ANZ LitLovers LitBlog

Also in this issue…

On Phar Lap’s 90th birthday Alan Attwood looks at how one horse captured the heart of a nation; Olivia Newton-John talks singing, adversity and John Travolta in Letter to My Younger Self; singer/songwriter Holly Throsby turns her skills to her very first novel; and in The Big Picture (formerly known as Roving Eye) incredible photographs detail the human faces behind the refugee crisis in Europe. Don’t forget, the 2017 Big Issue Calendar hits the streets on 28 October!

Fay from Sydney stars in this edition’s Vendor Profile. And in Streetsheet, we have contributions from Adam R, Rebecca and Nicole K in Sydney; and Kathy and Dee in Western Australia. We also have a painting of a Street Soccer session by Lynn R, a Street Soccer participant in Newcastle.

The Annual Fiction Edition (#519, 26 Aug) included some authors who’ve been featured on this blog, others well-established in a writing career, and new talent in publication for the first time:

• The Smell of Her Perfume by Claire Varley, author of The Bit in Between, see the review at Booklover Book Reviews
• Hornets of the Heart by Donna Ward, editor, writer and the publisher who established Inkerman and Blunt
• Transit Stop by Marion Howes, a short story writer making her debut in this issue
• Animals of the Savannah by Tegan Bennett Daylight, author of Six Bedrooms see Sue’s review at Whispering Gums
• Hungry for God by Jennifer Down, writer, editor and translator, author of Our Magic Hour, see the review at Readings
• Leaving Leisureland by Miles Allison, author of Fever of Animals, see my review
• The Pedigree Goat by Bridgitte Cummings, currently working on her first novel and making her publishing debut in Australia in this issue.  (She’s previously been published in the UK).
• Unfinished Business by John Marsden, prolific author of YA novels notably Tomorrow When the War Began
• Moth Sea Fog by Gregory Day, author of The Patron Saint of Eels, see my review
• Polite Society by Ellena Savage, editor and writer of short stories, poems, and essays and nominated for various awards for non-fiction.
• Big Things by Daniel Harper, writer of short stories
• Baked Beans and Wisteria by Karenlee Thompson, author of 8 States of Catastrophe (see my review) and a regular contributor to this blog as a guest reviewer.

That’s a pretty impressive line-up, and no wonder being published in this edition is a highly sought-after coup for the writers!

Issue #522 focussed on Mental Health.  It has a picture of a cute dog on the cover because it features an article about the value of companion animals for people with mental illness.  It’s called ‘Always By My Side’ and it’s by Eliza Henry-Jones, author of In the Quiet.

The issue includes writing by

• award-winning writer Fiona Wright; 
• Melbourne based writer and broadcaster Melissa Cranenburgh;
• a ‘Letter to My Younger Self’ by Geoffrey Rush;
• writing by Hannah Kent, and lots more.

The Big Issue is not only a magazine with a philanthropic purpose, it’s also an independent publisher offering opportunities for writers to submit stories other magazines and papers might not be able to do.   See their Contribute page for more information.

Issue #523, 21 Oct 2016