Big Sky Publishing, Australia, 2021
Hitler’s Assassins is the second book in Steve Matthews’ trilogy (book 3 upcoming). Steve was inspired to write this series by experiences with Polish friends and his own visit to Auschwitz. The works are focussed on Hitler and lesser known aspects of the Nazi regime during World War 11.
Ford St Publishing, Australia, 2021
Harry Laing’s poetry and Anne Ryan’s illustrations marry perfectly in this collection, exuding energy and a delight in the wonders of the everyday. Indeed, the poet’s intent is to ‘normalise’ poetry, to make it an easy, accessible vehicle for ideas, observations and feelings.
Allen & Unwin, Australia, 2021
Cover design: Christa Moffitt
Map: Mika Tabata
This book is a masterpiece of atmospheric evocation, a family tale exploring the need to acknowledge our pasts in order to be whole.
Greta and Joel, our central characters are complex individuals, a couple joined it seems by their need to constantly move on and a capacity to allow the other not to speak of things – until they return to Joel’s family home in the Northern Territory to renovate the property for a tourism project. It is then that the past itself takes on a character role and insists on disclosure. The revelation of Joel’s secrets ultimately leads to Greta’s unveiling as well.
Available on DVD and streaming platforms
85 mins, rated MA 15+ (strong sex scenes, course language)
The 1994 Hollywood film Disclosure was about allegations of workplace sexual harassment. This 2020 Australian film has a related theme: how the parents of a nine-year-old boy deal with allegations of sexual assault made by their neighbours’ four-year-old daughter, Natasha, against their son, Ethan.
Continue Reading“Film review – Disclosure”
In a major achievement for a Canberra arts society, ASOC presents its 80th Spring Exhibition. This annual event is usually a vast exhibition of works by local and regional artists across a variety of mediums with members eligible to enter four works each.
30-31 October 2021
Online at https://www.gunningartsfestival.com/
Due to the risk posed by COVID-19 in regional communities, GAF is once again online.
Events are currently being scheduled and you are invited to keep up to date on the GAF website.
Highlights include:
The Gunning Arts Festival is supported by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal via its Tackling Tough Times Together program and is proudly sponsored by Bailey’s Garage, BJCE Australia, Upper Lachlan Foundation, and the Upper Lachlan Shire Council.
Shortlist on 31 January, winner announced 25 February 2022
The ACT Publishing Awards awards recognise and celebrate Canberra-region works published by small presses as well as self- published titles.
The final date for submissions will be announced once there is a clearer understanding of Canberra’s COVID-19 restrictions in the coming weeks.to ensurethat all entrants have an appropriate amount of time to safely drop off their entries.
Continue Reading“2021 ACT Publishing Awards postponed until February 2022”
Allen & Unwin, Australia, 2021
This is a perfect book – for children a story of an adventurous trip by hot air balloon to the Arctic by a small boy and a crow, for adult readers an allegory equally as powerful and complex as Lewis, Baum and Grahame.
Hachette, Australia, 2021
Cover design by Christabelle Designs with photograph courtesy Idda van Munster – Aida Dapo Muharemovic
This book brings together a number of the author’s passions – France, World War 11 history, women of courage, fashion and art. It is set in Occupation Paris in the historical time frame and the Riviera, Australia and New York in 2015 for the contemporary.
Four online events with international authors
6pm, Wednesdays 8 – 29 September 2021
Tickets $10 per event
The in person BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival is scheduled for 2-5 December but meanwhile BAD has lined up four of the world’s top crime writers for interviews with BAD Sydney.
Ventura Press, Australia, 2021
The Banksia House Breakout deals with themes of domestic and elder abuse, of respect for the elderly and respect for women. Written like a road movie, and with all the visuals the form evokes, it tells the story of a group of aged care residents, three of whom take matters in their own hands when they meet obstacles to fulfil their life’s desires.
HQ Fiction an imprint of Harlequin Enterprises, a subsidiary of HarperCollins Publishers, Australia, 2021
Cover design by Catherine Armstrong
The history of the second half of the 20th century provides a backdrop for this novel, set in the south east of Tasmania, specifically the once booming apple growing regions of the Huon Valley, Wattle Grove and Cygnet.
Centre stage it’s the saga of two family dynasties, the Turners and the Pearsons, starting on 7 February, 1967, known now as Black Tuesday, when 110 separate bushfires ravaged southern Tasmania.
A Lothian Children’s Book, Hachette, Australia, 2021
Megan McKean is the writer, illustrator and designer of this cheery and informative book, which will spark interest in children and a travel yen in adults.
The Street Theatre
Until October 2021
Live and online depending on COVID-19 restrictions
The Street Theatre’s Re-Storying: The Resilience Project is a six-module program, which was launched in July 2021 with the support of ACT Health. It is designed for artists from all practices and has attracted actors, writers, poets, visual artists and others wanting to counter the impact of the pandemic on their livelihoods.
Internal illustrations by Julie Stapleton
Self-published, Australia, first edition 2016, second edition 2019, third edition 2020
Deanna Copeland is a Canberra-based visual artist and writer. Reluctant Pioneer, the first of her two novels, is inspired by stories told to her by her mother, who came to Australia from England with her husband in 1948.
It is however a work of fiction, an Australian rural romance set in the recent past during the 1940s and 1950s.
