Storytime

 On Sunday we had the final Poetry in the Hills for 2016. It has been a huge year and we've had some wonderful writers share their work. I'm not going to say poets because we have more than that...we've had singers and musicians, prose writers and essayists, memoir writers and novelists, bush poets and people-who-just-want-to-get-up-there-and-rant. Not only did we have the final gig for the year, we also had a feature poet and the launch (well one of her launches) of her poetry collection. We had the one of a kind Yvette Stubbs launching her collection Barbed Wire Kisses.  She is having a launch at the Dan O'connell on Saturday 3rd December for those wanting to get a hold of this fantastic work. Yvette is a born entertainer and has the great ability of holding the audience in the palm of her hand. She made us laugh out loud, then made us cringe....she made us smile... then squirm as we were witness to pain and loss. The last even for the year is also ...

On Sunday I attended Tiggy Johnson's launch of her first poetry collection, fittingly titled First Taste.   It was great to see her book officially launched by poet  Marian Spires   ( Knowing Vincent- Picaro Press). Tiggy and Marian had a casual 'in conversation' which introduced various poems and the stories behind them - which is always interesting and offers some great insight into the process of the poet. Not only was this the official launch of Tiggy's book it was also her Bon Voyage - the chance to say goodbye before she and her family head to warmer climes. Yes, Tiggy has taken the plunge - sold her house - bought another - has a HUGE crate at her house, is packing everything that doesn't move and is heading off to....Brisbane. There were a few teary eyes on Sunday - some hugs that went on and on as what this meant sunk in. For me, it hasn't yet sunk in. Some of you will know that for the past few years Tiggy and myself have travelled into the...