Contributors

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Multi-talented Johanna Baker-Dowdell is grateful...


I love being part of the writing community because it brings me into contact with like-minded people who not only share an appreciation of the importance and roles of books in our society, but who share an appreciation of chocolate! One such fabulous woman is Johanna Baker-Dowdell. Based in Launceston, Joh and I met over the phone when she interviewed me for Manhattan Dreaming in 2010. We kept in contact via social media and finally met at the launch of Paris Dreaming in Hobart in April. I’m a big fan of Johanna, who is making her mark nationally, having been nominated for the 2010 Telstra Business Women’s Awards and was named finalist in the 2010 Home Based Business Awards. Pretty impressive huh?

Tonight, I feel privileged and of course grateful, that Johanna has offered a few words for my blog on what she is grateful for in life.


On being grateful Johanna says:

I've been running this topic through my mind for a while now, thinking of what it is I am most grateful for. Of course there are many things, but right now I am grateful for:

My job: as a journalist and blogger I get the opportunity to review some amazing books by authors I may not have been introduced to otherwise, like Anita. I'm a wife, mother and small business owner so there is not much time left for me at the end of the day. Being asked to review books means I have to read. It's a tough job...


My boys: when I'm not working - and even when I am - my life revolves around my husband Harvey, sons Noah and Ethan and furry babies Stanley (ginger tabby cat), Charlie (caramel tabby cat) and Jack (bichoodle). I joke that I live in a testosterone-fuelled household, but I adore being the girl they all love. (Note from Anita: Aren’t those boys GORGEOUS! They make me want to have one or five or my own… almost!)

Social media: I started exploring online networking options when I was working from home with a small baby, but found so much more. I've made friends on Twitter and Facebook who will be in my life forever more, some of whom I've met offline. I've also found new clients, made incredible contacts who have helped get my business to where it is today and utilised the platforms for quick research. I can keep in touch with so many people online and can't imagine life without it.

Mentors: When times are tough you need someone to call on who understands. Whether it's what to do about non-paying clients, which topics to blog about or how I can get the book that's in my head out (thanks Anita and Iggy Pintado [@iggypintado]), I know I have people I can call on for support and advice. Working for yourself can be lonely without people like these.

Chocolate: This had to get a mention, as it is one of the things Anita and I talk about most, but I have had a love affair with chocolate for as long as I remember (and my waist line will agree). I love the classic Cadbury Dairy Milk, but my favourite chocolates right now are the divine raspberry champagne truffles from Cocobean in Launceston. You have to try them!


So, are you grateful for similar things?

Monday, May 23, 2011

Extraordinary women I am grateful for this week...

As I write this I am squinting to gain focus on the screen. It would be an understatement to say I am utterly exhausted. I am going into week eight of publicity for Paris Dreaming while also trying to keep on top of my every day life: family, friends, healthy lifestyle, and the odd (and much needed) paid gig.

But every day, yes, every day, I am inspired in some way by the extraordinary women who cross my path, and share the stage and / or meals with me. I am grateful for what they contribute to my own evolution as a woman, and as an artist.

Today I am grateful to some special women who have been part of my writing journey in the past and especially this last week:


1. LIBBY GLEESON: This year I was given the great privilege of being the invited dinner speaker for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards (thus the pic above!). Held in the marquee at the Sydney Opera House overlooking the most stunning harbour in the world, I spoke about the responsibilities we have as creators to write with integrity and a code of moral and professional ethics. Within that speech I quoted Libby Gleeson, my mentor on the novel Who Am I? the diary of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937. As the multi-award winner author of over 30 books, Libby has remained an inspiration to me in terms of my own writing largely because the sense of responsibility she maintains in her own work. Libby says: ‘I write to work out a truth. Anything sensational or gratuitous has to go as I try to wrestle my way down to a subtle understanding of human beings and behaviour. My responsibility is to the story and its characters and to my own integrity.’

You can imagine my absolute excitement then when it was announced after my own speech, that Libby (sitting two seats from me on the Premier’s table) won the Premier’s Special Award for lifetime achievement. You can see by the pic below that Libby, Chip Rolley (Artistic Director of the SWF) and I are all thrilled to bits about Libby’s recognition. Well deserved. I was / am grateful that I have such an extraordinary women as a mentor and friend.


2. KATHRYN HEYMAN: Within that same speech on Monday last, I also quoted my friend and mentor (yes, I am greedy I need more than one!) –Kathryn Heyman – whom I first met at the Byron Bay Writers’ Festival back in 2003. We started planning and plotting straight away about how we could work together to support Indigenous writers, and I still use exercises and techniques gained from a master class Kathryn ran at Macquarie University back in 2004.

Kathryn was one of the judges of the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction at this year’s awards, and Kathryn’s words in my speech in relation to the responsibility of writers were: ‘Social theorist Jurgen Habermaas held that all language points in the direction of truth and is distorted when it veers away from truth. Actually, the very first thing its possible to do with language is to make up stories that are not true. So there is, in my opinion, a moral responsibility for every storyteller to decide what they are going to do with that power. If as writers we fail to engage with that fundamental question of ethics, then it's an enormous failure of courage.’

My actual goal that night was to inspire the audience – authors, editors, publishers, agents, media etc – to consider their own responsibilities and to write and publish with integrity and courage. I hope went some way to doing that.




The pic above is of Kathryn with Suzanne Leal, another deadly writing chick – author of Border Street.

3. PAULINE WHYMAN: Way back in 1992, when I was younger, thinner, cheekier and a little less focussed on ‘goal setting’ than I was on partying, I met a young woman by the name of Pauline Whyman. We shared a room at an Indigenous writers’ conference in Victoria for a week, and had a few laughs, a few drinks, a few hairy moments walking home late at night… and we shared a vision of being something of note in the arts sometime in the future. Even if we couldn’t see what that was in the dark of the Victorian Grampians at the time. Last Friday night I watched my sista on the big screen at the Capital Theatre in Melbourne to a packed house for the premier of Here I am by Beck Cole. I was so proud to see how Pauline had blossomed, not only as a woman but as an extraordinarily gifted actor, and a role model for other women. I am proud and grateful to be able to call this solid actor and filmmaker my sista, and to know that her star will guide the way for other young Koori girls to follow their dreams as well. [That’s Pauline and I below… isn’t she beautiful!?]


4. BELINDA DUARTE: I was actually in Melbourne at the invitation of the Long Walk Team headed by Kim Kruger, who asked me to do an event around Paris Dreaming as part of the Long Walk day of festivities in the heart of the city. My tidda Belinda Duarte, a national heptathlete (that’s someone who does SEVEN track and field events, yes SEVEN!) is not only deadly as a medal-winning sportsperson, AND at chairing the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy, but as it turns out, she’s also an amazing literary critic and interviewer. I am constantly blown away by Belinda’s capacity to analyse and draw out issues and conclusions, whether it’s in board papers, or, as it were, my novels! I’m a little awestruck by Belinda, I’d like to be her when I grow up but I fear I’m better and doing the quick walk to the canteen and not around a sports ground!


5. NEW FRIENDS / OLD FRIENDS: It was a stunning day in Melbourne on Saturday, clearly I’d taken the Sydney weather with me. Federation Square was a hub of activity with bands, comedians, Koorioborees, the Message Sticks Film Festival and so on. It was a hard ask to expect old school friends, new Twitter friends, past colleagues and random punters to head into Studio 1 of the Australian Centre for Moving Images to hear me yarn about Paris Dreaming… but they did. And I want to just acknowledge those fabulous women (and one bloke) who sat in the funky space and laughed, listened and perhaps even learned a little about the complexities of living as a contemporary Aboriginal woman. I am grateful to you all for giving me some of your precious weekend.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Weave-ing, writing and wonderful women… I am grateful…

I’ve had a rather extraordinary week with interesting, inspiring writers, readers and visual artists. I’ve engaged in friendly banter with backpackers and heartfelt conversations with girlfriends. And every day I have been grateful for how my life has been enriched by sharing time with family, friends and colleagues.

Here’s just a few moments in time I am grateful for this week:


WEAVE ARTS CENTRE: As Patron of Weave (formerly South Sydney Youth Services) it gave me great pleasure to officially open the Weave Arts Centre and the inaugural exhibition ‘Breakout’ on May 11. What was once Everleigh Carriageworks, has now been transformed into an art space for young people dealing with mental health issues. In this new space they can be creative, they can work solo or collaboratively, and they have innovative ways to assist recovery. Included in the exhibition is The Hills Hoist project (pictured above), featuring donated hospital gowns transformed into objects of social comment. I am inspired by and grateful for work of the artists and the potential for true community engagement with some of our youth who are often forgotten. [Pic below is of major supporters of weave Doug Taylor, CEO of United Way and Roy Waklin King Redfern Waterloo Authority]




SUNDAY AT ROYAL RANDWICK: The writing community is a generally caring and sharing group of people and over the years I have formed some of my closest and most significant friendships with writers. One of my newest ‘friendly writing accomplices’ is the lovely Lisa Heidke, author Claudia’s Big Break among other highly popular novels. I’m grateful for her launching Paris Dreaming last Sunday at the Randwick Library, donning her tiara in allegiance with the Koori Princess and then attending the ‘after-party’ across the road. Much gratitude also to Twitter friends Benison O’Riley and Dianna Draganovic (pictured below) who shared in storytelling… and a little Irish story-making…



CHARISMATIC CONCORD: When 1/5 of the audience sitting in front of you is men over 50 – and your books are written for women 18-45 – you’ve got to be happy. I was delighted to return to Concord Library to a room full of interested and interesting readers of my books. There to talk about Paris Dreaming, we had a lot of laughs and I think I may have even blushed at one point at the offer of one or two local fellas want to help me research my next novel. Big kudos to Claude Broomehead (Coordinator Concord Library) and Jim and Sophie from Dymocks Burwood (they have autographed copies in stock so drop on by and say hello!). Pic of us below.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

What is award-winning author Alex Miller grateful for?


I met Alex Miller in Hamburg in 2004 and we became mates instantly. Apparently I am the inspiration for one of his characters – Vita – in Landscape of Farewell. So, when he asked me to be part of the ‘Alex Miller Symposium’ at the University of Sydney, I naturally said yes. The highlight for me was having the privileged task of introducing the stars of Alex’s Miles Franklin Award-Winning novel, Journey to the Stone Country. Liz Hatte and Barada Elder Frank Budby are the inspiration for the characters Annabelle and Dougal, and they are fabulous storytellers themselves, sharing with the audience their own responses, and the locals responses, to the novel set in central Queensland.

While Alex is in Sydney, I asked him what he is grateful for...

What Alex Miller is grateful for:

Meeting my wife Stephanie made sense of my life for me. And when she said she wanted a baby I discovered what trust was all about. Then when our son Ross was born I discovered what happiness was. It all made sense suddenly and I began to work at my writing with a new purpose. Then Stephanie said she wanted to have another child. "Hang on a minute," I said. "We already have a child?"
"I want another one," she said, and she gave me the kind of look I had learnt not to argue with. But I was feeling truculent. "One's enough," I said. "no more children." I was being the man. Laying down the law. You know?
Steph tightened up that look and said, "Okay. No more novels."
I thought about that for a moment and offered a compromise. "Okay," I said. "One more child."
In due time (nine months later), the light of my life, Kate, was born, me and Ross watching on. Grateful is not the word for it.

Then (this is a story) some years (decades) later Ross had two children of his own and I became grandad (which some of my corny friends had been calling me for some time). Being a real grandad playing in the garden with a real grandchild who thinks you are wonderful and is happy whenever it sees you is something else to be grateful for.

We thought we might add an en-suite bathroom to the guest room. The idea that workmen would turn up (eventually) and begin tearing down walls and playing their transistor radios loudly all day gave me stomach cramps. Then I thought of my long dead mother. My mother had the gift of happiness. That is she knew when to be content. I heard her yelling at me, "You have a guest room???!!!" Okay Mum!! Okay. Cool down. We're not doing an en-suite. So what if you can hear what's going on in the bathroom when you're sitting in the kitchen eating your breakfast? I'm grateful to my mother for her gift of knowing when to be content (with the odd slip-up from time to time).

And all the other stuff in my life. My vigour (so far so good) and my friends (how many?). Friends, the best thing. And work. The secret joy of writing. All that.

[Pic above of Alex and Steph]

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Some tips from my life coach Geraldine Star...


People often ask me how I juggle all my responsibilities, meet my deadlines, reach my goals AND manage to have a full social life with friends and family. My big secret is that for the last eight years I have had a life-coach to help me define my goals and then develop strategies to reach them, while maintaining a healthy balance in my life.

I know a number of high achieving women who also have coaches of their own, to best manage their lives and to ensure that professional goals are met without having to trade-off very significant elements of their private lives.

Tonight, I want to introduce you to my coach, Geraldine Star, and I’ve asked her to tell you about what she is grateful for in terms of her work. On top of that, Geraldine has generously offered some tips on improving your own life... she’s added a few (unsolicited) words about working with yours truly.

Working as a coach:
Sometimes I think I have the best job in the world with the opportunity to really make a difference to the lives of the people I coach. Coaching is transforming and people step into their own power during the process.

I am so grateful to the people I coach. Technology allows people to work with me from diverse places and for many different reasons. Some may have a particular project they have in mind e.g. to write a book; they may want to re-evaluate their career or life; they may be going through a transition from one job to another and need to ‘step –up’; they may be preparing for some event or for their retirement. Each person brings with them their unique experiences and to watch them flourish is extraordinary. I get so excited and proud for them when they take the challenges they bring and change them to ‘gold’.

Five tips from the coach:
1. Change is inevitable, how you manage the change, personally or professionally, is the key to a better life.
2. Nurture yourself, your health and well being is important and no one knows your body, mind and spirit like you do.
3. Maintain a curiosity about life, discover how other people have lived and met their challenges; keep reading, travel, do a course.
4. Surround yourself with positive people, experiences and get the support you need for a healthy and happy life.
5. Contribute to a better community, society, planet in whatever way you can. As Paul Kelly and Kevin Carmody’s song goes “From Little Things, Big Things Grow.

Working with Anita
I have to confess I do have one favourite client, Anita Heiss. Anita and I have worked together for many years. Coaching engagements are usually short, but with Anita, I have a different arrangement. We have moved from working through personal goals to professional strategy and to watch Anita’s emergence as a savvy, international author and speaker has been thrilling and I am so proud for her and what she has accomplished.

Last year, Anita gave the NAIDOC Week address on Aboriginal Voices: Celebrating the New Australian Literature at the Australian Consulate in New York. What a wonderful experience to see Anita on the ‘world stage.’ It’s been a fabulous journey! That's Anita and I above, in New York!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

On Mother’s Day... why we’re grateful for being an Auntie!

I used to get sad on Mother’s Day. Not for myself, but for those women who desperately wanted to have kids and couldn’t. I always felt today must be a hard day for them. Me? I’ve never really thought about having children seriously, perhaps that’s because I haven’t met the person I want to share my eggs with. Who knows? Truth is, while not a mother per se, I do have children I love with every fibre of my being.

I adore my nieces and nephews and am grateful I am their ‘Auntie Anita’. There’s something magical about hearing those words from the ‘little people’ in my family. Although the ‘little people’ are shooting up right before my eyes. I can’t believe how tall kids get so quickly. See, even the Auntie notices these things. I also notice how much fun it is taking them to the movies, or for a cruise in my car with the roof down and the music blaring. I notice the strength and warmth in their cuddles and how special a hug is when I don’t have to initiate it.

I’ve been travelling for work for twenty years and I’ve always missed my family. In recent times – sorry Mum and siblings – I’ve missed the ‘little people’ more than anything / anyone else. I get so much joy when I see them. Perhaps it’s because our meetings are short sessions; a meal at Mum’s / Grandma’s, or an afternoon at the movies. And then we say goodbye.

My time with them is also joyful because I don’t have to deal with the tantrums and tears, when those episodes start, I just leave, literally. Like just now: Nephew #4 (in age) was about to hit Nephew #3 with a wooden train, so Nephew #3 started to cry before the strike even took place. Train was taken from Nephew #4 and he started crying too. ‘Auntie Anita’ simply cried: ‘I’m off, I’ll be back tonight, Mum.’ Quick hugs, kisses and 'I love yous' and I was out of there before the tears had even stopped.

It doesn't mean I'm only there for the fun and games of course. I see two of my nephews every day, so we are all part of each other's daily grind - the highs and lows, the plateaus, the school and work dramas - the everyday life cycle. I love nothing more than to yarn with them about their day. I'm a nosy bugger at times, much like a parent I guess, gotta know every movement! But I don't have to do the 27/4 slog of a parent, and I admire mothers and fathers who manage the hardest job in the world.

Today though, I want to pay tribute to all those women who may not have given birth to children but have loads of love and life experiences with their own ‘little people’... the good, the bad, and the ugly tantrums. And to help me celebrate Auntie-dom, some friends have offered their own thoughts and gratefuls on the esteemed position of ‘being Auntie’.

My gorgeous and very deadly agent Pippa Masson, writes:

‘Being an Auntie is a wonderful gift. You can be fun, full of cuddles and buy the ‘I love New York’ jumpsuit because that’s something only an Auntie would do! Seeing your brother, sister or in-laws in your nephews or nieces is possibly one of the most beautiful things of all. It’s a brand new version of some of your favourite people in the world.’

My coach Geraldine Star who piles on the sugary sweets (wish she was MY Aunty!) says she loves Auntie-duties because:
• You don't have to live with your nieces and nephews but you can have a lot of fun spoiling them
• You can give them time eg playing cards, games and love eg lots of hugs and go to places you have no excuse to go to eg museums, zoo and have a lot of fun.


Elvis-loving, cocktail drinking, super strategist Ms Michelle Nicol says:
Being an Auntie has two big payoffs - I get to hang inside my sister's world, which is a warm and cosy spot. And I get to have a uniquely close friendship with the kids that is quite different to their parents.
As a PS, Michelle adds something that made me laugh: "And the kids never block me on facebook. Ha!"


Author of The Mag Hags and world traveller... still on the road, my mate Lollie Barr says:
People say I don't have kids. Not true. I'm Auntie Lollie to so many children around the world both through blood ties and love ties. Being an Auntie is a privileged position. I straddle the world between being a grown up but not being a Mum, so kids relate to me on a different level from their parents. As I don't have my own children, I have an abundance of energy and love to share with them, hopefully infusing them with positivity and an ability to recognise their own uniqueness and special talents.

A wonderful Aunty – and a staunch friend who looks fabulous in red! – Robynne Quiggin says:

I am grateful for being an Auntie because...
• I am able to share in the ups and downs - even if its from a distance,
• I see them grow and change, and to be a small part of that
• I sometimes think you know what's best for them and find out you're wrong!!
• I have a laugh with them at different things
• I spoil them a bit
• I back their Mum up!!
• I love them and am so proud of them - and their parents who do the long yards!

Blogger and public speaker... and serious foodie (which is why I really like her!), Mel Kettle writes:
I’m grateful for being an Auntie for so many reasons!
My niece is 5, nephew is 2 and I have lots of honorary nieces and nephews. I love the cuddles, sleepovers and special times we get to share whether mummy and daddy are there or not. I've never wanted to have kids and I didn't realise how much fun it could be being an auntie until my niece was born. I get to spoil them, cherish them, love them, and can hand them back when they are whiney, have dirty nappies or have had enough of being with Auntie Mel! I love that as they get older I can teach them things that their parents might not necessarily want them to know and I can be there for them when they need someone to talk to.

But mostly I'm grateful for being an auntie because of the joy they bring into my life.


My super cool friend and publicist, Renee Senogles loves being an Auntie too:
I am grateful for being an aunt because I can be a part of these little lives in such a positive way without having to be the bad guy, like a parent. I get to do all the fun things which they adore, buy them special gifts and there is nothing better than those times when they cling on to you with their hugs and look up to you with those beaming faces that tell you just how much they love you! It's a special love that I am so grateful to experience... X

Author of The Fortunes of Ruby White Lia Weston writes on being an Auntie!
Ever since I saw Auntie Mame I have wanted to be an Auntie. I want to be That Auntie—the one who has a vast collection of hats, a scandalous past, a string of artistic ex-lovers, and a signature shade of lipstick. So far I’ve got three of the four. (Discretion dictates that I don’t say which one’s missing.) As my husband and I are without kidlets, I’m privileged enough to be an honorary Auntie to several of my friends’ children, plus I have an adorable Goddaughter. (Technically, she’s a Godlessdaughter, but her parents were kind enough to overlook this fact.) Getting older has made me much more aware of the screeds of information I have yet to pass on to willing, innocent ears. To whom can I leave my collection of eclectic cookbooks? Who will treasure my Black Books DVDs when I am gone? Won’t someone want to know how to pick the lock on a 1974 Volvo passenger door? Et cetera.

In all seriousness, I have very fond memories of two adopted aunties to whom I ran when my problems were too embarrassing—or frightening—to tell my mother about. These women always took me seriously, never told me I was over-reacting or making things up, and for that they have my enduring love. As they were adults I could trust at times when I thought grown-ups were a strange and deceitful race, so I hope that I’m allowed to be in my friends’ children’s lives as they grow up. I secretly cross my fingers for the day that one of them rings to ask if they can stay for the weekend because “mum and dad suck”, so I can spend two days stuffing them full of chocolate and misplaced maternal affection.

Besides, if I can’t regale my own children with stories about the time I snuck into the zoo and drank gin by the spider monkey enclosure, by golly I can bore other people’s children to death with it.


Finally, I know many of you reading this will also be ‘The Fabulous Auntie’ that every family has and wants and needs. Please tell us why YOU love being an Auntie.

Happy Auntie Day!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Ultimate Girly High Tea: more love in Brisbane (Part 3)


When QLD went under water last January, many Australians like me, felt absolutely paralysed in terms of what to do, how to help. Most of us donated what we could financially, and those geographically closer also helped with elbow grease on the ground, working to clean up the city of Brisbane, affected suburbs and towns.

Like many authors, I was part of three separate writing-based fundraising projects: 100 Stories for QLD, the Authors for QLD Auction and last weekend I was part of The Ultimate Girly High Tea at the Sofitel in Brisbane.

When 300 women get frocked up on Sunday morning and sit down to little sandwiches and naughty cakes, and the odd glass of champagne, there must be a good reason for the meeting. And there was... we were also raising dollars for the Qld Premier’s disaster relief appeal. The entire event demonstrated the love each woman had for her state, for her country and the need to help those affected. It was truly an amazing event.

I am grateful for being part of the event, and most specifically, want to thank:

1. REBECCA SPARROW: The brains and beauty behind the UGHT was Rebecca Sparrow, the bestselling author of The Girl Most Likely and The Year Nick McGowan Came to Stay. I’m grateful Bec asked me to be a guest at the fundraiser, and I’m doing a cyber-round-of-applause for all her tireless work to pull in favours and find sponsors to support the event, and on the day be entertaining, witty and effortlessly glamourous.

2. QLD WRITERS CENTRE:
Not only is Queensland Writers Centre (QWC) the leading provider of specialised writing services in Queensland, the organisation, under the direction of CEO Kate Eltham, also set up Writers on Rafts to act as a fundraising arm of the flood appeal. Big cheer to Kate and all her team for being so proactive and motivating writers and readers nationally to participate in fundraising activities.

3. GENEROUS GIRLYS: The Sofitel’s ballroom was full of generous, warm, loving women (and one bloke) who were all there for same cause: to help heal QLD through cash donations. Each paid $130 for their ticket, then also dug deep to buy raffle tickets to take the tally of funds raised to $31,000. I pay kudos to those who shared the challenge and the tiny little sandwiches. Special mention to the women on table #1 – my table. The pic above includes from left to right: Bernie, Letty, Sass, Anita and Anita (yes two Anita’s at one table...), Leonie and Brooke in front. Such fabulously friendly women... I was tempted to hit a seafood festival with them afterwards but had to catch a plane.

4. SPECIAL GUESTS: When Rebecca put the call out to her gal pals, we jumped at the opportunity to do our bit, even if it meant flying interstate. I’m grateful to all the women who added their names and weight to the event including: Therese Rein, Jessica Rudd (author of Campaign Ruby), Frances Whiting (journalist), Mia Freedman (journalist, columnist, blogger and author), Emily-Jade O’Keefe (media), Shay Stafford (author of Memoirs of a Showgirl), Rachael Birmingham (one half of the successful publishing duo behind 4 Ingredients), Kate Morton author of The Shifting Fog), Erica Bartle (journalist and fashion blogger), Robin Bailey (broadcaster on 97.3FM), Carolyn Donovan (author of Chooks in Stilettos), Caroline Overington (author of I Came To Say Goodbye), Paula Joye (editor of LifeStyled.com.au), Juliette Wright (executive director of GIVIT) and Danielle Crismani (founder of Baked Relief).

5. WESTFIELD CHERMSIDE:
There were many sponsors on day including Westfield Chermside, who not only provided a fun and entertaining styling session as part of the morning tea, but also dressed the hosts of each table. My frock was a fab Charlie Brown design courtesy of Myer Chermside. I didn’t really want to give it back.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Paris Dreaming from page 2 stage: Grateful for Brisbane love (Part 2)

I’m smiling with gratitude as I write this tonight, remembering the most extraordinary evening at the State Library of QLD on Saturday. For the first time in my writing career, I watched my words leap from pages of my novel and onto the stage, via the skills of local Indigenous actors. The event left me speechless, and anyone who knows me well, will understand how meaningful that is.

For someone to read my novel Paris Dreaming and love the narrative so much they want to bring it alive in performance, leaves me humbled


I am indebted and grateful to:

1. NADINE McDONALD-DOWD: I first met Nadine when she was artistic director of Kooemba Jdarra in Brisbane, many years ago. Now, she’s Program Coordinator for kuril dhagun Indigenous Knowledge Centre at the State Library of Queensland, but clearly still got her theatrical hat on. Nadine directed and performed in the reading of Paris Dreaming¸ filling the roles of Lauren Lucas and Libby Cutmore’s mother, Aunty Iris. I am grateful for the overwhelming enthusiasm, energy and talent of my deadly tidda, who I must say looked particularly gorgeous in her black frock on Saturday, but then again, she can look fetching in pantaloons!

2. SLQLD: If you haven’t been to the State Library of Qld, with its seaside inspired cafe, it’s talking circle, and writing spaces overlooking the river, then you are certainly missing out on something special. And of an evening, the libraries function areas become something completely magical with lights reflecting off the river. I’m grateful that the SLQLD hosted the event in their glassed in room – the Red Box, and even hired little Eiffel Towers to enhance the Parisian feel about the night! Such generosity, thank you.

3. TALENTED MURRIS:
What can I say? The night was successful because of the deadly, gorgeous, talented Murris who performed carefully selected excerpts from the novel, in their best French and Murri accents... sometimes even blended! I’m grateful and pay kudos to the actors (below) from left to right: Steven Oliver, Barbara Bough, Georgia Corowa, me and Nadine McDonald.


4. LOCAL FRIENDS:
The experience of sitting in the audience was made more special and meaningful because the room included some of my oldest and dearest friends, and many locals. I’m grateful to all those who bought tickets to come along and support the work and the event and indeed, the many who bought copies of the novel afterwards. I wish to make special mention of Amanda Hayman and Sidonie Carpenter who are my ‘research assistants for my next novel.

5. THE BRISBANE RIVER:
By day the Brisbane River is a murky brown, by night it comes alive with the reflection of city lights from buildings along its banks. Standing on the river deck below the Red Box listening to the sounds of Edith Piaf being sung by a local performer, a hot French barman nearby mixing French martinis, and trays of delish French cuisine (snails, Boeuf Bourguignon and macaroons) being enjoyed by all, there was nowhere else I wanted to be last Saturday night, because it could quite easily have been the romantic Seine.


The pic above is of Nadine McDonald and Sidonie Carpenter, you should check out her work, she’s a deadly landscape architect and designer.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

I’m grateful for love in Brisbane (Part One)



The more I visit Bris-Vegas, the more I fall in love with the city. My growing infatuation is increased through the love I receive from locals... and with that I mind, tonight I have much to be grateful for. This is the first of three blogs related to my recent trip to the Sunshine State.

1. AVID READER: Many of you will already be aware that I am a HUGE fan of Avid Reader in West End, because it is one of the country’s top independent booksellers. I always feel loved in their store and my visit last week was no different as my friend and author Krissy Kneen (who was a guest blogger her a few weeks ago and is pictured with me above) threw me a wonderful launch for Paris Dreaming. Hey Krissy, what was in that ‘pink drink’?

A cosy venue, the room was filled with family, friends, and Avid Reader fans as well. And after a day of feeling frustrated as a writer, and almost ready to throw the towel in, I found my zest for the writerly life simply by stepping through the Boundary Street doors. The pic above includes my cousin Bev and her nieces Gracie and Susie and brother-in-law Tom. It was great to meet them.



2. JACKIE HUGGINS:
My long-time tidda, Jackie Huggins, stepped up like never before to deliver one of the best launch speeches I have ever heard, and I’ve heard some in my time! It’s a struggle for Jackie NOT to be funny, she’s just so damn good at it, and her words on yours truly and Paris Dreaming were no less hilarious than her words about the previous novels of mine she’s launched. I’m grateful for her generosity of spirit, but more so the inspiration she gives me. I’ve never seen Jackie lose her temper in all the years I’ve known her. There is definitely going to be a wise Murri Aunty in the next novel... a book some seem to want to call The Gap Dreaming. The jury is out on that one... Pic below of Jackie and I at Avid Reader.



3. SMART STUDENTS: During my trip to Brisbane, I participated in my inaugural ‘student press call’ at 612 ABC Brisbane, where I was cleverly grilled by three students – Jocelyn, Caitlyn and Yuji (pictured above) - from Queensland Academy for Science, Maths and Technology. They each threw intelligent and probing questions at me over thirty minutes, guided by broadcasting dynamo Madonna King. I really enjoyed the experience and am grateful for the opportunity to yarn with such inspiring and focussed students. To be honest, they were so smart I felt very nervous! You can hear the whole interview right here.

4. WALTER WILLIAMS: Brisbane locals will know the sexy tones of Walter Williams on 4BC each night, but it was a real treat for me to meet him for the first time. I was most impressed by this fella because he’d actually read my ‘chick-lit’ novel while soaking in the bath (there were water stains on it). The book had tagged pages which he referred to throughout the interview asking me, at times, some rather risqué questions. I’m glad Mum couldn’t hear the interview back here in Sydney. Kudos to you Wally (pictured with me above). Love your work! Love your shirt.

5. MURRI COUNTRY: What a bonus to get to yarn with Karen Dorante on Murri Country, 98.9FM. The stunning new studios in West End were full of budding young broadcasters learning the craft. It was also a bonus to bump into one of my favourite poets there, Samuel Wagan Watson. I’m grateful that within their broadcasting schedule they found room to yarn with a girl from Matto.

6. WARM WELCOMES: Part of the ‘hard-slog’ of being on a book tour means dropping into bookstores to sign stock. Each and every time I was greeted with a smile and friendliness. I am particularly grateful to Riverbend Books and Mary Ryans at Bullimba and Dymocks and Borders at Westfield Chermside.


The highlight of the trudge from store to store was bumping into the gorgeous Jessica Rudd (pictured with me above) while at Riverbend Books. She’s the author of Campaign Ruby, which I highly recommend reading if you haven’t already. I love how Jess’s dress matches the cover of Paris Dreaming.

Hey speaking of fabulous bookstores... I’d love to know what yours is? And where?