This week we bring the August Moomin celebrations to a close, look at books read and reviewed, discover some of the best writing about literature on the blogosphere, keep up with literary anniversa…| Book Jotter
The Michael Crouch Award is part of the National Biography Award (NBA) suite of prizes. I have written about the NBA before, but have never specifically focused on the Michael Crouch Award. But first, a quick recap … the National Biography Award has been going since 1996, and celebrates excellence in life writing, that is, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Michael Crouch Award| Whispering Gums
Like many, I was astonished when I read Elizabeth Harrower’s The watchtower (my review), upon its publication by Text Classics in 2012. Astonished not so much for its writing, though that is excellent, but for its subject, which is what we’d now call coercive control. The astonishment comes from the fact that The watchtower was … Continue reading Helen Trinca, Looking for Elizabeth: The life of Elizabeth Harrower (#BookReview)| Whispering Gums
Nearly three years ago, I reported on a new literary prize, the 20/40 Publishing Prize which was being offered by the non-profit publisher, Finlay Lloyd. It has now been awarded in both 2023 and 2024, and preparations for announcing the 2025 winners are well under way. Briefly, the aim of the award is to “encourage … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Publishing Prize, progress report| Whispering Gums
I haven’t announced the Prime Minister’s Literary Award shortlists for a few years, but for various reasons, including the fact that there is a Poetry section which works nicely with this month being National Poetry Month (see my Monday Musings), I’ve decided to share this year’s shortlists. Creative Australia’s page for the announcement says they … Continue reading Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Shortlist 2025, announced| Whispering Gums
National Poetry Month – in Australia – is now five years old, and once again it is spearheaded by Red Room Poetry, which should not need any introduction by now to regular readers here. This year it runs a bit over a month, from 30 July to 3 September. As before, they have appointed Poetry … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: National Poetry Month 2025| Whispering Gums
Over the years I have started several Monday Musings sub-series, some of which I’ve nearly completed (such as those on writers centres and on supporting genres) while others are still continuing (like Forgotten writers). Today, I’m introducing a new one. It was inspired by an email I received the other day from Terri-ann White of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Quiet achievers 1, Terri-ann White of Upswell Publishing| Whispering Gums
When my reading group chose our books for the second half of the year, the shortlist for the Miles Franklin Award had not yet been announced. However, wonderfully, the three books we chose from the longlist, all ended up on the shortlist. One of those was Winnie Dunn’s debut novel, Dirt poor Islanders. It is … Continue reading Winnie Dunn, Dirt poor Islanders (#BookReview)| Whispering Gums
Around ten years ago, I wrote a post on National Arbor Day. It was inspired by a Library of America story. The thing is that then I didn’t, and I still don’t hear, about Arbor Day anymo…| Whispering Gums
The Readings New Australian Fiction Prize shortlist, a new one-day writers festival, plus upcoming events and new books to add to the pile!| Reading Matters
Award winners, acquisition news, longlist announcements and more in this week’s wrap up of Australian literature happenings.| Reading Matters
A true crime frenzy, a new lit festival for Sydney, and Melbourne’s oldest bookshop moves to a new home — plus lots more in this wrap up of all things Australian literature.| Reading Matters
Titles are intriguing things, and we don’t always pay them the attention they deserve, but the title of Australian writer Andrea Goldsmith’s ninth novel, The buried life, is worth think…| Whispering Gums
Prize winners, shortlist announcements, new releases & lots more in this wrap up of all things Australian literature.| Reading Matters
A new weekly roundup of what’s happening in the world of Australian books and writing.| Reading Matters
Like my last forgotten writer, Ruby Mary Doyle, today’s writer, though also a prolific contributor to newspapers in her day, has slipped into the shadows. Neither Wikipedia nor the Australian…| Whispering Gums
The shortlist for the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards has been unveiled.| Reading Matters
Fiction dominates the 2025 Stella Prize lonlgist which has just been announced at the Adelaide Festival. This prize for Australian women and non-binary writers is worth $60,000 to the winner| Reading Matters