Sunday, June 3, 2012

Literary Week begins Tomorrow

And so it does, though I don't have the down-low on what's actually happening throughout the week at this time I do have the most important event on the whole calendar right here for you now.

Performance Readings by WiTs members at the Perc Tucker Gallery on Saturday the 9th of June. The event kicks off at 1100hrs (that's 11:00am) and concludes at 1300hrs (1:00pm). We will be performing against the backdrop of paintings by some of Australia's most talented artists on display for the prestigious Xstrata Percival Portrait Award.

Carla Hutchinson-Reade will MC the event that will take you through the writers memories of the tree that has influenced or inconvenienced their life the most.

Mark it off in your calenders and don't be late.  

A is for Asking


Previously I've mentioned author Wendy Neilson and her book 'A is for Asking'. Here is the lowdown on everyone associated with the book and some great images from the illustrator.

Wendy Neilsen - author of "A is For Asking"
Wendy has lived all of her life in sunny North Queensland, Australia.  A prolific playground of sun, sea, sand, reefs, rainforests, majestic mountains and an abundance of all things that make your heart sing.  
She loves working with words and sharing her thoughts as a poet.
While training to be a lifecoach, Wendy realised there were many key words associated with gaining a positive enlightened mindset. 
This realisation has developed into a spiritual alphabet book that she hopes will help people, young and old, to evaluate their lives and make the changes within themselves to create a life that makes their heart sing, every day in every way.
For more information about the author and artist or to share your thoughts about the book, visit www.aisforasking.com



Christopher Brunton - illustrator of "A is for Asking"
Chris is a Townsville based graphic artist with more than 23 years newspaper and advertising print media experience and has many local and national advertising awards to his credit. 
He has taught Illustration, Cartooning and Core Drawing at all levels, from children with special needs through to university.
Having always pursued freelance illustration work, Chris is now making it a full time occupation.  ‘A is for Asking’ is his first children’s book. 
Other recent commissions include covers for Perth author Bridgette Powell's murder mystery novel 'Reflection of Evil', Irish author Tina Brescanu's 'Warriors of Change', and Esther Over-Kershaw's science-fiction novel 'Bystander'.  Chris has just finished a series of fully painted posters for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, that will be in schools soon.
An avid fitness fanatic, Chris offsets long hours slaving over the drawing board with time in the gym and is a keen scuba diver.
Chris can also be contacted via email at cjbrunton@bigpond.com


From the publisher
For over 10 years now I’ve been involved in reviewing and publishing children’s ‘mind body spirit books’ also known as ‘spiritual books’ through Pick-a-WooWoo Publishers. 
This book ‘ A is for Asking’ certainly jumped out from the masses I critique each year.  The books simplistic rhyme carefully imparts a profound message - all the while being entertained with some of the best digital artwork I’ve seen in a book for some time. 
I’ve heard many a Parent and Retailer say that they would love a more unique and loving way to deliver the A-Z alphabet...well look no further.  It’s 3 main characters, Angel (Love), Fairy (Light) & Pixie (Laughter) bring the alphabet to life in a truly unique way using visualisation techniques (and loving words) – whilst using the Australian bush and a variety of quirky Aussie animals to make it a truly unique experience.  The story ends with some interactive questions and activities which allows the relations between child and parent to continue long after the story is read.  
As an Author, Wendy’s passionate endeavours to create a strong personal platform in which to promote her new book will ensure that many parents are likely to hear the books message that “Your thoughts, and the words you choose to use every minute of every hour of every day, create your attitude and actions which creates your reality.”
How can we not want this for our children?

Julie-Ann Harper 
Director – Pick-a-WooWoo Publishers
Publishers of Mind-Body-Spirit books.

Heritage Day 2012

As usual WiTs attended the annual Heritage Day held in West End Park/Cemetery. By all accounts the day was a great success for all involved with some really interesting stuff on display and for sale.
I believe WiTs made a killing with their sales...so I believe.
I've put up a photo of the organisers posing with local author Wendy Neilson who was displaying and selling her children's book 'A is for Asking'.

They all look so serious... it was a fun day, I swear.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

The Sense Five Short Story Competition


This looks a great short story comp with a high word limit amount so you can let your imagination run free and it has connections to a publishing house..Awesome!!

Visit the website for the guidelines and all the information.

http://www.chuffedbuffbooks.com/ and look under submissions.

Happy writing and good luck!!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

The Growing World of Ebooks

Everything you need to know here about epublishing.

I gotta read this stuff myself, I feel like I'm being left behind as technology moves a lot faster than me.


http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/32232/11-Essential-Elements-of-a-Well-Designed-Marketing-Ebook.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+HubSpot+(HubSpot)


Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Ipswich Poetry Fest Competition

In the latter part of the nineteenth century two young children, Bridget and Mary Broderick, drowned at a waterhole that lies within the boundaries of the area now known as Henry Lawson Bicentennial Park at Walloon. This tragic event was the subject of a poem penned by Henry Lawson in 1891 titled "The Babies of Walloon"


The Ipswich Poetry Feast is a citywide initiative aimed at commemorating this significant event through the introduction of an annual international poetry competition and events that:

•Encourage young and aspiring poets

•Provide an opportunity for poets to showcase their work

•Raise community awareness of the creativity and skills in poetry writing

•Promote Ipswich as a vibrant, culturally rich region


Check out the site for details. Sounds like a great comp inspired by a terrible tragedy.

http://www.ipswichpoetryfeast.com.au/.


Adventures in Epublishing


Certainly looks like some interesting reading in this post and the blog in general. A great guide for those getting started in, or looking at getting started in, the epublishing world

http://derekjcanyon.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/keys-to-epublishing-success-2012.html



Friday, April 6, 2012

Gender Bias in literature podcast

This link will take you to a podcast by  ABC Radio National

When you open the book review pages in the newspapers, take a closer look at the names of the authors and the names of the reviewers. How many are men and how many are women? A feminist arts organization in the US called VIDA has tallied the numbers in prestigious literary review pages including the New York Times, the Times Literary Supplementand The New Yorker and found that men dominate. This is no one-off anomaly. VIDA tallied the numbers last year and the results were much the same. Why is this so? And what's the situation in Australia?

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Bush Poets Competition.

Below is a link to The Bryan Kelleher Literary Award  bush poetry competition. First prize is a cool $1000, nothing to be sneezed at for sure, so well worth the effort. So get in there and have a go and then let us all know if you win and we'll celebrate together.

 Good Luck! and if you want to know who Bryan Kelleher was
Bryan Kelleher was a long standing member of the ANA who was passionate about acknowledging and honouring Australian achievements. The Australian Unity Bryan Kelleher Literary Award is our way of celebrating and preserving the substantial contribution Bryan made during his long association with the ANA and the Henry Lawson Society.

http://www.australianunitycorporate.com.au/community/bklaward/Pages/home.aspx 

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Qld premiers literary awards scrapped.

Read it here from the SMH.

UPDATED
Campbell Newman has scrapped the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, arguing the $244,000 saving was part of the Liberal National Party's promised cost-cutting drive.
The move was not specifically flagged before the state election and has prompted criticism on Twitter this afternoon, with people raising concern it was an ominous sign about the approach the LNP government would take on supporting the arts.


Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/books/new-premier-tears-up-literary-awards-20120403-1wad1.html#ixzz1qytJNRV8


There will be a backlash, a cry from the arts, and more than a few annoyed writers.