Author Archive for: ‘admin-abbw’

Sixteen great quotes from the poetry I read in July 2016

Here’s my project. I read a poem a day, imbibe its rhythms and use this as an inspiration for my own writing. Because it’s 2016, I’ll choose 16 quotes from 16 of these poems to feature on A Bigger Brighter World so you’ll get to enjoy a taste of them too. I may not manage

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Clever thinking drives Steiner’s ‘The Last Wilkie’s’

A recent and marvellous live reading of Jon Steiner’s story ‘Poioumenon’ gave me fresh insight into the power of Steiner’s words and the clarity and cleverness of his thinking. ‘Poioumenon’ is from Steiner’s collection The Last Wilkie’s and Other Stories. It’s a weird and wonderful riff on envy and its particularly convoluted manifestation in the

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EOFY already? Here’s the fiction that got away (Part 1)

It’s the End of the Fictional Year! I’ve read so many books I haven’t blogged about my ‘accountant’ is demanding an EOFY summary. Here’s Part 1. Between a Wolf and a Dog by Georgia Blain Set on a rainy day in Sydney, four characters are pondering the pains and joys of where they’re at in

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Parker’s bug story and jelly bean tree pics are treats for young readers

Two children’s picture books out this year showcase writer/illustrator Aura Parker’s keen creativity and offer readers some delightful treats. In this Q&A Parker talks about the playful process of pairing words and pictures, the joys of reading aloud with children, and her excitement that children will soon be able to explore her miniature bug world. Your

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Sixteen great quotes from the poetry I read in June 2016

Here’s my project. I read a poem a day, imbibe its rhythms and use this as an inspiration for my own writing. Because it’s 2016, I’ll choose 16 quotes from 16 of these poems to feature on A Bigger Brighter World so you’ll get to enjoy a taste of them too. I may not manage

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Rossell’s ‘Withering-by-Sea’ is a flourishing tale

Stella Montgomery is trapped with her three humourless aunts in the Hotel Majestic in the drab coastal town of Withering-by-Sea. Spurred on by an old atlas, she dreams of adventure and—when she spies something she shouldn’t have—she gets caught up in one! Stella vows to keep the small package Mr Filbert has hidden in the

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‘Crime Scenes’ nails its target

Grab your gumshoes and telephoto lens. It’s time to pay ‘Krymphixshon’ a visit to examine the Crime Scenes. This one’s well worth your scrutiny. I’m not a die-hard crime reader who hoovers up a multiple-book series in a weekend like some people I know. My crime reading is both sporadic and serendipitous. So, when I

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Tempest urges: Build the house that matters

On selfies: ‘Here’s me outside the palace of me.’ It was a great moment. The performance poet, Kate Tempest, nailing the emptiness of our narcissistic obsession with the self and our physical appearance. Tempest mesmerised the audience at the opening of the Sydney Writers Festival on May 18. She ‘told’ us (aka performed) a few

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Sixteen great quotes from the poetry I read in May 2016

Here’s my project. I read a poem a day, imbibe its rhythms and use this as an inspiration for my own writing. Because it’s 2016, I’ll choose 16 quotes from 16 of these poems to feature on A Bigger Brighter World so you’ll get to enjoy a taste of them too. I may not manage

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Storer’s literary larder offers tasty treats in 2016

Award-winning author Jen Storer uses infectious humour, outlandish language and a distinctive narrative voice to lure readers through her picture books for young children and darker tales aimed at middle-grade readers. In this Q&A she reveals how healthy neglect can benefit a story, why reading aloud is important, and how farmer Clarrie and his quirky

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