The editor of this anthology, Wendy Cope, says that she compiled Heaven on Earth: 101 Happy Poems as an argument of sorts against widely held ideas that joy ‘won’t be put down on paper’ and that ‘Happiness is the one emotion a poem can’t capture’. Certainly, as a writer, I have found that my most…
Read more
These days, blogging is practically ancient technology. But it is only in the past few years that the number one piece of advice given to writers wishing to nab a publishing contract is to have a blog. Blogging is a way for writers to showcase their writing style, connect with their readers and help promote…
Read more
In the lead up to The Great Gatsby‘s release, I found myself fascinated by Zelda Fitzgerald, the woman who inspired Daisy Buchanan’s flighty characterisation. Therese Anne Fowler’s Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald is a fictional interpretation of Zelda’s life, chronicling everything from her spirited adolescence in Alabama to her various institutionalisations and literary failures….
Read more
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Bridget Jones is one of the most recognisable and loveable characters in modern novels and films. And author and creator Helen Fielding has revealed that the third novel concerning the life of Ms. Jones is to be released in October this year, entitled Mad About The Boy. This…
Read more
The Sydney Writers Festival held from 20-26 May featured and abundance of national and international writers and speakers on a broad spectrum of topics. Of particular note were the many strong female voices present in force at the festival, conducting discussions around feminism, women’s issues, sex, and writing in general. As the festival went on,…
Read more
Chances are that, by now, you’ve definitely heard of roller derby. Even if you’ve never had chance or opportunity to see your local league bouting live, you’ve probably seen Juliette Lewis, Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page tearing up the track in Whip It! Maybe you’ve got fanatical friends or family members who’ve raved to you…
Read more
Have you ever considered homebirth? Well, neither have I, but that’s because I deliberately avoid all contemplation of having a baby because it’s terrifying. After reading Peace, Love and Khaki Socks, however, I find myself cheering for the home team. Kim Lock’s novel is about a young woman grappling with a surprise pregnancy. Freelance graphic…
Read more
As an aspiring Lady Writer (or as feminist writer, Inga Muscio, provocatively calls herself, a ‘Word C*nt’), I was intrigued by author, Maureen Johnson’s Twitter project for her followers to ‘Redesign book covers by Literary Dudes, imagining they have been reclassified as by and for women.’ Johnson’s project, ‘Coverflip,’ shows us how there is a…
Read more
I’ve never read a book quite like Melissa Lucashenko’s Mullumbimby. With most books I read, there are aspects which will remind me of something else I’ve read, or make me think of another author I’ve read. And it could just be that because I’m still working my way through the millions of published books which…
Read more
If a stranger were to follow you around for a day, how would they describe your life? Do you imagine a twenty-first century styled gossip columnist approach or could you, like author Carrie Tiffany, produce an account of people’s habits, whether good, bad, disturbing or tragic, with the same detached interest of a bird-watcher? Tiffany’s…
Read more
Neil Gaiman has been the latest person in the writing industry to speak out about the future of the book. As the article states, the audience at the London Book Fair weren’t all that happy about what he had to say. From my perspective, I feel as though finally, somebody well-known and established within the…
Read more
Floundering is the debut novel of Melbourne writer Romy Ash, and is a powerful story of a tragic family reunion in an Australian outback setting. It is a tale of a loss of innocence as a wayward mother with no plan, direction or destination, seeks to reclaim her two children. Narrated by the younger brother,…
Read more
I can only vaguely remember the first time I flew on a plane. I had just turned five, and I was flying to Darwin with my Mum and my brother. I remember being so excited about flying on a plane for the very first time, but that’s about it. I can’t remember anything of the…
Read more
Reconstructing Amelia is a mystery thriller by new author, Kimberly McCreight. It opens with tragedy. High achiever, Amelia Baron, has thrown herself off the roof of her elite Brooklyn private school, Grace Hall, after being accused of plagiarising an assignment. Her mother, though, is convinced that Amelia did not take her own life (and didn’t…
Read more
