reading

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Words Out Loud in Ballarat – August edition

words out loud in ballaratShare “the road ahead” when Words Out Loud returns to Babushka lounge in Ballarat on Thursday, August 18, 7-9pm, for its next session of spoken word.

Writers, readers, poets — all word lovin’ folks with a hankering to share the love are invited along, with five-minute open mic spots on offer. Babushka has excellent sound and backing tracks can be accommodated. You won’t find a friendlier venue.

While the theme is “the road ahead” (make of it what you will), it isn’t compulsory! Share your own work or something that has moved you, or just come to enjoy the performances and meet district writers.

Entry is free, though a gold coin donation would be appreciated for this non-profit, community event.

Keep up to date at the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/wordsoutloud/.

 

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Spoken word in Ballarat

rat reads

A new literary event is coming to Ballarat. The first of the spoken word events, Mr Barnaby’s Sunday Reads, is on Sunday January 17, from 2pm, at Babushka bar — one of my favourite watering holes in the city.

The idea is for readers and writers to gather and share some of their favourite works, or works in progress. Kick back and talk writing and literature. A salon for writers and readers, and a way to help local writers get to know each other. A literary soiree, in the words of the local paper!

There will be a few “headline” readers at the session to get the ball rolling — locals Simon Carroll, Kirstyn McDermott, Amber Wilson, myself, as well as Melbourne’s Talie Helene, will be sharing some “spooky” reads — and an open mic section where anyone can get up and read/perform a passage, to 5 minutes (about 500 words).

Cost is $5, with all proceeds going to Babushka’s gofundme fundraising campaign to help give the bar a kickalong. There’ll be a lucky door prize and raffles, too.

After this, the event is to shift to a monthly Thursday night, with the first slated for February 18, 6-8pm, also at Babushka. More details on that once we’ve had the Sunday Reads.

PS: if you’re a writer in the Ballarat region looking to connect with your community, you might like to check out the Ballarat Writers group.

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A reading from Salvage at MWF

Twelfth Planet Press held a showcase at Melbourne Writers Festival. Terry Shepherd filmed it. I was first cab off the rank, combining with Talie Helene on simply wonderful musical accompaniment. The reading is the near-drowning scene from Salvage, and things could only go up from there, really! (It was a shame the sound tech was a little slow to turn on our mics; the only glitch in an otherwise awesome effort from the MWF team.)

Terry has also posted video of the other readings, featuring writers of the Twelve Planets series working the audience over with laughs, suspense and intrigue: a wonderful showcase indeed of the range of stories being brought to the page by this remarkable series from Alisa Krasnostein’s press.

Alisa couldn’t be present on the night, having to be in Perth to collect a small business achievement award, so at least now she can see what we got up to!

You can watch Showcase readings from:

  • Deborah Biancotti
  • Narrelle M Harris
  • Rosaleen Love
  • Kirstyn McDermott
  • Cat Sparks
  • Lucy Sussex
  • Kaaron Warren

    • While at Terry’s YouTube channel, check out Terry’s short films and creative advertising.

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    Worldcon/Aussiecon appearances

    the darkness withinI’ve scoured the Aussiecon4 program online and come up with these appearances at the convention, at Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre, for those who might like to catch up (outside of the bar area):

    Saturday, Sept 4, 5pm

    If anyone has a dusty copy of The Darkness Within lying around they’d like signed (or maybe an anthology such as Dreaming Again), I’ll be in Room 201-02 with pen in hand. (I believe Guest of hHnour Kim Stanley Robinson, amongst others, is also signing at that time.)

    Sunday, Sept 5, noon

    A reading in Room 215

    Sunday, 1pm

    Presenting a chat (for teens only) about the evolution of the vampire from Dracula to now, in Room 218.

    Sunday, 2pm

    I’ll be joining some very cool people indeed to support the anthology Dreaming Again (probably my proudest publishing credit), in Room 211 (keep your eyes, or ears, peeled, as there *might* be an audio version of my story ‘Smoking, Waiting for the Dawn’, available during the con).

    Monday, Sept 6, 1pm

    Joining a discussion on the taboos in dark fantasy, again with some very cool people, in Room 211.

    I’m very happy indeed to be able to support the worldcon through this participation, so I hope some folks can come along to any and all of these: the more input the better 🙂