Melbourne Writers' Festival - Helen Garner
There's no chance of being disappointed at Melbourne's annual Writers' Festival. As always, this year also proved to be a stand-out, with Australia's first lady of literature, Helen Garner delivering the Opening Night Address in conversation with Ramona Koval. Garner spoke candidly about her latest book - This House of Grief - in which she relates the tragedy of the Father's Day 2005 drowning murders of the three small Farquharson boys by their father.
The evening began with a dedication and a reading by Garner from the book and was followed by some exacting insights into elements of the two trials from Garner's perspective.
Garner has a comfortably casual conversational style that is engaging and refreshing. A pleasure and a privilege to attend!
Gotta love Flash Fiction!
So a couple of weeks ago I signed up for the NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Challenge 2014!
The start gates opened at midnight on Friday, NYC time... this is the first time I've participated in this writing challenge - write a short story with a 1000 word limit that must include the specified:
- Genre
- Location/setting
- Object
Just love flash fiction and also found this writing community welcoming, engaging and encouraging!
Uploaded my completed story Sunday afternoon.
- Mystery
- University dorm room
- Breath spray
Now comes the wait!
Thank you everyone at the Flash Fiction Challenge!
Raising Hope... chuffed!
So chuffed to have recieved this heartfelt review from a reader.
“Raising hope” is beautifully written, and I found myself wholeheartedly identifying with the main character, Bridie, even though I have not had similar life experiences. I do know about hope, though; how essential it is and how fragile it can be.
I raced through my reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen to this young woman and those in her life, which is also a comment on the writing. I cared about the characters, particularly Bridie and her husband, Ant, but there are many interesting folk among the extended family as well.
Joan Beckwith