If you search Google today you will see the heading relating to poet Henry Lawson's 146th birthday anniversary. We wonder what he would've thought of that worldwide exposure! Henry Lawson was born on June 17, 1867 on the Grenfell Goldfields and later lived near Gulgong/Mudgee, New South Wales. He wrote short stories and ballad-like poems, illuminating the lives of rural, working Australians. Lawson is often called Australia's "greatest writer." During the colonial period, he travelled extensively, and was frequently published in the Bulletin. He died impoverished in 1922. Happy Birthday Henry.

Definition: (Noun) Pool is a type of billiard game played with a long cue and balls on a felted table.

Think Paul Newman - The Hustler, The Colour of Money - Tom Cruise. Writing pieces are now being sought for a book about your experiences with the game of pool. Venues, prizes won, who taught you, friends, observations, reflections etc.

Write to: Pool Stories C/O 7A Crinan Street Hurlstone Park NSW 2193

Deadline is 30 June 2013. Reimbursement is possible - let them know what your story is worth.

And here is another MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY!!! Queensland Writers Centre (QWC) and Hachette Australia are proud to announce their 6th national program for fiction and non-fiction writers in 2013. Up to 10 emerging fiction and non-fiction writers will work with editors from Hachette Australia to develop high-quality manuscripts. The program will run for four days in Brisbane, Queensland. In the first two days, participants will each have an individual consultation with editors from Hachette Australia to receive feedback on their manuscript. During the four days, participants will also meet other publishing industry professionals such as literary agents, booksellers and established authors, and work on their manuscripts. The program will run 15 - 19 November, 2013. Hachette Australia does not guarantee publication of manuscripts selected for the program but reserves the first right to publish the selected manuscripts. Please read the full terms and conditions in the Application Form. KEY DATES 2013: Application Deadline: 5:00pm Monday 1 July; Short list notified: Monday 7 October; MS Development Retreat: Friday 15 – Tuesday 19 November. For details head to the Queensland Writers' Centre site: http://www.qwc.asn.au/help-for-writers/manuscript-development-programs/qwc-hachette-manuscript-development-program/

Okay writers. Opportunities like this do not come along very often. So please read the criteria carefully and if you have a project ready to go that matches - then go for it. Pantera Press aims to be known as a great new home for Australia's next generation of best-loved authors™. That means they want to discover, launch and nurture previously unpublished Australian writers... writers who, despite having more than one great book in them, and having a passion for writing, have not been able to get published. They are seeking books with wide appeal. For both fiction and non-fiction, they are looking for books with bestseller-potential and with strong, quality writing and style. For fiction the focus is on mass-market and popular books, that is, great stories that are riveting and well-written. For non-fiction, the focus is on books that foster ideas and debate. Please note they are NOT currently publishing picture or illustrated books, children's books, cookbooks, memoirs, autobiographies, biographies, self-help books, health and well being books, travel books, poetry, play scripts, short stories, compilations, novellas, chapter books, or books aimed at an audience younger than 15 years old. For all the details and requirements on how to make your submission go to: http://www.panterapress.com.au/fiction-and-non-fiction-how-to-submit. Get to it and Good Luck!

The State Library of NSW has opened nominations for the NSW Premier's History Awards 2013. According to NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell: "Fostering of scholarship in literature and history is central to civil society. Knowledge of who we are and where we have come from creates a richer, more tolerant and more confident society." The winners will be presented at an awards ceremony in September 2013. Administered by the State Library of NSW, in association with Arts NSW, the NSW Premier's History Awards offers prizes in five categories:

• Australian History Prize • General History Prize • New South Wales Community and Regional History Prize • Young People's History Prize • Multimedia History Prize

Total prize money in 2013 is $75,000 - $15,000 for each category.

All works nominated for the NSW Premier's History Awards 2013 must be published, produced or made publicly available between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013. For more information contact: Kate Butler, Senior Project Officer, Awards, State Library of NSW (02) 9273 1582, awards@sl.nsw.gov.au

Submissions for the Kids Book Review Unpublished Picture Book Award close Monday 17 June The winner will receive $300, a manuscript appraisal and the chance to have their work viewed by Sue Whiting, Publishing Manager at Walker Books! Two runners-up will win $100 each, and a short manuscript appraisal. We also reserve the right to nominate highly commended authors (no prize). A feedback sheet is provided to every entrant, upon completion of the competition.

Manuscript submissions are for picture books of 500 words or less, no illustrations required. For submissions details and to get your entry in, head to http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2013/04/kbrs-2013-unpublished-picture-book.html Submissions must be sent by email by Monday 17 June 2013 at 11.59pm.

Check out this new blog: The Orange Post. It is an experiment in community, or as the media powers-to-be call, citizen journalism. The goal of the Orange Post is to give those who have always wanted to have a say, somewhere public to say it. In the publishing world it's envisaged that the Orange Post will become something like the Good Weekend insert in the SMH. A mix of news articles, recipes, reviews gardening and everything else that suits. The two main question asked by budding writers are; 1. Will I get paid? The answer is no, not yet anyway. As the Orange Post grows they may get to the point where they can start taking advertising and paying their writers but at the moment all the writers, and the founder, do so for the love of it. 2. How often will I need to write? That really does depend on you. Some writers submit two or more articles a week, some submit one every two weeks or so. Not sure if you're good enough? There is really only one way to find out. To begin writing for the Orange Post all you have to do is go online and complete the form and they will contact you. It's amazingly simple. Go to: http://orangepost.com.au/

Writers keen to participate in a project for the 2014 Banjo 150th Celebrations Writing Project are invited to help research stories relevant to the history of Narrambla Estate - a significant property in the history of Orange.

Narrambla was:

* the birthplace of one of Orange's favourite sons AB "Banjo" Paterson. * covered a huge area - originally 1920 acres * granted to Simeon Lord – ex convict, wealthy trader, influential public servant * site of Orange's first industrial activity – Templar's Mill, cheese factory, brewery, knackery * supplied horses for the Boer War * the site of Orange's first golf course And is now home to Botanic Gardens, recreation areas, industrial estate, and residential areas of Bletchinton and North Orange.

If you would like to research and write stories related to Narrambla and help the Rotary Club of Orange produce a booklet to coincide with the 150th Banjo celebrations next year, then please contact the Central West Writers' Centre on 6393 8125 or email us: writing@orange.nsw.gov.au

Throughout April Cowra Library is hosting the exhibition 100 Frames: the January 2011 Flood Event in photographs such as this one by Natasha Dye.The exhibition has been developed by the Gannawarra Shire Council in response to the 100 year flood event experienced in the Gannawarra region, northern Victoria, in January 2011. Cowra Librarian Caroline Eisenhauer said, "we are pleased to be able to host this exhibition to raise awareness of the extent of this natural disaster, and the recovery and support process as experienced by this small rural Council and its communities. The photographs are amazing."

From a total of 5,700 flood photos submitted, 100 have been selected for a travelling exhibition currently on display at Cowra Library.The photos depict the floods through Campaspe, Loddon, Swan Hill and Gannawarra Shires in Northern Victoria. Check it out at Cowra Library, Darling Street, Cowra.

Discover the extraordinary true story of Ned Kelly's mother, a woman whose life journey is told with sympathy, compassion and above all honesty. Author Noelene Allen will be at Orange City Library on Wednesday 27th March at 5.30pm to talk about the Kelly family. The book includes more than 40 photographs, some never seen outside the Kelly family before. The story of Ellen Kelly's life is a remarkable one. The love of Ellen's life is taken from her at an early age, she is faced with bringing up her children on her own. She will do anything for her children including spending time in gaol for protecting her teenage daughter Kate from the unwanted advances of a police officer. The strength of the women in the Kelly family becomes clear as the author shares many previously untold anecdotes about the mother of Australia's most famous bushranger, Ned Kelly.

Author talk with Noelene Allen Ellen: A Woman of Spirit, Wednesday 27th March, 5.30pm, Orange City Library, 147 Byng Street, Orange. Please RSVP to the Library on 6393 8132