Tag Archives: writers

ROBYN WILLIAMS – Turmoil

The Narratives Team have been down to Bellingen Writers Festival and as always we had a wonderful time ( Thanks Seth and Jenny and all of the wonderful Festival crew of volunteers!)

Here’s the first of the brilliant authors we collected for the Library, later in the year we will be producing a a whole new series of Podcasts with these authors collected into themed broadcasts.

Click to buy book

Robyn Williams’ latest book is subtitled ‘ letters from the brink’ and he has a lot to get off his chest about the state of the world, even his own personal state as he gives us a blow by blow account of his treatment for bowel cancer. In this read he decries how the definition of ‘left wing’ has become a derogatory term, instead of merely reflecting the opposite view to conservative opinion.

I could have placed this read in ‘Science’ or ‘Philosophy’ but in the end placed it in ‘Memoir’ — as it contains so much of his views on  life.  It may be re-categorised later in the year!

Robyn Williams reads from ‘Turmoil’

 

As always his interview is eloquent and erudite and we could have continued discussion much longer than time allowed!

Robyn Williams Interview

We’ve been to Bellingen!

The Bellingen writers Festival is small but perfectly formed. With ample panel sessions, workshops, poetry slams and the wonderfully decorated venues and streets a happy, literary vibe can be felt all through the town.

We have lots of great reads and interviews to edit and upload to this site over the next couple of weeks.

Stay tuned, share our posts , support all these wonderful authors and remember books are the freedom of ideas in your society.

COMING UP:

Kerry O’Brien – with ‘Keating’ and ‘Kerry O’Brien’

Robin Williams – ‘Turmoil’

Morris Gleitzman – ‘Help Around the House’

Marcia Langton – ‘The Quiet Revolution’

Henry Reynolds – ‘A Forgotten War’

Fiona Patten – ‘Sex, Drugs and the Electoral Roll’

Caroline De Costa – ‘Bloodsisters’

Marty Branagan – ‘Locked On’

Mark Brandi – ‘The Rip’

Elias Grieg – ‘…. but the cover is Blue’

Alane Valentine – Bower Bird

Josh Pomare – ‘Call Me Evie

And we all ate far too many cakes!

 

SARAH KRASNOSTEIN – The Trauma Cleaner

Have you ever thought about who gets the real dirty work in our messy society?

I’m talking about cleaning up after suicides who have lain unmourned  or missed for weeks, or hoarders who can’t control their  desire to keep their whole live’s  possessions. The industrial accidents, the crime scenes- there are some places you just don’t want to go but specially trained cleaners are often the second on the scene after other services and authorities  and they have to have the knowledge ( and the stomach) to get places habitable or safe again.

Sarah Krasnostein followed one such person for several years and what she learned is detailed in this fascinating book. As you can imagine, the person who does this job has to have a well developed philosophy to cope with what they witness and have to deal with.

Rubber gloves essential!

Sarah Krasnostein reads from  ‘The Trauma Cleaner’

 

 

Author Sarah Krasnostein

Interview with Sarah Krasnostein

 

Recorded at the Byron writers Festival 2018

BEN HOBSON – To Become a whale

Ben Hobson still finds the success of his first novel a ‘bit surreal’. By day an English teacher on Bribie Island, he is challenged by the idea of how to  get young boys interested in reading. He may just have solved the problem with this deep and sensitive book about a young boy’s path to manhood.

Ben Hobson – Interview

 

Ben Hobson reads from ‘To Become a Whale’

 

Recorded on Arts Canvass Bay FM  99.9 2018

 

 

Stuart Coupe – ‘ROADIES’

Author Stuart coupe

Stuart Coupe is a veteran rock writer who has probably seen a lot more in the  music industry than he could  put in print!

We’ll have to assume that there are some tales he left out of this account of the life of the blokes ( and women) who lump the bands gear on and off, ensure the sound is perfect and also take care of a myriad of other little niceties for the band.

He was inspired to write his book  ‘Roadies’ as he has  long  been aware that the attrition rate in the industry through injury, addiction and suicide is disturbingly high.

This book reveals the highs and lows , here is  Stuart reading an account of a Cold Chisel final tour performance  night prank played by their loyal road crew.

click to purchase

Stuart Coupe reads from ‘Roadies

 

Stuart Coupe talks to Narratives

 

Recorded at the Bellingen Writers Festival 2018