OOTA Newsletter February 25, 2014
WRITING AT THE CENTRE Perth Writers Festival Review The Perth Writers Festival appears to encourage new authors, so I was delighted while attending with a friend on Sunday, that we caught the session on Flash Fiction with new author Angela Meyer, seasoned writer Julienne van Loon, and script-writer-turnedfiction-author Ron Elliot. Earlier, I had met up with poet and friend Nandi Chinna in the bookshop whilst browsing for her new collection Swamp, and scored a personal signage. At 2.30pm, we had tickets for Thomas Keneally in A Country Too Far and were not disappointed to listen to the stories by two new authors Carina Hoang and Akram Azimi – (Akram believing the Australia’s fear/hate of asylum seekers has something to do with the frontal cortex of our brains!) Says Akram, Australians rally and empathise more about sharks than with boat people! As I was part of the festival volunteers for OOTA, I believe I missed several really good Saturday sessions, like Margaret Drabble’s Grand Allusions, Eleanor Catton ‘s The Luminaries, The 2014 Stella Prize … to name a few. Later in the day, however, I caught Dare Me, but wanted to hear more from my favourite ABC person, David Marr. So, folks, many of our OOTA writers missed out, I assume, on the same sessions because they empathised with the need to spread the word about our writing organisation. These are the selfless, dedicated people who we wish to thank for spending time in their session on two, very hot days. You will remain in our memory banks with endearment: Julie Watts, Helen Trengrove, Leanne Searle, Carolyn Abbs, Murray Jennings, Bruce Menzies, Jackson and Liz Hearnden, and Liz bravo for your poster and OOTA badge! Just an aside: the man in the Bratwurst stand gave me a discount on my sausage, sauerkraut and bun, because he liked “asking me about OOTA!” Helen Hagemann
POETRY Shane McCauley’s poetry class this Friday, 28th February @ 10.00am is in Room 2. On Friday 14TH & 28TH March & 11TH & 25TH April, Shane’s class will move into Room 3 to take advantage of the better acoustics. POETRY BITES Our Poetry Biter this week is Kevin Gillam and he will be reading from new work. Why not catch Kevin’s reading & a waiter for a cup of coffee at the FAC Café on Friday 28th February @ midday? OPPORTUNITIES The Best Australian Poems 2013 The deadline for submissions is 1 August 2014, but early submission would be appreciated. Please send a maximum of three poems – completed or published since 1 August 2013, to poet and editor Geoff Page @ bestaustralianpoems@blackincbooks.com Society of Women Writers Workshop On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! How fast can your words flow from the pen? Do you need inspiration to ignite your creativity? Kick start your imagination by booking a spot in the Marathon Writing Competition run by the Society of Women Writers WA on Saturday 22 March 2014. The competition will run from 9.30am to 4pm at the Citiplace Community Centre in the Perth Railway Station Concourse. Participants will be given a series of writing prompts by Helen Iles, prize-winning author and poet, publisher and editor. The cost of the Marathon is $20 and it is open to men and women. Places are limited so get off the starting block early and book your place. Tea and coffee will be provided. For bookings call 0415 840 031 or email swwofwa@gmail.com For more information, check the website: www.swwofwa.com
PERTH POETRY CLUB 1 ST March Guests include Anna Minska & Alan and Jakob Boyd @ the Moon, 2pm, 323 William Street, Northbridge. MONDAY SUPPER CLUB 3 rd March. The night will feature the music of Mulberry Bend, an interesting duo playing a blend of modern and traditional originals with guitar and dobro with two beautiful voices. The duo is in town for the Nannup Music Festival. Their spoken word poet on the night is our President, JULIE WATTS. CALENDAR FEBRUARY 2014 28 – Australian Love Stories, Ed. Cate Kennedy MARCH 03 – Cordite, No theme III 13 – Castaways Poetry Prize 14 - The Ethel Webb Bundell Literary Awards Poetry & short story. 31 – Westerly for July Issue 31 - Ekphrastis Poetry Award
31 - The joanne burns (prose poem/microfiction) Award: 31 – Prole Collaborative Poetry Collection. APRIL 12-13 Nurture: A Workshop for Playwrights 13 – The Writer’s Tales. Details: FAW website. MAY 1– Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize Deadline not advised - Readings New Australian Writing Award. MEMBERS ACHIEVEMENTS CONGRATULATIONS TO: Sarah Evans: Sarah has a new romance e-book titled Prudence and the Mighty Flynn. It is a sweet rural romance released by the Australian publisher Steam eReads and can be purchased from online bookshops. The book was placed third in the Steam eReds “Some Like it Hot” competition last year. Rose van Son: Rose won a highly commended in the Tom Collins Poetry Prize for her poem Karijini Sunrise.
JukeBox On sale now: $20 http://ootawriters.blogspot.com.au POEM OF THE WEEK Adelaide by Thomas W. Shapcott
You saw us from your car, hand-in-hand striding through parkland to the tent at Writers Week a middle-aged Jack and Jill, mismatched but enjoying it. You told us later that the image was almost a bucket of flowers, a pail of champagne and we remembered that day as a picnic you joined us in. The striped marquees the crowds under the plane trees and the yelp of plastic cups underfoot - Adelaide was always festival with streets slapping bright banners above our heads and “event” part of “environment”. I stayed later, beyond the Festival and the park without canvas, empty of pedestrians or groups talking or listening became that space you had known beneath our rubbing and revelling. It was the well that Jack and Jill had come to the quiet place, not a hill (wells in this world are dug only in valleys or declivities. The hill was elsewhere). The park, truly, was filled with flowers in the time of flowers, and with champagne in its season. Adelaide Writers Week Sat March 1 – Thurs March 6. http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/writers_week OOTA Committee 2014 Julie Watts: President Helen Trengrove: Vice-President Leanne Searle: Treasurer / Membership Admin Secretary: Liz Hearnden Helen Hagemann: Newsletter/ Web Committee members: Carolyn Abbs, Flora Smith and Murray Jennings.
ootawriters@gmail.com http://ootawriters.blogspot.com.au