2007 emerging writers festival program Contents

Staff...... 1 Sponsors & Acknowledgements...... 2 A few words from the festival director...... 4 Events ...... 5 Visual Culture Program...... 11 Saturday Program ...... 12 Easy View Guide...... 16 Sunday Program...... 21 Bios...... 25 Map...... 31 Registration Details ...... 32 staff director Steve Grimwade producer Rohini Sharma manager Esther Anatolitis festival director’s assistant Elisa Williams press fair co-ordinator Ella Holcombe publicist Oh Traveller Publicity design Jeremy Wortsman for Chase & Galley program advisory committee Ross Mueller, Ryan Paine, Angela Costi, Tom Cho, Craig Garrett, Emmett Stinson, Anna Poletti, Rebecca Giggs, Sandra Thibodeaux, Sarah Holland-Batt, Tom Keily, Bo Svonoros and Marni Cordell. ewf board Ross Karavis (chair), Rohini Sharma (secretary), Esther Anatolitis (treasurer), Joel Becker, Sophie Cunningham, Lorien Kaye, Penny Modra and Angela Woods

2007 emerging writers festival program 1 presented by special event supporters

media supporters major partners

48-hour play generator supporters key events partners

industry event supporters

cald program partner exhibition partner Newcastle Poetry Prize

thanks to: Brunetti, Channel Portable, A New Leaf Media, venue partners Is Not Magazine and Acco Australia

acknowledgements: Ryan Paine, Natalie Crupi, Tash Ludowyk, Penny Modra, John Marsden, Ross Karavis, Ross Mueller, Alicia Sometimes, Sean Gentry, Damien Blyth, Craig Barrie, Maria Soranidis, Kerry Searle, Brendan Palmer, Moses Iten, Simon Winkler, Ian Rob- inson, Kate Munro, Paddy Garrity, Tai Snaith, Helen Walpole, Suzanne Davies, Susan Hayes, Emily Harms, Chris Gordon, Kath Letch, Laura Milke, Emily Andersen, Jane Sydenham official bookseller media partner -Clarke, Fiona Jordan, Maura Edmond, Emily Cormack, Alexie Glass, Claire Condos, Phil Castagna & Brunetti, Meg Simondson, Sally Jones, Anthony Crowley, Lella Cariddi, Marietta Elliott-Kleerkoper, Jacob Grech, Michael Nolan, Kath Wilson, Nathan Hollier, Louise Swinn, SPUNC, Jeff Sparrow, Kalinda Ashton, Alex Skutenko, Emily Booth, Micky Pinkerton, Andrew Apostola, Tania Owen, Sonia Caeiro, Andrew Hawkins, Grainne Brunsdon, Michael Shuttle- worth, Jackie Felstead, Indra Kurzeme, and all the volunteers who made the festival possible 2 www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au 2007 emerging writers festival program 3 a few words from the festival director events mbrace change and let the Emerging Writers’ Festival be your guide to the future of literature. We welcome anyone FESTIVAL LAUNCH E who has an interest in where writing is, where it’s been or where it’s going. We’re here to showcase some of the best new writers Australia has to offer, and to connect them to you – new audiences, the industry at large and, importantly, to each other. The festival holds a pivotal place in culture – between the past and the future, between the known and unknown. We want to broker free! this space for all sorts of writers, readers and thinkers. We want to A celebration of writers support a breadth of thought and practice, and to this end the 2007 with drinks, music and a keynote speech. festival has an underlying theme of cultural diversity. We’re excited to bring a new range of supporters on board, and we’re Featuring particular excited about the relationships we’ve built with Federation An Indigenous welcome to country by joy wandin murphy Square, the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the State Library of Victoria, Copyright Agency Limited and rmit Gallery. The launch of the 2007 John Marsden Prize Our various partnerships have enabled us to bring you a much the launch of the 48-hour play generator richer program embracing film, new media and the visual arts; the The launch of the Rich Text exhibition catalogue blessed insanity of the 48-Hour Play Generator; and exciting new events at the Town Hall. We’re particularly thankful for Music by Uber Lingua the support given to us by Arts Victoria, the City of Melbourne and trades hall bar 7pm, friday 25 may the Australia Council. The Emerging Writers’ Festival is truly coming into its own – it’s official festival club Uber Lingua DJs play trans-cultural party forging a place in the culture of Melbourne and reflecting the chang- music from all corners of the globe, dropping alternative international sounds in another ing practices of those who use words across the globe. I hope you’re musical scale. able to participate in m/any of our activities and take your place in Uber Lingua at Horse Bazaar shaping culture. 397 Little Lonsdale Street uber lingua takes over free entry horse bazaar to become the 9pm–3am on Friday 26 & Saturday 27 May steve grimwade official ewf 07 festival club For more information visit from 25–27 may. www.uberlingua.com director, emerging writers’ festival

4 www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au 2007 emerging writers festival program 5 events events S C R A B B L E 1 3 1 1 3 3 1 1 INDEPENDENT Get your word craziness here, in this surprising mix of wordplay. PRESS & ZINE FAIR

LISAL auraM JIeaLLn ER Julez Bravo Child the fungus family featuring david thrussell and josephine petrina Danielle Freakley FREE! want to meet, buy and trade Ya Lingo! with the best independent publishers, The Uber Lingua Intercontinental, zinemakers & wordsmiths australia has to offer? Multilingual MC cipher, featuring: Pataphysics (Sri Lanka) Get down to the Independent Press and Zine Fair Riff Raff (Zimbabwe) in The Atrium, , Vulk Makedonski (Macedonia) Pabstrakt (Chile) on Sunday May 27 th 12 noon-5pm. MCed by comedian-extraordinaire There’ll be over 40 stallholders featuring the best literary Lawrence Leung magazines, small-press publishers, zinemakers, poetry 7.30pm Saturday 26 May publishers, postering experts and everything in between. BMW Edge, Federation Square These wonders of the underground press will be complemented by the pres- ence of classic indie bookstores Polyester and Sticky. If that isn’t enough, there’ll Tickets $10 on the door be launches featuring Paul Mitchell, Roomers Magazine, and others. And all the Festive bar will be in operation! while, your aural environment will be modulated by with global musical good- ness of Uber Lingua, providing your ears with the very best in international tunes.

6 www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au 2007 emerging writers festival program 7 events events the overland lecture myths of the generations: Workshop program baby boomers, x & y A lecture by Mark Davis be quick to sign up ne of the highlights of this year’s program is the Overland lec- for any of our workshops, as places are limited. ture, featuring cultural theorist and author Mark Davis. Davis published Gangland: Cultural elites and the new generationalism in 1997, causing a Playwriting: Short Fiction: storm of discussion about babyboomer ideals and issues of generational In the beginning With Ross Mueller The Next Step With Cate Kennedy Opower. Ten years on, Davis will reflect on what has changed – if indeed anything has. Friday 25 May, 10am–4pm Sunday 27 May, 10am–4pm at at Ross House the Victorian Writers’ Centre

Overland magazine is the most radical of Australia’s long-stand- Flash Yourself!: Performance Poetry: ing literary/cultural magazines, and is committed to engaging New Media Poetry Workshop With Phil Norton From the blank page to freestyle With Bravo Child with important literary, cultural and political issues in contem- Saturday 26 May, 10.30am–3.30pm at Monday 28 May, 10am–4pm porary Australia. Overland sees the publication and advance. - Experimedia, State Library of Victoria at the Victorian Writers’ Centre ment of new and marginal writers as part of its charter all workshops cost $50/$40 concession (with express media & vwc members eligible for concession rate). bookings must be made in advance. saturday may 26, 11am–12noon Swanston Room, Melbourne Town Hall for more information on all the workshops – and to book – tickets: $5 on the door, or free for ewf pass holders visit www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au. the chisholm hypothetical... 48-HOUR PLAY GENERATOR a la geoffrey robertson Are Great Books An Accident? Five slightly rehearsed readings! the life of the writer is an unlikely adventure. Not only must they grapple with their Storey Hall, RMIT 342 Swanston St, Melbourne craft, writers must traverse the pitfalls of the publishing industry and find their way to readers. ¶ In this event Michael Nolan will channel Geoffrey Robertson, following the life of a new Austra- lian writer as he battles the problems besetting literary Australia. ¶ Join us and see whether 7pm, Sunday 27 May it is possible for the great Australian novel to be written, let alone published. give five playwrights two days to write five new plays, team them up with five established directors and a company of featuring: Jason Steger (The Age), Ben Ball (Publisher, actors and what do you have? the 48-hour play generator! Penguin), Mark Rubbo (Readings Books), Tony Wilson (Author, Broadcaster), Michael Webster (RMIT, Neilsen featuring new work by: Willoh S Weiland, Bryan Davidson Blue, Bookscan), Louise Swinn (Sleepers Publishing), Jill Jones David Mence, Paul Kooperman and Anna Barnes. Join our writers at the (Australia Council), Ian Syson (Vulgar Press), and others. festival launch on Friday 25 May at 7pm when they’ll be given a theme saturday may 26, 1pm–2pm Swanston Room, Melbourne Town Hall around which to write, and then make your way to Storey Hall at 7pm tickets: $5 on the door, or free for ewf pass holders on Sunday 27 May to enjoy the results of this 48 hours of madness. 8 www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au 2007 emerging writers festival program 9 events visual program visual culture program rich text: at the state library of victoria emerging artists and the written word presented by in partnership with the emerging writers’ festival saturday 26 may 2pm–3pm rmit Gallery 1 May–9 June 2007 The changing face of the 4pm–5.30pm citizen journalist picture is worth one thousand words. ¶ Rich Text explores The old and the new: multimedia poetry the allure and integration of the written word into installation, neon, per- formance, graffiti, moving image and printed publications in the current FREE PUBLIC EVENT Participating in the media is an everyday work of ten emerging artists and writers currently based in Melbourne, Experimedia, State Library of Victoria occurance. How is citizen journalism Adelaide, Berlin and London. Including: Gabrielle De Vietri, James Dodd, affecting the way we relate to media in Tim Fleming, Danielle Freakley, Is/Not Magazine, David Keating, Antu- What happens when a poet takes their text general? Can it only complement tradi- ong Ngyuen, Pandarosa, Narinda Reeders and Kiron Robinson. Texts and combines it with a variety of other me- tional journalism, not supplant it? What’s by Kate Just and Amy Spiers. Curated by Tai Snaith and Helen Walpole. dia? What are the considerations that come the future for such forms of participatory rmit gallery 344 Swanston Street Melbourne into being? How does the work change? Is it culture? With Bryce Ives, Anna Helm and AGallery hours: Monday–Friday 11am–5pm, Saturday 2–5pm merely an extension of the text-based work Elliott Bledsoe. or is it something completely different? the gallery is open during the festival on sat 26 and sun 27 may 2–5pm With Phil Norton and James Stuart. 3.30pm–4.30pm screen culture at fed square sunday 27 may The Art of Text in Art new media, old media Words come loaded with meaning—they venue for all sunday sessions: offer a clear statement that a reader can’t storytelling on the big screen Village Roadshow Theatrette, State Library shrug off. When artists use text in their art of Victoria (Entry 3, La Trobe St) they seem to often be doing the opposite, New Media, Old Media is a collection of animation, using the word as a symbol for much more, digital visuals and new media art that celebrates the diversity 12.30pm–1.30pm with the construction of meaning left up to of approaches to the oldest artform: storytelling. Brave new filmmaking the viewers imagination. How are artists re-shaping the meaning of text? Are they with assistance from Federation Square, Alchemy (SBS), and Nakedfella Pro- YouTube, Second Life and other websites exploding all the frameworks that keep ductions, the festival has compiled a program of films, animation, and art to show allow filmmakers to establish huge language in place? How does it subvert on the screens at Fed Square. the program screens on both the big screen at Fed Square (on the rear wall of Transport Hotel), as well as indoors on the Atrium Screen. online audiences. Are these the best new or broaden our ideas regarding language? trajectories to a career in filmmaking? With Gabrielle de Vietri, Kiron Robinson, Peter join us for the closing night screening at 9:30pm Sunday 27 May Who’s doing what? And is it possible to Lyssiotis and Trudy White. New Media, Old Media screens everyday* make money, or is it all about developing from 3–27 May at 11:30am, 03:30pm, 05:30pm, audiences? With Andrew Apostola, Andrew tickets: Each session is $5 on the door, 07:30pm, 9.30pm (*except where other Garton and Keren Flavell. or free for ewf pass holders events scheduled). To find out what’s on at Fed Square, head to www.fedsqure.com 10 www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au 2007 emerging writers festival program 11 notes main program saturday 26 may at the melbourne town hall

Michael Webster (RMIT, Neilsen Bookscan), swanston hall Louise Swinn (Sleepers Publishing), special events Ian Syson (Vulgar Press) and Mark Rubbo (Readings Books). tickets for each special event: $5 on the door, or free for ewf pass holders yarra room 11am–12noon panels Overland Lecture Myths of the Generations: 10am–11am Baby Boomers, X & Y Truth, fiction and lies

Mark Davis’ Gangland was first published Boundaries are becoming indistinct be- in 1997, causing a storm of discussion tween fiction and literary non-fiction, with about babyboomer ideals and issues of writers blurring the truth to make a point. generational power in contemporary Does it matter if readers think it’s fiction or culture and media. Ten years on, Davis fact? Is it unethical to invent your past to tell will reflect on what has changed – if a story? Does it give kudos to the idea that it’s indeed anything has. about the personality and not the writing? With Alice Pung, Arnold Zable and Kate Geyer.

1pm–2pm The Chisholm Institute of tafe presents 12noon–1pm Are Great Books an Accident? Where’s the new avant garde? A Hypothetical a la Geoffrey Robertson: (Does anyone care?)

Watch Michael Nolan channel Geoffrey What are the reasons for literary experi- Robertson as he imagines the life of a new mentation – is it for the sake of the writer, Australian writer. This hypothetical will reader, or more simply, for art? What does explore the problems that face today’s it exactly do? Does the populism of the publishing industry and those who would market make it impossible for challenging join it. With Jason Steger (The Age), Ben literature to find an audience? What are the Ball (Publisher, Penguin), Tony Wilson responses to it? With Michael Farrell, Antoni (author, broadcaster), Sophie Cunningham Jach, Klare Lanson and James Stuart (author), Jill Jones (Australia Council),

12 www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au 2007 emerging writers festival program 13 saturday program cont’d

2pm–3pm 1pm–2pm Australian playwriting: readings by: from the Store Room to the Opera House? Andrew Hutchinson, Lee Kofman, Alex  Lewis, Tiggy Johnson and Alice Pung. How are emerging playwrights gaining Upcoming Readings Events experience and exposure? What struc- 28 29 tures exist to assist less-established 3pm–5pm Joanne Harris Michel Onfray writers to work with more-established Play-readings and discussion e author of e French directors, actors, publishers and Best Possible World by Tee O’Neil Chocolat and philosopher will companies? What could be done better? Blackberry Wine will discuss his book, How is the current situation affecting Australian bride Kelly is teaching English talk about her new e Atheist Manifesto. our next generation of playwrights? in a migrant hostel in Ireland. In the book Lollipop Shoes. Tuesday 29 May, With Aidan Fennessy, Nicki Bloom land of new prosperity, unprecedented and Tee O’Neil. migration and 1400 years of Catholicism Monday 28 May, 6.30pm, 6.30pm, The Night Cat, she’s a free spirit with a big heart and Readings Hawthorn. Free. 141 Johnson St, Fitzroy. Tickets even bigger libido. She befriends Biljana, Bookings essential: 9819 1917. $10/$5 at all Readings shops. 4pm–5pm a Bosnian woman whose urgent request Dominating culture: challenges the limits of her charity and 29 3 writing from within and without the course of both their worlds. Richard Ford Mohsin Hamid e author of e journalist and Do you need to compromise your values Independence Day essayist will when working in the mainstream? Or regent room will talk about his discuss his novel can you use the weight of the dominant skill sharing seminars* new novel, e e Reluctant culture to your own advantage? What are & industry sessions Lay of the Land. Fundamentalist. the advantages of working with, rather Tuesday 29 May, 6.30pm Sunday 3 June, 5.00pm than against the dominant culture? Can 10.30am–12noon Readings Carlton. Free. Readings Carlton. Free. you influence the mainstream if you’re The Author–Editor Relationship* outside of it? How? With Paula Abood, Hoa Presented by the Society of Editors Bookings essential: 9347 6633. Bookings essential: 9347 6633. Pham and Marie Munkara. (Victoria) 4 7 Janette Turner Hospital We bring editors and authors together Stevenwill Hall talk about his e author of melbourne room to discuss: the challenges of maintain- new novel e Raw Due Preparations readings & play readings ing a good working relationship; the Shark Texts. “Jaws for the Plague will expectations of each party; tips, tricks meets Alice in discuss her new 11am–12pm and techniques of approach; respecting readings by: the author’s craft versus turning it into Wonderland” –TLS novel, Orpheus Lost. Clare Carlin, Hoa Pham, a marketable product; and what to do Monday 4 June, 6.30pm Thursday 7 June, 11.00am Yvette Holt, Terry Jaensch when it all goes unexpectedly wrong. With Readings Carlton. Free. Readings Hawthorn. Free. and Khalid Al-Hilli Melanie Dankel and L. Elaine Miller. Bookings essential: 9347 6633. Bookings essential: 9819 1917. 14 www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au Readings proudly supports the Emerging Writers’ Festival

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12.30pm–2pm How to start a magazine on the balcony (and how to keep it going)* 12noon–1pm In the age of desktop publishing, high- Performance featuring Bravo Child quality magazines can be designed by a followed by a short open mike*. fourteen-year-old with a computer. How does an editor manage the needs of writ- 2pm–3pm Are you looking in ers, advertisers, printers, publicity and Performance featuring Laura Jean distribution. Join the editors of these McKay followed by a short open mike*. magazines as they discuss the major the write places? considerations of publishing a magazine. *To register for the open mike see the With Kate Bezar (Dumbo Feather), Emily Room Host prior to the performance Clark (Aduki), Ryan Paine (Voiceworks) and (limited to five people doing one, three- Chris Flynn (Litmus). minute piece each).

* Bookings are essential for the skill- notes sharing seminars as places are limited. Bookings can be made during the festival hours at the registration tables on the ground floor of the Town Hall. Arts Hub members keep up with the latest arts 3pm–5pm Literary Speed Dating jobs, arts news and more. This is a private session for pre-selected participants

This year’s speed dating is a private Use promotion code EWF77 when affair between ten unpublished novelists and editors from ten publishing houses you join online and get 10% off such as Text Publishing, Penguin, Scribe your full standard membership. Publications, Giramondo Press, Brandl Valid until 31st May. & Schlesinger and Sleepers Publishing, and literary magazines such as HEAT and Overland. Using ‘speed dating’ rules each novelist will get five minutes to woo a publisher.

2007 emerging writers festival program 19 notes main program sunday 27 may at the melbourne town hall

represent ourselves – how do we all talk yarra room about home? How do immigrants write panels about home? How are Australian literary traditions evolving? With Yvette Holt, Jen 11am–12noon Mills, Mammad Aidani and Dr Sara Wills. Unpopular stories: non-fiction and the free market 3.30pm–4.30pm How do you write the stories that no one Writing collectives: wants to hear? What does it take to fly in the the spunky new ghetto? face of conventional wisdom? What sup- port do you need and how are these stories What’s the raison d’etre behind the most affecting the writer and the public? Who are successful writing collectives? What are their publishing these stories and where are the strategies achieving? Are most collectives brave new journalists? With Gorkem Acaroglu, too narrow in focus? Are they embracing Vlad Ladgman, Kath Wilson and Rachel Hills. the broader culture or are they the spunky new ghetto? With Patrick Pittman (Concrete Dialogues), Jeltje (Collective Effort Press), Rak 12.30pm–1.30pm Razam (Undergrowth) and a representative Myth, class and the Australian dream from Saloni M.

Does whimsy come ahead of the issues in Australian literature? Myth ahead of realism? melbourne room Do Australian writers have a pejorative sense readings & play readings about the middle class? Does the reality of Australian life ever get a go? With Andrew 12noon–1pm Hutchinson, Jeff Sparrow and Joe De Acovo. readings by: Andrew Morgan, Ateif Kheiri, James Stuart, Jen Mills and Emmett Stinson.

2pm–3pm Are you feeling at home with 1.30pm–2.30pm Australian literature? readings by: Fadeel Kayat, David Mayes, Paula Abood, Marie Munkara What makes it Australian literature? and Megan Petrie. How does it manifest itself? How do we

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3pm–5pm – but how is this sort of group created? Learn Play-readings and discussion how to start a workshop group, what to Tender by Nicki Bloom expect, how they work and what are some Directed by Sam Strong of the dangers. With Antoni Jach, Sally Rippin and a representative from Cardigan Press. Sarah can’t remember what happened in the gardens. Her memory is fractured, her * Bookings are essential for the skill- husband Michael seems barely present, and sharing seminars as places are limited. her parents-in-law, Yvonne and Patrick, Bookings can be made during the festival are losing patience. What is it that she has hours at the registration tables on the lost, and can she get it back? As we jump ground floor of the Town Hall. between events before and after that fateful night in the gardens, it becomes clear that the scars that Sarah carries run deep. 3pm–5pm Private pitching sessions This is a private session for regent room pre-selected participants skill sharing seminars* & industry sessions Four unpublished non-fiction book authors have half-an-hour to pitch their 10.30am–12noon project to Allen & Unwin editor Andrea New audiences and new markets: McNamara – to gain feedback on how strategies and collaborations* to improve their manuscript and how to develop an audience for their work. Succeeding in publishing comes down to best targeting your market or creating new ones. Our participants will discuss how on the balcony they reach new audiences for their events and publications, and how you can extend 1pm–2pm audiences for your work too. With represen- Performance featuring Casey Bennetto tatives from Saloni M, Sleepers Publishing and followed by a short open mike*. Is Not Magazine.

2.30pm–3.30pm 1pm–2.30pm Performance featuring Geoff Lemon Starting a workshop group followed by a short open mike*. & keeping it going* *To register for the open mike sessions see the One of the best ways to improve your work Room Host prior to the performance (limited to is in a supportive and critical environment five people doing one, three-minute piece each).

22 www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au 2007 emerging writers festival program 23 notes biographies

paula abood is a ccd worker, writer nicki bloom is a poet, playwright and nov- and director. She has worked on creative elist, and was the recipient of Express Me- projects in film, radio, performance and dia’s playwriting mentorship with Lally Katz. literary publication, and is currently com- Her debut play, Tender is currently showing at pleting her PhD on the representation of Belvoir Street Downstairs Theatre. Arabs in Australian popular culture. clare carlin has worked as a writer, görkem acaroglu is a freelance editor and researcher. She is completing a theatre director, writer and dramaturge. novel with mentor Shalini Akhil, through Her directorial credits include: The Maya the Express Media mentorship program. Project by Amy Dobson, The Habib Show (which she also wrote) and Fool for Love by bravo child’s words meld poetry, Sam Shepard. She is a graduate of vca and rhymes, characters, stories, rhythm nida, and holds a Masters in media arts. and thought. His animated perfor- mances fill the stage with a lan- mammad aidani is a published poet guage that combines reality with a who is known for his critically acclaimed cartoon-like playfulness. Sometimes plays. Mammad has conducted qualitative wise, sometimes frantic, sometimes research in theatre and has facilitated cross- melodic, always entertaining. cultural workshops here and overseas. Mammad is currently teaching at the Aus- emily clark is the editor of aduki tralian Centre at the Melbourne University. magazine and managing editor of aduki independent press, a Melbourne-based casey bennetto wrote a song cycle publishing company with a flair for all celebrating and satirising the rise and things vegan, political and eco-friendly. fall of Paul Keating. KEATING! won the Barry, the Golden Gibbo and the Age Crit- nathan curnow’s first book of poetry ics’ Award at the micf, sold out its run is No Other Life But This (Five Islands and led to a late-night meeting with Mr. Press). Assisted by the Australia Council Keating himself. he is currently writing a new collection based on his experiences staying at ten kate bezar is a doer and dreamer haunted sites around the country. whose labour of love is Dumbo Feather. Three years after Dumbo Feather landed melanie dankel is a Managing Editor on newsagents’ shelves to a collective for Lonely Planet Publications, focusing on ‘huh?’ it’s found its way into the homes, quality control of products and process im- hands and hearts of doers and dreamers provement. Melanie is the training officer all over. for the Society of Editors (vic).

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zoe dattner is a freelance copywriter She hovers precariously on the bleeding jeltje has been writing, performing, ed- National Television as a sound engineer and designer, and the Creative Director of edge of technology and is currently forging iting and publishing poetry since the mid and a freelance screenwriter and migrated Sleepers, publishers of the Sleepers Alma- a fascinating mirror existence in the virtual 1970s. Publications with Collective Effort to Australia in 1990. He has been working nac and organisers of the Sleepers Salons, world of Second Life. Press include her collections Catching for sbs since 1991. which have been running in and around Worms (1993) and Poetry Live in the House Melbourne for almost four years. chris flynn is the co-creator and edi- (2004), and her anthology of the workers’ klare lanson works with poetry, tor of Litmus Journal and litmusphere. poetry magazine 925 (2000). sound and live art performance. She fuses mark davis is a writer of popular non-fic- com. His work has appeared in Seven, her words with electronic music, moving tion and has written for many major news- Bad Idea, Is Not Magazine, Nuke, le gun, tiggy johnson has had stories and po- imagery, mobile film and voice-effecting papers and magazines. His book Gangland: Stylus and .ism. ems published in a variety of magazines. She technology to create experimental works Cultural Elites and the New Generationalism won 2nd prize in the Herald-Sun Short Story reflecting aspects of contemporary culture. was short-listed in the 1998 nsw Premiers andrew garton is a writer, producer, Competition 2004 and is the editor of Page Literary Awards. Since 2004 he has taught at composer and performer of spoken Seventeen, www.pageseventeen.com.au. lawrence leung is a stand-up the . word opera, nu-fusion and digital media comedian, writer and filmmaker, and is arts. He has a history in community fadeel kayat is an Iraqi poet, translator best known for his acclaimed solo shows joe de iacovo has written with/for abc broadcasting and is Program Director of and freelance journalist who has lived in Skeptic, Sucker and Puzzleboy. He presents Radio National, the 100 Stories project, St open channel, Editor of ict Rights Watch Sydney since 1998. Fadeel is the author of the regular segment ‘The Truth’ on Vincent De Paul’s Ozanam House, Flem- and Board Member of the Association for two collection of poems, published in Iraq Breakfasters and writes satirical stunts ington Public Housing Estate’s Highrise Progressive Communications. (1993) and Syria (1999), he was granted the and pranks for The Chaser’s War on Every- Herald. His writing/poems have appeared Helman-Hammet award in 1998 and read thing (abc-tv). in Meanjin, Southerly, Verandah, and others. kate geyer was eight when she began at the 2006 Sydney Writers’ Festival. her ten-tome journal work with the words alex lewis is 17 and is studying for his gabrielle de vietri graduated from ‘Dear Dairy’. These days her stories and cate kennedy is the author of two poetry international baccalaureate. This year he vca in 2005 after obtaining a Certificat non-fiction are published in Voiceworks. collections, a travel memoir and the short shared first prize in the 2007 Somerset Na- d’Etudes en Arts Plastiques (2001- story collection Dark Roots, published in tional Novella Competition – his third win 2003) at the Ecole Supérieure d’Art antoni jach is the author of An Erratic 2006 by Scribe and scheduled for inter- on end – and in 2006 Alex used his previ- d’Aix in France. She currently lives and History, a history of Australia in poetry, national release in 2007. Her fiction has ous winnings to self-publish Notes Towards works in Melbourne and is the founding and three novels: The Weekly Card Game, won several awards and has been widely a Theory of Extinction and Other Stories. editor of Ideas Catalogue. The Layers of the City and Napoleon’s anthologised and broadcast. Double. He is the author of the play Miss peter lyssiotis is a photomonteur, michael farrell has published two Furr and Miss Skeene, the Melbourne ateif khieri was born in Sudan and filmmaker and writer. His work is in both books: ode ode, and break me ouch, a editor of heat magazine and a part-time studied drama in Khartoum. He has private and national collections, and is graphic poetry book. A third, a raiders lecturer at rmit University. participated in many cultural events in represented by Watson Place Gallery. guide is imminent. He likes to experiment Sudan, has written three books of poetry, His most recent work A Gardener at with punctuation and aspires to poems laura jean has been gracing and has written in both Arabic and a Midnight: Travels in the Holy Land was that blow your mind. His two biggest Australian stages for many years, and Sudanese colloquial language. A couple completed at the slv under one of their influences are Gertrude Stein and John invitations to share them have come of his poems were published in The Best Creative Fellowships. Cage. What about e e cummings you ask? from artists such as Richard Buckner, Australian Poems 2006. M. Ward, Augie March and The Drones. john marsden is arguably one of the keren flavell is a new media producer Her beautiful album Our Swan Song was vlad ladgman was born in Bulgaria best-known Australian writers for chil- who won Best Entertainment Website at released last year and has been gracing in 1959 in the grip of post-Stalinist com- dren and young adults. He has won many the Chicago International Film Festival. the airwaves ever since. munism. He worked for the Bulgarian awards in literary and children’s choice

26 www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au 2007 emerging writers festival program 27 bios bios

competitions and is the author of, among ross mueller is a Melbourne-based the Sydney Morning Herald’s Young Writer trudy white is an artist and writer who other books: The Tomorrow Series and The writer who works in theatre, radio, and of the Year in 2001, and is currently writing has published three illustrated books. Ellie Chronicles. children’s literature. In 2006 his play her second full-length novel. Trudy also illustrates other people’s work Construction of the Human Heart was and makes unpublishable hand-made david mayes is a Melbourne-based copy- staged at the Malthouse Theatre. This alice pung is a Melbourne-based solici- books. She completed a Master of Fine Art writer who writes from the hand, the left play was shortlisted for the New York New tor, writer, tutor and pastoral care adviser. by research at vca in 2006 and has regular ventricle, and occasionally the heart. The Dramatists Award and nominated for The Her first book, Unpolished Gem, reached exhibitions of artwork. strange events in his short fiction are influ- Melbourne Prize for Best Writing. the top ten books in the Sydney Morning enced by Rod Serling and Terry Pratchett. Herald’s independent bestseller list and sara wills is an arc Postdoctoral marie munkara was born on the banks her short stories have been published Fellow based at the Australian Centre at laura jean mckay has written, of the Mainoru river in Arnhemland and in The Good Weekend, Meanjin and The the University of Melbourne. Herself a performed and gyrated her way from Bris- is an avid environmentalist and breeder Other Side. migrant, Sara is particularly interested in bane to Melbourne. Her award-winning of green tree frogs. Fulfilling her life long the ways people manage the experience writing is published in Sleepers, Etchings, ambition to become an author, Marie is jeff sparrow is the editor of Overland, of loss, and in the processes of ‘re-placing’ Small Packages and Lonely Planet. Laura is currently working on her first novel. the co-author of Radical Melbourne: A senses of community and identity. currently developing a cabaret show and Secret History and Radical Melbourne 2: working on a novel. philip norton is a self-confessed text The Enemy Within, and the author of Com- kath wilson is a mother and citizen fusion artist who merges poetry with munism: A Love Story. journalist whose work has appeared in the l. elaine miller is an editor who works music, art and digitalia. Norton is the Age, Australian, Courier-Mail, Art Monthly, for publishers, government bodies and recipient of the Newcastle New-Media emmett stinson has won the Mel- Griffith Review, Eureka Street and Overland. non-profit organisations. Elaine has been Poetry Prize and the Vanguard LiterAR- bourne Age Short Story Award, the Arts a senior editor with Macmillan Education Ture Award. SA Creative Writing Award, and currently arnold zable is a highly acclaimed Australia and the Australian Council for serves as Fiction Editor of Wet Ink: The storyteller whose books include the Editorial Research. tee o’neill has just returned as Magazine of New Writing. award winning Jewels and Ashes (1992), Playwright in Residence in a New York The Fig Tree (2002) and the novels Café lisa miller is acclaimed by critics and University after her play Best Possible james stuart is a poet, editor, new Scheherazade (2001) and Scraps of Heaven fans alike throughout Australia as a sublime World won their international playwriting media artist and director of arts and (2004). He is president of the Interna- songwriter, possessed of a blue-eyed, broken- award. Her play Stalking Matilda won the debate night ‘The Salon’. Current tional pen (Melbourne). hearted voice which is utterly distinctive. 2004 re Ross Trust Playwrights Award projects include an e-anthology, The Lisa has released four albums (with her fifth and was nominated for a 2006 nsw Material Poem, and online poem-world notes to be released in May 2007), and has received Premier’s Literary Award. The Homeless Gods (with Karen Chen). seven aria nominations and, more impor- www.c-side.com.au tantly, the thumbs up from Neil Young. megan petrie is best described as a word-juggling clown. She’s dropped words louise swinn is a walking, breathing andrew morgan has had over twenty into Going Down Swinging, The Big Issue, advocate for fiction and its writers. She stories published in various magazines Midsumma, Melbourne Arts Festival and is the Editorial Director of Sleepers, and anthologies, including Going Down many journals. Her haphazard writing act, whose third Sleepers Almanac was pub- Swinging, Adventures in Pop Culture and like herself, was created in Melbourne. lished to broad acclaim in early 2007. Allnighter. He recently completed a PhD Lou is also heavily involved in spunc, in Creative Writing at rmit and currently hoa pham is a writer of fiction, plays the small press and underground net- teaches at nmit, where he is also the fic- and screenplays. She is the author of four working collective that has just begun tion editor of Flat Chat Press. books and several short stories. She was its mission.

28 www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au 2007 emerging writers festival program 29 venue map

<< to elizabeth st ( )  1 1 rmit gallery & storey hall 344 & 342 Swanston Street latrobe st (2) state library of victoria corner of Swanston & La Trobe streets 2 ( )  lt lonsdale st 3 horse bazaar 3 397 Little Lonsdale Street (between Elizabeth and Queen Streets) lonsdale st (4) melbourne town hall proud presenters of the ewf corner of Swanston & Collins streets (5) brunetti lt bourke st xpress media creates literary arts, and media oppor- corner of Swanston Street & Flinders Lane in tunities for young and emerging artists. Founded over the old City Square 20 years ago, Express Media provides young people with ( )  professional pathways and affordable access to Australia’s 6 express media E artistic and media communities. It is a member-based organisation 2nd Floor, Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane (7) victorian writers’ centre with a national focus. Express Media produces an annual program STREET

of projects and events including the John Marsden Prize for Young SWANSTON 1st Floor, Nicholas Building, corner Swanston Australian Writers, a national mentorship program and the quar- Street & Flinders Lane terly publication of Voiceworks magazine – the only national maga- bourke st (8) federation square zine dedicated to publishing the work of artists and writers under 25. Atrium & bmw Edge for more information visit: www.expressmedia.org.au corner of Swanston & Flinders streets lt collins street (9) victorian trades hall he victorian writers’ centre is dedicated to nur- 4 corner of Victoria & Lygon Streets turing and promoting the diverse writing culture in Vic- collins street toria. As the leading provider of information, resources and skills development, the vwc connects and supports victoria st 5 T writers and writing within the broader communities throughout Vic- flinders lane lygon st toria. The vwc provides high quality information and professional 6 9 7 development services for aspiring and established writers. Member- ship of the vwc offers many benefits – including a free subscription flinders street latrobe st to the monthly newsletter Victorian Writer and discounts to all work- 8 shops, seminars and events. for more information visit:

lonsdale st st swanston russell st www.writers-centre.org or call (03) 9654 9068 to russell st >> 30 www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au 2007 emerging writers festival program 31 HOW TO REGISTER Festival launch: FREE Weekend pass: $30/$20 Single day pass: $20/$15 ScrabblE: $10 at the door Overland lecture: $ 5 a t t h e d o o r ( free with a valid festival pass)

Chisholm Hypothetical: $5 at the door ( free with a valid festival pass) visual culture program: $5/session at the door ( free with a valid festival pass) Workshops: $50/$40 skill-sharing seminars: free places are limited for both the workshops and skill sharing seminars, so bookings are essential. Visit the website for more information. ¶ There are a limited number of week- end and day passes, and only a small allocation of these tickets will be left for door sales. register at : www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au Sign up for our e-bulletin at the website for exclusive festival news and giveaways

brunetti – the official festival café Present your festival pass for a 20% discount off your total bill during the festival. Brunetti serves focaccie, panini, dan- ishes, an extensive selection of cakes and very good coffee! It’s also fully licensed. Find Brunetti at the corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Lane, in the old City Square. all ewf venues are fully accessible and carers will be admitted free of charge.

32 www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au