eWriteabout Volume 8 • Issue 9 • October 2013
October Monthly Meeting Saturday, October 19, 2013 2:00-4:00pm, Fradgley Hall, Burleigh Heads Dr Clarence N.W. Tan is currently Australian and Malaysian Ambassador for Singularity University, a think tank based in NASA Ames Research Park in Silicon Valley. He received the Queensland government’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence Fellowship for 2010. and is an Adjunct Professor at Bond University and Griffith University in the Gold Coast of Australia and a founding member of the Gold Coast Angel Investors Group. Dr Tan has a number of academic publications including a book, book chapters and peer-reviewed papers in the area of soft computing and mobile applications. In addition Dr Tan holds a number of patents in mobility technology globally. He has been an invited keynote speaker in a number of events including the London Business School Alumni Event at Eden Hall in Singapore, the Awesomemest Fest in Bali, the Global Investment Panel for Singularity University at NASA Ames Research Park and the World Computer Congress in Brisbane.
2013 Literary Luncheon - 26 October 2013 Ray Martin - Keynote Speaker The time is quickly approaching for the Gold Coast Writers Festival and there’s lots of excitement in the air. Ray Martin will be sharing some interesting stories with us as well as autographing his book. To read more about Ray and other guest authors head over to the festival website noted below.
What’s inside
page
Gold Coast Writers Festival & Literary Luncheon 1,2 & 7 President’s Report
2
New Members
3
Member Achievements
3
Book reviews
4
Support Groups
5
Competitions
6
Member info
6&7
Upcoming Dates Meeting
19 October
Meeting
16 November
Celebration of Young Writers 25 October Literary Lunch 26 October
Literary Luncheon At the former Robina Woods Golf Course Ron Penhaligon Way, Robina Registration: from 11:00am Ray Martin: 12:00pm Luncheon: 1:00pm
Please book your luncheon tickets early, as seats are strictly limited. Visit the festival website:
Google Maps http://goo.gl/maps/aRI6D
http://www.goldcoastwritersfestival.com.au 1
during the fun activity we call Open Mike. We will ensure we continue holding these at least a couple president@goldcoastwriters.org.au of times a year, in lieu of a guest speaker. It allows members to share their writing in a space that is Hello everyone, supportive and unconditional. Thank you to all who Firstly, I would like to thank you participated. Gary Ivory, our new Vice President, most sincerely for the honour of took his three minutes to welcome visitors and being nominated once again for the highlight the benefits of being part of a group of position of President. like-minded people - several visitors were so Committee impressed with Gary’s words, they joined during I welcome your new committee, a afternoon tea! Angelika Heurich dynamic group of people I greatly Gold Coast Writers Festival look forward to working with. We We have an amazing year ahead. It’s only a short have a diversity of members who have had time until the 2013 Gold Coast Writers Festival - a experience on this committee, others who have three day event in conjunction with Gold Coast City shifted positions and those who have just come on Libraries. Friday, October 25 will see authors board. For the full list of names, please see the last presenting workshops in four schools. Many thanks page. to Gary and all who have assisted in making this An enormous thank you to Julie Boyd, who has happen. stepped down after two years as President. Julie Saturday, October 26, it’s time for the annual will remain an advisor to the committee in a new Literary Luncheon, with special guest, Ray Martin. role as Emeritus President. We also wish Julie all There will also be a guest author at each table for the best for a return to complete health. the three course luncheon. Let your family, friends I wish to thank those who have left the committee: and networks know about this exciting event and Christina Jablonski, who has held several positions make sure you book quickly, as seats are strictly over the past 7-8 years, including Membership limited and filling fast. We have a special discount Secretary; Helga Glinatsis, Catering Coordinator for for members of $45 and the non-member price is the same period of time; Martin Line, outgoing $65. You can book at Secretary; Julie Baythorpe, a General Committee www.goldcoastwritersfestival.com.au/bookings/ member who has helped in many capacities; and Di On Sunday, October 27, GC Libraries will hold Morris for assisting with competitions and articles three free workshops at Robina Library Community for the newsletter over many years. We wish you all Room. www.goldcoastwritersfestival.com.au/writethe very best and hope to see you at meetings. on-sunday/ AGM For full details of the festival please go to the The AGM was well attended by both members and website www.goldcoastwritersfestival.com.au/ visitors. Julie Boyd chaired the meeting and kept I look forward to seeing you at the next meeting things light and fun during the election process and staying in touch via the newsletter. yes, Julie, you would make an excellent auctioneer! Wishing you a wonderfully creative month! We had several nominations from the floor and
President’s Report
Angelika
have filled all positions, although we have room for another General Committee member, if you are interested.
Quote
September Meeting Our September monthly meeting showcased some of the talent we have in the association. Nine members shared their works, words and wisdom
It takes Teamwork to make the Dream Work! Author unknown
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September Open Mic
New Members
Welcome to new members We had a ripple of excitement through the hall as members came up to the mic to recite their work. Melissa Jones There was barely a sound to be heard as they each Ren Nic regaled us with their words, taking us on a journey from beautiful poetry, to life experiences that left us wanting for more. Our wonderful Open Mic Congratulations to the following members: participants included: Kerry Lown Whalen had her short story, The Paterson Boys, highly commended in the Stringybark Times Past Short Fiction Award 2013. It is published in Stew and Sinkers.
Member Achievements
Jim Welsch
POETRY Caroline Glen
Last year Kate Russell successfully completed NaNoWriMo by writing a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. One of the "prizes" for being a NaNoWriMo winner was five free copies of your book self published with Createspace. So Kate went ahead and did that and received her free books, and now her novel, "Shadow of a Soldier", is available on Amazon and as a Kindle e-book. She said she found Createspace really easy to use if you want to go down the self publishing route.
Jennifer Phillips
Daniel Greer’s manuscript "Agnus Dei" has just been awarded Runner-up in his category in an awards contest run by Custom Book Publications, Hong Kong. Apparently it was just pipped at the post by an UK author's entry. It will be published in time for the 2014 London Book Fair in early April when it will be released.
AUTOBIOGRAPHIES Left to Right Louisa Wright Vesna Bragagnolo Pamela Cameron-Clarke Nanette Clifton
Please let us know of your achievements by sending to editor@goldcoastwriters.org.au
Inspiring encouragement to members and visitors on the benefits of networking with other writers by Gary Ivory.
New Committee
Outgoing President, Julie Boyd receiving the Andrew McDermott Annual Achievement Award. Top Row: Jeannie Barker, Penelope Churchward, Louisa Wright, Melissa Jones, Vesna Bragagnolo, Gary Ivory. Front Row: Gavin Fisher, Elena Ornig, Keli Lenfield, George Lewis, Angelika Heurich and Emeritus President, Julie Boyd.
Quote It is the writer who might catch the imagination of young people and plant a seed that will flower and come to fruition. Isaac Asimov 3
Book Review by Joan Songaila
Support Group Report
Title:
Silo Deadfall
The All Genres
Author:
Julie Baythorpe
At our September meeting we discussed writing from a Point of View. In her book, 'Writing a Memoir,' Victoria Costello states, 'To make a scene vivid, ideally take off your writer's hat and put yourself in the role of a movie-maker. Don't try to describe everything; aim your camera. What do you want to zoom in on? Do you want to focus on one character with a close-up? To get inside that character's thoughts and feelings you slow down and build tension by training the camera on her, watching for pursed lips; a tightening jaw; and of course anything said aloud. Or perhaps you want to pull back, show more sweep, use a wider camera angle. Writers can get inside the main character's head and key in on what they’re seeing, hearing, saying, smelling, touching and feeling.'
Publisher: Amazon.com
ebook and hard copy or juliebaythorpe.19@bigpond.com
This is a great book. I certainly got carried away with the plight of David Burrows, a conscientious Director and Board member, trying to solve a mystery about the collapse of a building following an earthquake. The building should have been sound. Little did he know that his investigations would put his life and his daughter Stacy's at risk. The background of David and his daughter’s difficult relationship following his wife’s untimely death, and his relationship with other Board members of his company builds the drama. The flight from Adelaide to Alice Springs that David has done so often becomes a pivotal journey. His plane had been sabotaged. David had been unaware of the plot to remove incriminating evidence, including people.
We also studied a passage from 'Jane Eyre,' by Charlotte Bronte, in which a young Jane is sent away to school by an aunt who wants to be rid of her. We feel the child's apprehension and bewilderment as she is taken by carriage on a long trek through the darkness of the night. Bronte uses all the senses to describe this frightening journey and we experience it clearly through the child's eyes. Congratulations Sarah Lowe on an excellent book launch and a big thank you to Pat Allis for making another wonderful card and to Fay Hayton and her husband for providing transport. The All Genres meet on the first Saturday of each month at 12 noon in the Meeting Room of the Broadbeach library, adjacent to Pacific Fair.
I loved the outback connection and the satisfying way David reconnects with his daughter after they both suffer at the hands of the mercenary. The cold Di Baker - please note my new number: 5665 8592. steel eyes of the killer, his evil nature, the delight in the chase, made the climactic scene all the more ASA Emerging Writers and Illustrators realistic and terrifying.
Mentorships
This book should be made into a film. As it has all the elements of suspense, drama, personal tragedy and survival against the odds that would make a great movie, a meaty plot and cultural connections with real outback community make it a real page turner.
Mentorships 2014
Applications are now open. If you'd like the chance to work on developing your piece with an industry professional over the course of a year, applications close Friday November 1. https://asauthors.org/emerging-writers-andillustrators-mentorships 4
Book Review by Vesna Bragagnolo
Competitions
Title:
So Many Sounds
Short & Twisted - 8th Issue
Author:
Claire Chadwick
Short and Twisted, an anthology of short stories and poetry with a twist at the end, is seeking submissions of short stories (1500 words, 500 words and 100 words), poetry and images for the 2014 issue. Submissions accepted between 1 October and 31 December 2013. For submission guidelines see website www.celapenepress.com.au, email shortandtwisted@celapenepress.com.au or send SSAE to 2 Bonview Court, Knoxfield, VIC, 3180.
Illustrator: Trevor Salter Publisher: Rydell Books
T h e M al i ci o us M y st e r i e s S h o r t S t o r y Award 2 013 The Stringybark Malicious Mysteries Short Story Award will be presented to the author of the best entry related to a mystery. Nearly anything goes. Claire Chadwick’s new book So Many Sounds was Murder most foul. Ghostly images. A stumped produced as a resource for teachers and parents. detective. A missing treasure. A secret relationship. Within the book there are many concepts and Writers have 1500 words to produce a short story language features to explore, days of the week that will delight and mystify the judges. International being one of the main ones. The story follows a young girl through an ordinary week, which includes entries welcome.There is a total value of over $810 a barbeque at her uncle’s house, a day at kinder, a worth of prizes in cash and books available. Stories visit to the library and a play at the park. The must be sent via email. Closing date is 20 October highlight of the week takes place on Saturday and 2013. Details at: http://www.stringybarkstories.net Claire cleverly builds anticipation in the lead up to Saturday. Connecting with Nature
Connecting with Nature
On each day, the young girl absorbs the sounds around her. She hears the mrrr mrrr of her teacher’s computer, the wah-wump of a see saw and the flip flop of her thongs. But, Saturday produces the most wonderful sounds of all. Together with the follow-up resources that Claire has produced, children are encouraged to practise their listening skills.
Film & Writing Competition
Obviously onomatopoeia (the sounds made by objects) is the main feature used throughout the book, but So Many Sounds is also a great resource for modeling alliteration adjectives and recording dialogue.
͞tĞ ŚĂǀĞ ƐƵĐŚ Ă ďƌŝĞĨ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJ ƚŽ ƉĂƐƐ ŽŶ ƚŽ ŽƵƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ŽƵƌ ůŽǀĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŝƐ ĂƌƚŚ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ƚĞůů ŽƵƌ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ĂƌĞ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƐ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ŝƐ ŵĂĚĞ ǁŚŽůĞ͘͟ ŝƐ ŵĂĚĞ ǁŚŽůĞ͘͟ ΕZŝĐŚĂƌĚ >ŽƵǀ͕ >ĂƐƚ ŚŝůĚ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ tŽŽĚƐ tŽŽĚƐ
So Many Sounds is also a great tool for parents to use when helping their children develop language and reading skills. It’s done in a fun way that engages the child’s imagination and I can guarantee you that you’ll find them echoing one particular sentence that repeats itself throughout the book, “so many sounds singing in my ears”.
'ĞĐŬŽ ŝŶǀŝƚĞƐ ĂĚƵůƚƐ Θ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂůŝŬĞ ƚŽ ƚĞůů ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĞĂů ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƟŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƵƐƚƌĂůŝĂŶ ŶĂƚƵƌĞ͖ ŝƚƐ ĂŶŝŵĂůƐ͕ ƉůĂŶƚƐ Θ ůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞƐ͙
ŶƚƌŝĞƐ ŽƉĞŶ ϭ KĐƚ Θ ĐůŽƐĞ ϯϭ KĐƚ ϮϬϭϯ͘ sŝƐŝƚ ƚŚĞ 'ĞĐŬŽ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ ǁǁǁ͘ŐĞĐŬŽ͘ŽƌŐ͘ĂƵ Žƌ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ ĞǀĞŶƚƐΛŐĞĐŬŽ͘ŽƌŐ͘ĂƵ Žƌ ϬϳϱϱϯϰϭϰϭϮ
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Competitions
Southern Short Story Group
For GCWA members living on the south end of the Gold Coast or northern NSW. Submissions must be unpublished, your own work, (membership limited to 10) and submitted as a hard-copy postmarked no later When: The second and fourth Saturdays of each than 28 February 2014. month at 9.30 am http://inkermanandblunt.com/home/submissionWhere: To be advised guidelines/764-2/
Australian Love Stories 2014
Prole Laureate Poetry Competition Prize: Winner: £140, 2 x runner up prizes of £30. Closing Date: February 1st 2014
The All Genres
Includes crime, life writing and nonfiction Meetings are held on the first Saturday of each month at the Broadbeach Library in Sunshine Boulevard, opp. Pacific Fair at 12 midday.
Details: poems that epitomise the editorial values of Coordinator: Dianne Baker Prole: to make writing engaging, accessible, 5665 8592 entertaining and challenging. All work must be the Phone: original work of the writer and be unpublished. The Ten Penners Fees: £3.00 for first entry, £2.00 for subsequent entries. www.prolebooks.co.uk/page6.html
Member Opportunities Member Book Sales at Meetings A reminder that if you would like to sell your books at a GCWA meeting, it is essential you contact the president to reserve a place by the Wednesday prior to the meeting: president@goldcoastwriters.org.au 0431 443 385.
Adults writing for children Meetings are held on the1st Saturday of each month at Broadbeach library or a cafe from 9:30 to 11:30am. Phone Marion to confirm venue details. Coordinator: Marion Martineer Phone: 0416 027 016 advertisement
Legal Queries If you have a question on a legal issue relating to writing, please email it to the editor editor@goldcoastwriters.org.au Our Honorary Solicitor, Darryl Greer will respond to queries via the newsletter as time and space allows.
Publish Your Book!
Member Support Groups Sci-Fi Fantasy Writers Group GC Speckies is a dedicated group for writers, readers and fans of speculative fiction on the Gold Coast. It’s a place where Speckies can share experiences, ideas and discuss their passion for science fiction, fantasy and horror in all its forms. Surround yourself with like-minded people in a supportive, informal and fun environment!
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All copy or images can be sent to editor@goldcoastwriters.org.au The Editor Gold Coast Writers’ Association PO Box 441 Pacific Fair QLD 4218
at Robina Library Sunday, October 27 www.goldcoastwritersfestival .com.au
PO Box 441 Pacific Fair QLD 4218 www.goldcoastwriters.org.au info@goldcoastwriters.org.au
GCWA Committee President Angelika Heurich Vice President Gary Ivory Secretary Louisa Wright Treasurer Gavin Fisher Membership Secretary Karen Knight-Mudie Webmaster & Speaker Coordinator Jeannie Barker Newsletter Editor Vesna Bragagnolo Senior Events Coordinator Melissa Jones Publicity Officer Elena Ornig Catering Coordinator Penelope Churchward Competition Coordinator Chris Low General Committee Members George Lewis Keli Lenfield Emeritus President Julie Boyd
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