so - and even more excited to find that she's touring. Touring! TOURING!

Yes, Liane will be at a bookstore near you very soon!

I am, of course, beside myself with excitement.

It got me thinking about literary heroes.

My problem ...

On Being Famous

At A Thousand Words Festival on Saturday, before Sally Rippin and Sue deGennaro's session, we were chatting about everything and nothing.

Sue mentioned she'd done a school talk, and one of the kids asked her: "Are you as famous as a football player?"

Sue laughed, saying that she obviously wasn't if the kid had to ask that!

I sat there thinking about it, and said that I definitely consider Sally - and Sue! - famous, and much more famous than any footballer.

I mean, if I saw a footballer walking down a street, I'd probably think what a tall, good-looking buff guy that is (:P) but nothing else. I follow an AFL team, but can't name two players!

However, if Sally were to walk down the street - well!

Everyone laughed and it was all very jolly, but, two days later, I'm still thinking about it.

I ...

A Thousand Words Festival

WOW!

I have to say, this was my first A Thousand Words festival and I wish it hadn't been.

Because, frankly, the quality of the speakers was amazing (and I am most certainly not putting myself in that category!), the topics were so interesting - I can't wait for next year and wish I had been to previous years!!

I know it's kind of crap that I'm writing this now instead of post one yesterday. I fully intended to but I was so zonked and then my sister and I went out for dinner and by the time I got home it was bed time! (Yes, that's me: in bed early on a Friday night, gosh I'm sad!)

I'm trying to remember all the awesome stuff that happened, but it's hard.

This was the first festival where I didn't take notes. Shocking I know. There ...

A Thousand Words Festival – Tomorrow!!

GUESS WHAT!

That time of year is upon us again, where we rejoice and go to A Thousand Words Festival!

Here's the media spin by (the fantastic and awesome) festival organiser Bec Kavanagh:

Not long now until the annual celebration of books that is A
Thousand Words Festival! In 2011 we’re bigger than ever with the biggest book swap, the festival gala, interactive performance panels and books, so many books!

If you’re on holidays and are a reader, wannabe writer, emerging editor, book fiend or sucker for a story come to the festival this year. On Friday the 23rd and Saturday the 24th of September you’ll be able to come down to the Northcote Town Hall and join other writers and book lovers to talk all things bookish. YA authors Tim Pegler, Leanne Hall, Cath Crowley, Fiona Wood join many more to present a ...

Melbourne Free University

So, I was at Melbourne Free University all night. (And by all night I mean from 6.30pm-9pm).

This is MFU: The Melbourne Free University provides a platform for learning, discussion and debate which is open to everyone.  The MFU was established in 2010 in response to Australia’s increasingly outcome oriented education system, and aims to offer space for independent engagement with important contemporary ideas and issues.

Tonight was DIRTY DEEDS and it was amazing.

I've been on their mailing list for months but tonight is the first time I've gone. Pesky things like work often get in the way but tonight I was free!

At first I was scared it would be me and the panelists in the room as I arrived at about 6.10pm and was the first one there (*cough nerd cough*) and still by twenty-five past there was me and one ...

Being Taught What You Don’t Need

"Should we be made to recite old bush poetry that we're not really interested in?" My lecturer today asked everyone.

It made me think: should we? Should we really do anything that we're not interesting in? (Sine, Cosine and Tangent, I'm looking at you) (I particularly like how that website is called 'maths is fun!').

We were specifically talking about poetry and its decline, and the lecturer brought up some reasons that schools for teaching poetry, rather than just out-rightly saying that they're studying it because its beautiful and should be appreciated and studied. Instead, long, convoluted responses such as 'it will improve English and therefore later job prospects' are given.

I, for one, haven't made it a secret that I don't really like poetry.

Okay, okay, hate mail me, go for it. Some people don't like kid's books, some people don't like classics, ...

Competition: The Power of Six & Bloodlines

Thanks to Penguin Australia, I have a copy of each The Power of Six and Bloodlines to give away! Hoorah!

Simply leave your name in a comment below - or email me - indicating which title you'd like and you'll be in the running!

As everyone should know, The Power of Six is the next book in The Lorien Legacies series.

WE ARE THE LAST DEFENCE.

I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened to John Smith. To the world he's a mystery, but to me . . . he's one of us. Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us, if we all still believe in our mission.

There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another, but our Legacies are developing and ...

Review: Beautiful Days (Bright Young Things #2) by Anna Godbersen

 

IT'S THE LAST SUMMER OF THE JAZZ AGE AND THE BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS OT NEW YORK ARE REVELLING IN BEAUTIFUL DAYS AND GLITTERING NIGHTS.

LETTY LARKSPUR has shaken off her small town origins and is set to chase her Broadway dream no matter what the cost.

CORDELIA GREY is reeling from the tragedy that's befallen her new-found family but she won't let it hold her back.

ASTRID DONAL is leading a dazzling life but her liaison with a gangster could threaten everything she holds dear.

THE LATEST BOOK IN THE ADDICTIVE BRIGHT YOUNG THING SERIES.

I've thought for a long, long time that if I could come back and re-live any decade it would be the 1920's.

I mean, who wouldn't want to! The dresses! The dancing! The bootlegging! The speakeasies!

I was super-excited to get this as I loved the first in the series, Bright Young ...