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!

Steven Amsterdam gave two excellent presentations on his extremely pertinent novel, Things We Didn’t See Coming. The students were engaged during the lecture and feedback from them since has been most positive. Amsterdam gave the students ample opportunity to ask questions about the text which clarified areas which had puzzled them.

The Q and A also challenged Amsterdam as he was given some new perspectives of the text as seen from the students’ point of view. His presentation was relaxed, funny and generous. Amsterdam’s dry wit was not lost on the students nor the teachers.

–Suzanne Dowling, Gleneagles Secondary College

Brian Falkner, a popular science fiction author from New Zealand, has recently moved to Australia.

8-12 August & 29 Aug-2 Sep will see Brian available for bookings with Melbourne schools.

Brian’s stint on Inside A Dog has been pretty interesting so far. In the last few posts he has already covered issues regarding eReaders, and the ability of science fiction to predict (and arguably shape) the future.

Inside A Dog is a fantastic way to get to know authors, and what makes them tick. Another of our new authors, Daniel Ducrou, occupied the Inside A Dog residency before Brian took the reigns. Daniel covered some pretty interesting topics — questioning the role and worth of blogging as a writing form, and discussing his love of music and music video clips. (One of the staff at Booked Out was pretty excited to see a link to Paul Simon’s You Can Call Me Al … thanks Dan!).

You can browse the list of previous authors to have blogged for Inside A Dog here … and you will find a lot of authors represented by Booked Out. They include Randa Abdel-Fattah, Michael Gerard-Bauer, JC Burke, Nick Earls, Jane Godwin, Lia Hills, Simmone Howell, William Kostakis, Lili Wilkinson, Doug MacLeod (whose residency turned into a book!), John Marsden, Andrew McDonald, Meme McDonald, James Moloney, Kirsty Murray, Tim Pegler, Penni Russon, Michael Pryor, Richard Newsome, and Trudy White. Phew!

It’s also nice to note that Jack Heath blogged for Inside A Dog, and rumour has it he will be taking Melbourne bookings through Booked Out this year … check back soon for more info.

We were pretty stoked today to find a legitimate reason to scroll through the Cleo Bachelor of the Year profiles online. Writer, blogger and Booked Outer Andrew McDonald is 28, a Leo and among one of only 50 men to make the shortlist!

In his profile, Andrew answers Which fictional character doyou most resemble?:

Physically I’m Willy Wonka (colourful dresser), emotionally I’m Fantastic Mr. Fox (erratic and mischievous) and mentally I’m Matilda (I like to think I have super powers).

See Andrew’s full Bachelor Profile here.

DID YOU KNOW? James Phelan was a Cleo Bachelor of the Year finalist in 2006.

The Aurealis Awards, established in 1995 by Chimaera Publications, the publishers of Aurealis magazine, aim to recognise the achievements of Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror writers.

These awards are intended to expand the scope of other awards by recognising writers in varying categories of speculative fiction, rather than addressing the genre as a whole.

The shortlist for the 2010 awards was announced earlier this week, and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Sydney in May 2011.

Booked Out congratulates all of the finalists and would like to recognise the Booked Outers who are finalists in the following categories…

CHILDREN’S FICTION (told primarily through words)
Grimsdon, Deborah Abela, Random House

CHILDREN’S FICTION (told primarily through pictures)
Night School, Isobelle Carmody (writer) & Anne Spudvilas (illustrator), Penguin Viking

YOUNG ADULT Novel
Guardian of the Dead, Karen Healey, Allen & Unwin
The Life of a Teenage Body-Snatcher, Doug MacLeod, Penguin

BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK/ GRAPHIC NOVEL
Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Nicki Greenberg, Allen & Unwin

A new video is up on The Wheeler Centre website of Tony Wilson’s discussion of Peter Goldsworthy’s Maestro.

In the very first of our Texts in the City series based around the VCE English list, Stephanie Trigg and Tony Wilson discuss Peter Goldsworthy’s classic novel Maestro.

Tackling themes of talent and genius, failure and appeasement, Trigg and Wilson consider the relationships between Paul, Keller, Rosie and Paul’s parents from a breadth of perspectives aimed at enriching your appreciation of the story’s subtle themes.

Booked Out Author Meme McDonald has directed a new short film called Warrima.

Warrima – is about dance – warrima – and how ancient ways still move the feet of young indigenous men across Australia.

From the train lines and graffiti walls of urban Melbourne, Koori Youth Will Shake Spears travel to the rainforest of Far North Queensland to dance alongside their ‘cousins’ Mayi Wunba.

Warrima is about culture and it’s about survival. It’s about young people staying strong. It’s about contemporary ‘songlines’ and it’s about knowing who you are.

Warrima has been developed as a companion to the newly released book Shake A Leg by acclaimed author Boori Pryor and illustrator Jan Ormerod and is directed by writer/director Meme McDonald.

Warrima will get you dancing.

Check out the preview below and visit Youthworx Productions for more information and to purchase the video.

Meme is available for talks with secondary school classes focusing on writing and directing skills relating to social issues, and engaging homeless youth in media projects.