Blog

An Animals Australia article that highlights the use of toxicity testing of chemicals on animals is still being done around the globe.

Attracting the interest of a publisher for this story of a community’s campaign to stop what would have been ‘the world’s fourth largest pulp mill’ being built was never going to be easy, but hoping the first of two 3-minute Literary Speed Dating pitch sessions will prompt at least one of the two publishers to request the full MSS. And preferably both of them. These twice-yearly Perfect Pitch sessions are offered to members of the Australian Society of Authors, and this is the first time I’ve taken advantage of them – mainly because of the need to have a completed MSS before doing so. Three minutes isn’t long to excite the interest of a publisher who is after stories in very specific genres, and who therefore needs to believe your MSS is worth investing the time needed to read it in full. I’m pretty certain I’ve excited the necessary interest, but given Jane will hear the pitches of many more optimistic and talented writers after my morning session today, there are no guarantees. That initial interest might well wane as the day goes on if other writers have written stories that sound far more intriguing – and marketable. One can never forget that aspect of publishing these days: will the book sell. I believe my story will – certainly in Tasmania it definitely will – but a wider Australian readership? That’s an unknown even if my mentor is convinced of the story’s universal appeal.  I’d certainly like to think I’ve caught the zeitgeist wave given the current widespread community unrest over AI data centres, that’s already prompting similar serious opposition, and for many of the same reasons the Tamar Valley’s community opposed the pulp mill. Environmental degradation, threats to public health, water usage – and water shortages in an era of escalating climate extremes – and the constant, relentless noise factor that’s associated with data centres, and AI data centres in particular. I’m crossing my fingers that the second pitch session will be equally positive, and that I could strike it lucky with both publishers requesting to see the full MSS. But I won’t get ahead of myself. I’ll just be keeping all fingers and toes firmly crossed for the next seven days.

Changing climate is affecting plants, and they are increasingly confused by a warming world. Yet despite the warnings by scientists about the risks of more frequent weather extremes, governments are still failing to act quickly enough.

Our free range and ageing bantam chooks often scorn their custom-made nesting boxes go rogue when it comes to laying eggs

Unexpected life challenges can upend the best laid plans and disrupt ordered routines. This was our experience recently. Not so much an adventure, but an unlooked-for and rather nasty gauntlet that needs to be navigated without a compass, or any clear idea of how to proceed.

Book review of a historical crime novel that has similarities to the murder of prostitutes in Victorian England by the infamous Jack the Ripper, but is also a social history of women in colonial Melbourne.

Political controversy continues about building Tasmania's third stadium at Hobart's Macquarie Point, a monument to the AFL that the majority of Tasmanians have consistently said they don't want and which they know is unaffordable at a time when public services are at crisis point. Yes to a team, No to a new stadium.

North-west Tasmania's branch of the Fellowship of Australian Writers' latest anthology collection is called 'Strange and Marvellous Things' and it showcases the talent of some lesser-known Tasmanian writers. The cover is the best yet, in my opinion. And some of my (mostly political) poems are included.

Tasmania's wild and windy weather has been more severe than usual this October, making dog walking more of a challenge, and less pleasurable than usual.

Spring cleaning our walk-in pantry and having a clear out of stuff while doing so. A task that's been delayed due to having a broken wrist.

The book is written, now it's a question of attracting a publisher.