It's been an amazing week of inspiration on the writing front. Brisbane is so rich in people, places and programs. I seriously don't want to leave, except that it is SO HOT!!!
Here's just a taste of what I am grateful for this week...
1.
THE MUSE: My muse has been working over
time, blessing me with inspiration for the new novel. I couldn’t keep up with
the ideas so I had to ask him to stop being so good at his job. To keep him
occupied though while my fingers caught up with my brain, I got him to go through
all the brochures, business cards, menus etc I’ve been collecting here the last
few weeks. I’m grateful that my muse is practical and efficient too.
2.
BLACK+WRITE PROJECT: As part of my
residency here at QUT, I have been working with Ellen van Neerven-Currie and
Linda McBride-Yuke. Both are doing the kuril dhagun Indigenous Editing Mentorship program within
the black+write project at the State Library of QLD. It’s been a learning
experience for all of us; even after going through the process of editing
twelve of my own books, Linda and Ellen taught new ways of considering my
current work. In exchange, I taught them some different strategies and
processes from am author’s perspective. For my small amount of time with them
(six hours in total), I am incredibly grateful. I’m also pleased there will
soon be two more qualified Indigenous editors in the industry.
3.
SHERLY GWYTHER: I’m especially grateful
for local writer and artist Sheryl Gwyther
for her time, energy and enthusiasm when it comes to supporting writers. Sheryl
was at the forefront of the fight against parallel importation of books in
recent years, and is often seen at events in Brisbane supporting local writers,
and indeed, visiting writers like myself. This week alone I am grateful for her
treks to QUT and to the SLQLD to catch up and talk about issues important to
all of us as writers: ethics, publishing protocols, the need for support from
our writing orgs and so on. You can check out Sheryl’s blog
in preparation for her cameo appearance here in the near future when she
presents her own ‘five gratefuls’.
4.
ALI COBBY ECKERMANN: I’ve mentioned Ali Cobby Eckermann
here before. She’s a poet, novelist and all round deadly woman who also
established the Aboriginal Writers Retreat. Last night I was one of the privileged audience members who heard a reading
from Ali’s forthcoming novel Ruby
Moonlight, written as part of the kuril dhagun Indigenous Writing
Fellowship. I am grateful to Ali (pictured above) for the inspiration she brings me, but I’m more
grateful I can call her my friend.
5.
SUE McPHERSON: Last night, I met for the
first time Sue McPherson,
also a recipient of the kuril dhagun Indigenous Writing Fellowship. I listened
to her read from her work Grace Beside Me
and was entertained and engaged. I can’t
wait to delve into the complete work when it is released through Magabala Books in April 2012. I’m grateful for another new
voice to hit the Australian literary scene, and also that Sue is a Wiradjuri Williams,
just like me!
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