All further news is on blog tag or within book title tags
Research in Queensland
The Queensland trip was even better than expected. The Queenslander at
Shornecliffe was delightful and my talk with Aunty Jenny at the Hymba Yumba school was a truly enlightening experience. I was also able to speak with some very dedicated women from the Roma Historical society and later visited Mount Abundance station where I met the dynamic Helen Spinks who has rescued this historic home (pictured) from near-oblivion.
I'm now busy weaving my discoveries into the world of my novel, which will be a lot richer for these Queensland experiences.
The Queensland trip was even better than expected. The Queenslander at
Shornecliffe was delightful and my talk with Aunty Jenny at the Hymba Yumba school was a truly enlightening experience. I was also able to speak with some very dedicated women from the Roma Historical society and later visited Mount Abundance station where I met the dynamic Helen Spinks who has rescued this historic home (pictured) from near-oblivion.
I'm now busy weaving my discoveries into the world of my novel, which will be a lot richer for these Queensland experiences.
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Celebration
Took time off from my current book to celebrate 'The Memory Tree' with
friends. The same friends who gave me a high tea to celebrate 'Book of Lost
Threads' organized a Vietnamese lunch, complete with costumes. Wonderful lunch,
laughs and lots of champagne. Thank you to Bernadette, Maria and Mary.
Took time off from my current book to celebrate 'The Memory Tree' with
friends. The same friends who gave me a high tea to celebrate 'Book of Lost
Threads' organized a Vietnamese lunch, complete with costumes. Wonderful lunch,
laughs and lots of champagne. Thank you to Bernadette, Maria and Mary.
A busy couple of weeks
Last Wednesday, I took part in an 'in conversation' with Jane Sullivan of The Age at the Eltham
Library. Our discussion was wide-ranging and Jane was very
insightful in her questions and comments, ensuring the evening flowed well. Many
thanks to the Eltham Library and especially Meera, of the famous Eltham
bookshop, who organised the evening. Long may she reign!
It was a great pleasure to be interviewed by Jan
Goldsworthy of 3CR. Her reading of the book was very thorough and her questions
thoughtful and challenging. This was my second interview with Jan. We are very
lucky in Melbourne. There are some excellent presenters on local radio.
Last week I was interviewed on Southern Radio by Gaytana Adorna. It was
worth the long drive from Eltham to Mentone. I enjoyed the interview immensely,
not the least because of Gaytana's relaxed manner and obvious love of books.
The launch of The Memory Tree went well and many books were sold. Thank you to my friends who attended and the cards, flowers and good wishes. I hope you all enjoyed a good meal later in Lygon St. I arrived home to a beautiful bunch of flowers from Allen and Unwin. I also must tell you that the friend who knitted the roses in honour of Mrs Pargetter, has now knitted me a leaf for the Memory Tree. It's becoming a tradition.
The longest morning tea for breast cancer is coming up in May, so start knitting those tea-cosies and either try to organise or attend one. They are great fun and for a very worthy cause.
Current Research
At the end otf the month I'm off to Queensland to research my current book. I'm looking forward to staying in a genuine old Queenslander, visiting the Hymba Yumba indigenous school and travelling around the Maranoa.
The local historical society suggested I read a memoir by Mary McManus called 'Reminiscences of the Early Settlement of the Maranoa'. To my delight, Mary turned out to be a very feisty woman with sound opinions, an enquiring mind and a dry sense of humour; very much like one of the women in my story. I hope I can visit her old home which is now National Trust and maybe visit her grave, if I can find it.
IA Little Commercial for the National Year of the Reading
Please support your local bookshop. Our experiences as readers will be diminished if we can no longer browse and handle beautiful new books.
Some readers' websites: I've been asked to contribute to the following readers websites. Answering the questions has been both fun and challenging.
http://thereadingroom.com/the-memory-tree/bp/4949381
http://blogbooktopia.com.au/2012/02/02/tess-evans-authorhttp://bookdout.wordpress.com/category/australian-women-writers-feature-2012
Click at end of each address for link
Exciting news. Book of Lost Threads has been nominated for the Dublin Literary Awards. I have no thought of winning, but it's nice to be nominated.
Port Fairy Festival of Words
Incorporating the Ex Libris Antiquarian Book Fair
I enjoyed every minute of this festival in the beautiful village of Port Fairy. Along with writers talks and workshops there was a Famous Five adventure for primary school children, a comedy debate for secondary students (Very accomplished). The topic was 'That libraries should be closed' - a challenge for the affirmative, given an audience of readers. Finally there was the Barbara Cartland Book Hurl, a not-to-be missed event. I'll say no more. Visit the festival next year and find out all about it.
Thank you to those who came to my talk. It's not easy being last.
Thank you to those who came to my talk. It's not easy being last.