If they make a movie on investigative journalist Carey Gillam’s life they had better get someone like Chloe Sevigny to play her! Blonde and glamorous and fiercely driven by what she perceives as injustice and corruption on the part of a global corporation – she is the hope of thousands of people who are suffering from the effects of what they were told was a ‘relatively harmless” weedkiller- commercially known as Roundup. Banned in many European countries, America and Australia have yet to catch up -maybe after reading Carey’s thoroughly researched book they will come to the same judgement as Europe. Three days after this interview and read , Monsanto was ordered to pay $239 million in damages to one of it’s victims. There may be many more cases .
Ellen Broad thinks deeply about Artificial Intelligence and the sorts of issues that usually only earn a few paragraphs in the daily media when moral panic sets in about the rate of change that technology is wreaking on our futures. This is an in depth examination on all levels that helps us to understand the problems experienced by those at the cutting edge of new technology, the legislators grappling to understand complex issues, and our own emotional reaction to the idea of machines to take over so many tasks of our daily lives from medical to recreational.
Ben Hobson still finds the success of his first novel a ‘bit surreal’. By day an English teacher on Bribie Island, he is challenged by the idea of how to get young boys interested in reading. He may just have solved the problem with this deep and sensitive book about a young boy’s path to manhood.
It is always so fascinating to hear of the amount of research that goes into any author’s book,but I was intrigued to hear that Kayte Nunn got a special vibe off a sundial in the Botanic gardens in Sydney, that set her off onto a whole new story.
Author- Kayte Nunn
Kayte Nunn Interview
Kayte Nunn reads from ‘The Botanists’s Daughter’
Two women, Annie and Lizzie, one hundred and fifty years apart but mysteriously linked by a love of botany.
Walter Mikac has taken a great personal tragedy and used it to fuel his compassion for others who are suffering.
The Allanah and Madeline Foundationwas founded by him to bring something good out of the loss of their lives and his wife’s at Port Arthur. This book contains 50 letters of love by prominent Australians, letters about love of country, or children, or their work , or even to their future selves. They are all different, touching and some even forceful.
Profits go towards the foundation. Walter’s letter is to his parents.
Stuart Coupe is a veteran rock writer who has probably seen a lot more in the music industry than he could put in print!
We’ll have to assume that there are some tales he left out of this account of the life of the blokes ( and women) who lump the bands gear on and off, ensure the sound is perfect and also take care of a myriad of other little niceties for the band.
He was inspired to write his book ‘Roadies’ as he has long been aware that the attrition rate in the industry through injury, addiction and suicide is disturbingly high.
This book reveals the highs and lows , here is Stuart reading an account of a Cold Chisel final tour performance night prank played by their loyal road crew.
Bellingen Writers Festival had such a great line up that we worked non stop over two days recording 15 authors and here’s the first – the wonderful book by Catherine McKinnon. So good, it has been shortlisted for this year’s Miles Franklin Award!
Storyland, is set in one place but told by different characters across history . Catherine chose to read from the last story, which is set in a a not too distant future where the changing climate has altered the landscape and produced a disaster.
Let’s hear Catherine read this extract first, which starts with someone receiving therapy to recall events.
Catherine McKinnon reading from ‘Storyland’
Catherine speaks to ‘Narratives’ about ‘Storyland’
Over the next few weeks lots of authors reads and interviews to be posted.
As always, if you want to buy the book clicking on the images will take you to Booktopia ( this helps us stay here!)
Narratives has just returned from a fantastic weekend in beautiful Bellingen which was brimming over with authors and readers at their annual Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival.
I will posting some of the many great reads and interviews here over the next few weeks .
Fiona McArthur– Mothers Day ; Kate Cole-Adams– Anaesthesia
J.D Donellan – Killing Adonis ; Tim Cadman– The Changes
Stuart Coupe – Roadies ; Amal Awad – Beyond the Veiled Cliche
Kim Hodges – Girl Over the Edge ; Claire Aman – Bird Country
Alicia Tuckerman – If I Tell You ; Sulari Gentill – Crossing the Lines
Lisa Milner – Swimming Against the Tide ;
Annie Seaton – Whitsunday Dawn
PLUS: We catch up with Jenevieve Chang – author of ‘The Good Girl of Chinatown’ to learn how things have progressed since we spoke to her last year at the Sydney writers Festival and we have a special interview with the 2018 Artistic Director of the Melbourne writers Festival Marieke Hardy, where she reveals her taste in winter sheets and what special changes she will be bringing to the Melbourne festival this year!
Jessie Cole will also be appearing at the Byron writers Festival in August , so here is Jessie reading from and talking about her latest book ‘Staying’
‘Staying’ read by author Jessie Cole
Jessie Cole talks about writing ‘Staying’
Lots more authors reads and interviews plus the return of our beautifully produced podcasts coming up in the next few weeks.
And we will be at the Byron writers Festival so stay tuned!
And on a lighter note- here is Megan Jennaway reading from her short story ‘The Real Indian Hospitality’, one of the stories in ‘Crazy Sh.t in Asia. edited by Matt Towner.
Megan Jennaway -‘The Real Indian Hospitality’
Megan Jennaway Interview
Click on the cover to buy at Booktopia!
Unfunded but unbowed!
Narratives is disappointed to report that this project was not deemed worthy of funding by the Community Broadcasting foundation this year.
As we are dedicated to continue bringing you ‘authors in their own words’ we will continue to seek new avenues of support.
Our subscription service and web postings are free to authors, readers and publishers, but it may be in the future we might have to ask a nominal donation to cover the cost of collection of material and continuance of the website and podcasts. If you can help, the Paypal donation button is on the left of out front page!
This is lovely treat – Author Luc Sante takes us on a walk through the Paris of the nineteenth century, a very different place to now. The fields outside the ‘wall’ he mentions are now where the motorway known as the Peripherique encircles the city, and thousands of people live there.Luc’s sonorous delivery makes this a very meditative aural experience, Ken Naughton’s discreet piano fills in spaces.
Australian duo ‘Bebe et Lulu’ gives the end a french flair.
Music Tracks:Ken Naughton , – Variations – Baby et Lulu- ‘Paris’ and ‘Paris se regarde’
Luc Sante was recorded at the Sydney writers Festival 2016.
Episode twenty-one: Nick earls and Friends read from “Wisdom Tree’
‘Wisdom Tree’ is a series of 5 novellas entitled : Gotham, Venice, Vancouver, Juneau, Noho by prolific author Nick Earls.
The actual books are half size of a normal paperback and fit in your back pocket or purse for a quick read at any moment. The five stories are linked but in subtle ways so each novella stands on its own. Nick has asked several other author friends -Abdel Jasmin-Mageid, Matt Conlon, Liam Piper, Ashley Hay – to read from his works and he also reads himself. In the interview he explains a little about each novella and why he chose that particular author to read from it . No music track in this podcast.
Nick Earls,Abdel Jasmin-Mageid, Matt Conlon, Liam Piper, Ashley Hay were recorded at the Byron writers Festival 2016.
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