Join us at 7:30 on Wednesday 8th September at Crags Royal Hotel in Lydiard Street to hear Ballarat Writers’ own Myra King read from her new short story collection, City Paddock, and to talk about her writing.
Myra’s short stories and poems have won awards in national and international competitions and been published in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, USA, and also online.
Paramount to her writing philosophy is the enjoyment of the reader, to make them laugh or cry or at least lift them from the mundane.
All royalties from sales of …

Dinner bookings are now closed, but Saturday program online bookings are open until midday, Friday September 3, unless sold out. We have a big crowd already and it’s shaping up to be a great festival.
For more information on the festival and to book tickets, click on the link in the menu bar above.

The historic goldfields town of Maldon is holding its second celebration of the life and times of Henry Handel Richardson, her literary works and family life, focusing on the time she spent in Maldon during the 1880s when her mother, Mary Richardson, held the position of Maldon postmistress.
Events will run from Fri evening 15th Oct – Sunday morning 17th Oct.
A Picnic lunch is planned for the Saturday at the Maldon Rotunda in the Shire gardens.
We will provide you with a list of local provedores, where lunches can be purchased.
The dinner …

Wet Ink is pleased to celebrate five years of publication by announcing the Wet Ink Short Story Prize. First prize is $3,000, publication in the March 2011 issue of Wet Ink, and a year’s subscription to the magazine. Two highly commended entries will each receive $100, publication in the March 2011 issue of Wet Ink, and a year’s subscription to the magazine.
Guest judge Peter Goldsworthy – one of Australia’s best short story writers – and Wet Ink’s fiction editors Sally Breen and Emmett Stinson will judge the entries.
There is no …

Photo from Thylazine poetry magazine
Announcing the return of the Martha Richardson Memorial Poetry Prize, run by Ballarat Writers to honour the memory of poet, Martha Richardson.
Poetry to 40 lines, open theme
First prize: $1000 AUD
Judge: Judith Rodriguez
Entry $10 per poem
Closing date: 15 October 2010
Results announced online December 2010
COMPETITION GUIDELINES

Competition is open to anyone over the age of 18 years, including overseas applicants
Entries must be the original work of the applicant
Entries must not have been published, broadcast, or won a prize in any competition; presentation on the internet via …

Sunday 1st or Tuesday 3rd of August
Rose Pruning Workshops in Creswick. August in Creswick is all about roses, so why not
learn first hand about the mysteries of rose pruning from Judy Morrison – Mistydowns Nursery.
These will be hands on workshops where everyone will get the opportunity to actually prune roses!
Assemble – The Tangled Maze, 2301 Midland H’way, Springmount 3363 (Creswick East) Cost: $25.00 per session (only one required) Time: 9.30 am. Bookings essential: 5345 2847
Numbers are limited to ensure everyone gets the opportunity for one-on-one tuition with Judy.
Lunch …

Lunchtime Talk – Hazel Edwards will give a lunchtime talk in the library at Mt Helen. Hazel will talk about her famous Hippopotamus turning 30 as well as collaborating on her new book f2m – the boy within , the story of an adolescent’s quest for identity as she transitions from female to male.
Where: Geoffrey Blainey Research Centre, University of Ballarat Library, Mt Helen Campus
When: Wednesday August 25th, 12-1pm
BYO Lunch and Cake for the Hippopotamus!

Entry to the seventh annual Australian Book Review poetry prize – renamed the Peter Porter Poetry Prize, in memory of the late Australian poet – is now open.
First prize: $4000
Shortlisted poems: $250
Closing date: 15 November 2010
The Peter Porter Poetry Prize is one of Australia’s most lucrative and respected awards for poetry, and guarantees winners wide exposure through publication in ABR.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
Stephen Edgar (2005)
Judith Bishop (2006)
Alex Skovron (2007)
Ross Clark (2008)
Tracy Ryan (2009)
Anthony Lawrence (2010)
The guidelines and entry form are now available on the ABR website