Young Opera Singers, Room to Read in Syd...

I love Sydney from being overwhelmed by the talent of young opera singers singing with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House for the Matthia Awards – Sitiveni Talei was so brilliant singing Papageno’s aria by Mozart and he won the awards To spectacular views of the harbour from the American Club for the pre-launch of ROOM TO READ where I saw the heart warming film of the impact of Room to Read on a little girl in Nepal and the whole community. Bringing books, schools and scholarships for girls is the only way to eradicate poverty and empower...

I Loved Writing Butterflies...

Emails I get like this from Mel is what makes me keep writing because it gets hard and it’s really emotional at times. Butterflies THANKYOU MEL! It was submitted by Mel on Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 13:48:25. Feedback: Susanne, before reading butterflies i thought the only way to be pretty was to be perfect, the hair the face the looks, but it’s not true, i read butterflies in 3 days, i couldn’t put it down, it made me really feel good about myself, and think about what it would be like if i was katherine, she went through alot and knew in the end that...

Friends, NSW Writers Centre and All Sain...

Reunion with kids I hung around with when I was 14-15 – they aren’t kids anymore – so strange because I know I didn’t get older. How did they? Just kidding – great people – friends – and we ended with Gary playing rock and roll songs and everyone remembering the COOL New Year Eve parties at my house. My parents were COOL too. NSW Writers Centre – great committee and staff – so committed – it’s going to have the best programmes next year and lots of festivals. ALL SAINTS LIVERPOOL – love the kids there...

Priscilla the Musical, Todd McKenny and ...

Love, love, love Priscilla Queen of the Desert with the brilliant, funny Todd McKenny, wonderful Tony Sheldon and the gorgeous Felicia aka Daniel Scott. It was star studded, over the top, with the six metre cupcakes dancing across the stage and the glitz and glamour of the huge lipstick, the mega high heels, the Outback and Priscilla the mega bus crossing the desert. I went with Rotary heralded by my brother Thomas who is President of the Sydney Cove chapter and my family – Bill and bthe kids Jamie and Tory. Fun, fun, fun and dancing in the aisles. PS Met Ian a young...

Story Tellers Guild at The Hughenden Syd...

Australian Storytellers Guild are weaving stories at The Hughenden. every two months at The Hughenden next one 18 October 2-4 p.m. over Devonshire Tea with Jo Henwood Open Microphone for those who want to tell their own stories $12 I’m speaking at the Saturday 15th November Story Tellers seminar about: Being Cool and stories that reach young people 9.30 am – 4.30...

Sharing Stories at NSW Writers Centre Sy...

Jumping off the walls with fantasy, love, death, wanting to share stories, write stories and at the workshops for passionate young writers. Had some amazing discussions. There’s going to be more workshops with amazing authors like Kate Forsyth, Chris Cheng, Felicity Pulman, Jeni Mawter … lots of great writers sharing writing. PS Writers Centre looked beautiful with the tree, parklands, but danger – magpies diving for...

Social Justice, Melina Marchetta, Libby ...

Bullying, Inter-faith, Refugees, Living in the world Today. Edmund Rice Centre for Social Justice has their inaugural Social Justice Event at the Catholic University Strathfield. A huge audience, book, enthusiam with authors speaking: Nadia Wheatley – inter-faith harmony & indigenous identity Libby Gleeson AM – human rights and refugees Susanne Gervay – anti-bullying, disability and youth rights Melina Marchetta – multiculturalism and class equity Maria Boyd – social justice Melina moved me to tears. Nadia was powerful about her work with indigenous...

The Sydney Children's Writers &...

First Wed of every month there’s the usual meeting at The Hughenden Sydney, with published writers and illustrators meeting to share news and talk publishing. Here’s some of the news the writers and illustrators shared. Major reviews and accolades for: Dianne Bates ‘Crossing the Line’ (Ford St Publishing) Mo Johnson ‘Boofheads’ (Walker Books) Bill Condon ‘Give Me Truth’ (Woolshed Imprint for RandomHouse) Jan Latta ‘Diary of a Wildlife Photographer’ (ABC Books) William Kostakis ‘Loathing Lola’ (Pan...

Breakfast with John Coetze Noble Prize W...

How great was it? Good breakfast, good company and good literature at the Art Gallery at UTS Sydney. HUGE!!!!! Yeah to John Dale Head of Writing and Prof John Milbourne Vice Chancellor of UTS for organising this fantastic breakfast where we heard John read and then asnwer questions. He’s certainly dry and funny:- Q:How do you feel about being awarded the Noble Prize? A: Lucky Q: Shouldn’t writers write about world poverty? A: No. Q: Can you explain that? (prodding him) A: Writers should write what they feel like. Q:Wasn’t the move from South Africa to...

NSW Writers' Centre Seminar with Gr...

The NSW Writers Centre is beautiful located in the ex-aslyum parklands in Rozelle - well, maybe writers are emotionally challenged so we connect - the writers were great with significant creative projects and lots of questions - the time went in a flash - writing connects us in that journey called...