CR Newsletter for Aug

The Compulsive Reader newsletter for August has now gone out.  This month's newsletter contains a bunch of new reviews including The Nail in the Tree by Carol Ann Davis, Knitting Mangrove Roots by Kerri Shying, and Becoming Lady Washington by Betty Bolté, as well as interviews with Jane Novak and Jaylan Salah and 3 new subscriber book giveaways.  If you're a subscriber a copy should be on its way.  Or you can 

View it in your browser

To sign up visit: http://www.compulsivereader.com

Compulsive Reader July Newsletter

The Compulsive Reader Newsletter for July has now gone out with the usual roundup of literary news, fresh reviews and interviews with authors Ronnie Scott, Carmen Radke, and Gleah Powers. We also have 3 great new book giveaways for subscribers. If you haven't received your copy as yet, you can grab a copy in the archive here: http://www.compulsivereader.com/sendpress/email/?sid=MA&eid=MTUyNTc. 

If you'd like to subscribe, just go to http://www.compulsivereader.com and sign up on the upper right hand side. 

Compulsive Reader Newsletter for June

"Books" by Jules Hawk is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Hello readers.  2020 has been relentless, and I’m well aware that I’m one of the lucky ones - privileged, comfortable, surrounded by books. Will it end up being a year of dissolution, transformation or both?  I don’t know and it’s probably too early to tell, but the toll either way has been terrible. So much of what we’re going through right now seems to me to be connected. I want to do more - to help more.  Is my tiny platform the right place?  How do I amplify other voices? How do I make space for much-needed change? I don’t have the answers, but I’m trying to learn and grow, and the best way to do that, I think, is through listening/paying attention to people who know firsthand. For the US, Rachel Cargle’s course is excellent - with simple, actionable items and more extensive resources if you are able to go there. Rachel (https://www.rachelcargle.com) has a whole list of resources here: https://linktr.ee/1thatgotawayy, and you can sign up for the free course at the link. I’m also on the lookout specifically for Australian resources. I have lots of books, podcasts and am reading and listening widely but if you’ve got specific resources that you want to share around climate change, living sustainably, or combating racial and other forms of inequality - both structural and personal including indigenous deaths in custody and the shameful way we treat refugees, please let me know, particularly if they are are in the voices of lived experience that I might be able to help amplify.  What is becoming increasingly obvious is that we all have to work together to make this world a kinder, safer, more inclusive place. I’m ready to #dothework, so hit me up if you’ve got ideas.  In the meantime, June’s newsletter is bigger than usual - I’m trying to catch up with a lot of backlogged reviews, and to get on top of my teetering stack, so we’ve got 15 new reviews instead of the usual 10.  There’s also a big roundup of news, and 3 fantastic new giveaways as well, including fiction, nonfiction and poetry.  If you’re a subscriber, you should have your copy soon (but check spam as the word ‘compulsive’ often triggers the filters). You can also grab a copy in the archive here: Compulsive Reader Newsletter Archive   To subscribe visit: http://www.compulsivereader.com.

CR Newsletter for May

The Compulsive Reader newsletter for May has just gone out.  Wherever you are, I hope you’ve got good reading material. Our newsletter this month includes 11 new reviews and interviews to help keep you in the know about the latest and greatest new books coming out - we’ve got, for example, Sophie Hardcastle’s Below Deck (check out my interview with Sophie here: https://youtu.be/82COIj2UXbw), All My People Are Elegies by Sean Thomas Dougherty, Stanley Park by Sapphira Olson, interviews with Michael Foldes, Kristina Marie Darling, Ashley Kalagian Blunt, and lots more. We also have a big news roundup including some fantastic virtual events happening, and 3 fantastic new book giveaways.  If you’re a subscriber, you should have a copy already in your inbox. If not, you can grab a copy directly from our archive here: http://www.compulsivereader.com/sendpress/email/?sid=MA&eid=MTUwOT

Compulsive Reader Newsletter for April

Hello from isolation.  I hope you’re all keeping safe and well. The Compulsive Reader newsletter for April has now gone out to all subscribers.  This month’s newsletter includes the usual suite of 10 new reviews including, among others,  Windham Campbell winner Maria Tumarkin’s Axiomatic, The Grace of Distance by Matthew Thorburn, That Strapless Bra in Heaven by Sarah Sarai.  We also have interviews with Carol Mertz and at the podcast, the virtual book launch of Morgan Bell’s Idiomatic, for the people. We also our regular literary news round-up, and three book giveaways (I know you all need extra books right now).  If you’re a subscriber,  you should have it now. If not, you can View it in your browser and head over to Compulsive Reader and subscribe!  It’s free, and you’ll only get one email a month with the newsletter, which will keep you up-to-date, even in iso, on what’s happening in the literary world.  

Newcastle Writers Festival online!

As I’m sure you will be aware, the Newcastle Writers Festival had to be cancelled this year, however the Festival is getting a second life online with 17 sessions from the original program happening virtually for anyone in the world to attend (no pants required).  Of course this is not the same as gathering together, but many of the sessions will be allowing for audience questions to be sent in, and guests include the likes of Behrouz Boochani, Clare Bowditch, David Leser, Favel Parrett and Charlotte Wood. My own session with Maria Tumarkin, Sophie Hardcastle, and Nicola Redhouse is on Sunday at 4pm (“Blurred Lines”) where, in the space of 45 mins, we will be talking about all sorts of things including the impact of past trauma on the present in their works, narrative as a way of controlling silence, the unique structures in their latest books, dispossession, the impact of the Coronavirus, and lots more!  Each of the authors also will be reading from their work.  Please come and join us, wherever you are! Sessions will be available via Facebook and YouTube all through the coming weekend and you can grab a program here: https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/storiestoyou/

The sessions will all be free (including those that previously had a cost to attend), but tax-deductible donations to the festival can be made at https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/donate/.

Festival Season: Scone Literary Festival

The next festival on my calendar is the Scone Literary Festival.

I’m moderating a session on the 

14th of March 2.30pm-3.30pm in the Scone Arts & Crafts Hall titled "Misreporting and Cancer of Mistrust: Bodies and Lies of Science” with Patrice Newell, Julian Cribb and Garry Willgoose. 

This will be a powerful and timely conversation about the role of science communicators, the persistence of misinformation, how we mitigate and talk about the key existential threats that face humanity, the role of government, developing sustainable food systems, survival by respect, and much more. If you’re able, please join us! Day passes and weekend tickets are sold out, but individual tickets are still available here: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=576771&