I'm delighted that acclaimed Australian poet Tracy Ryan launched my poetry collection nothing to declare (Puncher and Wattmann) on Saturday 31st October. It was a full moon and Hallowe'en so the Zoom connection didn't quite go according to plan (natch), however, a video and photo compilation is being put together, so all is not lost. 

This photo was taken at the launch by Warren Bredenhann. I'm standing in front of a stunning canvas called Kaalpakarti (going to Kaalpa, Well 23) created by Judith Anya Samson and Corban Clause Williams of Martumili Artists (from the Pilbara). Well 23 is on the Canning Stock Route.

I'm so grateful to FORM and The Goods Shed for allowing me to have my launch there, and to the generous folk at Howard Park Wines for sparkling wine, and Remi Guise of Tripe Iscariot for the Chardonnay, Grenache Rose, and Syrah. A real celebration of Margaret River's best!

A huge thank you to my friends, neighbours and colleagues for joining me, and also family and dear friends on the Zoomiverse. 

Such a privilege to appear with Rochelle Potkar, Sara F. Costa, Kavita A. Jindall, and Usha Akella on this wonderful Isolation Break initiative devised by the New York Writers Workshop (NYWW) and the Asia-Pacific Writers and Translators Association (AWPT), and curated by Ravi Shankar.  We were tuning in from all over the world: UK, India, Portugal, the States, and Western Australia (hence my late night,  appearing at 1am, thoroughly worthwhile). We read from our work and participated in a Q & A session. So many borders are being crossed through all these virtual means. Time zones, combinations of writers, experiences.  Unable to travel for real, it seems that thankfully we are still able to travel in other ways. No passport required. 

The full recording (and others in the same series) can be found here. 

This weekend I am appearing at the Nanga Music Festival in Dwellingup, Western Australia, and looking forward to being in the company of many wonderful lyricists and musicians. Details of the festival here

Trying out some wings for size at The Goods Shed, Claremont, Perth WA where I occasionally work. They tell me the halo is in the mail.