Rhyll McMaster's Weblog

Blue Stocking Poetry Jam

I read last month at the Blue Space Poetry Jam in a small but distinguished gallery space in the wilds of industrial Sydenham. It was renamed the Blue Stocking for the night because all the readers were wimmen. Michele Seminara was the MC and Ariel Riveros Pavez the mastermind. It was a powerfully warm experience.

Cordite Review

Lovely intelligent and generous review from fellow-poet Aidan Coleman in Cordite Literary Review.  My favourite quote: “This is poetry about not being brilliant, but the reader should not believe it for a second.”

Prime Minister’s Literary Awards

I have just received a letter from the Office for the Arts telling me my poetry book, ‘Late Night Shopping’ has been recommended as a highly commended work in the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards for 2013. This is very pleasing considering the quality of the competitors in such a top notch prize. My congratulations to the winner and the five short-listers.

Broome

While in Broome last week I was invited by Environs Kimberley to be their literary guest at the Full Moon Beach Walk fund-raiser: over thirty energetic souls walked 5km along Cable Beach to Minyirr Park where they sat around a campfire under the full moon, ate homemade soup and listened to my poems and a reading from my novel. The wind died down, the full moon shone, and the mozzies bit… don’t say I don’t suffer for my art.

Reading at The Gods, ANU

Down to icy Canberra for the June reading at The Gods Cafe: Geoff Page has been running these readings now for 20 years. An appreciative audience, including a biological scientist who admired my forays into his domain – *blackbirding writer fools real scientist*; and an opportunity to catch up with old friends: Alan Gould, novelist/poet, had this to say about Late Night Shopping: “It is a long time since I have read through a book of poems where one has that slightly tense sensation of wanting to press on swiftly because what has unfolded so far has created a suspense for more, while wanting to linger because some of the lateral thinking, exactness of imagery, deftness of verbal music, uncompromising directness of perception, have literally been arresting. …the voice always incisive, the thought often playful and lateral, the craft assured and natural.” What are friends for…

Rabbit Review of Late Night Shopping

…The standout poem of the collection is ‘Arrogant Animals’. It bursts through … arresting in its accuracy … An unexpected inclusion is the series of poems written in response to a number of Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly paintings. These make beautiful use of her own kind of shorthand, and benefit from the brevity and lyrical economy. … with piercingly good turns of phrase woven through. … It’s this sequence of poems that shows McMaster at her most contemporary … White space, or even implied space, as sculpted in these poems, here carries a moral or metaphysical power. ” – Melinda Bufton, review in Rabbit #5, Winter 2012

Rabbit is a beautifully-presented quarterly journal of non-fiction poetry.

Notes for the Translators

Kit Kelen, from the University of Macau, has included a poem of mine in his forthcoming anthology, ‘Notes for the Translators’. The idea is that the author writes helpful notes on the poem for the translator to understand particular language tricks and cultural references. It’s a great idea and I’m looking forward to seeing the book in the New Year. The poem I chose is called ‘Mortal Bite’, ostensibly a poem about a nervous rabbit.

Best Australian Poems 2012

Happy to say I have a poem in this year’s anthology – that’s three years in a row.

Review from Jonathan Shaw of Late Night Shopping

I’ve had a review from Jonathan Shaw’s blog Me fail? I fly! in which we discover  serendipities: he thinks my collection is not so much about death “as the relationship between physical reality and the reality of the mind. It’s not nihilism or morbidity, but a kind of cool, radical wondering.” See his blog at: shawjonathan.wordpress.com

The Invisible Thread: 100 Years of Words

I have a poem in this anthology edited by Irma Gold and published by Halstead Press that celebrates writing from the Canberra region, including a terrific essay from Kim Mahood, and a wonderful poem from Judith Wright.

Poetica: Touch Re-Broadcast

The ABC will re-broadcast their program Poetica: Touch on 29 December 2012. I have one poem in this program called … ‘Touch’.

Queensland Literary Awards 2012

I’ve been shortlisted for the Judith Wright Calanthe Poetry Award. These new awards were set up to counteract Premier Campbell Newman’s axeing of the Premier’s Literary Awards. Thanks to the judges and organising committee for their great efforts.  See the shortlist under Archives: August 2012 … on the right of the page.

The Age Book of the Year 2012

I’ve been shortlisted for the Poetry Award – very exciting. See what the judges say: Words of Great Worth:   http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/words-of-great-worth-20120803-23kfe.html

See under Archives: August 2012.

Weekend Australian Review July 7, 2012:

Martin Duwell has given me such a thoughtful review  of Late Night Shopping and looks also at my 40 years of published poetry.  I really appreciate reviews like this. I’ve excerpted it here:

“From her first book, The Brineshrimp, published 40 years ago, Rhyll McMaster has been a refreshingly unusual poet… she is represented rhapsodically in Robert Gray and Geoffrey Lehmann’s 2011 anthology, Australian Poetry Since 1788, where she has more space than major poets such as Bruce Beaver, Bruce Dawe and Peter Porter. … As her books have gone on she has followed this imperative to know yourself into the materialist world so that she is forced to engage with the perennial philosophical question of the nature of consciousness as well as the paradoxes that come out of quantum mechanics. … (These poems) work away at issues of love, family and the pursuit of the nature of the self, almost always with that distinctive slant. … underlying all of them, is the exploration, with all the impressive resources McMaster can bring to bear, of what it means to be (or to have) a self. In one poem, dealing with the way the mind is “embodied and embrained”, she writes “there will never be another/piece of furniture like me”; it may seem only a clever metaphoric way of saying that each human is unique despite our similarities, but it is tempting to read it as reminding us what a distinctive poet she is.” – Martin Duwell, Weekend Australian Review, 7/7/2012

Full review The Australian, 7 July 2012:

Rhyll McMaster looks for the self with unconventional lenses

 Review Sydney Morning Herald, May 26-27 2012, Spectrum:

Fiona Wright says: ‘As a collection, Late Night Shopping has a remarkable nocturnal mood, fragmentary and almost somnambulistic …  dream-like, intimate and unsettling …  ambitious and fiercely intelligent …  McMaster is preoccupied with what it means to be human … Indeed, death haunts these poems with a remarkable physicality … the images are startling, and delightfully fresh …  McMaster’s Kelly poems are tough and stark, and intensely coloured. … The poems in the final section are among the finest in the collection, grounded as they are in a more sensual, sensate world. … These poems of love and desire, of memory and ageing, are built of stripped-back language, but her real skill is her ability to craft a devastating last line – often simple and plain-speaking, but remarkable in its resonance. … There is something dark and vital at the heart of them all, an ability to stare directly at death and at the limits of our consciousness, and confront the questions that challenge the ways we live.’

The Sydney Morning Herald review of Late Night Shopping

Review Canberra Times:

“…almost all of the poems here are marked by a wry, low-key humour – whether they are about our sexual, domestic or social relations – or our existential situation in the cosmos. Some, such as her instant classic about sheep, “Arrogant Animals” are almost satirical. Late Night Shopping is an engaging series of contrasts in subject matter, tone and technique – held together by an overarching and mordant intelligence.” – Geoff Page, Canberra Times, 27.4.2012.

Canberra Times review of Late Night Shopping

Review  Australian Book Review:

Here is my poetry book review in Australian Book Review by Bronwyn Lea… such a thoughtful and perceptive review.    lea-review-abr-may-12

Here’s my first review for Late Night Shopping from Rochford Street Review:

Live Poets at Donbank and more live poets in Broome:

I had an appreciative audience at Donbank last week, and discovered two literary admirers who had followed my poems since my first book, The Brineshrimp. I also found an appreciative audience while visiting Broome, W.A. They took me out to the best restaurant out of town at the 12-mile and wined and dined me while I read from Late Night Shopping and my novel, Feather Man. They are planning a literary festival in Broome next year … more on that later.

I love literary blogs:

Here’s a nice compliment from Jonathan Shaw’s literary blog, Me Fail? I Fly! about my part in the Sydney Writers’ Festival session Poetry Australia, for the Lehmann/Gray Anthology: “… two poems from Rhyll McMaster that had me reaching for my pen to write down brilliant lines … her new book, Late Night Shopping, is now on my To Buy list.”

Event at SWF 19 May 2012

I was part of a panel talk and reading from the Lehmann and Gray ‘Australian Poetry Since 1788‘ event at the SWFestival last weekend. An appreciative crowd attended, interested in discussing this important anthology and hearing some of the poets read their work. This year Gleebooks surpassed itself stocking the Festival Bookshop, and they had my new poetry book, Late Night Shopping, and my novel, Feather Man on display.

Late Night Shopping Launched:

Some good friends and interested poets braved the cold to help me launch Late Night Shopping the other night at Sappho Books Cafe. Geoffrey Lehmann gave me the best launch speech ever and the evening was further highlighted by Robert Gray reading his poems.

Sydney Writers’ Festival Reading, 2012

I’ll be reading my poems along with other Brandl & Schlesinger poets at the SWF event at the Carrington Hotel, Katoomba, on Monday May 14 at 4.30pm.

Postscript: Such an appreciative audience at this event – they made ‘ooh’, ‘aah’, ummnh’ noises after each poem of mine! Flattering!

Book launch for Late Night Shopping

My new poetry book, Late Night Shopping, Brandl & Schlesinger will be launched by Geoffrey Lehmann at Sappho Books Cafe & Wine Bar on Tuesday April 10, 2012 @ 7pm.  I just love the cover designed by Andras Berkes-Brandl.

Invisible Thread

I’ve been included in an anthology of 100 years of writing in the ACT region called The Invisible Thread, to be published by Halstead Press. It will be a National Year of Reading flagship publication. They will also have extracts published on their website for promotional purposes to provide an overview of Canberra regional writers locally and internationally, and for use by festival directors, readers, schools, embassies and libraries. This website will be hosted by the ACT Writers’ Centre.

American anthology

I’ve just had two poems accepted by turnrow books/University of Louisiana at Monroe who are publishing an anthology of contemporary Australian poetry in 2012. The editor is John Kinsella. Both poems will be in my next poetry book, Late Night Shopping which is coming out in April 2012 with my publisher, Brandl & Schlesinger. I’ve seen a draft of the cover, and I think it’s brilliantly appropriate.

Link to Editor

Diana Giese who provides writing, editing, publishing and community history services, and who was my valued editor on my novel, Feather Man, has launched her new website at http://www.dianagieseeditorial.com.au

Poetica – Touch

ABC Radio National regularly broadcasts Poetica, a program dedicated to the performance of poetry. During October they will be broadcasting a series on ‘The Five Senses’, and will be using my poem called Touch, on 1 October, 2011.

Best Australian Poems 2011/Meanjin

Editor John Tranter has just accepted one of my poems for this year’s Best Australian Poems – and it’s the title poem of my forthcoming collection, Late Night Shopping, so that’s serendipitous.

I’ve also just had a poem from that collection published in Meanjin 3, 2011. Meanjin has the best looking cover – a beautifully-laid-out magazine.

New Anthology out this month

Geoffrey Lehmann and Robert Gray’s immense anthology of Australian Poetry since 1788, UNSW Press, will be out this month. I have 11 poems represented, and the anthology looks set to cause some waves through poetry circles. Watch out for a review of it in Australian Book Review soon.

Ukrainian Publication

My novel, Feather Man, has now moved north-west of Beijing to be published in translation in the Ukraine. How exciting is that? It will be published in the magazine Dnipro in two instalments, and then in book form.

Red Room Company & Sun Herald

The Red Room Company, www.redroomcompany.org, has a link-up with the Sun Herald newspaper to publish poems, and my poem, Darwin Fulminates on Hybridism, was published last weekend. You can read it online at the Red Room Company Sun Herald ‘Extra’ site.

Next Poetry Book

Brandl & Schlesinger will publish my next poetry book, Late Night Shopping, in April 2012. I’ve just realised there’s been a 15 year gap since the last one, Chemical Bodies … but there was a novel in between.

China Publication and Watermark Collide

I’ve had news from my Chinese translator that Feather Man is now published. I haven’t seen a copy yet, but I’m waiting patiently for the slow boat to arrive. And I had an invitation to go to a literary workshop in China which I had to decline because I was already booked into the  Watermark Literary Muster at Kendall, mid-north coast of NSW. There I met many splendid writers including the classical Gay Bilson, the hilariously clever Kate Llewellyn, the moving Ali Cobby Eckermann and the charming natural history writer Robert Pyle from the USA. We had to fly through ash clouds and wade through floods to get there, but it was worth it.

Josephine Ulrick Poetry Prize

I was delighted to be awarded the Commendation Award in the Josephine Ulrick Poetry Prize from Griffith University in Queensland. $2500 is very generous. Even better that I’ve won something from my home state.

Poetry at Sapphos

The lovely Amanda Moriarty introduced me as ‘angelic’ at my poetry reading last night at Sapphos Cafe. A very appreciative audience, and a great open mic. competition with my daughter, Stella, reading – she only discovered afterwards that I was de judge! Onwards and upwards for nepotism.

Reading at Sapphos

I’ve been invited to read at Sapphos Cafe Bookshop & Wine bar on May 10, 2011. Come and hear me read from ‘Late Night Shopping’ whilst eating tapas (that’s you eating the tapas … I’ll refrain until after my reading).

Two Fires Festival Weekend

The Two Fires Festival was an interesting amalgam of sessions on activism and the environment, and some very well-attended literary sessions. I read poems from my forthcoming book, ‘Late Night Shopping’. I particularly enjoyed listening to Terry Jaensch and his orphan experiences – that man can write!

NSW Premier’s Prize Shortlists, 2011

The NSW Premier’s Prize shortlists have just been announced – see their website at http://www.pla.nsw.gov.au/awards-shortlists

Congratulations to all the shortlisters. This year I was a judge and overall chair of the awards committee, a fantastic group of people. You can read the judges’ biographies on the website.

Poetica – 14 May 2011

ABC’s Radio National will re-broadcast a programme of my poetry called Poetica: Rhyll McMaster which was initially done back in 2005. The broadcast date is 14 May 2011. They say there will be simultaneous online streaming on the Poetica website http://www.abc.net.au/rn/poetica

Two Fires Festival 2011

I’ve been invited to take part in the Judith Wright Two Fires Festival in Braidwood. My hubby, Barry Waters and I were involved in the inaugural Festival, and it’s still going strong. It covers Arts, Activism and the Environment – all things close to Judith’s heart. A Festival with a difference. Runs from April 1-3. Check it out.  http://www.twofiresfestival.com.au   Among the contributors to the three-day event will be Fiona Capp, Alan Gould, and the artist John Wolseley and Barry Hill who have collaborated on a book called ‘Lines for Birds’.

Best Australian Poems 2010

I’ve had two poems accepted by editor Robert Adamson – I feel like I’m a poet again… just when I was thinking one half of my persona had disappeared for good.  I’m also putting together a new book of poems called ‘Late Night Shopping’…

Chinese Translation of Feather Man

I have had an email from my Chinese translator who wants to ask me some questions. How exciting! I’ll keep you posted on developments.

Sydney Writers’ Festival – the Poetry Panel

I was asked to chair the Three Australias panel yesterday – 22 May – Three Poets, Three Voices, Three Views of our country – with Les Murray, Kim Cheng Boey and Ali Cobby Eckermann. I don’t know about them, but I had a great time asking them questions after their readings. Kim Cheng is a Chinese Singaporean emigre, Ali Cobby Eckerman is a Nunga poet who speaks out strongly about what it’s like to be Aboriginal, and Les Murray speaks of being from the rural poor. I asked them where they felt “at home” and questioned whether we only really feel at home in our heads – with some interesting results. There was an attentive audience of about 200, so poetry is strong and well.

NSW Premier’s Awards 2010

I was one of three judges on the NSW Premier’s Awards for fiction, and the UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing. We had 98 books to read. Some were very good indeed, and some were not quite good enough. Still, I was honoured to be asked to consider all of them – it’s a serious task to sit in judgement on other writers.  J.M. Coetzee won for Summertime whose last paragraph brought tears prickling to my eyes (a great test), and Andrew Croome won the UTS award for Document Z, moody and heartrending.

Watermark Literary Muster in 2011

I had a poem published recently in Australian Book Review, and that got me an invitation to speak at the next Watermark Literary Muster in 2011. The topic will be Backyards, of which I have known about 14.

Mascara Literary Review – Issue Seven

I’ve discovered this very good online magazine – I met Debbie Lim who likes my novel, Feather Man, and she has just reviewed it in Issue Seven.  The cockles of my heart still flutter when I hear it praised, even 3 years after it was published.  Check it out now. http//www.mascarareview.com

The Writer’s Room

Last week I had a film crew in my bedroom (which, needs must,  is also my workroom), recording and filming me for a segment in “The Writer’s Room” to be shown soon on ABC TV.  It took about 4 hours to immortalize me for a 5 minute film – it’s a very interesting process to watch being made – a bit like constructing a moment in the life of a novel. It made me wish I could wield a camera instead of having to describe the scenery so painstakingly.

Feather Man on Favourite Australian Novel list 2010

ABR (Australian Book Review) conducted a reader poll for the Favourite Australian Novel in late 2009. They had thousands of responses and 290  individual nominations. Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet’ was hands-down favourite. Feather Man was not in the top 20, BUT IT IS ON THE LIST.  See ABR’s website for the full list:  http://www.australianbookreview.com.au/

Feather Man Goes To China

Anhui Literature and Art Publishing House has bought the translation rights to Feather Man for mainland China. The rights were sold by my dedicated Australian publisher, Veronica Sumegi at Brandl & Schlesinger Publishers through one of the largest literary agencies world-wide, Andrew Nurnberg Associates.  As a Sinophile since childhood (there were lots of Chinese toys around when I was a kid, and I walked through Brisbane’s Chinatown to get to school each day) I am very pleased with this turn of events. I travelled through China on the Trans-Siberian railway about ten years ago, from Beijing and through Mongolia… a memorable train trip.  I can’t wait to see the Chinese version of my novel.

Australia Council Grant

The Literature Board of the Australia Council has given me a $60,000 New Work – Established Writers’ Grant over two years, 2010-2011, to support me in writing my next novel, Oceania. This means I can live in the land of prose without disruptions – a scary yet exhilarating thought. The Australia Council’s Literature Board encourages the development, promotion and enjoyment of Australian literature, as well as writers like me, and it would be a hard environment without their support.

Wagga Wagga Writer-in-Residency

My two weeks’ residency was productive (I’ve now transferred my next novel, Oceania, from my head to the page), pleasant and invigorating. Loved the company I kept, the readers I met, the students I spoke to, and the pink sheep (Wagga is a red soil sort of place). Didn’t quite love the resident possum whose nocturnal emissions flavoured the air in the bedroom. … the smell is reminiscent of slightly damp babies’ nappies.

Pure Fiction and the Unreliable Narrator

I really enjoyed dissecting my novel under the intelligent questioning of the MA students, but it’s quite a surreal process trying to recall what my motives and reasonings were almost ten years ago when I set out to write it.  Our lives are a continuing work of fiction, I believe, and as Feather Man started out with the title Pure Fiction, my answers to the seminar group were probably all made up.

My Next Gig

September 3, 10, 17 I’ve been asked back to Sydney Uni by Prof. David Brooks to run some sessions with the  MA students in Creative Writing. We’ll discuss me, me, me again – or rather my novel, Feather Man, and the writing process.

Mildura Writers’ Festival is Unique

Although the Festival is open to the public – of course – and well-attended, this Festival is more like a literary conference – with the added attraction of Stefano’s great slow food using fresh local ingredients. After all, Mildura is one of Australia’s biggest food bowls.

None of the sessions overlapped one another, so everyone could hear Alexis Wright (“Carpentaria”, winner of the Miles Franklin ), Christopher Koch (“The Memory Room” and two-time winner of the Miles Franklin), Robert Gray (he was interviewed by Virginia Trioli about his memoir “The Land I Came Through Last”), Sophie Cunningham (“Bird” and editor of Meanjin), Peter Goldsworthy (the genre-traveller: poetry, novel, opera, theatre), Ronald Sharp (a Vassar College professor, who gave a fascinating address on “Mateship, Friendship & National Identity”), a host of others and, wait for it – me.

Asked to say which book has been transformative in my career, I chose ‘The Enchanted Wood’ by Enid Blyton. It’s a seriously good read.

Mildura Writers’ Festival

Off to Mildura to join in some panel talks about poetry and prose – and to eat gorgeous food cooked by  Stefano de Pieri of “Gondola on the Murray” fame.

How Poetry Works

Had a great time running the poetry workshop at the NSW Writers’ Centre on 28 June. The 18 participants did all the work – and what an inspiring mix of people. I’ll do it again on the 14th November.

Poetry Reading at Sappho 9 September

Speaking of poetry, I’m to do a reading at Sappho’s Bookshop on Wednesday 9 September. I’ll also judge the poetry slam… should be fun.

Motherlode

I’m to have two poems published in Motherlode: Australian Women’s Poetry 1986-2008, to be published in 2009 by Puncher & Wattman. As all my poetry books are out of print now, this is a welcome event.

Hecate essay

Have a read of Eileen Chong’s definitive essay on Feather Man: Reclaiming Identity in Rhyll McMaster’s Feather Man in Hecate Vol.34 No.2 2008, available now in all good bookshops (well, certainly in Gleebooks).

Australian Author article

Check out my article in Australian Author, April 2009: Letter Home, titled England, later… I first went to London in 1972 and returned last November, thirty-six years later, to attend the Southwold Literature Festival and promote my novel there and in Paris.

Panel at Contemporary Australian Fiction Festival

I had a great time with Martin Harrison, Mark Tredinnick, Brook Emery and audience at the 3rd Fiction Festival at the Writers’ Centre on April 4. I had ten minutes to discuss the truth of fiction and the fictional nature of poetry – I think I sorted it out.

Sooky’s Relationship with Redmond Defended!

See Eileen’s masterly defence of the Sooky/Redmond relationship in her Comments at Feminist Review. I do love a vigorous discussion.

Feminist Review

Well, they pretty much liked Feather Man at Feminist Review... ‘ feminist themes are plentiful’ … ‘a strong feminist sensibility’. I didn’t think that way when I was writing it: I was just trying to get as close to the truth as I could. They thought there were a few holes in the Sooky/Redmond relationship. (I think Sooky did too). See what you make of their comments.

Librarything Strikes Again

Robin Dawson thinks Feather Man is fantastic – 4.5* review on 15.Jan.09 – and what’s more this link is translated from the French – how cool is that? On the other hand, Monica and Samantha aren’t such happy readers… can’t win ’em all.

An Enduring Classic?

Here’s an item from the Weekend Australian, Feb. 7-8, 2009, Review section, Your View column:

In his Forum column Peter Craven suggested some enduring classics of Australian literature from the past 30 years or so (“On Australian classics”, January 24-25). Lists like this are always difficult to compile but I thought one glaring omission from his list was Sally Morgan’s My Place. And various titles by Raimond Gaita, Rhyll McMaster, Ruth Park, Mandy Sayer and Tim Winton wouldn’t be out of place either. Geri Badham, Waramanga, ACT.

Thank you, Geri. Anyone else who agrees could email it to: review@theaustralian.com.au

Writer-in-residence, Wagga

I’m to spend two weeks in wonderful Wagga, (not even the residents call it Wagga Wagga it seems) in residence at the Booranga Writers’ Centre (part of the Charles Sturt Uni campus) from 9-23 October. What an opportunity (the funding is supported by Arts NSW) to speak to readers, students and other interested parties about my novel, and get down to writing the next one.

Contemporary Australian Fiction Festival

And I’ll appear on a panel focusing on poetry to fiction at this Festival at the NSW Writers’ Centre on Sunday April 5. I spoke at the Festival last year and it was a great audience.

Mildura Writers’ Festival

I’ve been invited to the Mildura Writers’ Festival 16-19 July. I hear this is the most well-regarded Festival around. Artistic director is Paul Kane of Antipodes magazine (the Aust/US mag) and past president of the American Association of Australian Literary Studies, and the Chair is Stefano de Pieri of cookery fame – so it’s got to be a winner.

On a Brighter Note:

Just got word there will be a review of Feather Man posted on the 11 February in the Feminist Review. The site looks interesting, so I’m looking forward to their opinion.

Thanks for all your votes… sadly didn’t make it to the Short List.

Voting Deadline of 2 January approaching fast: Spread-the-Word

You have until midday on 2 January to vote Feather Man from the long list to the short list for the Spread-the-Word: Books to Talk About 2009 prize. Pleeeese register and vote as your first New Year’s resolution!! Go to www.spread-the-word.org.uk

LibraryThing Comment:

Feather Man has 12 reviews on the online LibraryThing site: here’s a ****star one from shawjonathan.

Feather Man is one of those books that lingers. (“You know, she was very clever the way she used that song,” I’d ruminate days after reading it. “I just realised she didn’t ever quote the last two lines.” Or: “You know, the final line of the book is much more open-ended than I thought.”) If the book grabs you, and it evidently doesn’t grab everyone, it does so powerfully…

BBC ‘The World’ with Lisa Mullins ‘Feather Man’ interview

My interview was aired across America on December 18… how exciting. Have a listen here.

Scarlet Pimpernel

For those of you old enough to get the reference: “They see (her) here, they see (her) there…” I’m everywhere these days. Find me on Facebook and check out my hot entry in Wikipedia.

****Star Reviews on Amazon

A bunch of ****star reviews on amazon.com are driving a ton of traffic to the site, according to the Literary Ventures Fund’s Andy Zellman. Whooo… maybe Santa is arriving early this year. See the reviews and comments on Customer Reviews.

Not Boastful Enough

Even though I have a link to them on my Links page, and under Articles & Reviews, I have just realized that I haven’t boasted enough about my review from Helen Oyeyemi in the New Statesman earlier this year, and the fabulous review from Lisa in the online Vulpes Libris – so have a look before the year ends.

Comments from the Spread-The-Word longlisting:

Fabulous book – you think you know where she’s coming from, and you don’t. You think you know where she’s going, and you don’t. It’s surprising, engaging, uncompromising. A great read – Pauline Garde

McMaster’s writing is extraordinary – fierce and delicate-minded at the same time… an amazing first novel… comic, tender, savage, sad and then hilariously wild just when you’re expecting no such turn of events – Kellie Lowry

Beautifully written…very revealing about human behaviour…a very good choice for bookgroups – cactus

One of the best books I have read…there is a killer last line…brilliant on every level –Popsicle

A literary masterpiece…the best books show us something we’ve missed…Feather Man does this in spades – Jesse 2.0

Totally involving, moving, and manages to be funny also…her sentences make you smile because she uses language so well – choosy

A clever, subtle and incisive writer who pulls some extraordinary tricks from her writer’s bag…a very, very assured and exciting book – Ecosseboi

This book is a masterpiece. The characters haunt you long after you have finished reading it. I loved the blackness of the humour… – ez

I read this novel non-stop. I particularly loved the descriptions of Sooky’s art…McMaster must have synesthesia because her images are so beautifully and constantly visual –Tully

Highly recommended for reading groups, but it’s also a fascinating read for anyone who loves good writing… a stunning novel – Sunday

The main character became so very real to me…a great bookclub selection…I read it on Barnes & Noble’s online bookclub –Ibis

Don’t forget to vote

Vote Feather Man onto the Spread-The-Word shortlist before 2 January 09. Go to www.spread-the-word.org.uk and register and vote.

Triumphant tour of London and Paris

The Southwold Literature Festival was great fun. I was on a panel with an extremely nice writer called Sadie Jones whose book The Outcast had parallels with mine. Southwold’s pebbly beach looks out across the moody North Sea, so I took the opportunity to skip a stone across it (it bounced twice).

While in London I was interviewed by the BBC for the American program The World, hosted by Lisa Mullins. This is a co-production by Public Radio International, BBC World Service and WGBH Radio Boston, and is a world first global radio news program broadcasting right across the United States. We can’t get it here, but they’ll send me a link when it has gone to air. It was so exciting swanning into the BBC studios on The Strand – self-importance was high on the register.

And while in Paris I was invited to sign five copies of Feather Man into the famous (so famous it’s in the Guide to Paris) English-language bookshop on the Left Bank, Shakespeare & Company. Never thought my tome would travel so far.

2008 Indie Next Highlights List – American Booksellers Association

From the hundreds of thousands of books published this year, the Indie bookselling community in the US has gleaned an impressive 2008 Indie Next Highlights List, featuring great fiction and nonfiction that has garnered especially strong support from ABA members nationwide. The list includes 51 titles, and FEATHER MAN IS ON THE LIST!

‘Spread The Word’ Longlisting for Feather Man in UK.

World Book Day (U.K.) has selected Feather Man for the longlist for ‘Spread the Word’: Books to Talk About 2009. This promotion is backed by WH Smith who stock the winning book in all outlets, including airports.

NOW VOTING IS OPEN INTERNATIONALLY. Please vote Feather Man onto the short list before 2 JANUARY 09. To see the longlist go to www.spread-the-word.org.uk, where Feather Man is looking pretty winning.

Full edited Feather Man discussion on ‘Book Explorers’

Here is the full edited Feather Man Discussion on the Barnes & Noble site.

Goodbye to ‘Book Explorers’

I can’t recommend the Barnes & Noble online ‘Book Explorers’ Club highly enough. Feather Man was discussed in detail, with serious passion and frank critical commentary, over a month. Free copies were sent out to those readers who agreed to join the discussion. There was even a reader from France. Ande from the Literary Ventures Fund was the moderator supremo. Handily, Feather Man is written in 4 sections, so they discussed it one section per week. There were over 600 posts and some posts were viewed over 500 times. I joined the discussion over the last week. This sort of well-structured ‘virtual’ book group discussion, concentrating on one book per month, is a win/win situation for readers, authors, booksellers and publishers. It’s just begging for a consortium to pick up the idea here in Australia.

Feather Man suggested for National Reading Group Month in the US

The WOMEN’S NATIONAL BOOK ASSOCIATION has declared October to be the National Reading Group Month in the US. Authors of reading group favorites will appear at events across the country sponsored by WNBA chapters.

FOREWORD MAGAZINE has suggested FEATHER MAN as one of six novels reviewed in their September issue for library reading groups to discuss in October, as part of National Reading Group Month.

QUAILMAIL: September 6

Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh, NC, who won Publishers Weekly Bookseller of the Year have this to say: “I’m reading a lot of positive reviews about Feather Man by Rhyll McMaster (Marion Boyars, $15.95). “In this beautifully written and disturbing Australian coming-of-age novel, McMaster tells the story of Sooky, who struggles to overcome her difficult childhood, the effects of which are powerfully portrayed as she moves from relationship to relationship and from Brisbane to London.” – Nancy Felton, Broadside Bookshop. Also on our paperback table.”

I love the idea of my novel sitting on a table in Raleigh, NC just waiting for someone to pick it up.

Sydney Uni Seminars

I so enjoyed these seminars with the MA students in Creative Writing. Under close questioning it was a great opportunity to discover my own methods, such as they are. Check out Julie and Eileen’s comments. And a belated thank you to Helen Palmer, whose contact details I don’t have, for her wonderful gift of the City Walks of London. You are so kind, and I shall walk as many as I can when I go to London in November to publicise my book.

Boston Globe Pick Of The Week

Feather Man gets a Pick of the Week recommendation in the Boston Globe newspaper, 28/9/08. How about that!

BLOG POWER RULES OKAY

Feather Man is rating well on AMAZON reader blogs with 4 and 5 stars.

And MOCKDUCK – see under “Blog Power Rules. Or Not?” – and ME AND MY BIG MOUTH have things to say about Feather Man too.

MONSTERS AND CRITICS

I didn’t get monstered or criticised by Sandy Amazeen in her September 14 review at monstersandcritics.

FOREWORD MAGAZINE REVIEWS FEATHER MAN

Read Nancy H. Fontaine’s review (she liked it) in ForeWord Magazine in the US. ForeWord specializes in reviews of good books independently published.

SHANA’S AUTHOR INTERVIEW ON HER BLOG “Literarily”

Following on from her review of Feather Man, Shana has now interviewed me with some searching questions. Read on…

SEMINAR WITH SYDNEY UNI MA CREATIVE WRITING STUDENTS

I did my first seminar last night and I had a great time. I guess they did too, because we didn’t clock watch, even though it was a two hour session, and we laughed quite a bit – must have been having a good time. What a privilege to sit talking about my novel to 18 intelligent people. Next week we’ll look at how I’ve hidden my own poem fragments in my novel – post-Modernism without fees!

PICARO PRESS AND THE ART BOX SERIES

Picaro Press, PO Box 853, Warners Bay, NSW 2282 – www.picaropress.com – publish their Wagtail magazine eleven times a year. Each issue features a single poet, and all back issues remain in print. See March 2003, #19, Rhyll McMaster’s The Elegant Rabbit.

Now they are going to reproduce my out-of-print poetry book, Washing The Money, in their Art Box Series. This series aims to provide low-cost access to significant Australian poetry titles which, for whatever reason, are no longer generally available to the public. Great idea and the series looks stunning.

LVF’S ‘BOOK EXPLORERS’ CLUB AT BARNES&NOBLE ONLINE

Literary Ventures Fund who are promoting my novel in North America run an online Book Club called ‘Book Explorers’, hosted on the Barnes&Noble site. This month my book is under discussion, and in the first few days there are already about 90 passionate comments on the first section of ‘Feather Man’. At the end of the month, on September 28, I will join in the daily online discussion over the course of a week.

Australian readers, who might have already digested the book, are welcome to join in the discussion. The folks at B&N would welcome any new eyes (especially international ones)on their site – a sort of US/Australian Literary Alliance Thread.

Sydney friends agree this could be great fun, and think this is just the sort of thing we should have running here, but given that we don’t seem to have a comparable interactive online Book Club discussion group operating, (why is that so?) to join in the Book Explorers discussion is the next best thing.

You can choose either to have a look at the posts so far, or take part by registering (it’s free), signing in, and participating in the discussion with your own comments.

It needn’t stop with my book, of course. The LVF regularly choose books for discussion.

My ‘discussion’ has already begun, but it’s not too late to join in.

Go to the LVF’s Book Explorers Club and click on the thread “Feather Man” Discussion Part 1 (Lionel)-pages 13-107. There are guides to how to Register, Sign In, and a Help guide.

Melbourne Writers’ Festival was so much fun…

I love discussing my book with readers, and the Melbourne crowd were smart, passionate and receptive, and I got to meet some fellow writers, Sophie Cunningham, Joan London, and Gil Adamson from Canada. Not to forget the dedicated panel moderators, Aviva Tuffield from Scribe Publications and Kirsten Abbott from Penguin, who steered the conversations so adroitly. Great venue, good vibe.

But Before I Go…

I’m heading off to the Melbourne Writers’ Festival 30-31 August to take part in two panel sessions. Session Saturday 30 August, 1.15pm., and the topic is Mad, Bad And Good Mothers: Whoever had a mother straight out of Women’s Weekly? I’ll be appearing with Sophie Cunningham and Mirielle Juchau.

Session Sunday 31 August, 2.45pm., and the topic is Eavesdropping On Guilt. This time I’m with Gil Adamson and Joan London.’

And then… I will be conducting three 2-hour seminars with the MA students in Creative Writing at Sydney University, under the auspices of Dr David Brooks and the Writers At Work program. I’m really looking forward to these discussions – after all, how many authors get the chance to talk about their book for 2 hours to a captive audience?

Southwold Festival

Off to entrance audiences in the Fens country, home to writer Graham Swift, at the Southwold Literary Festival, in the UK, November 6. It’s a beautiful place by the looks of it, and I’ve always wanted to gaze out over the North Sea. See the Southwold program here.

Librarything reads Feather Man

Read Librarything‘s full review…

A Family Affair

Want to read my daughter Stella‘s dreamy blog? Mmnh… family insights!

You Are What You Read review.

Here’s Loretta Kelly with her July 9 2008 review of Feather Man.

Australian online review.

Never let it be said that I don’t love Australian online reviews – here’s one from Literaryminded, Angela Meyer, an Australian Gen Y writer whom I met at the Byron Bay Writers’ Festival.

Dovegreyreader finally bites the bullet.

Dovegreyreader reads past the first ‘tough’ chapter to discover that she wanted to add ‘Feather Man’ to her list of Booker predictions (now why wasn’t she a judge?) Read review in full.

US AWARD

Feather Man has been chosen as a September Indie Next List pick from the American Booksellers Association, which means special promotion in most of the independent bookshops across America.

Go here for a Preview and see Feather Man in good company with the latest from notables Annie Proulx and Paul Auster.

4 star review from Shana

‘McMaster is an amazing writer. Her prose is pitch-perfect – in the whole of this book there is not an extraneous word. …the reader is truly inside Sooky’s head, and comes to know her intimately. I wanted so badly for everything to turn out well for her…’

To read the full review from Shana go here:

Watch for upcoming author interview on Shana’s blog: http://blog.literarily.com

PEN

Rhyll is a committee member of Sydney PEN, which is a chapter of PEN International. PEN promotes literature and defends freedom of expression. Go to the PEN website to check out their work for prisoners of conscience.

More Reviews!

Watch for forthcoming favorable review in US literary magazine ‘ForeWord‘ – due September
Read Meghan’s complete review of ‘Feather Man’, July 9.

Feather Man already reaping praise prior to its publication in the US in September

Read Lynn Stegner’s and Nancy Felton’s US reviews on the Literary Ventures Fund site.

Tuesday Top Ten

Read Rhyll’s Tuesday Top Ten pick for Mark Thwaite’s Editor’s Corner at The Book Depository.

Medieval Bookworm

Read Meghan’s review in The Sunday Salon at Medieval Bookworm. Meghan is a 22year old at Brandeis University and she loved Feather Man.

Devourer of Books

Here is what Devourer of Books says about Feather Man.

The Book Depository

Read Rhyll’s interview with The Book Depository’s Mark Thwaite.

UTS Glenda Adams Award

Feather Man wins the UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing
NSW Premier’s Literary Awards 2008

Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction

Feather Man short-listed for the Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction
Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2007

Judges’ comments: McMaster has written an exquisitely crafted first novel rooted in the mundane and the mythological. In a language that is both poetic and visceral, she dissects her characters’ motives with a dispassionate gaze, revealing the darkness at the centre of their lives.

Australian Literary Society

Feather Man short-listed for the Australian Literary Society’s Gold Medal 2008 for an outstanding literary work.

Barbara Jefferis Award

Feather Man wins the inaugural Barbara Jefferis Award 2008 for the best novel written by an Australian author that depicts women and girls in a positive way or otherwise empowers the status of women and girls in society.

Judges’ Report: This is a powerful, original novel, wonderfully well written. As an account of a young woman’s survival of a dysfunctional childhood in Brisbane, the coming of age theme avoids all the usual clichés. The story of Sooky’s gradually emerging independence is told in prose that is rich, lyrical and assured, and the portrayals of the characters in all their fabulous monstrosity ring absolutely true. Sooky – flawed, self-doubting, difficult, sensitive, painfully honest and supremely talented is struggling to make sense of her life and establish her identity as a painter. In so accurately analyzing the way Sooky uses her intelligence, wit and unconventional view of the world to fight herself out of the dark hole of her childhood, McMaster has created a fresh and original woman character who is at the heart of this brilliant, witty and disturbing novel.