Before heading off for Easter holidays, I went along to see Dr Leslie Cannold speak at The Wheeler Centre as part of their Lunchbox/Soapbox series. Her speech was provocatively titled The Trouble with Feminists, which we were quickly told was that there aren’t enough of them.

Dr Cannold focussed on the fictional worlds created in literature as the battlefield in which female characters must fight for their entitled space.

‘But just like their real-life counterparts, fictional females don’t need to be good or virtuous or admirable to be entitled to half. In their case, to half of the space in stories our culture tells about itself to ourselves.’

Dr Cannold has written several books and chapters on various ethical issues including motherhood and abortion in Australia. Her first fiction novel was published last month, The Book of Rachael.

Other new speakers we have added in April are:

• Meyer Eidelson, historian and naturalist.
• Pelissa Tsilimidos-Thorne, NSW HSC English specialist.
• Jack Heath, author and boywonder.
• David Stavanger: Ghostboy, psychologist turned performance poet.
• Ken Haley, journalist and inspirational speaker who has travelled the world in his wheelchair.
• Dr Tony Birch, historian, short story writer and Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at The University of Melbourne.
• Arabella Forge, dietitian and food writer.
• Mary Delahunty, author and former Education and Arts minister for Victoria.
• Karen Healey, contemporary fantasy author.
• Brian Falkner, recently migrated NZ author.

Please welcome our new speakers by clicking on their page.

Until next month, yours sincerely,

Esther Kennedy

Today sees Michael Pryor’s last book in the Laws of Magic series,Hour of Need hit the bookstores nation wide.

Michael paved the way for Australian steampunk when Laws of Magicfirst hit the shelves. In Hour of Need we say farewell to the much loved characters (bye bye Aubrey, George and Caroline!); and Michael heads back to his studio to begin work on a new series.

Read all about the Laws of Magic on Michael’s site here, and get an insight into Michael’s writing process with this interview he did for Tristan Bancks’ site.

In April 2011, the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa launched “Writers in Motion,” a study tour of the Mid-Atlantic and the American South, where eight international writers are exploring the theme of “Fall and Recovery.” The writers are traveling to Gettysburg, Baltimore, New Orleans, the Gulf Coast, Birmingham, AL, and Washington, D.C. to examine some of the challenges presented by historical crises and upheavals, both natural and social. This piece was generated from this project.

Earlier today the Children’s Book Council of Australia announced the shortlisted books for their much coveted Book of the Year Awards.

Booked Out would like to offer a big congratulations to the following authors:

Book of the Year (Older Readers)

• Cath Crowley, Graffiti Moon
• Joanne Horniman, About a Girl
• Doug Macleod, The Life of a Teenage Body-Snatcher
• Melina Marchetta, The Piper’s Son
• Fiona Wood, Six Impossible Things

Book of the Year (Younger Readers)

• Michael Gerard Bauer, Just a Dog
• Isobelle Carmody, The Red Wind

Book of the Year (Early Childhood)

• Mitch Vane, illus. The Deep End
• Leonie Norrington, Look See, Look at Me!
• Freya Blackwood, illus. Maudie and Bear

Picture Book of the Year

• Nicki Greenberg, Hamlet
• Kim Kane, The Family Forest

Eve Pownall Award for Information Books

• Terry Denton, illus. Wicked Warriors & Evil Emperors: The True Story of the Fight for Ancient China

And congratulations to all our authors whose books were chosen for the Notables list: Randa Abdel-Fattah, Robyn Bavati, Anthony Eaton, Jackie French, Scot Gardner, Leanne Hall, Nette Hilton, Kirsty Murray, Michael Pryor, Catherine Bateson, Sherryl Clark, Justin D’Ath, Julia Lawrinson, Glenda Millard, Jane Godwin, Anna Walker, Sue DeGennaro, David Miller, Felicity Marshall, Sally Rippin, Gabrielle Wang, Anne Spudvilas and Mark Wilson.

The 2011 Williamstown Literary Festival programme has been released and the lineup includes heaps of familiar faces. It’s a great opportunity to go along and hear some of our authors, so check out the programme and if you’re local get along on Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May to check out some very promising sessions. Our picks:

Sofie Laguna’s writing workshop for participants 13-25 years old.

For the kiddies, Andy Griffiths and Morris Gleitzman will be presenting family friendly sessions.

Steven Amsterdam and Jon Bauer on a panel of debut novelists.

Thomas Caldwell on book to screen adaptations, followed by film screening of Death in Brunswick.

Michael Hyde and Jane Clifton discuss the growing popularity of memoirs as a genre.

And Shane Maloney on what Shane Maloney does best, political fiction.

Only a couple of weeks ago we were congratulating Jon Bauer on winning the Indie Award for Best Debut Fiction. We thought we should wait a couple of breaths before also clinking a glass to him for his inclusion on the 2011 Miles Franklin Literary Award Longlist. Rocks in the Belly just goes from strength to strength and is definitely an office favourite.

Also on this highly prestigious list – there are 9 titles in total – is Melina Marchetta for The Piper’s Son.

In 2009, fellow Booked Outers Sofie Laguna and Toni Jordan were longlisted for One Foot Wrong and Addition respectively. And cruciverbalist (er, crossword setter), author and Dictionary Guy David Astle was shortlisted in 1986 for his first novel Marzipan Plan.

The 2011 shortlist is announced on April 19.

Last night some of the Booked Out crew had the pleasure of joining Tiffiny Hall for the launch of her latest fitness book, Weightloss Warrior. Like her previous publication How to Create Your Ultimate Body this is a ‘no-diet’ book that encourages people to change their mindset and build a positive self-image, rather than following the latest fad diet which, as Tiff always says will do more damage than good.

Fighting fit from her first season as a trainer on The Biggest Loser, Tiffiny is full of good advice on how to live a healthy and happy life. And it’s not all as strict as the telly show may have you think. The ‘White Ninja’ has reassured us that we’re allowed to continue to share a cake or muffin at morning tea. “I wouldn’t be worried if you’re having a muffin every fourth or fifth day”. Phew! We share one between 5 or 6 of us, so we’re still on the path to becoming Warriors!