14 days, 4 cities, too many things to be grateful for....

I’m sitting on the couch watching the AFL Grand Final as I write this, and I’m sick. Chest infection, head cold and fever. It could be from germs I picked up at the gym, or through the aircon on the planes I’ve been on, or it could be related to a certain level of exhaustion I’m feeling from being on the road for what seems like forever!

BUT – the exhaustion comes with a set of experiences and memories that I am most grateful for, and here are some from the past two weeks that I’ll keep forever.

Brisbane, September 18: A day visit to St Rita’s College in Brisbane welcomed me into the world of the Presentation Nuns and a school community rich with beautiful, polite, conscientious women in their final weeks of school. I was there to talk about my writing journey with the aim of assisting the Year 12 students with a journalism assignment on Australian women with purpose. I’m grateful for the interest the school took in my work and my story and for the opportunity to introduce students to organisations like the Indigenous Literacy Foundation as part of my Ambassadorial role. The pic above is just a small group of the larger collective I spoke to. Thanks ladies, and good luck with your exams!

With the gorgeous Tania McCartney and Canberra Readers' Festival

Canberra, September 22: As a writer, I am probably most grateful for my readers. I mean, what’s the point in penning and publishing a work that no-one picks up nor opens. Festivals and author talks at libraries generally interest me because I get to talk to, engage with and learn from my readers: what and why they read, and what they like or don’t like about a particular book. (Ok, so I’m not overly interested in what they don’t like in my books, but you have to take the good with the bad!). So a festival just for readers was a wonderful idea as far as I’m concerned and so a huge round of applause for Libraries ACT for throwing the party at the Canberra Theatre last weekend.

I took the stage alongside the awesome and widely read Melina Marchetta (is there anyone in Australia who hasn’t heard of Looking for Alibrandi?) and we had a good yarn, facilitated by 666ABC Canberra Louise Maher.  I’d try and write a blog about the inspiration born out of speakers on the day like the deadly Kate Grenville, alas ACT Ambassador for the national Year of Reading, Tania McCartney has already done the job – and more than thoroughly. You can read it here and see her above with me fooling around in the Green Room. And more coverage can be found at Whispering Gums. 
 

A big shout out to those readers who came and had a yarn and got a book signed and to Dymocks   (Canberra Centre) for coming along to sell all our books.

Thank you to Sue Box and all the team for putting readers first with this event! You all rock!

Sydney, September 23: I took the day off and spent a couple of hours at my favourite beach, my temple, my haven: Maroubra (pictured above). I don’t really feel like I’m grounded back in Sydney unless I see the sea, so a morning walk and then donning the bikini (for the first time in about 25 years!) and I was feeling pretty damned happy with myself. Bonus of the day was catching up with my tidda Ashlee Donohue (pictured with me below at the Deadlys two days later).

Sydney, September 25: Always love getting frocked up for the biggest celebration of success in Indigenous Australia. This year’s Deadly Awards  at the Sydney Opera House was no different and a huge shout out to Gavin Jones and all his crew at GJC for pulling together another memorable event. Congratulations to Ali Cobby Eckermann for her award for Outstanding Contribution to Literature for her book Ruby Moonlight. I’m in awe of Ali’s writing (I hope I can write like that when I grow up!).

 With my sista the Deputy Sheriff Sonja Stewart

Highlights of the evening: Deborah Cheetham singing the Italian classic Time to Say Goodbye, hearing from the original Sapphires and a performance by Tasmania’s Dewayne Everettsmith. He might be the next Dan Sultan, eh?

 John Paul Janke - the male version of me, at the Deadlys!

Melbourne, September 26: Well I was a little overdressed as I entered the offices of seek.com.au on Wednesday. I had no idea the headquarters of Australia’s #1 on-line employment agency would be such a funky working environment staffed by socially aware and very groovy young people. And within minutes of my arrival I was warmly welcomed and quickly pictured myself working in the hospitable, friendly space. Chandeliers, colourful beanbags, lunchtime speakers. Wow! Beats working by myself in Rosebery with plain white walls and only myself to talk to.

 Milton, Martin and staff from seek.com.au

Seriously, I was grateful for the opportunity to sit alongside one of our nation’s best journalists Martin Flanagan  (the ‘literary sports writer’ as I like to think of him), as we yarned together about my latest book Am I Black Enough For You? which attempts to simplify the complex issue of Aboriginal identity in the 21^st century. A huge shout out to Milton Walters from Project Collaboration Pty Ltd, Partner of 4Projects and Lorena Healey from seek for coordinating the event (one of a series aimed at informing staff about Indigenous issues).

This is how you do a book signing at seek!

Melbourne, September 27: I was grateful I attended the announcement of the AFL Woman of the Year at the Crown Palladium in Southbank. As part of the annual Essendon’s Women’s lunch and comedy debate, the accolade went to....drum roll please... my dear sista Belinda Duarte who runs KorinGamadji Institute  and Chairs the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy (of which I am a board member). Table 87 added more than colour (sorry for the pun) to the event as we cheered the house down when our friend and colleague took to the stage and delivered a respectful, inclusive and uplifting speech. 

  NASCA Board member Sonja Steward with our Chair and AFL Woman of the Year, Belinda Duarte!

Highlights of the day, other than the above include: meeting comedian Lehmo (he’s a bit of a spunk, isn’t he?) and making the winning bid in the silent auction for the Carmen’s muesli package (it was a gift for a friend, that’s all you need to know!). 

 It was also great to meet Jason Mifsud (AFL Community Engagement Officer) and talk about his work with young people. Hoping we can marry literacy and footy somehow in the future.

US Literary agent Dawn Michelle Hardy is grateful...

I was in Florida in August to present at the Black Writers’ Reunion and Conference and to do my own professional development. It was the first opportunity I’d been afforded to sit and talk with, and do pitches to US agents, including the dynamic Dawn Michelle Hardy. Aside for our love of books we shared the value of being ‘grateful’ for the lives we lead. And so today I am thrilled that Michelle has offered up her list of gratefuls in terms of her life in the publishing industry.

Michelle says: As a book publicist who took on the challenge of adding literary agent to my resume in 2011 in the midst of the changing publishing climate I can truly say “I LOVE HAVING DUAL CAREERS!” I am truly grateful for that. Many people wake up begrudgingly 5-days a week and commute to jobs where they are unsatisfied.  I’ve been a full-time entrepreneur for the past 8-years and although the ride has been nerve wracking at times, the challenges and accomplishments, keep my blood pumping and my brain sharp.  The entire experience is something I would not change for the world. I am building relationships and projects with the media as well as publishers who put books on shelves. There is something about making these influential connections that just intoxicates me. 

Here are 5 reasons I am grateful to be an entrepreneur in the publishing industry:

1.     As both agent and publicist I have 100% control over who I get to represent. I am working on projects that I genuinely find interesting. Nothing is assigned to me and therefore I give 110% every time because there is a true connection. My authors are so diverse:  a professor, a screenwriter, a single mom, fitness trainer, music journalist, construction contractor, meditation coach and coming soon professional athletes. 

2.     Why shoot for the sky, when man has walked on the moon.  I am grateful that there are endless opportunities awaiting me.  The number of awards, deals, writers I rep, books I sell… there is no limit.  

3.     Books, Books and Magazine.  I get an insane amount of complimentary books including journals, bibles, and memoirs to novels, coffee table and self-help books. I also get complimentary subscriptions to national and international publications.   I love it!!! There truly is so much great stuff to read.

4.     I am grateful that working in publishing allows me to step outside of my comfort zone. As an agent I took on a project on race and identity and another on paranormal activities.  I am excited about both of these projects, but I had to expand beyond my personal points of interest to find these great gems. 

5.     Jet setting. I am traveling the country attending writing conferences and workshops. I am meeting some really amazing authors. I am grateful to have the opportunity to help shape and mold the writing paths of so many while seeing the great USA.

This summer I attended Black Writers Reunion Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and had a chance to meet the wonderful Anita Heiss. Thanks Anita for the guest blog opportunity. [Anita says: THANK YOU Michelle - fabulous to have you here!]

@dawnmichellepr on Twitter

WHEN GENRES ATTACK authors fight back!

At the Sydney Writers’ Festival this year I sat in the audience of a panel titled ‘Old Scrags and Other Sheilas’ about creating memorable female characters. I was with author Lisa Heidke  and I was there largely to enjoy the wise words of Susan Johnson who had just released My Hundred Lovers.  

It was during this session that I found myself fuming when a comment by an author suggested that writing chick lit was the lowest form of writing you could possibly do. There was much debriefing needed at the Sebel following the session, especially seeing as Lisa had only days earlier post a blog titled Chick Lit is not Dumb Lit.

Joined by award-winning crime novelist Pamela Newton, we decided we should have a conversation of our own in supporting the value and strength of women's writing - regardless of genre or age of writer! - and we sashayed off to Shearer's in Leichhardt for the discussion. In preparation for the event, Lisa blogged for the fabulous bookshop in Norton Street.

 Barbara and Tony Shearer with yours truly!

Below are just a few words shared at the event we titled: When Genres Attack: 50 Shades of Chic Lit 

Susan said:

"I think the way the term "chick-lit" is used in a derogatory, patronising way is part of a broader issue about the way women's writing is seen in general. Whoever has heard of "men's writing?"

If you look at a writer like, say, Nick Hornby, he is writing the same sort of stuff as many other women writers; on the same subject (relationships between men and women, parents and children etc) yet his work is given a certain respect. This is a complex subject that would take a PhD to cover in depth but -- essentially -- I believe there is a conversation to be had about what we regard as the template for writing if you like, and how it is more usual for male writers to be include in this template or for male writers to be seen as the "default position" and for the work of women writers to be seen as the deviation or the exception. Look at which writers are regarded as forming America's finest, for example: Roth, Updike, Mailer, Franzen etc and the same for the UK: Amis, Barnes, McEwan etc. Hilary Mantel has only very recently broken through to the same league but she has been writing well for years and years.

With this in mind, I was happy to represent the Queensland arm of the Stella Prize (named after Stella Miles Franklin) -- a new literary prize similar to the UK's Orange Prize but which will reward one Australian women writer (from any genre: plays, poetry, fiction, non-fiction) with a yearly prize for the best book. A group of writers, academics, publishers, publicists and general fans of women's fiction -- most of whom live in Melbourne -- have put in some hard work to get the prize up and running. Next year -- 2013 -- will be the first year the $50,000 prize will be offered. Yay for women's writing I say! And good luck to Australia's excellent women writers!"

 

With the lovely Emily Maguire at the event

I said:

When writers trash a genre, they are not only belittling the author but also the reader. I write for my readers, and it seems some writers FORGET they write for readers.  I want people to read my books, because I write what I believe matters and I have issues and messages I want the broader community to engage with. Commercial women’s literature is the perfect mechanism to get to an audience that mightn’t normally engage with Indigenous Australia in any medium or context.

The universal experience of things like love and related loss is one that is not bound by geography, race, class, and politics. And it’s the theme that drives much of my chick lit. It doesn’t mean the subplots and other themes in the works can’t be political, cultural, and / or have reflections and broader commentary on society at large.

My Mr Right and Dreaming novels have made comments on socially important issues such as:

·      The NT intervention,

·      Indigenous intellectual property,

·      Black deaths in custody and the relationship between the police force and the Aboriginal community.

·      Inter-racial relationships

·      Australian history

·      Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC, January 26 (Australia Day/ Invasion Day)

·      I’ve showcased real Indigenous artists across EVERY artform

·      I’ve covered Indigenous artists from the US and those exhibited in Paris

·      I’ve written about strong, capable, educated, feisty, sexy and sassy Aboriginal women as I know them in the 21^st century

And I’ve had great sex and shopping along the way (well my characters have!).

Author of four novels, Lisa said:
‘I’m often asked what I think the next ‘big thing’ in publishing will be. I shake my head, stare at the ceiling and take a deep breath. The market is almost impossible to predict. Instead, be true to yourself and write what’s in your heart. Write the stories you want to read.

Having said that, the two hottest genres in Australia right now are rural romance and mummy porn (yes, I hate the term, too), so why not try combining the two. The birth of rural cliterature is imminent!’

So the next time you hear someone trashing chick lit of or commercial women’s fiction, remind them that stories about women matter, and men never have to defend their writing the way we do!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter!

Humbled, honoured, grateful... CWA NSW!

To celebrate their 90^th year, the Country Women's Association of NSW recognised a number of women and men for their contribution to rural communities. What a surprise it was to receive a message informing me that as part of the celebrations, I was to be made an Honorary Member of the CWA of NSW.

In a morning ceremony also celebrating their 3^rd CWA Awareness Day, I met an extraordinary group of women from across the state (representing some of the 400 branches) and learned more about the support network provided to women, which – aside from baking scones - aims to raise awareness of local issues, many of an agricultural and environmental nature.

I was thrilled to stand alongside fellow honorary membership recipients (pictured above): John Fairfax AO, CWA State President Mrs. Elaine Armstrong, Ian McNamara ABC Radio, Victoria Carey Editor Country Style Magazine, Anne Sargeant, yours truly, Danica Leys NSW Rural Women of the year and Captain Clyde Thomson Executive Director Royal Flying Doctors. Missing on the day were David Peachey (ex-NRL player and founder of the David Peachey Foundation), Ms Pip Courtney (ABC Landline host) and John Dwyer (General Manager of The Land newspaper).

CWA State President Mrs. Elaine Armstrong

For a city-slicker like me it was indeed an honour to receive my honorary membership and I’m grateful for the recognition for some of the work (if you can call it that!) I’ve done in rural NSW. I’ve got some more ideas now for my next novel, which is partially set in Mudgee!

Review: Deadly Readers

 Magabala’s new Deadly Readers make me wish I had kids

This week I received the latest installment from the Magabala Books catalogue: a series of four pre-primary readers titled the Deadly Reads Series (Saltwater Series). Colourfully illustrated by Dub Lefler (author / illustrator of Once There was Boy) and Maggie Prewett (illustrator of Old Frangipani Tree at Flying Fish Point  and The Grumpy Lighthouse Keeper), the works have been designed to offer young Australian children of all backgrounds engaging, enjoyable and culturally rich reading experiences that are aimed to encourage them to read further.

 

My immediate reaction to reading through Lefler’s Animals Move (where birds fly, fish swim and crabs are crawling) and Claws, Eyes, Flippers (where crabs have claws and turtles have flippers) was to feel sorry for myself that I didn’t have a bub of my own to share these beautiful works with. I can’t wait to give them away so that the simple text with gorgeous, vibrant, uplifting illustrations will brighten a young child’s life and introduce them to the joy of books and reading.

 

The other two titles, written by Wiradjuri education consultant Nola Turner-Jensen and author of Sugarbag were equally inspiring. A Beach for us to Play is a colourful array of beach scenes with simple rhymes, while I have is a basic introduction the names of limbs for humans and animals. Genius works really.

 

The Deadly Reads for Deadly Readers (Saltwater Series) will be available from October in all good bookshops (you can order now through the Readings) and online from Magabala Books for $19.95 

Why not order them for Christmas presents?

The Brisbane Writers’ Festival 2012, the best yet!

Growing Up Australian - Word Play

From memory I attended my first Brisbane Writers’ Festival back in 1997. I recall doing a panel with my beautiful sistas Jackie Huggins and Melissa Lucashenko. I think I may have met Alexis Wright there for the first time also, but don’t quote me on that! I’ve always loved attending the BWF because there is nothing more inspiring or enjoyable than talking books and writing along the riverfront. Years ago events were in marquees, now many of them happen in the SLQLD auditorium and surrounds. Aside from the location in the warm weather, the festival brings together a wealth of interesting, talented, vibrant writers from around the country, and from across the globe. I’ve only ever had an enriching – albeit exhausting – time at the festival, and this year I think topped them all.

Here is a very short-list of what I am grateful for:

 

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WORD PLAY: The educational component to the BWF is known as Word Play, and this year was my third time I was part of this innovative initiative, and the second time I got to experience the rush and enjoying of the on-line literature festival. Well supported on the IT side – shout out to Samantha, Nathan and team – I had 45 minutes to engage with students in a virtual classroom, talking to young people and their teachers and librarians all the way from Cairns down to Brisbane and out to Warwick. The OLF gives students in regions outside of the city, a wonderful opportunity to access, engage and share with a range of Australian authors they might otherwise – actually probably never – get the chance to meet in any other circumstance.

With the students from St Laurence's Brisbane at Word Play

As part of Word Play I Chaired a panel titled Growing up Australian, taking the stage with award-winning novelists Belinda Jeffrey (One Long Thread) and Patrick Holland (The Mary Smokes Boys) and the very cheeky author of the memoir The Family Law, Benjamin Law.

All their works uncovers the pains and joys of family relationships, especially between parents and their children, but also the strong bond between siblings, and those children left to fend for themselves. 

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ALICE PUNG: I’m a huge fan of Alice Pung. Many of you will know that it was Alice’s memoir Unpolished Gem that first triggered my idea to write my own memoir on identity. So, I was absolutely thrilled to be in conversation with Alice as part of the Word Play program but also to sit alongside her and Marieke Hardy and Mary Phillips the following day to discuss memoirs to an adult audience.

 Witi Ihimeara and Flora Devatine

 

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FRENCH WRITING IN THE PACIFIC: I was impressed by the inclusion of a French/Pacific strand in this year’s festival, and it’s not because some of the key speakers are my friends! It’s because we need to be considering the literature that is indeed in our region, and works particularly by our fellow/sista Indigenous writers like ChantalSpitz (Island of Shattered Dreams,) Flora Devatine, Dewe Gorode  and Witi Ihimeara to name a few. 

It was refreshing to hear discussions by French writers like Claudine Jacques and publisher Christian Robert (Director of Publications at AuVent des Iles, Tahiti) about the need for us to be considering French writing that not only comes from France but from French Polynesia and the Pacific. 

Christian Robert

But perhaps one of the most important lines of the symposium came from Witi, one of New Zealand's most well known and awarded authors, a suggestion to Australian readers “To look east!” And indeed we should.

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THE ALL BLACKS: Perhaps the highlight for the festival was taking to the stage with the Literary All Blacks. Chaired by 98.9FM Tiga Bayles, I was thrilled to be able to share the launch of Dr Dylan Coleman’s first book, Mazing Grace  (winner of the 2011 David Unaipon Award) and Professor Witi Ihimaera as we discussed the role and purpose of our works and how identity plays out in our writing. I’d been where Dylan is now, first book in hand, and I dream about being where Witi is as a highlighted celebrated and respected author. He is one of my literary heroes. 

Dewe and Peter Brown performing at BL.INK

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BL.INK: The BL.INK program hosted by kuril dhagun at the State Library of QLD is just another reason why I love that library, why I think it is the most innovative, exciting, community-focussed and inviting library in the country. Oh hell, let’s just say it, the world! An event held in the library café (outdoors), it’s a series of readings by local and visiting writers promoting the evolution and diversity of Indigenous writing across genres. We had a blast at BL.INK with stories by Dewe Gorode (translated by Peter Brown), poetry by Chantal Spitz (also translated by Peter), and some deadly poetry interspersed by Kaylah Tyson and our dynamic MC Nadine McDonald! 

Why don’t we have these things in Sydney???

FRIENDS: The BWF is the perfect place to be reunited with and to make new friends - all with the love of books and writing in common. Shout outs of gratitude to the lovely Loretta Ryan and Annie Pappalardo (above) and Susan Johnson and Karsy Bee (below). Always great to see you in one of my favourite cities!

 

Finally, a huge congrats to Festival Director / CEO Jane O’Hara, Program Manager Charis Holt, Sally Patrick (Project Assistant) and all the wonderfully cheerful and helpful volunteers. Special mention to Nadine and Amanda Hayman from the State Library of QLD also! You all rock and I am so very grateful for the entire experience.