Wagwords a new multi-media wordgame and fiction adventure by Philip Redhead

Australian first, author, Philip Redhead, has launched an all-new multi-media wordgame and fiction adventure featuring Wagwords™ – a tongue-in-cheek story with the challenge of solving missing words which also go in a luxury crossword, combined with an eclectic mix of humour – making it a perfect gift on any occasion.

Grizbut and the Amazonians is the hilarious and witty tale of Grizbut, a hip Amazonian woman with supreme perception and power. By following Grizbut’s adventures, the reader will also have the additional challenge in solving the Wagwords™ along the way, and enjoying Phil Redhead’s satirical sense of humour as well.

For a sneak peak, take a look at www.wagwords.com

Five Wounds written by Jonathan Walker and illustrated by Dan Hallett #graphicnovel

A breathtakingly original, deep, dark story reminiscent of Patrick Suskind’s Perfume and Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

Inspired by Italo Calvino, Jeanette Winterson, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Uncanny X-Men, this surreal, darkly beautiful and unsettling graphic novel is by turns hilarious and horrific, grotesque and tender.

Five Wounds is the story of five wounded characters, all orphans: Gabriella, a crippled angel; Cur, the leader of a sect of dogs; Cuckoo, a gambler with a wax face; Magpie, a thief terrified of going blind; and Crow, a leper trying to distil an antidote for death. Via a series of mutilations, murders, kidnappings and dramatic escapes, everyone gets exactly what they deserve – or do they?

2010 Emerging Writers Festival – Friday 21 – Sunday 30 May #Melbourne

Venues: The Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas Melbourne Town Hall ● State Library of Victoria ● City Library ●Federation Square  

Bookings:  www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au

New Festival Director Lisa Dempster is thrilled to announce the the program for the 2010 Emerging Writers’ Festival, Australia’s only literary event dedicated to writers of all ages and styles.

2009 saw 6000 people attend the festival’s 15 sell out events with 300 writers, performers, publishers and mentors contributing to the event. In 2010, the EWF will double in size, curating 30 events and featuring 350 writers and artists as the festival stretches the definition of writing styles to include song writing, copywriting, poetry, prose fiction, comedy, writing for video games, journalism, screenwriting, theatre, experimental writing forms, memoir, blogging, opinion, comic writing and more.

2010 Emerging Writers Festival highlights will include:

First word – BMW Edge Theatre, Federation Square, 7.30pm, Friday 21 May
The Emerging Writers’ Festival burst into life by presenting the best of the festival – exciting new works by emerging writers, a Call to Arms by romantic fiction writer Toni Jordan, and a comic debate asking  ‘Love Vs Angst – what makes a better writer?’ Come and feel the love!

Zine Bus – various locations, 11am to 5pm Saturday 29 May NEW EVENT 
All aboard the world’s first mobile zine fair! Travelling the streets of Melbourne and culminating in a guerrilla zine market  at Federation Square, the zine bus will be fully stocked with independent emerging zines, with the most innovative displays of art, creativity and DIY ever to take to the streets!

Twitterfest – twitter.com/emergingwriters – May 24 – 28 , 2pm daily  NEW EVENT
Taking the Emerging Writers’ Festival to the world. Daily throughout the festival, Twitterfest will host discussions and interview writers… on Twitter! It’s social media mixed with literary debate – jump online to join the discussion. Hosted by writers from across Australia.

Wordstock – BMW Edge – 7.30pm Thurs 27 May
New work inspired by the songs of AC/DC. With songs, comedy, short plays and performance pieces, rock n roll will be given a different sort of spotlight. A one night only event and a performance highlight of the Emerging Writers’ Festival, Wordstock will reveals a whole new side of AC/DC. It will blow your mind (like dynamite.)  Hosted by iconic Melbourne rocker Clem Bastow.

You Can’t Stop The Musing: Disco Lecture – Horse Bazaar, 397 Little Lonsdale St Tues 25 May, 6pm NEW EVENT
Everybody knows disco is fun. But is it good for you? Now that Disco is back (trust us, it is), the time has come to determine, once and for all, whether it’s part of the problem or part of the solution. *Triple J’s Craig Schuftan *presents the case for and against in You Can’t Stop the Musing – the world’s first Disco-lecture. Expect to hear from The Silver convention, The Chic Organisation and the Frankfurt School

48-hour play generator – Malthouse Theatre – 5.30pm, Sunday 24 May
Six (somewhat) rehearsed readings. Six emerging playwrights are given just two days to write a new play each. Teamed with an established director and team of actors, the results are presented on a Sunday evening of madcap and totally raw theatre. Previous 48 hour plays have developed into full length works.

In the Pub series – 26 May 7.30pm, The Workers Club Fitzroy
I Write What I Want, When I Want. We lift the shroud on the mystery of freelance writing. Our freelance experts talk about their journeys as freelancers, the ups and downs as well as their secrets to success. From journalism to comedy, our panellists will entertain and enlighten. Panellists: Chris Flynn, Ben Pobjie and more. Hosted by Joanna Brookfield. 

The Page Parlour – The Atrium @ Federation Square, 12 to 5pm, Sunday 23 May
Featuring over forty stalls selling everything from posters to books, literary journals to hand-crafted stories – all the good stuff that you won’t find in Borders. The Page Parlour is an independent press fair gathering the undiscovered, the underground, the obscure and the amazing all in one convenient market location.

Town Hall Program – Melbourne Town Hall, 9am to 5pm, May 29 – 30
A range of panels, interviews and conversations about the art, craft and business of being a writer.. Covers all styles of writing, from prose fiction, to song writing, theatre, video games, copywriting, poetry, comedy and more! Guests include: Michi Girl, Guy Blackman, Benjamin Law, Patrick Cullen, Jill Jones, Sean Riley, Julian Shaw, Katherine Charles, Declan Fay, Tom Taylor, Mel Campbell, Jeff Sparrow, Steph Bowe, Jan Sardi, and many, many more!

Kissing frogs by Andee Jones. Finding #love online over 40 – is it possible?

Once upon a time, using a social dating website would have labelled you as ‘desperate’ or ‘lonely’. Now it’s a rite of passage for singles on their journey to find another. An influx of men and women, 40 and above, are braving the dating market ­constituting what is now a movement,  courtesy of the computer age. According to Australia’s largest social dating website, Oasis Active, men and women over the age of 36 years make up over 30% of those signed up and looking for love online.

But is love really just a mouse click away?

At 50-something, Australian psychologist Andee Jones found out. Looking for companionship with a view to love, but not marriage, Andee did what other single people seemed to be doing and launched herself into the wide world of online dating. What transpired was Kissing Frogs ­ a true but cautionary tale of the pleasures and pitfalls of the online dating scene.

About the author

Andee Jones is a Melbourne-based psychologist. She holds a PhD and has worked as an educator at both secondary and tertiary levels .

A psychologist goes looking for love online – and finds trouble!
$24.95, 176 pages, paperback (208mm x 148mm)
ISBN 9781921462191
Publication: July 2010
Category: Relationships

Glissando by David Musgrave, #Sleepers #Publishing

A little bit about Glissando:
        When it comes to looking back over his life, Archie Fliess has got some understanding to do. So begins a sprawling reflection on his life during the early twentieth century, starting the day the fortunes of Archie and brother Reggie change when they are taken to be the rightful owners of the property built by their grandfather in country NSW. Along their journey, they are introduced to an odd collection of family and caretakers who don’t always have the best interests of the boys at heart. Archie becomes embroiled in the mystery surrounding his grandfather’s life, and as the two stories “ Archie’s and his grandfather’s“ unravel, we see familiar themes of disappointment and failed ambition. Glissando is a tale that travels along many threads, told in a playful, philosophical voice reminiscent of Sterne’s Tristram Shandy, with shades of Patrick White’s Voss. It’s an Australian classic, a satirical romp of epic proportions.

Melbourne launch details:
+ Friday 16th April
+ 7pm
+ The Wheeler Centre: 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
+ Being launched by poet, teacher and literary man-about-town, Kevin Brophy

Sydney launch details:
+ Friday 23rd April
+ 5.30 for 6pm
+ Woolley Building Common Room, University of Sydney
+ Being launched by associate professor, Will Christie

Buy Glissando
If you can’t make it to the launches and you haven’t already got this gorgeous book in your chocolate-warmed hands, step into our online store
http://www.sleeperspublishing.com/shop.html

midlife express

Inspired by archetypes - The Creative and The Daredevil, Sue Bell is the founder of midlifeexpress.

midlifexpress.com is for women between the ages of 35 and 60. The site is a resource for women at midlife and was established because there was nothing for women in this age group on the internet (other than sites about menopause). the site connects women to various events and workshops, reading material, discussion groups and more!!

Sue Bell: Sue has worked as a Lecturer in Information Technology, a multimedia teacher and as an entertainment writer for magazines in Australia and the UK.

Don’t forget Women of Letters – curated by Marieke Hardy & Michaela McGuire – March 28th – Melbourne

Bella Union in Trades Hall, Melbourne, Sunday March 28th, 2.30pm

Also raising money for Victorian animal rescue shelter Edgar’s Mission

The first of what will be a monthly event, Sunday will bring together five of Melbourne’s snappiest writers, musicians, politicians and comedians, in celebration of the beautiful lost art of letter-writing.

Angie Hart, Black Text publisher Caro Cooper, the Green Guide’s Lorelei Vashti, Myf Warhurst and Judith Lucy will each read a letter they penned to “The Night I’d Rather Forget.”

Musical interludes by local djs (including The Town Bikes’ Gabby) will keep you amused, and attendees are encouraged to pen short notes to the Women of Letters themselves, which will then be used by Michaela McGuire as points of discussion in a free-wheeling panel chat.

Tickets $10, available at the door.

Find Your Tribe (and 9 other things I wish I’d known in high school) by Rebecca Sparrow #geekgirl #gurls

FIND YOUR TRIBE

High school handed best-selling author, Rebecca Sparrow, some of her most crushing moments:
• No-one invited her to her Year 12 formal
• Despite playing netball since she was nine, she wasn’t even selected for the C-Grade netball team
• She was kicked out of ‘Advanced Maths’ and made to do ‘Maths in Society’
• And – as if all that wasn’t bad enough – thanks to her permed hair she spent her teenage years looking like a cross between Jon Bon Jovi and Tootsie

And yet, Rebecca is one of those rare people who claims to have loved (nearly) every minute of her high school days. The question is – HOW?

In Find Your Tribe, Rebecca outlines the 10 key lessons she believes make the difference to not just surviving, but enjoying, those years, including – finding your tribe (your true friends), trusting your intuition, learning to be resilient, having a positive body image, coping with the pressure of school work, the importance of giving back to the community, the dangers of binge drinking and the delicate issue of young love … making this irresistible and invaluable reading for every teenage girl.

In 2003, Rebecca was asked to write a letter to a friend’s daughter before she started high school – to share some advice on what she thought her friend’s daughter needed to know to survive those joyful but often brutal years. This letter was the seed for her latest book, Find Your Tribe (and 9 other things I wish I’d known in high school), a witty, warm and wise roadmap for girls navigating their high school years.

Following the success of her first book, The Girl Most Likely, Rebecca started receiving emails from hundreds of high school girls around the country seeking advice about how to survive their teenage years. As a result, she provides motivational talks to countless numbers of high school girls on the topics covered in Find Your Tribe and she has twice spoken at the National Young Leaders Convention.

Highly engaging, relevant and inspiring, with a few memorable photos here and there of the author, Find Your Tribe is the little black book for every teenage girl … and a must read for every parent too.

Published by UQP / 1 March 2010 / RRP: $14.95 / Non-fiction paperback
ISBN: 978 0 7022 3772 0

Women of Letters – Melbourne’s news literary event curated by Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire #geekgirl

Women of Letters, Melbourne’s newest literary event, is an afternoon that celebrates a diverse range of strong female talent whilst simultaneously raising funds for Victorian animal rescue shelter, Edgar’s Mission. Women of Letters will be held at Bella Union in Trades Hall on Sunday, March 28, 2010 beginning at 2.30 pm.

Curated by Age writers Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire, this monthly occasion will bring together five of Melbourne’s best and brightest writers, musicians, politicians and comedians in celebration of the beautiful lost art of letter-writing. 

The afternoon will bring the traditionally private endeavour of letter writing into the public arena, seeing each woman address the topic with their unique blend of insight, humour, lewdness and warmth.

The inaugural March Women of Letters will see musician Angie Hart, Black Text publisher Caro Cooper, the Green Guide’s Lorelei Vashti, television’s Myf Warhurst and respected comedian Judith Lucy each reading a letter they have penned to “The Night I’d Rather Forget.”
 
A rotating roster of the city’s finest musicians and DJ’s will provide a musical interlude, during which time the audience are encouraged to indulge in some letter writing for themselves.

Stamps and envelopes will be provided, and in the spirit of participation attendees are further encouraged to pen short notes to Women of Letters themselves. Michaela McGuire will then use these points of discussion as the basis of a free-wheeling panel chat to conclude the afternoon.

Tickets are just $10 and available at the door – Sunday March 28 at 2.30 pm at Bella Union, Trades Hall, corner of Victoria & Lygon Streets, Carlton South, Melbourne.

Edgars Mission

Delimiter – Tech in Oz site

Delimiter  : Technology and Australia.

Providing news, opinions, feature articles, profiles and multimedia content exclusively about the Australian market, leaving international coverage to those overseas. The audience is primarily professionals in Australia’s ICT industry, as well as the broader secondary community of Australian technology enthusiasts.

Hence, we primarily cover the local IT and telecommunications industries, but also the introduction and usage of consumer technology in the Australian market, as well as the top gaming stories.

The site was started in early 2010 by established Australian technology journalist and editor Renai LeMay with the aim of providing the nation with a strong independent voice about the local technology community.

What does ‘Delimiter’ mean?
The name ‘Delimiter’ is a technology term which you might have heard referred to in the context of databases. Wikipedia states: “A delimiter is a sequence of one or more characters used to specify the boundary between separate, independent regions in plain text or other data streams.”

Founder
Delimiter is published by Renai LeMay (@renailemay on Twitter), one of Australia’s best-known technology journalists and editors.