Poetry, Dance and Music at Four Winds Arts Salon

And South Coast Writers Festival Appearances

Hello, I have just returned from a tour of London, Leeds and London after receiving a Neilma Sidney Literary Grant to showcase my work internationally. I hope you can join me in celebrating the publication of my debut poetry collection, How to Read a City, Your Place of Last Resort (5 Islands Press), through two special events on the South Coast this winter.

Ahead of the official launch of my work on 15th August at Four Winds, the celebrations begin at the South Coast Readers & Writers Festival in Thirroul on 25 July. I’ll be joining award-winning nature writer Inga Simpson and Joshua Lobb for Our Nature, a conversation exploring the ways landscape, climate and the natural world shape our creative practice. My collection draws on climate science, ecology and our experiences of the Black Summer Fires in a poetic enquiry which asks how to find hope and belonging in a changing world. The festival lineup and workshops include Michelle de Kretser, Kathryn Heyman, Richard Glover, Kate Holden and Kate Mildenhall.

Later that afternoon, I’ll be part of A Poetry Showcase, celebrating the 40th anniversary of 5 Islands Press, alongside Mark Tredinnick, Hemat Malak and Linda Godfrey, hosted by Gareth Jenkins.

The celebrations continue on 15 August with the official launch of How to Read a City, Your Place of Last Resort at Four Winds, Bermagui, in a unique Salon: Dance, Music, Poetry. This is an event you will definitely not want to miss!

Rather than a traditional book launch, the afternoon brings together poetry, improvised music, dance and visual art in a collaborative performance. I’m honoured to be joined by acclaimed writers Jen Webb, Nigel Featherstone, Sandra Renew as well as Richard Lawson, where readings will be woven together with live improvised music. Dancers from the Sydney Dance Company will perform throughout the afternoon, while artist Justin Pearson creates a live painting in response to the performances.

I look forward to welcoming friends, readers and fellow lovers of literature to these events.