POETS AT CANBERRA WRITERS FESTIVAL

It’s a great season – plenty of rain, green pasture and the sun is shining upon us. All I need now is a major literary festival down the road. Canberra Writers Festival (CWF) to the rescue this week – October 16-18. It kicks off with the ACT Book of the Year Award announcements on Friday at 4.00 pm in the National Library of Australia. 

Yes there is poetry! And yes I am in it. CWF and That Poetry Thing That Is On At Smiths Every Monday have worked together to bring Earth, Nature, Country to you on Saturday at 2.30 pm. It's at Smith's Alternative. Myself plus these five outstanding poets: Joanna Bell, Paul Collis, Martin Dolan, Andrew Geoffrey Kwabena Moss, Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello. More here. 

Johanna Bell of Hobart writes fiction, poetry and children’s books. Her latest book is the Tasmanian Literary Award winning Department of the Vanishing (Transit Lounge 2026). 

Paul Collis, Canberra-based poet and Barkindji man, Paul Collis, was awarded the ACT Book of the Year at the ACT Writers Centre Publishing and Awards Night for his work Dancing Home (UQP). 

Martin Dolan is a Canberra poet who has been writing and publishing for twenty-five years. He has been one of the organisers of That Poetry Thing since 2017. Martin is also chair of Australian Poetry, the national body for Australian poetry. Recent collection: On the Record (Recent Work Press).

Andrew Geoffrey Kwabena Moss is an Anglo-Ghanaian writer and teacher based in Australia. His latest book is Hybrid Heaven & other(ed) poems (Recent Work Press).

Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello OAM is an award-winning visual artist, poet and writer of Aboriginal (Lower Southern Arrernte), Chinese and Anglo-Celtic descent. One of her most recent collections is Shapeshifting, 2024. 

 

For the full CWF program go to: https://canberrawritersfestival.com.au/programs/

There is literary fiction, crime writing, food writing, family history, migration stories, hot history, women in space and a whole lot else. See you there.

MUSING THE WINTER AWAY

Here I am having a good time at the Music & Musings
event in front of Kate O'Connor's poems in paint

Where did winter go ... oh I know ... the Yazzbar in Yass that's where. A solo exhibition in June titled Putting A Face To It followed by a group exhibition of framed poems called Poems On Walls July-August, plus events. Let's start at the end and work backwards.

Anthorr Thomas (left), Bronwyn Todd, Thomas Weaver,
Daniel Kelly closing Music & Musings with a session at the Yazzbar

On Saturday the 29th we had Music & Musings the closing event of Poems On Walls – folk, modern, traditional, Irish music alternating with free verse, sonnets, haiku, tanka and bush poetry. Over thirty people came from surrounding areas, Canberra and even Canada! We are all especially grateful to the musicians for collaborating in the event. Daniel Kelly, Yass folk musician, singer/songwriter opened the show and performed some extra sets, while Thomas Weaver of Canberra showed their versatility playing cello and octo mandola and singing songs from around the world. Bronwyn Todd, singer and fiddle player arrived with Anthorr Thomas and his bodhrán and joined in with Thomas. All four musicians rounded off the afternoon playing together in a Session. Poets and musicians contributed to an outstanding afternoon.

Jane Baker has published several collections of poetry
and supports the region's writers through Yass Valley Writers

The Poems On Walls opening event on August 9 was more intimate with poets and a few friends sharing poetry including some hung in the exhibition. It was a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Huge thanks to the fifteen poets who rallied to the short notice callout, framed their poems, helped hang the exhibition and rolled up for the events. They are: Jane Baker (ask about her hands-on research on church bells!), Marianne Boruch, Colin Campbell, Glenys Ferguson, Hazel Hall, Therese van Leeuwen, Craig McArthur, Jenni Kemarre Martiniello, Lizz Murphy (moi), Kate O'Connor, Greg Piko, Jay Sargeant, Sarah St Vincent Welch, Robyn Sykes, Ali Whitelock. Some are members of Postcards from the Sky, some are members of Yass Valley Writers, some aren't – we just like them too. They're from Binalong, Yass, Canberra and Wallendbeen. What a delight they all are – please seek out their poetry.

Many thanks to Melanie Leahy, Yazzbar co-owner with Matt Leahy, for suggesting Poems On Walls. Thanks also to the Yazzbar team for their support and hospitality. Check out the Yazzbar entertainment program and full winebar and food menu here: yazzbar.com.au

Putting A Face To It was another beautiful opportunity which took care of June. An enquiry about hanging a handful of oil pastel and text drawings some time, quickly turned into a full show. Lucky I had a pile at hand just waiting to be framed. The always eloquent Jenni Kemarre Martiniello opened the exhibition on June 13 to a merry band of about twenty supporters. That was another grand afternoon. 

Great appreciation again to Yazzbar and thank you for the support you give to local artists and local and visiting musicians.

Until the next mad idea ...

BEST LITERARY FESTIVAL – BOOROWA

Books having a moment —

Boorowa's Justin Fleming (left), guest author Kimberley Allsop 

and Festival Director Jeremy Clarke ready to roll.

One of the best literary festivals I’ve been to! The 4th Boorowa Literary Festival just held on the weekend was a raging success. Fascinating writers’ conversations lead by community facilitators who were already fans or who had read the books especially, and now were fans. They were as interested in hearing more about the books, the writers’ lives, routines and processes as the audience was. 

(Yes, I have sat through dry interview style sessions and some that were more about the facilitator/interviewer than the author.) And not only that but all the writers were fabulous speakers – informative, intriguing, entertaining. And there was a bit of inside goss. Fun. 

In order of appearance: Kimberley Allsop, Sulari Gentill, Sam Guthrie, Caroline Overington, Alli Parker, Chris Hammer. Buy their books. 

Kimberley Allsop, author of Love and Other Puzzles and Rise and Shine works at Harper Collins and is also published by them. ‘There is the butcher and the sausage,’ she said, and she is both. Rise and Shine is a love story that happens ten years into a marriage. There’s a dog and a lemon tree. And the lemon tree she bought for research. 

‘A lot [of books] end with a kiss and it’s all wonderful, but that’s not life. I’m interested in life.’ 

She is open and witty and makes me want to read romance. I may or may not be able to report back ... 

Latest book: Rise and Shine (Harper Collins) 

Gabriela Corcoran (left) in conversation with Sulari Gentill 

 

Sulari Gentill is a fascinating speaker who can’t avoid thinking and talking about murder. She studied astrophysics and became a corporate lawyer before turning to mystery and fantasy. She describes herself as a mid-list author until the USA success of Woman in the Library (Hardie Grant). 

As of writing she said, ‘It felt like I was breathing right for the first time in my life.’ 

Sulari believes you need to give your reader a resolution but leave a bit of doubt, so you give them something to think about. She likes to make it possible for readers to dance with her. 

She says she’s an extreme pantser. [i.e. Pantsers dive in and write by the seat of their pants as opposed to plotters who like to plan it all out before starting. Plantsers are a combination.] 

I enjoyed Woman in the Library and after this talk I’m thinking I may read more mystery and fantasy – more Sulari Gentill. 

Latest book: Five Found Dead (Hardie Grant) 

Jeremy Clarke (left) in conversation with guest Sam Guthrie

 

Sam Guthrie writes international political thrillers informed by a 25-year career in international relations and is still celebrating his debut novel The Peak. It begins with a shocking act inside Parliament House and unravels 30-year-old secrets from the 1997 Hong Kong handover. Facilitator and Festival Director Jeremy Clarke described The Peak as a Letter to Hong Kong. 

A love-triangle is part of the story. Sam talked about the characters being to some extent based on friendship experiences from school. Friendships were pivotal to this conversation, and it was touching to listen to Sam’s reminisces along with how his novel developed. 

Latest book: The Peak (Harper Collins) 

Guest Caroline Overington (left)
speaks with Boorowa's Janette Fryer

Caroline Overington, Literary Editor of the Book pages in The Weekend Review spoke passionately about books, writing, reading and reviewing. Do you know she receives 300 books a week from publishers and writers hopeful of a review? Do you know that 50% of books in Australia sell less than 200 copies and 90% less than 1000? Support an Australian author – buy a book today! 

[I used to work in publishing and I loved loved loved having access to this kind of info.] 

Do you know that Rupert Murdoch likes to read a book review every day and that The Weekend Review pages are his gift to Australia to celebrate the arts? 

‘Books are having a moment,’ says Caroline. ‘If you have a book in your back pocket you’re the sexiest person in the world!’ That’s from an award winning journalist and author of sixteen fiction and non-fiction books. 

Latest book: Looking for Eden (Harper Collins) 

Mary Johnson (left) does the honours for guest Alli Parker

Alli Parker says that in the Australian landscape we tend to tell a lot of crime stories … she isn’t sure why. With a background in screen writing and editing which includes episodes of Jack Irish and Miss Fisher I’m sure she’ll ponder on this some more. 

Her first book however is historical fiction. At the Foot of the Cherry Tree is based on the true story of the first Japanese war bride and Alli’s grandmother. Alli talked about Japanese residents not only being put in camps during the war but being deported after the war, even though they had lived here for fifty or sixty years. 

Alli likes having conversations about race and wants to have them. She says it’s easier for her as she has light skin. She hopes this will in turn make conversations less awkward for her grandmother who looks more Japanese. 

The book title comes from her grandmother’s name Nobuko which means ‘cherry tree root,’ or ‘at the foot of the cherry tree.’ This was a moving and eye-opening session. 

Latest book: Until the Red Leaves Fall 

And her next book? ‘A small carrot ... I will say it’s historic fiction … set in the 70s.’ Wait. What? The historic 1970s?! 

Jeremy Clarke (right) introducing the next
conversation – Chris Hammer with Sue Corcoran

Chris Hammer under every armpit!

‘We do half the creative process and the reader does the other half,’ said mystery writer Chris Hammer on the topic of what characters look like. Readers can have firm impressions about the look of a main character, and they can have strong feelings about it. There were stories around that that had the audience laughing and nodding. 

Chris Hammer loves writing. ‘I’m addicted to writing. It sounds disciplinary but it’s addiction … There are times when it is absolutely magical.’ 

Landscape is a feature of Chris Hammer’s books and it was very interesting to hear him talk about different traits including his description of floodplains and ‘tin roof country.’ Likewise, the towns the stories are set in. Sue Corcoran, a local fan and pharmacist, prides herself on being able to pick which town this author based his fictional town on in each book. She put it to the test and got big ticks. Just one good reason why she was selected as the facilitator for this ‘In Conversation.’ 

Latest book: Legacy (Allen & Unwin) 

And there were ukele players!
Thank you Grenfell Ukestra including Sue Aylen in the green

Great thanks to Boorowa Literary Festival Director Dr Jeremy Clarke and his team of facilitators (in order of appearance): Justin Fleming, Gariela Corcoran, Jeremy Clarke, Janette Fryer, Mary Johnson and the above mentioned, Sue Corcoran. Thank you also to behind-the-scenes team members. 

Up to 95 people per session

Also it was great to be back in the Old Boorowa Courthouse – many a poetry reading there back in the day. 

Watch for occasional author talks at Jeremy’s Absolutely Superb Bibliotheque and Occasional Wine Bar near the clock roundabout on the main street. 

PS In case you missed it – it was a bit of a kangaroo court :)

And of course there was a Binalong contingent.
UN-officials Emma (left), Robyn, moi, making ourselves at home.
Thank you to the Courthouse tearooms.
And there was dinner and wine too.

Small World Small Wonder

My Small World Small Wonder poetry workshops are about to roll out in Young, Goulburn and Yass in that order, over the next few weeks. We will be exploring people and place in our own small worlds. 

The focus is on small poems (or brief prose) from quick glimpses and fleeting observations to the small detail. There may be poetry around the corner or right at your feet. Beginners and the more experienced are invited. Includes young people 16 years and over. 

Dates & Venues: 

Young: Saturday October 25, 10 am – 3 pm The Ibis Room, Young RSL Club, 42 Cloete Street, Young Goulburn: Saturday November 8, 2025, 10 am – 3 pm St Brigid’s Hall, 36 Vernon Street, Goulburn 

Yass: Saturday November 22, 2025, 10 am – 3 pm Yass Library, Comur Street, Yass (Please check whether it’s still in the old library or in the brand new one.) 

Bookings essential: www.humanitix.com or contact Lizz Murphy on 0428 005641 or lizzmurphy7@gmail.com Cost: $35/$20 (concession)/$10 students 16 years and over. 

This project is supported by the Country Arts Support Program, a devolved funding program administered by Southern Tablelands Arts on behalf of the NSW Government.

BOOK NOW 

— I'D LOVE TO SEE YOU

CRAFT + DESIGN CHALLENGE

And that’s a wrap — 

Some fabulous work created by almost 400 artists and makers during July thanks to the Craft + Design Canberra Daily Creative Challenge 25. Thirty-one days of creating in some shape or form, on the theme of ‘Rewilding.’ All the participants produced really impressive and inspiring bodies of work. You can see it all on Instagram. Including stuff by me. Writers welcome so there I am – infiltrating as as one friendly voice said.

The theme fits well with my current poetry project. (Tell you later.) I wrote draft prose poetry, semi-memoir (as poetry often is) and micro poems/haiku, sometimes combining them with quick splashy paint sketches as a (desperate) way of presenting them visually (not that that’s essential). Some days I produced art & text works which I do periodically — acrylic paint on small canvases with either found text or original haikuish pieces. It depended on what time I had that day or whether the daily word prompt had me flowing or floundering. 

Mostly motivating though occasionally frustrating, like when you come up with a great response to a prompt one day, only to find it fits a future prompt even better dammit. 

So … 16 small art & text canvases, a bunch of haikuish bits, a sprinkling of prose poetry drafts. Plus my Instagram account has moved from ‘No posts yet’ to 54 posts and 341 followers (I was so lagging) including many amazing creatives — thank you all. 

Prompt: Propagation 
Size: 13 cm x 13 cm #cdccreativechallenge25

I’m very grateful to Craft + Design Canberra for this opportunity. It came at the right time. Just when I’m pushing hard at getting back into the swing of writing and thinking about those same subthemes in a Binalong to Canberra context. (Prompt words included: water, moon, abundance, rejuvenate, nest

twined, rhythm, naked, feral ...) A big shout-out to artist daughter Aroona Murphy who still keeps a close eye on the Canberra arts scene all the way from Ireland, and brought it to my attention. 

So July challenge … I guess that’s a wrap! Or is it … have already started on art & text on canvas versions of the sketchy pieces. Let’s see what the end of August brings. And PS: regional poetry workshops rolling out soon — Yass, Young, Goulburn.

Prompt: Rhythm — Take 2
Size: 13 cm x 13 cm
#cdccreativechallenge25 

Prompt: Rhythm — Take 1
#cdccreativechallenge25 

POEMS/PSALMS - ROCHFORD STREET

Mark Roberts of Rochford Street Review

Rochford Street Review has very kindly published the full speech presented by Sarah St Vincent Welch during her Calcutta/Kolkata style launch of my Bitumen Psalms at The Shop Gallery in Glebe. This was part of the Flying Islands 2025 group launch event. Hazel Hall's review will appear over the next week or two. Greatly appreciated.

Rochford Street Review is a wonderful selection of reviews, poems, essays, interviews and visual arts. The striking print After the Fires 3 in the latest issue is by featured artist Gary Shinfield. You should follow. 

Have I mentioned I’ll be reading with Ali Whitelock at Smith’s on Monday, June 9? It’s a 7 pm start and includes a great open mike. More here.

Photo: Mark Roberts, editor, is pictured at the 2025 Flying Islands event in 

The Shop Gallery, Glebe. That all happened amongst art by Brian Purcell.

CRACKER DUO OF POETS

Yes I’m going to harp on about it! Expecting a cracking good night on Monday — featured with Ali Whitelock at That Poetry Thing That is on at Smith’s on Mondays. Starts 7. 00 pm with an open mike which is always a fabulous diversity of voices. 

Ali Whitelock is known for her ingenious use of metaphor and her gobsmacking word warp and flair. Originally from Glasgow, she spends her days writing, mentoring, fantasising about living in a windswept cottage in winter on the Isle of Skye and shouting at the telly when the Liberals come on. Meanwhile Ali and her French, chain-smoking husband have as of recently settled into living in an old church in Yass which at least, like Canberra, has a good winter — often cold, foggy and … windswept. Click here for Ali's books including The Lactic Acid in the Calves of Your Despair (Wakefield Press).

I’m reading from my latest collection Bitumen Psalms (Flying Islands) which includes a long sequence of tiny poems (haikuish) mainly from along the Hume Highway. Another celebration of place. Smaller sequences touch on caring roles and poke at Tai Chi and other things … no I mean it … there’s a section called Things. Fitting for That Poetry Thing don’t you think. I’ll also read from The Wear of my Face (Spinifex Press) which has a broad range of topics, some of them quite topical. Not sure what I’ll pick yet.

Hope to see you Monday evening, Smith's Alternative, 76 Alinga Street, Canberra City. By the way there is a lot of work going on in the city — traffic changes and detours. Allow extra time to find your way about. Or park in the multi-storey or shopping centre car parks and walk through.

POETRY FESTIVITIES

Poets in the Newcastle Writers Festival —
here I am with Bronwyn Rodden (right).

Countdown 

And action!

Had a fantastic weekend at the Newcastle Writers Festival earlier this month. Another group launch/reading from Flying Islands new releases and an opportunity to see long-term poet friends and colleagues in person instead of mainly on Facebook. Pictured on standby above: Maggie Ball (MC), Nathanael O'Reilly (left), David Adès, Tug Dumbly, Brian Purcell, the empty chair (me), Bronwyn Rodden — and Maggie in action. All the poets were sensational — the audience seemed to agree.

My next readings include: 

•National Folk Festival over Easter with Postcards from the Sky 

•Manning Clark House April 24 — (just an informal gathering of Flying Islands poets at 5 pm and dinner) then Christopher/Kit Kelen Flying Islands Series Editor and MCH featured poet of the month 

•Yass Book Store (watch for changes there) April 26 — with Jane Baker, Victoria McGrath, Robyn Sykes, Ali Whitelock.

POETRY RAGE

Poet and co-MC Maggie Ball
launches 100 Poets

 

Poet Sarah St Vincent Welch launches
Bitumen Psalms (Kolkata/Calcutta style).
Photo: Dylan Jones

Poet and singer/songwriter Clark Gormley (left)
has a moment with co-MC Richard James Allen

So it was a raging success! A ton of Flying Islands poets, friends and supporters at The Shop Gallery in Glebe, January 26, all celebrating this year’s seven new Pocket Poetry titles, alongside Flying Islands’ first anthology 100 Poets! 

The pocket books are: Filmworks by Brian Purcell, Flower Ash by Huang Fan — translated by Josh Stenberg, The Heart’s Lush Gardens by David Adès, Separation Blues: Poems 1994-2024 by Nathanael O’Reilly, Stranded by Bronwyn Rodden, Tadpoems by Tug Dumbly and my own Bitumen Psalms. 100 Poets is edited by Brian Purcell and Flying Islands Series Editor Kit Kelen. 

Richard James Allen, poet, filmmaker, choreographer and performer was an entertaining emcee for the 2025 Pocket Poets section. The engaging Maggie Ball, poet, novelist and podcaster, launched 100 Poets and kept the lively mood going during readings by quite a number of contributing poets. 

All the launch speeches were thought provoking. A special mention to dear friend and collaborator Sarah St Vincent Welch, writer, image-maker, editor, and writing teacher. Sarah gave me a Calcutta style launch where basically every time the new book (tied with red ribbon) is held high, the whole audience applauds resoundingly. And they did. It added to the joy of this celebratory occasion. I especially enjoyed Sarah’s personal story of having to write out Psalms at school, a writing exercise she enjoyed. Very special thanks also to Dylan Jones for the book design and Kate O’Connor for the author photo. 

The readings were inspiring, amusing, enlightening. Across these new poetry titles, you will find poems on the history of great films, poems of wonder and sadness, poems of cultural or political absurdity, poems that get to the heart of the matter, travel through times and homelands, and poems that explore the strange worlds of everyday life and other complexities. 

Phyllis Perlstone reads her poem
published in 100 Poets

Visit https://flyingislandspocketpoets.com.au/product-category/2025/ to see these books and their striking covers. Click on each cover image for full information (and from where I borrowed descriptions in the above paragraph). Subscribe to receive all of this year’s new releases and a bonus two Flying Islands books. Alternatively, you can just order individual titles. 

A bonus for us all was sharing the space with poet, musician and artist Brian Purcell’s solo exhibition Floodlands. Whether tantalising waterscape or delectable still life, Brian’s paintings move with colour and vitality. You can see more here: https://brianpurcell.art Of course we all owe enormous thanks to The Shop Gallery owners, poet and artist Anna Couani and sculptor Hilik Mirankar.

At The Shop Gallery:
Floodplains exhibition by Brian Purcell;
Pocket Poetry sales on the pavement

Poet and exhibiting artist Brian Purcell
— also co-editor of 100 Poets

POETRY & PLACE = JOY

 

[Riff] 

Unbelonging 

Place. ‘Mind your place.’ It’s not your place. It’s not my place. A place at the table. Stay in your place. Do you have a place? Give up your place. 

Place. New place old place lived in that place moved to this place moved from place to place settled in this place are you settled will you ever settle? Settled. Settler! 

Belonging. Not belonging. Unbelonging. 

Longing. 

This place. That place. No place.

Displaced. 

Place through the eyes of longing. Joy of place. 

Place through the eyes of unbelonging, longing. Poetry. Poetry of place. Joy of place. 

That’s the one. Joy of place. Poetry. Place poems. Share the joy. Here’s one. Hope you enjoy. 

grasses breezy 

land alive with skitter and crawl 

wedge-tails circling the rising air 

smaller raptors stooping 

dropping through sky 

Excerpt from the title sequence in my latest collection 

Bitumen Psalms (RRP $12.50 Flying Islands Pocket Poets, 2024/25)

One of eight new FIPP titles

Watch for readings

ST BRIGID PATRONESS OF POETRY

 

Pleased to be reading with Irish-Australian poets Moya Pacey and Rosa O'Kane at the Canberra Irish Club on Saturday. We are celebrating St Brigid patron saint for poetry, learning, healing, protection, blacksmithing, livestock, and dairy production. Also Celtic Goddess for the same.

There's a great read at Image — 'Brigid: The original female trailblazer' — where you will learn that Brigid liberated women from slave and bondswomen roles, had healing powers, was a master brewer of ale and as Abbess managed 15000 nuns. Ireland only recently gave her a public holiday of her own putting her finally on the same level as St Patrick!

Anyway come along on Saturday at 1.00 pm — there'll be poetry, singing, dancing and stew! And I'll show you my new book Bitumen Psalms.

POEMS ABOUT UNBELONGING

In Bitumen Psalms you follow the Hume Highway from the inland Yass region (NSW) where Lizz Murphy lives, all the way to Wollongong on the South Coast where she used to live. Lizz often writes about place and belonging. In the long title sequence of micro and haiku-ish poems, she is all too aware of her unbelonging — always just passing through. 

In these pinch-size poems she attempts to engage more closely:

grasses breezy 

land alive with skitter and crawl 

wedge-tails circling the rising air 

There are also glimpses of her own patch in the village of Binalong, through Tai Chi, her other passion.

Raising arms (six times) 

Mt Bobbara becomes golden 

blue shadowstreak  each rock 

inscribed on the horizon 

 — from Opening the Heart

There's a photo of Mt Bobbara at dusk in another recent post — here.

So that's a bit of the blurb. There's more on the Flying Islands Pocket Poets website here: https://flyingislandspocketpoets.com.au/?s=murphy My thanks to Dylan Jones who designed Bitumen Psalms and was a wonderful collaborator.

You can also read about the other seven new titles. Order Bitumen Psalms (RRP $12.50, pb; $6.25, e-book) from the website or better still subscribe to receive all eight plus a couple of extra collections.