T I P O F T H E T I P O F T H E T I P O F T H E T I P O F T H E

M O N T HM O N T HM O N T HM O N T H

‘Prose is architecture,

not interior decoration.’

- Ernest Hemingway

Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers’ Centre

August/September 2013 The KSP News

Massive reduction on the Winter Retreat.

HUGE VALUE and a HUGE TREAT!! See page 4 for details.

E S T A B L I S H E D 1 9 8 5

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Winter Retreat 1

KSP Workshops and Events - KSP Logo Competition - Historical Romance Workshop - Publishing Panel - Romance Writers’ Retreat - FREE: Guy Salvidge Book Launch - FREE: Digital Publishing Seminar

2

3

4

5

Other Events Around Perth - PCWC Workshops - Writers’ Tales Workshop - RWA Annual Conference - Perth Poetry Festival

6

The House Bulletin Board 7

Publishing and Writing Opportunities - Poetry d’Amour Competition

8 9

Competitions 10-11

Articles, Reviews and Short Pieces - Judy ‘s Book Launch by G Phillips - Swans by J Johnson - Poetically Speaking by M May - The KSP Poetry Wall - KSP Stories by S Coyle

12 13 14 14 15

Winter Retreat

5 nights Tuesday 20 August—Sunday 25 August

(Discounts apply if you do not wish to stay the full 5 nights. Discuss

with coordinator for your preferred package)

Bonus workshop and exclusive mentorship included

L O G O C O M P E T I T I O N N O W O P E N

Can you modernise our logo?

*Prizes: *Prizes: *Prizes: *Prizes: The winner will receive full credit for the logo, and will gain international exposure as

well as a notable addition to his or her portfolio.

**Entrants will be invited to a Logo Launch Party

where the winner will be announced, the logo

revealed and Highly Commended certificates

awarded.

Exposure: Exposure: Exposure: Exposure: Our new logo will appear on the official KSP letterhead, information pamphlets,

monthly newsletters, promotional material (signs,

banners, advertisements, local and international

competition flyers), our website and Facebook page.

Contact: Contact: Contact: Contact: Phone or email 9294 1872 / kspf@iinet.net.au with any queries.

Submissions: Submissions: Submissions: Submissions: Please submit a JPEG or BITMAP image attachment to Shannon at kspf@iinet.net.au

by the close date. Label subject line as KSP Logo

Comp, and add your full name, contact details and

the name of your university, TAFE or company in

the body of the email. You will receive a receipt of

submission.

About the Centre: About the Centre: About the Centre: About the Centre: KSP Writers’ Centre is located in a heritage-listed weatherboard house

which was for many years the home of celebrated

author Katharine Susannah Prichard.

Entrants can visit the centre to gather information,

images, and a feel for the history, aims and spirit of

the centre. ‘Katharine’s Place’, 11 Old York Road,

Greenmount, 6056, Monday to Friday between 9am

and 4pm.

* KSPF reserves the right to not declare a winner in the event an appropriate logo is not discovered. All entrants reserve

copyright to work submitted; the selected logo will become the copyright of KSPF. ** Subject to the selection of a winner

P a g e 3 The KSP News August/September 2013

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Romance Writing Workshop—Tuesday 20 August 2013—6.30pm-9.30pm including light refreshments

$30 KSP-members, $45 public

♥ with Internationally Best-Selling Historical Romance author Anne Gracie ♥

Best-selling author to present a workshop at KSP! Anne Gracie is a full-time writer who knows her audience well;

take advantage of the experience and expertise of this very special guest.

It is a genre that has remained popular since Shakespeare’s poor Romeo and Juliet. The market for romance today is in the billions, with love and lovers permeating every genre.

This workshop will teach you the nuances of the market and why readers read romance, the difference between genre and romantic fiction, the myth of ’the formula’, and how to create a strong premise, memorable scenes and characters to care about.

Anne Gracie is an internationally best-selling historical romance author who learnt history by reading books by Georgette Heyer and Patrick White, among many others. A former Harlequin author, Anne has won many awards and her books have been published in over 20 countries. Anne currently writes historical romance novels for Berkley Books USA and Penguin Books Australia. www.annegracie.com

For more details or to book please ring 9294 1872 or email kspf@iinet.net.au or visit www.kspf.iinet.net.au

U p c o m i n g e v e n t s a n d w o r k s h o p s

How do you catch a publisher’s eye? What are the current trends in the market?

What sells and what doesn’t? What are the common pitfalls for a first-time writer?

HOW CAN YOU GET PUBLISHED?

Come to KSP Writers’ Centre and meet with UWA Publishing Director, Terri-ann White, and multi-published award-winning author and guru on digital publishing, Rosanne Dingli, to learn everything you need to know

and more about the Australian publishing industry.

Saturday 21 September: SELF-PUBLISHING: 9.30am—12.30pm (Rosanne Dingli)

Saturday 21 September: TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING: 1.00pm—4.00pm (Terri-ann White)

Each workshop costs $30 KSP-members or $45 for non-members

For more details visit http://www.kspf.iinet.net.au/events.html#sep

* early booking is essential *

‘Katharine’s Place’ - A support hub for writers everywhere

9294 1872 | 11 Old York Road, Greenmount WA 6056

P a g e 4 The KSP News August/September 2013

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A 2013 Winter Retreat brought to you by KSP Writers’ Centre

Featuring*

♥ 5 nights accommodation in a writers’ chalet

♥ A scattering of chocolate hearts on your pillow

♥ Gourmet lunch and continental breakfast served daily

♥ 1 hour personalised mentorship session with RWA President Nikki Logan

♥ Workshop on The Art of Romance Writing with author Anne Gracie

♥ Fresh bedside roses

FFFF rom Tuesday 20 August to Sunday 25 August 2013, KSP is offering a five-night getaway for three writers looking to work on their projects in a wonderfully romantic ambience. The theme for this retreat is ROMANCE WRITING. The retreat features six nights in the beautifully appointed chalet retreats, chocolate hearts and roses, use of all the ye olde heritage-house facilities, gourmet lunch and full continental breakfast served daily throughout the week. Also included is a personalised feedback session AND a bonus 3-hour workshop on The Art of

Romance Writing (see details below).

For more details or to book please ring 9294 1872 or email kspf@iinet.net.au

or visit www.kspf.iinet.net.au/accommodation

‘Katharine’s Place’ - A support hub for writers everywhere

Offering workshops, special events, regular writing groups, annual residencies, youth programs, literary dinners and more...

The Art of Romance

Writing Writing Workshop

Tuesday 20 August, 7-9pm This 3-hour workshop including light refreshments is with best-selling and acclaimed historical romance author Anne Gracie (www.annegracie.com) and will take you through the tips and tricks of writing heart-melting romance.

Mini-Mentorship 1 hour Feedback Session Sunday 25 August, am

WITH SPECIAL GUEST NIKKI LOGAN

Nikki (www.nikkilogan.com.au) is a contracted romance author with Harlequin and the current President of the Romance Writers of Australia Inc. (RWA)

Former KSP-Writer-in-Residence Launches New Book Sunday 15 September, 3.00pm-5.00pm

You are cordially invited to attend Guy Salvidge's launch of Yellowcake Summer. This is a sequel to Yellowcake Springs which won the IP Picks Award for Best Fiction in 2011. Come along for a cuppa, meet Guy and mingle with the local literati. Seize the opportunity to have your book signed by this up-and-coming author.

Yellowcake Summer will be on sale for $25 each (RRP $33.00). Yellowcake Springs will also be available for $20 (RRP $33.00). Guy will also be offering a special bundle offer for the day of $40 for the two books.

Guy Salvidge is a Western Australian writer and English teacher. He is the author of the dystopian novel Yellowcake Springs, which won the IP Picks Best Fiction Award in 2011 and was shortlisted for the Norma K Hemming Award in 2012. Guy's stories "The Last First" and "Blue Swirls"

were recently published in Alien Sky and Tincture Journal respectively. Another story, "The Dying Rain", will be published in Tobacco Stained Sky from Another Sky Press later this year.

Costs: FREE

Digital Media and Print Works: How to Successfully Marry the Two FREE PRESENTATION BY A FORMER KSP WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE

Sunday 15 September, 1.00pm-3.00pm

Come along to this very special FREE presentation from a former KSP Established Writer-in-Residence.

For the first hour, David Reiter will talk about his experiences with integrating digital media into text-based projects. As publisher of IP Publications Pty Ltd, David will also talk about how they are encouraging authors to publish various ground-breaking digital projects. This will be followed by a period of question-and-answer time.

Multi-award winning creator of poetry, prose, children's and digital projects, Dr David P Reiter is Publisher / CEO at IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd). IP is a leading publisher of poetry, prose and digital media, supported by the Australia Council. David’s latest titles are the multi-channel work My Planets: a fictive memoir (short-listed 2013 WA Premier's Award in Digital Narrative), the children’s novel Tiger Tames the Min Min, the short film Nullarbor Song Cycle, a transmedia work focused on the Nullarbor Plain (short-listed 2012 Western Australia Premier's Award in Digital Narrative), and the adult novel Primary Instinct. My Planets is soon to be archived in the National Library's Pandora database, as a project of "cultural significance".

The My Planets project also resulted in the creation of an interactive website: the My Planets Reunion Memoir. This website deals with themes of adoption and the issues arising from the search for and reunification with biological family, using astronomy, mythology and classical music as transmedia elements together with texts drawn from the source work My Planets: a fictive Memoir. Archived at the Australian National Library.

Costs: FREE. Bookings in advance essential.

F R E E E V E N T S A T K S P !

GUY SALVIDGE CONJURES A NIGHTMARE FUTURE THAT IS ALL TOO BELIEVABLE. A STRONG FOLLOW-UP TO

YELLOWCAKE SPRINGS. Juliet Marillier

E v e n t s a r o u n d P e r t h

Writer’s Tales With Horst Kornberger

a crea�ve wri�ng adventure with Horst Kornberger at

FAWWA

Stories carry a powerful charge. By speaking directly

to the psyche they call forth a crea�ve re-

sponse. Some stories - I call them ‘The Writer’s Tales’ -

are par�cularly suited to writers. They reflect the stag-

es of ini�a�on for the crea�ve self, and are a powerful

catalyst for wri�ng poten�al.

In this workshop I will tell some of these Writer’s Tales

and lead you into a series of wri�ng exercises that will

help you to harness their crea�ve poten�al to your

work.

Sunday 25th August 2.00 – 5.00 pm, Mattie Furphy House, $22 for FAWWA members, $33 for non-members

Upcoming workshops at Peter Cowan Writers

Centre with 2013 Writer-in-Residence Trevor

Todd:

‘Adapting Short Stories into Screenplays’

with Trevor Todd

Saturday, 14 September 2013, 10am – 12 pm at

PCWC

‘Writing for a Youth/Young Adult Audience’

with Trevor Todd Saturday, 21 September 2013, 10am – 12 pm at

PCWC

As these are special workshops, workshop fees for mem-bers will be $20 and $25 for non-members.

WA PERTH POETRY FESTIVAL

Scott-Patrick Mitchell presents The Night Jar

15 August at 20:00 Cheeky Sparrow in Perth, Western Australia

THE NIGHT JAR - is next week. is presented by me, Scott-Patrick Mitchell. is the opening night of the 2013 WA

Poetry Festival Workshops by WA Poets Inc. is my debut feature solo show. is my ecology of performance poetry as narrative spoken word flow...with soundscape & beats electrical. is my phd's final year @ WAAPA performance

work. is my chance to bend some rules - will be opened next week. beware, be warned, be there.

Scott-Patrick Mitchell 7 August 14:21

Romance Writers of Australia 22nd Annual Conference

Riding the waves: Writing romance in tempestuous times

August 16 - 18th 2013

The Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle, Western Australia

August/September 2013 The KSP News

T h e H o u s e B u l l e t i n B o a r d

Online Banking

You can pay online for membership, workshop events

and competition entries all in the convenience of your

home, so you don’t have to tear yourself away from

your writing desk.

Account Name: KSP Foundation Inc.

BSB: 633-000 | Acct. No: 147352983

Please label deposit with your last name and name of

event, then email your booking to Shannon at

kspf@iinet.net.eu for confirmation.

So… what’s been happening at KSP lately?So… what’s been happening at KSP lately?So… what’s been happening at KSP lately?So… what’s been happening at KSP lately? The biggest news at the moment is the launch of a new Residency Program—The Sponsor’s Choice Writer-in-Residence. This new program is to offer members (either independently or as part of a group) the unique opportunity to bring a Writer of their Choosing to KSP. This brings up an interesting hypothetical: if you could choose anyone, which author would you like to meet and what would you most like to ask them? The selected author, dependent on their acceptance, would stay in one of KSP’s chalets and offer a seminar or workshop to members whilst in residence. This new initiative has been announced on our website: visit ‘Residency Program’ for more details. It was a sad meeting for KSP in July as we fare welled the absolutely fabulous Danika PotterDanika PotterDanika PotterDanika Potter, former newsletter editor, who has been a Committee Member for the past five years. Danika is off to beautiful Sweden with her partner. You will be missed, Danika, but all best—we look forward to hearing about your adventures! Two interns have been gracing the office, working on everything from Facebook publicity to fixing the new printer. Andrew Levett (ECU, Honours) and Jessi Ford (ECU, BA), you are awesome—thank you for making the Coordinator’s life easier. The Wooroloo Prison Maintenance Team have been back, pruning roses, weeding, cleaning gutters and fixing our doors, paths and fences. This new monthly visit has seen our grounds looking much neater—it is such a pleasure to walk through Katharine’s wonderfully wild bush garden.

Happy scribbling, Ed.

The Renewals Winner

for July is…

Melissa O’Shea.Melissa O’Shea.Melissa O’Shea.Melissa O’Shea.

Melissa has won a

voucher for a standard

$30 KSP workshop

funded by Dept of

Culture and the Arts.

Congratulations

Melissa !!!

NEW!

THE SPONSOR’S CHOICE WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE

Please visit our website for more details:

http://www.kspf.iinet.net.au/Residency Program

Congratulations to former-Karibu member Caroline Sambridge who has authored an impressive 56 poems so far this year!

August/September 2013 The KSP News

Issue One of Tincture Journal is available in March, featuring new fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction from all over Australia and the world. The Sydney-based Tincture is available as an e-book for reading on various devices.

For more details, visit http://tincture-journal.com or http://www.facebook.com/tincturejournal.

Issue One features Australian writers Amy Han, Meg Henry, Angela Meyer, Guy Salvidge, Miro Sandev, Rafael Ward and many others. Submissions are also now open for Issue Two (Winter).

Applications for KSP’s 2014 Established Writer-in-Residence (1) have now closed.

Applications for KSP’s 2013 Young Writers-in-Residence (3) have now closed.

! Applications for KSP’s 2014 Emerging Writer-in-Residence (3) close 5pm Friday 30 August !

VISIT http://kspf.iinet.net.au/writer_res_info.html FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO APPLY

Laughing Waters artist residencies 2014—call for proposals close 4 October 2013

Unique live-in residencies for two to four months between April and November 2014 for contemporary artists of any discipline. Open house/studios Saturday 21 September 2013, 1pm to 4pm www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/arts or Michelle Zemancheff Cultural Development Officer (03) 9433 3126

P u b l i s h i n g a n d W r i t i n g

O p p o r t u n i t i e s

Robert Juniper Award for the Arts open for applications For creative young people up to the age of 35 with ties to the Mundaring Shire. The Award is worth $9000 and will assist with the progression of a piece of work or with personal development. Visit www.mundaringarts.org for more information and to download application forms. Closes 30 September 2013.

Calls for Submissions (Poetry, Fiction, Art)

I'm editing an anthology of protest poems. The intent is to represent indignation, empathy, ennui, fear, rage, fever, even hot air balloons of joy about what's happening in the world. I intend for this to be a print publication. Once I have some people and poems on board, I plan to pitch the book to publishers. If anyone's interested in helping (logistics, poem contributions, publisher suggestions, solicitations) message me. The fire I read in people's

(FACEBOOK) status updates leads me to believe we could create a significant artefact. If you'd like to submit:

https://ground.submittable.com/submit

A new e-journal "Voyages" is to be published in English soon in Florence. You may wish to read about it on the website <www.voyagesjournal.net>. Gifted fiction writer and translator Dr Gabriela Dragnea is the founder and is very interested in receiving stories, poems. articles etc as you will see in the notes for contributors on the website.

Calls for Varuna Residency Fellowships 2014 for Writers & Illustrators

Applications close 29 August 2013

Varuna, the National Writers' house invites writers and illustrators from across Australia to apply for a Varuna Residency Fellowship. A Varuna Residency Fellowship offers writers and illustrators, working across a wide range of literary genres and forms, focused work time, an inspiring environment and a collegial atmosphere in which to develop a new work. For full information about the Fellowships, please visit http://varuna.com.au/

T h e K S P N e w s P a g e 9

There’s only one month left to enter the Aesthetica Creative Writing Competition, which offers both existing and aspiring writers the chance to showcase their work to a wider, international audience. Now in its sixth year, the competition celebrates and nurtures creative talent, inviting writers to submit imaginative and original work in either category for entry: Poetry or Short Fiction.

Prizes include £500 prize money, publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual and a selection of books from partner organisations. Submissions previously published elsewhere are accepted and the deadline for entries is 31 August 2013. For more information please visit www.aestheticamagazine.com/creativewriting.

The Best of Times short story competition #16

For humorous short stories (any theme) up to 2500 words. First prize: $500, second prize: $100. Closes 31 Oct 2013.Entry fee is $10 per story. Competition website: http://spiky_one.tripod.com/comp16.html

C o m p e t i t i o n s

Entries for the Finch Memoir Prize 2014 will open on 1 July 2013 and close at 5pm on 20 August 2013. The prize of $10,000 and publication is awarded by an independent panel of judges to the best unpublished life story or memoir submitted. The competition is open to previously published and unpublished writers as well as to agented writers.

The entry form and terms and conditions are available here: http://www.finch.com.au/node/9

The Glen Phillips Poetry Prize (open theme ) Prizes: 1st $400, 2nd $200 and 3rd $100, with four Highly Commended and four Commended Certificates Entry fees: $10 for one entry, $25 for three entries and $40 for five entries. Closing Date: 27 September 2013 (must be post-marked by this date). www.pcwc.org.au

Write-a-Book-in-a-Day 2013

Register a team before August 31, 2013, to take on the challenge of writing and producing a book in 24 hours! Proceeds go to Children’s Hospitals.

For pictures and more information on Write-a-Book-in-a-Day please visit the website: http://www.writeabookinaday.com/

2013 EJ Brady Short Story Competition

The major prize has increased to $2000, and further details are on the website www.artsmallacoota.org The closing date is November 15th, 2013.

Entries are invited for a new international poetry prize organised from Singapore, with a first prize of US$10,000; for details please see: www.writingventures.org Dates: 1 July 2013 – 30 September 2013. Entry Fee: US$15 (one poem), US$150 (15 poems)

The 2013 Overland Victoria University Short Story Prize for New and Emerging Writers. The competition aims to discover the finest in original short fiction by new writers across Australia and New Zealand – that is, writers who have not yet published a book with commercial distribution. $8000 worth of prizes available. Closes midnight 31 Aug 2013.

Katharine Susannah Prichard Speculative Fiction Award 2013Katharine Susannah Prichard Speculative Fiction Award 2013Katharine Susannah Prichard Speculative Fiction Award 2013Katharine Susannah Prichard Speculative Fiction Award 2013

(Open to all Australian residents.) Closing date: Friday 6 September 2013.

Word limits: Min 1500 Max 3500. Every form of Speculative Fiction such as science fiction, fantasy ,

horror, mystery and supernatural/superhero fiction are welcome.

2 CATEGORIES: Katharine Susannah Prichard Open Awards ($7 entry fee) PRIZES: 1st $600 2nd $300 3rd $175

Mundaring National Young Writers Awards (20 years and under) (free entry) PRIZES: 1st $75 2nd $25

Commended 5 of $10. Mundaring National Young Writers Encouragement Award: $25

To be judged by Adrian Bedford. In 2003 Bedford's first novel, Orbital Burn, was released in Canada by Edge Science

Fiction and Fantasy Publishing. He has since written three more novels. Eclipse and Time Machines Repaired While-U-Wait

both won the Aurealis Award for best science fiction novel in 2005 and 2008 respectively, while Orbital Burn and Hydrogen

Steel both received short-list nominations in the same category. Time Machines Repaired While-U-Wait was also a shortlist

nominee for the 2008 Philip K. Dick Award and later released by Fremantle Press. Paradox Resolution, the sequel to Time

Machines Repaired While-U-Wait, was released in 2012 and continues the adventures of Aloysius "Spider" Webb.

Katharine Susannah Prichard Short Fiction Awards 2013Katharine Susannah Prichard Short Fiction Awards 2013Katharine Susannah Prichard Short Fiction Awards 2013Katharine Susannah Prichard Short Fiction Awards 2013

(Open to all Australian residents.) Closing date: Friday 20 September 2013.

Word limit: min 1000, max 3000.

2 categories: KSP Open Awards ($7.00 entry fee) PRIZES: 1st $600 2nd $300 3rd $175 Mundaring National Young Writers Awards (20 years and under, free entry) . PRIZES: 1st $75 2nd $25 Commended 5 of $10. Mundaring National Young Writers Encouragement Award (for under-13's): $25

To be judged by Richard Rossiter. Richard Rossiter has taught and published in the field of Australian Literature and

Culture for many years. He has a special interest in Western Australian writing. His collection of short fiction, Arrhythmia,

was published in 2009 by UWA Press. He is the editor of two recent collections of short stories published by Margaret River

Press: Things that are Found in Trees and Other Stories (2012) and Knitting and Other Stories (2013). He has judged

numerous fiction awards.

Karen W Treanor Poetry Awards 2013Karen W Treanor Poetry Awards 2013Karen W Treanor Poetry Awards 2013Karen W Treanor Poetry Awards 2013

(Open only to WA residents.) Closing date: Friday 20 September 2013.

Limit of one entry per person.

2 categories: KWT Open Awards ($7.00 entry fee) PRIZES: 1st $600, 2nd $300, 3rd $175

KWT Youth Awards (12 years to 18, free entry). PRIZES: 1st $75, 2nd $25, Commended: 5 of $10 each

Karen W Treanor Encouragement Award (for under-13's): $25

To be judged by Andrew Lansdown. Andrew Lansdown’s poems and stories have been widely published and have won many

literary awards. His most recent books are: a collection of poetry, Fontanelle (Five Islands Press); a collection of short

stories, The Dispossessed (Interactive Press); three fantasy novels, With My Knife, Dragonfox and The Red Dragon (Omnibus

Books/ Scholastic Australia); and two poetry chapbooks, Little Matters: a gathering of 89 haiku & senryu and Consolations:

48 tanka (Picaro Press). He is most recently the author of Far from Home and Gestures of Love (released on 1 March 2013).

www.andrewlansdown.com.

KSP Logo Competition 2013KSP Logo Competition 2013KSP Logo Competition 2013KSP Logo Competition 2013

(Open to national and international entrants.) Closing date: Wednesday 20 November 2013.

No limit to entries. Free entry. To be judged by a Panel of the KSP Management Committee.

Visit www.kspf.iinet.net.au www.kspf.iinet.net.au www.kspf.iinet.net.au www.kspf.iinet.net.au for more information, entry form and guidelines on all competitions. Email

kspf@iinet.net.au kspf@iinet.net.au kspf@iinet.net.au kspf@iinet.net.au to enquire about or enter the logo competition.

P a g e 1 1 K a t h a r i n e S u s a n n a h P r i c h a r d W r i t e r s ’ C e n t r e

REVIEWS AND ARTICLES

LAUNCH OF JUDY JOHNSON’S LATEST POETRY COLLECTION

Judy’s latest volume of poems, Stone Scar Air Water (Walleah Press, 2013) was launched by Patron Glen Phillips at the Moon Café Perth Poetry Club readings on Saturday 20th July. He reminded the audience of something Judy had once said in

an interview: ‘I don’t believe you can write unless you read…I lose that ‘I don’t believe you can write unless you read…I lose that ‘I don’t believe you can write unless you read…I lose that ‘I don’t believe you can write unless you read…I lose that constant flood of words that is transformed through my own ideas constant flood of words that is transformed through my own ideas constant flood of words that is transformed through my own ideas constant flood of words that is transformed through my own ideas and emotions into new work.’ and emotions into new work.’ and emotions into new work.’ and emotions into new work.’ Glen went on to say:

‘When you read this book Stone Scar Air Water (and I hope for your sakes that will be really soon) you will find an almost bewildering array of such sources of inspiration ranging from her familiar locales of around Newcastle north of Sydney to China, Ireland, England, Scotland and back to the historic past in Australia, for example with the tragic story of ‘The Last Days of Mary Watson’. There are some 42 poems, in their four elemental sections, as indicated in the book title, but I was drawn to the fourth, Stone, for here is also the title poem of the volume, and a very impressive poem it is. I will come back to it in a moment. The other poem to which I particularly draw your attention is ‘Swans’ since it reminds us of our State symbol, a black one in our case, but more importantly because it is one of the three poems published in the current edition of the Australian Book Review.’ In commenting on the title of Judy’s book, Glen also said that perhaps, all the thematic (and narrative elements)—stone, scar, air and water—do represent a crucial moment for the poet (and maybe all poets) when if, perhaps like Dante, we are lost in thought in the middle of life’s voyaging when one begins to look for where to find the ultimate landfall of one’s career and creative achievements. He then directed the audience to the last lines of the title poem of the book ‘Stone, Scar, Air, Water’, suggesting that readers could judge whether they illustrated the epiphanic moment for the poet: … leaving only words to recapture detachment to try to tell you how it all once stood apart: stone, scar, air, water. And fail the moment pen touches paper the two becoming one.

Judy Johnson then responded to the launching of her book by reading two poems (‘Swans’ and ‘Opal’) to a most appreciative audience. Judy JohnsonJudy JohnsonJudy JohnsonJudy Johnson Dr Glen PhillipsDr Glen PhillipsDr Glen PhillipsDr Glen Phillips

P a g e 1 3 T h e K S P N e w s

Swans By Judy Johnson

When the talk is of angels it’s tempting to think of them on the cold lake

small swan-shaped slivers of ice.

They are superbly processional gliding in front of an invisible carriage.

Or moving across a linen sky

as though a single loose thread

is being pulled to a pucker from somewhere beyond the horizon.

They play-act their dignity

to suit the task at hand

which is to placate our watching expectations.

You know this because they sometimes slip

into momentary awkwardness.

The propellers of their feet as they attempt to launch

do not push smoothly upwards from the surface but slap

like the frenzied paddles of a waterwheel.

And their cries are absurd: half bugle, half air brake.

But the biggest giveaway of all is how one shadow, then another, and another passes low overhead.

That feathered line of underbelly darkness the huge warump, warump of wings.

The soul we do not believe in, suddenly

believes in us, and flutters in terror.

And we are as helpless as any creature who, not paying enough attention

has stumbled into another creature’s myth.

POETICALLY SPEAKING

By Mardi May

When Established Writer-in-Residence, Judy Johnson, leaves KSP after her 4 weeks residency, she will leave behind memories of great poetry, an inspiring workshop on narrative poetry, a delicious evening of readings and to those groups she visited, the warmth of a personal encounter and the sharing of knowledge and ideas. Many of us have bought Judy’s books and have collections of her poetry and the verse novel ‘Jack’ as close reminders of those times shared. Several eager poets gathered for the poetry group’s ‘Meet the Poet’ session, to hear Judy talk about her writing life, read her work and discuss all things poetic. On meeting an established writer, there is always the hope that a clue to the secret of success will be discovered. Perhaps Judy’s success began with a love of poetry and its discovery as a means of expressing one’s inner world, and perhaps then, it is just sheer hard work and the love of language that are the key ingredients. Judy’s residency project involves endless research and the filling in of the gaps that pit historical writing. Past Tense members are all about the seaming together of these gaps in historical information and those within the memories of life story. Judy’s session with our group was a fruitful sharing of ideas on this and other topics and a reinforcing of the need for research. We all wish Judy well and look forward to her new novel, which sprang to life in the fertile grounds of KSP.

And speaking of poetics… Welcome to the KSP Poetry Wall

The Poets@KSP group are inviting members to submit poems to the KSP Poetry Wall. We are accepting your own poetry or that of a favourite poet with a few lines about why you have chosen this poem. Please email or hand in your submission to the office or place in the poetry tray by 1pm on 12th August. If you write poetry and would like feedback on your work or just share the fellowship of other poets, please do come along to the Poets@KSP group on 2nd & 4th Mon of each month from 1-3pm.

KSP STORIES

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT A WRITING GROUP OR A WRITERS

RETREAT COULD DO FOR YOU?

HEAR FROM TWO LONG-STANDING KSP-MEMBERS…

‘I started coming to Katharine Susannah Prichard's writing centre to the Non Fiction group after my husband died in 2010 and documented my life chapter by chapter, then encouraged and supported by facilitator Glad McGough of the Non-Fiction group. It is quite a humorous book telling how I borrowed a stuffed giraffe from the WA museum as a teaching adjunct for my first day at Balcatta Primary School as a school teacher. I also imported a double-decker bus from Britain to promote motivation and inspire a love of learning in children. Writing the book was the most satisfying thing I've ever done in my life. Now I need to continue attending these two writing groups to hopefully glean yet another book.’ Peggy Collins (Looking forward to hearing about the next book Peggy!!)

‘This (PhD) took me four long years on a full-time basis and would not have been possible without the assistance of a series of retreats at KSP, both on a self-funded and university-supported basis. I am currently finalising a longer version of the creative component of my thesis, which I certainly hope to get published in the not-too-distant future. My project is set in Port Hedland during the 1970's.’ Karen Fouweather, who recently achieved her PhD. (Congrats Karen!!)

The view from Katharine’s original writing studio (circa 1930)The view from Katharine’s original writing studio (circa 1930)The view from Katharine’s original writing studio (circa 1930)The view from Katharine’s original writing studio (circa 1930)

Visit the back page for details on KSP’s many writing groups. Do you have an idea for your own writing group? Email or phone the office to discuss the options. KSP retreats are available for writers to hire anytime. Significant discounts apply for members. See website for details and to book your next writing escape in this unique place of inspiration.

Katharine was a social person who liked to host many a soiree. Katharine was a social person who liked to host many a soiree. Katharine was a social person who liked to host many a soiree. Katharine was a social person who liked to host many a soiree. On return from a 1962 visit to Katharine’s place, Isla March perfectly described the garden in a letter to a friend: ‘2 and 1/2 acres - of waving grass, gumtrees and wattles, old fruit trees, and creepers such as bouganvillia, honeysuckle, periwinkle and asparagus fern gone wild and creep-ing over fallen trees …Over the Old York Road and the Great Eastern Highway are grass-clad and bush-clad hills … green-and-scarlett kangaroo paw, flowering shrubs - white and purple and gold, spider orchids and enamel flowers in profusion.’

(Spencer Brodney Papers, MS 6069, 1286/6, MS 5805, LaTrobe Library, Melbourne)

And this is true of today - the wildness, the beauty; it is simply magical. Or, as David Hyde put it in 2010 after a week at KSP: ‘The place still has a beating heart.’

Public Fund

Chairperson KSP

Treasurer KSP

Clive Aldridge

Denis McLeod

Robert Perks

Literary Advisory Board

Dr Glen Phillips

David Caddy

Prof. Brian Dibble

Kathleen Dzubiel

Mardi May

Dr Melissa O’Shea

Karen Treanor

Dr Amanda Curtin

Juliet Marillier

Julienne Van Loon

Management Committee

Chairperson Renee Hammond

Secretary Guy Salvidge

Treasurer Robert Perks

Newsletter Ed. Shannon Coyle

Committee Mardi May Karen Treanor

Shannon Coyle

Guy Salvidge

Andrew Levett

Coordinator

Shannon Coyle

Competitions Secretary

Mimma Tornatora

Patron

Dr Glen Phillips

KATHARINE SUSANNAH

PRICHARD WRITERS’ CENTRE

Regular Writing GroupsRegular Writing GroupsRegular Writing GroupsRegular Writing Groups Open for Everyone to Join (Per class: $5 members/$10 nonmembers)

Poetry Writing Group (Poets@KSP) 2nd, 4th Mondays 1.00-3.00pm

Writers’ Circle Tuesdays 10.00-12.00pm

Writefree Women’s Writing Group Wednesdays 9.45-11.45am

Young Writers’ Group (8-16s) Thursdays during school term 4.00-6.00pm

Home Schooler Group (9-16s) Thursdays during school term 10.00-11.30am

Thursday Night Group Thursdays 7.30-9.30pm

Marathon Writers Group Fridays 12.00-4.00pm

Non-Fiction Writers Monthly 1st Saturday 10.00-12.00pm

Past Tense (Social History) Monthly 2nd Saturday 10.00-12.00pm

Speculative Fiction/Fantasy Monthly 2nd Sunday 10.00-12.00pm

Avon Valley Writers Group Wednesdays 10.00am & Thursdays 7.00pm

Katharine’s Place

11 Old York Road

Greenmount

WA 6056

AUSTRALIA

Phone: (08) 9294 1872

Fax: (08) 9294 1872

Email: kspf@iinet.net.au

Web: kspf.iinet.net.au