Words Out West - Non fiction

Child Migrant Story - The Long Way Home Book Launch

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:30:00 +1000

A book launch for The Long Way Home - by Jo Bailey with Ronnie Sabin will be held in these locations tomorrow Friday 12 March: Meet the authors at the front of Jayes Gallery and Cafe from 10am - 12 noon, 31 - 33 Gidley Street, Molong or Boomers' Bookshop, City Centre, Orange 2pm - 4pm. The book is promoted as the story of Fairbridge Farm School that needs to be told. "At last a balanced account of life at Fairbridge through the eyes of Ronnie Sabin, who for six years in the 1950s called Fairbridge Farm School at Molong home. Often hilarious, sometimes heart-wrenching, The Long Way Home adds a positive perspective to the Child Migrant Scheme debate. It pays tribute to Fairbridge and details Ronnie's delight as finally being reunited with his family in England after 55 years." It retails for $29.95

2009 Prime Minister's Literary Awards Winners are

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:46:00 +1000

Minister for the Arts Peter Garrett has announced the winners of the 2009 Prime Minister's Literary Awards......fanfare, applause....... The winner of the 2009 Fiction award is Nam Le for his book of short stories The Boat. The judging panel was impressed by the daring scope and excellence of its execution, the generous breadth of its emotional and social traverse and the excitement generated by every story. In 2009, two books and three authors share the Non-Fiction award. The winners are Evelyn Juers for House of Exile: The Life and Times of Heinrich Mann and Nelly Kroeger-Mann; and Marilyn Lake and Henry Reynolds for Drawing the Global Colour Line. Both books explore important racial, moral and political issues of Australia's past. The Non-Fiction judging panel said "With great intellectual authority and international research Evelyn Juers, Marilyn Lake and Henry Reynolds tell their stories magnificently." Find out more about the shortlist and winners at www.arts.gov.au/pmliteraryawards

Meet author and see colour footage from Vietnam War

Fri, 22 May 2009 13:07:00 +1000

Meet Don Tate, author of The War Within regarded as one of the most extraordinary memoirs ever published in Australia. You will also see colour film of his infantry experiences in Vietnam during 1969 now valued at $100,000. Don was permanently disabled when his platoon was ambushed by a Viet Cong company entrenched in bunkers in July 1969. He subsequently spent more than two years in military and repatriation hospitals. Don recounts his remarkable life story in The War Within. He has appeared on: RPA, A Current Affair, Today, Susie and the 7.30 Report. Meet Don at: Orange City Library, Byng Street, Orange on Wednesday 3 June 12 noon 1.30pm, please RSVP by calling 6393 8132 or Come to Cowra Visitor Information Centre Olympic Park, Mid Western Highway, Cowra on Wednesday 3 June 5.30pm 7pm, please RSVP by calling 6342 4333.

Write Around the Murray Festival

Tue, 19 May 2009 17:26:00 +1000

The Write around the Murray Festival, based at Albury, will be held from Wednesday 5 August to Sunday 6 August 2009 and leading up to the festival there are some great opportunities for writers including the AlburyCity Short Story Competition and Masterclass with Debra Adelaide. For the Short Story Competition the theme is open and length for the Open category is up to 3000 words, Secondary (Years 7 12) up to 2000 words and Primary (up to and including Grade 6) up to 1000 words. There is a registration fee of $10 and cash prizes to be won. Entires close on Friday 26 June. And applications close on Friday 29 May for the Masterclass with author Debra Adelaide. The program is designed for experienced writers who already have a substantial work in progress, fiction or non-fiction, and keen to explore ways to develop or complete their work. Cost of the program is $400 which includes the Masterclass and two night's accommodation at Month in the Country, breakfast and lunch Saturday and Sunday and a ticket to the festival dinner at 7pm on Saturday evening. Places are limited to six. Applicants are required to send a draft portion of their work with the application. This should be a chapter or an extract (3,000 5,000 words) accompanied by a half-page synopsis of the entire work. They would also need to bring a chapter or extract on the first day to circulate amongst participants. Please email writing@orange.nsw.gov.au if you would like a short story registration form or Masterclass Application Form or contact Festival Coordinator Robyne Young directly via email: ryoung@alburycity.nsw.gov.au. The full program of events is scheduled to be released on Wednesday 17 June, 2009 so visit the website http://www.writearoundthemurray.org.au/ then for event details.

Pantera Press seeks unpublished manuscripts

Tue, 12 May 2009 12:45:00 +1000

Pantera Press is seeking books by previously unpublished Australian authors that have strong mass appeal, whether fiction or non-fiction. Pantera Press aims to publish books that readers will rave about. Great stories that are riveting and well-written. They are looking for books by previously unpublished Australian authors that have strong mass appeal, whether fiction or non-fiction. They want to hear from you if you are the next John Grisham, Jodi Picoult, Michael Crichton or Jane Green or if you have written the next 'Spotless', 'Freakonomics' or 'Tipping Point'. If your work has bestseller-potential and is of professional quality, they are interested. Currently Pantera Press are not accepting picture books, illustrated books, photography, poetry, play scripts or self-help books. Do not submit work if it is being considered elsewhere. Visit http://www.panterapress.com/ for more details.

Literature new work grant for writers

Wed, 06 May 2009 16:16:00 +1000

New work grants assist in the creation of new work by developing and established Australian writers and picture book illustrators. New work funding is available for living allowances (including childcare) and/or assistance with travel and research costs associated with the preparation and writing of nominated projects. Developing writers/illustrators can apply for $15,000, $25,000 or $40,000. Established writers/illustrators can apply for $30,000 or $50,000 per year for up to two years. Please note, from 2009, emerging writers and illustrators should apply to the emerging writers' and illustrators' initiative. This initiative will be managed by the Australian Society of Authors. For more information, please visit http://www.asauthors.org/ Applications will be accepted in the following genres only: " fiction " lterary non-fiction (defined by the literature board as autobiography, biography, essays, histories, literary criticism or analytical prose) " children's and young adult literature " poetry " writing for performance (theatre, radio) or new media (digital, interactive, cross-media). For more information go to the Australia Council website http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/grants/grants/new_work_-_literature. The closing date in 15 May.

Author Peter Trickett talks about Portuguese Mapping Australia

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:24:00 +1000

Author Peter Trickett will give an illustrated talk on the research underpinning his controversial book Beyond Capricorn describing how the Portuguese fleet discovered and secretly mapped the entire east coast of Australia in 1522. This was some 250 years before Captain Cook. Drawing from primary and secondary historical sources, archaeological evidence and stories handed down through Aboriginal oral tradition, Peter Trickett tells a story of espionage, revenge and secret voyages made by the Portuguese to corner the fabulously rich spice trade in the east and find the islands of gold alluded to by Marco Polo. On Saturday 14 March join author Peter Trickett at La Vita Restaurant, Kendal Street, Cowra at 7.30pm. Learn more about the author, his research and why this topic is so controversial. For bookings contact Cowra Shire Council on 6340 2000. Cost is $5 (payable on the night) which includes a light supper. The event is part of Cowra's Festival of International Understanding running from 12 15 March. Guest nation this year is Portugal and Cowra Library also has a fantastic display of information and books on Portugal which are available for loan. Come in and check it out.

Bathurst Writers Group Meet Saturday

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:17:00 +1000

The next few meetings of the Bathurst Writers' Group will be as always, the 2nd Saturday of the month in the children's section of the Bathurst Library at 2pm. The upcoming dates are: Saturday 14th February, Saturday 14th March, Saturday 11th April. Feel free to bring some writing along that you would like feedback for or just something you want to share. For more information contact Jeff on 0427 603 822 or send an email to jefferyedoherty@gmail.com.

The ABC Book Show best Australian reads

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:47:00 +1000

If you would like to add to your reading list (the thing to do at the start of the year and after reading this, mine has just increased by nine) here are some suggestions from viewers of the ABC's Book Show with their list of favourite new books published in 2008. Fiction: Addition by Toni Jordan, Breath Tim Winton, Enigma Graeme Base, Everything I Knew Peter Goldsworthy, People of the Book Geraldine Brooks, Saltwater Moons Julie Gittus, Sea of Many Returns Arnold Zable, Tales from Outer Suburbia Shaun Tan, The Boat by Nam Le, The Build Up by Phillip Gwynne, The Good Parents by Joan London, The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville, The Lifeboat by Zachary Jane, The Lost Dog by Michelle de Kretser, The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas, The Spare Room by Helen Garner and Wanting by Richard Flanagan. Non-fiction: Arabesques by Robert Dessaix, Arthur Boyd by Darleen Bungey, Feathered Dinosaurs: The Origin of Birds by John Long and Peter Schouten, In Turkey I am Beautiful by Brendan Shanahan, My Columbian Death by Matt Thompson, Ochre and Rust by Philip Jones, Other People's Country by Maureen Helend, That'd be Right by William McInnes, The Bitter Shore by Jacquie Everitt, The Rugmaker of Mazer-e-Sharif by Najaf and Robert Hillman, The Tall Man by Chloe Hooper, The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow AJ Mackinnon and Warrior Poets by Benjamin Gilmour. For poetry In Between the Dancing by EA Gleeson and The Golden Bird; and New and Selected Poems by Robert Adamson.

Inaugural Litlink/Northern Rivers Writers Centre unpublished Manuscript Award

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:55:00 +1000

Announcing the first Litlink/NRWC Manuscript Award where entries are open to all writers resident in regional NSW, outside the Sydney metropolitan region. LitLink is a Statewide literary network, linking the nine writers' centres across NSW, supporting and promoting regional writers and developing audiences for Australian literature. Manuscripts may be fiction or narrative non fiction, and must be completed to a final draft stage. Sections of manuscripts or incomplete works will not be accepted. Unfortunately, picture books, poetry and performance pieces are not eligible for consideration. It is essential that works submitted have not been published in part or in full in any form. Deadline for entries, to be sent to the NRWC, is 5pm Monday 30 March, 2009. Each entry must be accompanied by the authorised entry form, available online at www.nrwc.org.au or from the Centre, Level 1, 69 Jonson St, Byron Bay. There is an entry fee of $35 per manuscript, to assist with administration and adjudicating. A shortlist of four will be announced by Friday 29 May. The shortlisted writers will appear at the Byron Bay Writers Festival 2009, where the winner will be announced in a dedicated session. The shortlisted manuscripts will each be read and considered by Annette Barlow of Allen and Unwin, and the ultimate winner will receive a prize, details of which to be confirmed shortly. Enquiries and further information from the Director, Jeni Caffin, at 02 6685 5115 and jeni@nrwc.org.au

Wildcare Tasmania Nature Writing Prize

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:54:00 +1000

This wonderful prize for new nature writing offers the winner $5 000 plus airfares to Tasmania and a two-week residency in Tassie's great wilderness. It is an international literary prose competition in the genre of nature writing, open to entries in both fiction and non-fiction. Winners will be published in Island and WILDCARE Times. Entries must be between 2000 4000 words. For more details and entry form go to the Wildcare Tasmania website: http://www.wildcaretas.org.au/pages/groups_details.php?group_id=58&group_type_id=2 The deadline is 20 February, 2009.

Winner of The Nib

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:21:00 +1000

Waverley Council is pleased to announce Christopher Koch author of The Memory Room as winner of the "The Nib": 2008 CAL Waverley Library Award for Literature (sponsored by The Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) Cultural Fund). The winner's prize of $20,000 & receipt of "The Nib" (statuette) acknowledges excellence in research by Australian authors of literary works of merit. The other finalists were Catherine Jinks for The Dark Mountain, Babette Smith for Australia's Birthstain, Waleed Aly for People Like Us, Paul Ham for Vietnam The Australian War and Kathy Marks for Pitcairn Paradise Lost. To find out more about the Award and read the judges comments please go to: http://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/library/award

Interactive Press Awards for Unpublished Manuscripts Open

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:48:00 +1000

The 2009 Interactive Press (IP) Picks Awards for Unpublished Manuscripts are open for submissions until 1 December. Now in its eighth year, this national competition invites submissions for Best Fiction, Best Creative Non-fiction, Best Poetry and Best First Book. The Awards are open to citizens/residents of Australia, and, for the first time, citizens/residents of New Zealand. The winners in each category and two of the Highly Commended entrants are being published by IP under royalty contracts. One of the winners and one of the highly commended were subsequently endorsed by the Literature Board of the Australia Council. The winner for Best Poetry 2007 was Mark O'Flynn for his work What can be Proven. For entry forms and conditions visit the website www.ipoz.biz or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to IP, Treetop Studio, 9 Kuhler Court, Carindale 4152.

Cutwater request submissions from new writers

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:32:00 +1000

Cutwater is an upcoming literary anthology that will collect the best in Australian writing from new and emerging authors. With the assistance of an Australia Council Write In Your Face grant, Cutwater is currently seeking work from around the nation - fiction, literary non-fiction, poetry, zines, comics and anything in between - to be published in glorious book form in 2009. The theme of Cutwater's inaugural volume is 'Ratbags'. Writers are invited to send up to three submissions of 5,000 words or less, via post only by 30 November, to: Cutwater Literary Journal PO BOX 52 Toukley NSW 2263 For more details on submissions go to the blog at: http://www.cutwaterjournal.blogspot.com/ Let out the inner ratbag.

PM's Literary Award winners

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:45:00 +1000

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced the winners of the PM's Literary Awards. He said the judging panel are to be commended for the meticulous and thoughtful consideration they have given to the selection of Australian fiction and non-fiction entered in these new awards. Both winners receive a prize of $100,000 each. The winners are: Non-fiction: Ochre and Rust by Philip Jones takes Aboriginal artefacts from their museum shelves and traces their stories, revealing charged and nuanced moments of encounter in Australia's frontier history. Fiction: The Zookeepers' War by Steven Conte is a story of passion and sacrifice in a city battered by war. It is 1943 and each night in a bomb shelter beneath the Berlin Zoo an Australian woman, Vera, shelters with her German husband, Axel, the zoo's director. It confronts not only the brutality of war but the possibility of heroism. For more details on the awards go to: http://www.arts.gov.au/books/pmliteraryawards