The launch of Patricia Sykes' book of poetry The Abbotsford Mysteries is just around the corner. The poems are set in the Abbotsford Convent where Patricia and her sisters were sent to live as orphans. Patricia has taken her memories, those of her sisters and fellow convent residents and woven them into a journey of grief and wonder.
Bite Your Tongue and Big Porn Inc launches have been a huge success with Bite Your Tongue being launched in Melbourne and Canberra to packed houses. Big Porn Inc had its Melbourne and Perth launches with two more to come. At the launches, contributors spoke passionately about their research and experiences, calling for a movement to challenge the run away porn industry.
LAUNCH DATES
The Abbotsford Mysteries
When: Saturday 5 November, 10 for 10.30 am
Where: Abbotsford Convent Foundation, 1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford VIC.
Launched by: Jennifer Strauss, with special guest appearance by singer, songwriter Kavisha Mazzella.
Parking: $4 in gold coins or free street parking
RSVP: by 28th October 9329-6088 or publicity@spinifexpress.com.au
Big Porn Inc
Brisbane Launch
When: Friday 14 October, 6 for 6.30 pm
Where: Spoon Deli Cafe, Shop 6, 33 Lytton Road, East Brisbane.
RSVP by: 12 October, admin@collectiveshout.org
Sydney Launch
When: Thursday 20 October 12.45 for 1-2 pm
Where: Jubilee Room, Parliament House, 6 Macquarie Street.
RSVP: to Kate Haggar by 18 October: admin@collectiveshout.org
NEWS WRAP
This month we are re-releasing two feminist classics, Daughters of the Dreaming by Diane Bell. Diane shines a light on the importance of women’s role in Australian Aboriginal culture. And Feminist Fables by Suniti Namjoshi, this remarkable book represents an ingenious reworking of fairytales and Greek and Sanskrit mythology. Follow the links to check out these stimulating reads.
The Abbotsford Mysteries is getting some good pre-release coverage, check out Australian Poetry to read ‘Institutional’ one of the poems from the book.
And, pick up The Age newspaper on the 22nd of Ocotober to read another of The Abbotsford Mysteries poems.
Big Porn Inc continues to make waves since its September release. Melinda Tankard Reist weighed in on sex education in schools for the Sydney Morning Herald. Dr Abigail Bray wrote about the damning effects of online porn for the Sydney Morning Herald in her piece 'Dangerous or a rite of passage'. Samantha Brett of the SMH opinion column ‘Ask Sam’ also reviewed the book. ABC Religion & Ethics website has posted a number of opinion pieces from our contributors. Gail Dines’s ‘Time to start telling the truth about the porn industry’, Dr Abigail Bray and Melinda Tankard Reist’s piece ‘Nothing Radical about Mass-market Masturbation’, Helen Pringle’s piece, ‘The Porn Report: A Studied Indifference to Harm’ and Clive Hamilton’s discussion on ‘Rescuing sex from porn’. While Nina Funnell had an edited extract of her piece ‘Sexting and Peer-to-Peer Porn’ also feature. Dr Meagan Tyler wrote an opinion piece for ABC’s The Drum titled, 'Porn: just a bit of harmless fun?'.
Francesca Rendle-Short’s fiction-memoir Bite Your Tongue has been receiving high-praise and plenty of attention. Francesca sat down to discuss the book with Alex Sloan for Life Matters on 666 ABC Canberra. Francesca also had a lovely chat about the book with Alicia Sometimes over at Triple R's Aural Text'. The book was also reviewed by by Kimberley Allsopp for Bookseller + Publisher, and Lucy Sussex for The Age. Not to mention a truly fantastic write-up of the book from Thuy On for The Australian, in his article; 'Moving testaments to forgiveness and fillial love'.
Cow, Susan Hawthorne's book of poetry continues to delight readers and get great reviews. Check out
Wet Ink's latest copy, issue 24, to read Lindy Warrell's review.
Publishers, Susan Hawthorne and Renate Klein are off to the Frankfurt Book Fair. In addition to the busy round of appointments, Susan will be attending the one day conference on Digital Publishing Around the World.
Diva, the pocket-money friendly Australian jewellery retailer, has recently started stocking Playboy-branded products. Hugh Hefner's bunny logo appears on necklaces, earrings and key-chains marketed and sold to tween girls. Collective Shout is asking people to sign their online petition in an attempt to stop Diva selling a porn brand to our tweens.
We’re excited to welcome Pauline Hopkins on board the Spinifex team as our new Publicity officer. Pauline brings wide-ranging media experience and plenty of enthusiasm.
Farewell to Kate Page, thanks for all your great work and we wish you all the best in your new endeavours.
EVENTS
Feminist Forum is hosting more stimulating talks by two Spinifex authors
Dr Meaghan Tyler contributor to Big Porn Inc will talk on Selling Sex Short- How pornography and sex therapy construct sexuality in the West
When: Wednesday 26 October, 5:30-7pm
Professor Sheila Jeffreys will launch and talk about her new book: Man’s Dominion; the rise of religion and the eclipse of women’s rights
When: Tuesday 15 November, 5.30-7pm
Where: Faculty Function Room, 5th Floor, John Medley Building, University of Melbourne.
For further information please contact Sheila Jeffreys, sheila@unimelb.edu.au
The 7th Annual World Matters Festival 2011.
Come down to beautiful Montsalvat in Eltham over the weekend of the 15th and 16th October to hear some of our finest writers speak on matters close to their heart. Spinifex author Francesca Rendle-Short is taking part in a session titled Family Disturbances.
BLOG
And Susan Hawthorne asks people to let go of hatred in her piece September 11: hatred and violence wrapped in the coils of war
Sarah Calleja puts her thoughts down in Sex Therapy and Big Porn Inc.
And Abigail Bray’s, An Immodest Proposal is a thought provoking tongue-in-cheek piece.
HUNGRY FOR MORE?
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