Preparations to attend the Federation for European Storytelling Conference and Rome Storytelling Festival: 2013

If it takes a raffle to get to Rome, so be it!

When Canadian/Roman storyteller Mariella Bertelli visited Melbourne a while ago we were delighted to discover a shared passion for Kamishibai storytelling. At the time, I was also in the middle of a project based on the Canterbury Tales for the Williamstown Literary Festival and Mariella had a deep interest the Decameron; another overlapping curiosity.

Over a year passed and then a few weeks ago Mariella contacted me and suggested I apply to represent Storytelling Australia (Vic) at the Federation for European Storytelling Conference: Rome 2013 and then stay on for the Rome Storytelling Festival.

This was tempting but seemed impossible. Not so … with the support of my storytelling colleagues in Victoria and the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club, obstacles have been swept aside and the tickets for Rome booked! I am the first Australian to attend the conference and hope to do my mates proud.

I will also be creating two shows with Mariella (one for adults and one for children) and a kamishibai workshop.

As part of the Live@Newport program, organized by the Simon Leverton and the NFFC, a raffle was held with gifts donated by friends and supporters.

Enormous thanks to:

Leonie Kervin

Transitions Hobsons Bay

Breizoz

Captain’s Creek

I'll be heading off in mid June!!!

The Newport Fiddle and Folk Club takes pride in welcoming travelling musicians and storytellers. Here David Doyle from Stone Soup Storytelling (Plymouth UK) is invited to draw the raffle.

Newstead Short Story Tattoo 3,4,5 May 2013

…..wanna’ hear a story?

Newstead Short Story Tattoo

May 3,4,5

Newstead Vic

www.newsteadtattoo.org

Newstead Short Story Tattoo arrives again in May 2013 championing storytelling in all forms with an infectious, seductive and engaging arrangement of sessions such as Survival Stories, Horror Stories, Earth Stories, Sticky Stories, Sisters Salon, Nano Narratives, Scripted Stories, as well as the signature, outdoor, surround sound, storytelling extravaganza Fire Stories.  In a fine moment of cross collaboration and date synchronising, Newstead Short Story Tattoo is also presenting an event at Clunes Booktown, entitled ‘Stralian Stories. The writers, fighters, talkers and speakers are also impressive including the modern hunter-gatherer Rohan Anderson, Cate Kennedy, Courtney Collins, Josephine Rowe, Amy Espeseth, Greeg Macainsh, Jordie Albiston, Frank Golding, Dr Fred Cahir, Leonie Stevens, Kate Hood, Carmel Bird, Klare Lanson, Patrick Pittman andAndrew Mckenna to name but a few. Musicians are also in abundance and include Archer Shepherd who’ll be playing the Tex Morton Story, Melbourne’s own international tech-rockers Black Cab, David Thrussell, the sweet-folk-popLucy Jean Roleff, Phil Mac playing the saw and telling road stories, beforeAndrew Til winds up the Pioneer mixer and tells stories through his music library. Der Kommisar will also be hammering out 80’s tunes in the Zombie-Goth-80’s disco post Horror Stories at the opening night party. For all details check the website. 

Other sugar coating to consider

·       Entry to all events is by donation

·       3 Stella Prize shortlisted authors appearing

·       Print off program and all details on website

·       Bar available at all events post a.m.

·       Note-  Clunes is only 25 minutes from Newstead and the annual Booktown event is on, a great reason for all story lovers and bookworms to do some visiting…

·       Newstead wants you

·       Open mic at most events

More information: Neil Boyack

0409685621

Or contact via email through www.neilboyack.com

I'm counting the sleeps. This is one of my favourite celebrations of story in the calendar.

Write Away With Me: holiday master classes July 2013

Write Away With Me offered writing  master classes during the July school holidays. 

Organised to perfection by Beth Cregan and her team of helpers, the day went without a hitch.

The participants were motivated, creative and highly energetic.

Between two two of us, Adam Wallace and myself, we wrangled and were wrangled by students aged 7 - 13 and from schools all around Melbourne.

These young people are articulate and imaginative and keen to write the next best seller. Our Australian literary future is in good hands.

Thank Beth for inviting me on board ... 

Beth also does adult story sessions as well as offering programs in schools and during the holidays. 

I met Beth through Storytelling Australia (Victoria) .. there are so many good reasons to join networks that support your interest and practice.

Lyrebird! A true story has been short listed by the Children’s Book Council of Australia 2013

BREAKING NEWS … Lyrebird! A true story has been short listed by the Children’s Book Council of Australia for the Eve Pownall Award for Information Books. 

This is a wonderful acknowledgement of the word wrangling, research, design and illustrating that has gone into creating a book for children. It takes a team: Peter Gouldthorpe (illustrator), Melanie Raymond (Museum Victoria Publishing), Nan McNab (editor), Elizabeth Dias (design) … take a bow! We all wanted to make a book that would delight the imagination, inspire the young to stop, look and listen and of course smell the flowers. 

Being short listed means our book will be delivered into more small hands and read more widely by those for whom it was intended. 

Thank you CBCA. http://cbca.org.au/Shortlist2013.htm