Featherstone 
Poets, Authors and a Day in Castlemaine
Enjoyed a literary feast today at a mini writers festival curated beautifully by Kristin and Graham from Northern Books at Buda Historic Home, Castlemaine.
How did I end up in Central Vic? I’ve been on another work-from-home house/petsitting adventure! This time for a lovely owner with a cosy home (thank goodness as it’s been feeling like minus 5) and the most divine velvety black cat – claws as long as a lion’s but never wielded in attack…just used to slowly draw me in.
A bit like the area has been doing too with its abundant gardens and permaculture, delicious produce, fab community of writers and poets, and with family close by.
The first surprise of the day was sitting next to a stranger Melinda Charlesworth, who turned out to not be a stranger at all! She already has a copy of my Look-It’s Your Book! thanks to a referral from author Sarah Martin . (Note for other would-be authors: these two met on a pitching course by Alex Adsett – and now regularly Zoom write together – it shows the importance of getting out and about in the writing community as you never know where meeting people in real life will lead and how it could enrich your own writing and circle!).
Together we listened and lapped up the evocative poetry of Bonny Cassidy (I could almost smell the leaf litter as she shared her forest poem). Then came Ross Donlan’s reading of “White Cockatoos” and I’ll forever now think of these birds as “riding Sky Harleys”.
Jasper Peaches’ poem, “What it costs to give something away on Castlemaine Free Stuff” had me nodding my head, chuckling, grimacing and tearing up. Powerful and so beautifully written.
Award-winning poet Andy Jackson’s readings from his collection “Human Looking” published by Giramondo completed the realisation that I need a LOT more poetry in my life. I think we all probably do.
It was also great to be inspired by not just the author interviewees, but the interlocutors too, Mel Fulton buzzing with beautiful energy and intellect as she discussed the novel “Time Together” with author Luke Horton. Luke writes books “that capture what it’s like to be alive right now”, and as Mel commented, “It’s a book that’s alive and hums with grief …and joins a chorus of voices across time and space to provide comfort to others.”
Kylie Mirmohamadi, author of “Diving, Falling” spoke with Tasneem Chopra about enjoying “revealing the messiness in shiny lives, mid-life desire and centring creativity” – I can’t wait to read this one! I also loved her special touch when signing the book, she has a gorgeous little aqua-coloured, wavy stamp AND a matching tattoo on her arm! (I know a few authors now with book celebration tatts, including Damian Linnane’s iconic ISBN tattoo).
Sonia Orchard, founder of the Mountain Writers Festival and author of “Groomed”, shared with Eliza Hull how writing her memoir/investigative book was empowering, “It felt really good to say, ‘this is what goddamned happened!’
I love books like Sonia’s that combine memoir with research, it’s a technique I often suggest as a potential approach for authors to make their stories even richer. And I agree with her 100% that “we’re fortunate as writers to be able to channel the experiences we go through.” She said she was able to take back some power when in the thick of things within the court system, she was able to process her experiences by thinking ,“I’m going to write about this you f**kers!”. Love that!
The final author for the day was Kylie Ladd, who brought the energy even after a 3.5 hour drive from the Apollo Bay Writers Festival. She draws on real life events to kick off her novels, and as she said,“was a novelist in desperate need of an idea” when her husband sent her a news article that became the spark for “The Mix Up”. Writing all her novels in multiple points of view, she’s a committed plotter, not pantser, spending 3-4 months in the planning stage before beginning to write. Such an engaging talk about a timely book!
So…a little wrap from a day in Castlemaine and you can check out the reel on my insta if you want to envision it further.
Not sure when you were last able to spend time in the company of writers and poets, but highly recommend!
You can see a list of Australian Writers Festivals here.
I think the only reason I’m not too sad about leaving Castlemaine (except for the kitty cat!) is that I know I’ll be back – and also – I’m heading up to Byron Writers Festival as my next stop!
There I’ll be running a marketing for writers workshop, as well as hitting the stage for some in-conversations, and also, spending lots of time in the crowd soaking up ideas, language and the always fabulous and friendly Byron Writers Festival vibe! Maybe see you there?