End of May is close, and winter's almost on us, but what a splendid and colourful autumn it's been. And very satisfying in many ways. An excellent review of Passion Play in the latest edition of Polestar Writers' Journal, a lovely magazine whose pictures are as much a delight as the text. News of acceptance of several poems by various magazines, such as Tamba, and publication in others. I'm including the Passion Play review on the relevant page in this web site. All encouraging.
As is the response rate to invitations to my next major book launch, Bystanders, on June 4 at the West Torrens Library Auditorium, by now my book launch 'home' .. this is the third one they've hosted. It's shaping up well; so far almost 150 acceptances in the week since the first invitations went out. Anyone reading this who would like to come, please do - but very important that you email or phone me to let me know. With these events I need to keep a careful eye on numbers so that catering is covered adequately.
Meanwhile tomorrow night (Friday May 15) our writing group Literati will launch its latest book, a wonderful and quirky collection of Christian vampire stories (yes, really!!) It has a great title: Something in the Blood - Vampire Tales with a Christian Bite. There are thirteen writers of the 16 Tales - David and I have one each and while all the others are prose we've written poems. Story poems, true. We have no idea how many people will come to the launch in the North Adelaide Immanuel Lutheran Church, where Rev Dr Lynn Arnold will give the launch speech - but we plan to serve, among other suitable goodies garlic bread and red cordial. Very Vampire.
I'll add another post to this page when I can report on the event and its outcome. The press coverage in the Adelaide Advertiser last Monday, with Mark Worthing, Dimity Knight and me all obeying the photographer's orders to 'look horrified' should have created some interest in the event ...
The trees are turning ... the trees are burning. No, it's no longer bushfire season, but the flaming colours of autumn in the Hills are a reminder that this year too is slipping past with unnerving speed.
It's been a busy six weeks, which included Writers' Week with its stimulating guest speakers - the Helen Garner session was really valuable. Then an Easter trip to Canberra for a family gathering, and also reunions with many old friends. On the way home, a stop in Albury where we met for coffee with Paul Grover, editor of Studio journal, where I've had poems published for the last six years. Always a pleasure to be in the company of so many good writers, and a special treat to meet and talk with Paul after all these years of email contact.
Now it's back to routine, with final decisions to be made for the cover of Bystanders, and the tricky question of text on both the front and back to go with the very dramatic image that has been suggested by Wakefield. I never like decision-making, and these are so crucial. Lots of planning to do for both the launch and also general marketing and PR for this book, which is meant for such a wide variety of readers.
Good news from Poetica Christi, who tell me that they will publish both my 'Sestina of Childhood' and also 'Two Vignettes of Childhood' in their forthcoming book based on the theme of 'inner child', news that really pleased me. Also that this year's Friendly Street Reader will once again include one of my poems - since I started serious publication of my writing there has been at least one of my poems in this annual Reader each year - very encouraging. As was last week's InDaily, where two of my poems, 'The Glass half Empty' and 'Stratification' appeared.
And the other exciting news is that the Christian vampires book - yes, you heard me! A book of stories and poems about Christian vampires! - by the Literati writing group is now in print. Something in the Blood - a great title, isn't it! - will be launched by Dr Lynn Arnold on Friday, May 15 at 6.30 at the North Adelaide Immanuel Lutheran Church. All welcome. Do come, if this very novel concept intrigues you.
It's February. It's summer. It's hot - and I'm happy. I love this weather, even the 40 degree days. But then, that doesn't mean that I'm anti the cold weather. In fact, I really enjoy the minus 30 weather of Siberia in mid-winter, or the Arctic Circle, when there's almost total night. Am I just a creature of extremes? Or do I lack discrimination? Maybe both.
So summer is rolling on, and I seem to have done very little new writing. The hectic socialising of the Christmas two months meant of little - let's be accurate - NO spare time, with non-stop house guests, and months of housewife/hostess activities. It wasn't writer's block I was experiencing, but it was Writer Deprivation. It's amazing that I actually did manage to write two poems in amongst all that cooking/washing/ironing ... But so good now to be getting back to my desk and writing again.
The two Studio reviews of Passion Play appeared in the latest issue of the journal, and gave me great joy. They are both now on the 'reviews' pages of the the Passion Playsection of this web site, if you'd like to share my pleasure in them. I suggested to someone that I'd like them on my tombstone; she pointed out tersely that I'd need a mausoleum to fit them. Too true.
My other main activity at present is preparing for the publication of Bystanders - the new book Wakefield Press is releasing in May, ready for the June 4 launch by Lynn Arnold. I hope very much that all friends and anyone interested will come to that event at the West Torrens Council Library Auditorium - but do let me know if you'd like to join us, just for catering numbers. I'm interested to see responses to this new book - my sixth, but the first full length prose publication. Up to now, my published fiction has all been shorter pieces, mainly short stories. At least my non-poetry-reading friends are feeling great relief about the new book ... Strange, that!