I am very excited that Going Down Swinging have published 'Irish Orphan Immigration' in The Blue Corner. This is a piece that is close to my heart as well as being different to my usual style. One of my ancestors, Honora Bentley (photo kindly supplied by Beth Chamberlain) was an Irish Orphan who emigrated to Australia in 1849. She is one of my most fascinating ancestors and her story, or what I have so far discovered of it, has captivated me. Of course, I have to write about her.

But the Orphan story isn't necessarily easy to write. Especially the bit about their reception in Australian ports. I wanted to use the words of the colonists at the time and what better way than to use original text and 'erase'. So, follow the link to the Blue Corner and see what it is/was all about. There's an audio file to go with, which includes the voices of Eleanor Jackson and Andrew Phillips as well as my own.

While we're talking about family history, I have so far neglected to mention that I will be going on a cruise next year: the 4th Unlock the Past history and genealogy cruise. As well as all the obviously exciting things a genealogy cruise has to offer, I will be giving a presentation about 'Writing Poetry: different ways to present your family history'. Earlier this week I got to speak to Unlock the Past. here's what I had to say.

And (it's a huge week for news), speaking of interviews, my third and final interview for the 2013 Queensland Poetry Festival: spoken in one strange word, with New Zealand based poet Siobhan Harvey, is available here. 

That ought to keep you busy a while.

There's something about the end of semester that renders me incapable of writing a list or even acting like there might be something specific I should be doing. But now that I've basked in the nothingness of after-semester glow for a few weeks, it's time to share.

First and most exciting is that the programme for the Queensland Poetry Festival 2013 is out. It's here, and if you'll be in Brisbane during the 23rd to 25th August, then you'd be wise to stop on by. Most events are free to attend, with only the workshops and 'Set Fire to the Air' on the Friday night attracting fees. So there's really no excuse. I love this festival. See you there.

I'm particularly excited to have enrolled in the workshop series with 2013 Arts Queensland Poet in Residence, Canadian poet Shane Rhodes. Can't wait.

If waiting until August seems a little more than you can stand, head on over here. Pascalle Burton's Letter.Box.Stamp.Collect. is an installation that forms part of the 2013 festival and she has already been gathering poems (including one from yours truly), so head on over and check it out. You don't even need to be in Brisbane!

I am very excited about this special event combining poetry and food that Queensland Poetry Festival and Mondo Organics have teamed up to create:  a unique evening of high class dining interwoven with intimate poetry readings from Eleanor Jackson, Graham Nunn and myself. Also known as Seasonings: the poetry of food.

What
Seasonings: the poetry of food
A 3-course meal, wine and drinks, intimate and unexpected poetry readings, and a special gift for every guest.

Where
Mondo Organics
166 Hardgrave Road, West End, Qld.

When
Thursday June 20, 2013 @ 6:45 pm – 9:00 pm

Why
Because you deserve to treat yourself.

How
Book through Queensland Poetry Festival. Tickets are $110 per person, with a 10% discount applying when you book a table of ten.

Seating is limited for this one-off evening, so get in before tickets sell out.

I've never really been one to apply for residencies: something to do with having young children I suppose. But, now that my husband works from home, and I'm only one year off all three kids being at school, it seemed like a good idea to start.

Especially when I read the prizes associated with the inaugural Jean Cecily Drake-Brockman Poetry Prize. Two weeks reading and writing in Canberra would be pretty cool, but two weeks doing the same in Ireland would be amazing. Particularly as there's a good chunk of research for my current project I could do while there. Not to mention the cash.

A couple of days ago I learned that I'd been shortlisted, with my poem Family secret #8, which was originally published in issue 1 of Vine Leaves, and later, in the Vine Leaves Best of 2012 Anthology, in an interview I did with Lisa Wardle over at her blog: because writing is my vice, in the Queensland Poetry Festival's 2012 Anthology, and here, below.

It was a bit tricky to continue reading bland articles for uni after finding out about making the shortlist, and I wondered how hard it would be if the wait was longer than a few days. The winner was announced today, and with this news, I'll have to remain stoked with my highly commended. Massive congratulations to joint winners Gerard Butera and Todd Turner (follow the links to read their winning poems). I wonder if one of them will be happy to look up a few records for me in Ireland?

Family secret #8

She’s on the lounge room floor, an eighteen
year old foetus, clutching her own through
layers of blouse and skin, her undies stained
with thick blood. Her cries are heard by
neighbours, though nobody comes.

Her mother is in the kitchen, pouring
gin into three glasses, the ice chinking
while she laughs with her friends.

After four nights in a clinical bed, she
returns home to her own, continues
to rest. When she comes to breakfast
her mother makes tea and toast and says
you don’t have to marry him now.
She stares into her tea, whispers
but I love him, I want to get married
and so she did
                        for a while.