2010 Aurealis Awards - Finalists announced!

Huge congrats to all the nominees.  There are just so many great names on the list - I want to give a 'shout out' to all of you!  Such an impressive list. 

Oh, how I look forward to these Awards every year and while it is sad to see them leave Fantastic Queensland in BrisVegas - it will be exciting to see them in Sydney under the new umbrella of SpecFaction NSW and organisers: Nathan Burrage and Susan Wardle.

And while I say it will be exciting to see the awards in Sydney there are no definites yet that I will be attending.  I don't even want to think about that possibility although I know I could be leaving it a little late to buy tix and find cheap accommodation.  If the universe is on my side - I will trust that it will be possible and I will be winging my way there come May J

Don't be like me and risk missing out. Check out all the details here:

And the nominees are:

2010 Aurealis Awards --‐ Finalists
CHILDREN'S FICTION (told primarily through words)

·         Grimsdon, Deborah Abela, Random House

·          Ranger's Apprentice #9: Halt's Peril, John Flanagan, Random House

·          The Vulture of Sommerset, Stephen M Giles, Pan Macmillan

·          The Keepers, Lian Tanner, Allen & Unwin

·          Haggis MacGregor and the Night of the Skull, Jen Storer & Gus Gordon, Aussie Nibbles(Penguin)

CHILDREN'S FICTION (told primarily through pictures)

·         Night School, Isobelle Carmody (writer) & Anne Spudvilas (illustrator), Penguin Viking

·          Magpie, Luke Davies (writer) & Inari Kiuru (illustrator), ABC Books (HarperCollins)

·          The Boy and the Toy, Sonya Hartnett (writer) & Lucia Masciullo (illustrator), Penguin Viking

·          Precious Little, Julie Hunt & Sue Moss (writers) & Gaye Chapman (illustrator), Allen &

·         Unwin

·          The Cloudchasers, David Richardson (writer) & Steven Hunt (illustrator), ABC Books(HarperCollins)

YOUNG ADULT Short Story

·         Inksucker, Aidan Doyle, Worlds Next Door, Fablecroft Publishing

·          One Story, No Refunds, Dirk Flinthart, Shiny #6, Twelfth Planet Press

·          A Thousand Flowers, Margo Lanagan, Zombies Vs Unicorns, Allen & Unwin

·          Nine Times, Kaia Landelius & Tansy Rayner Roberts, Worlds Next Door, Fablecroft

·         Publishing

·          An Ordinary Boy, Jen White, The Tangled Bank, Tangled Bank Press

YOUNG ADULT Novel

·         Merrow, Ananda Braxton--‐Smith, black dog books

·          Guardian of the Dead, Karen Healey, Allen & Unwin

·          The Midnight Zoo, Sonya Hartnett, Penguin

·          The Life of a Teenage Body--‐Snatcher, Doug MacLeod, Penguin

·          Behemoth (Leviathan Trilogy Book Two), Scott Westerfeld, Penguin

BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK/ GRAPHIC NOVEL

·         Shakespeare's Hamlet, Nicki Greenberg, Allen & Unwin

·          EEEK!: Weird Australian Tales of Suspense, Jason Paulos et al, Black House Comics

·          Changing Ways Book 1, Justin Randall, Gestalt Publishing

·          Five Wounds: An Illustrated Novel, Jonathan Walker & Dan Hallett, Allen & Unwin

·          Horrors: Great Stories of Fear and Their Creators, Rocky Wood & Glenn Chadbourne,McFarlane & Co.

BEST COLLECTION

·         The Library of Forgotten Books, Rjurik Davidson, PS Publishing

·          Under Stones, Bob Franklin, Affirm Press

·          Sourdough and Other Stories, Angela Slatter, Tartarus Press

·          The Girl With No Hands, Angela Slatter, Ticonderoga Publications

·          Dead Sea Fruit, Kaaron Warren, Ticonderoga Publications

BEST ANTHOLOGY

·          Macabre: A Journey Through Australia's Darkest Fears, edited by Angela Challis & Dr Marty

·         Young, Brimstone Press

·          Sprawl, edited by Alisa Krasnostein, Twelfth Planet Press

·          Scenes from the Second Storey, edited by Amanda Pillar & Pete Kempshall, Morrigan Books

·         Godlike Machines, edited by Jonathan Strahan, SF Book Club

·          Wings of Fire, edited by Jonathan Strahan & Marianne S. Jablon, Night Shade Books

HORROR Short Story

·         Take the Free Tour, Bob Franklin, Under Stones, Affirm Press

·          Her Gallant Needs, Paul Haines, Sprawl, Twelfth Planet Press

·          The Fear, Richard Harland, Macabre: A Journey through Australia's Darkest Fears

·         Brimstone Press

·          Wasting Matilda, Robert Hood, Zombie Apocalypse!, Constable & Robinson Ltd

·          Lollo, Martin Livings, Close Encounters of the Urban Kind, Apex Publishing

HORROR Novel

·         After the World: Gravesend, Jason Fischer, Black House Comics

·          Death Most Definite, Trent Jamieson, Orbit (Hachette)

·          Madigan Mine, Kirstyn McDermott, Pan Macmillan

FANTASY Short Story

·         The Duke of Vertumn's Fingerling, Elizabeth Carroll, Strange Horizons

·          Yowie, Thoraiya Dyer, Sprawl, Twelfth Planet Press

·          The February Dragon, LL Hannett & Angela Slatter, Scary Kisses, Ticonderoga Publications

·          All the Clowns in Clowntown, Andrew McKiernan, Macabre: A Journey Through Australia's, Brimstone Press

·         Darkest Fears

·          Sister, Sister, Angela Slatter, Strange Tales III, Tartarus Press

FANTASY Novel

·         The Silence of Medair, Andrea K Höst, self--‐published

·          Death Most Definite, Trent Jamieson, Orbit (Hachette)

·          Stormlord Rising, Glenda Larke, HarperVoyager (HarperCollins)

·          Heart's Blood, Juliet Marillier, Pan Macmillan

·          Power and Majesty, Tansy Rayner Roberts, HarperVoyager (HarperCollins)

SCIENCE FICTION Short Story

·         The Heart of a Mouse, K.J. Bishop, Subterranean Online (Winter 2010)

·          The Angaelian Apocalypse, Matthew Chrulew, The Company Articles Of Edward Teach/The, Twelfth Planet Press

·         Angaelian Apocalypse

·          Border Crossing, Penelope Love, Belong, Ticonderoga Publications

·          Interloper, Ian McHugh, Asimovs (Jan 2011)

·          Relentless Adaptations, Tansy Rayner Roberts, Sprawl, Twelfth Planet Press

SCIENCE FICTION Novel

·         Song of Scarabaeus, Sara Creasy, EOS Books

·          Mirror Space, Marianne de Pierres, Orbit (Hachette)

·          Transformation Space, Marianne de Pierres, Orbit (Hachette)

Midnight rambler visualising plane tickets, Aurealis tickets and a lovely room near the venue :)

The Lamplights: from heartfelt folk to driving acoustic funk and blues...

If you are a Triple J listener then you might have heard of The Lamplights - and if you're not a listener you still might like to check them out here at unearthed. 

Unearthed is triple j’s award-winning initiative for discovering and sharing the best new Australian music. This local Gold Coast band is so good I just had to post a review.

"The Lamplights is such a beautiful name.  It conjures up gorgeous images of time past, of dark and foggy cobble-stoned streets in London, warmed by the delectable glow of lamplights. [read more...]

 Grab a beverage of your choice, put your feet up and have a listen to the wonderful Ryan Gittoes on voals, Jason McGregor and Ashley Perrow, both on guitar in this clip from the ABC.  You not only get two songs, but an added bonus for your time - an interview!

Remember to check out their gig guide and support local music in a town near you and if you live interstate you can download some of their mp3's for free here or purchase their wonderful debut album here 

Enjoy :)





Midnight rambler preparing for Triple J's world-wide party on Australia Day and listening out for The Lamplights...

GALA/FINAL - SHORT + SWEET THEATRE



S+S cast

 What a week it’s been and so much to share.  Firstly, Saturday 20^th November was the Finals/Gala of the Short + Sweet Theatre Festival here in BrisVegas @ the Judith Wright Centre.  I was excited beyond words to not only be an audience participant for Week 2 of the top 20 on the Friday night but again at the final/Gala Award night on Saturday.   I not only witnessed some really amazing plays but my little play,The Corpse cannot Play was in the Top Ten alongside some of the best!

We were all winners in effect, just having made it into the top 30 was something of an achievement for all of the entrants and congrats to all those who did.  It’s been a top festival and something I’m been very proud to be a part of. 

It’s great to support local theatre and all of the arts for that matter and even if I hadn’t had a play performing,  Short + Sweet  Theatre is well worth buying a ticket for.  You get bite size chunks of theatre from all different genres and no chance to get bored as none of them go longer than ten minutes and what a variety you get to see over one night.  Ten plays, all different.  Some make you laugh, others cry and maybe even shiver with excitement or creeping fear.  It’s great and I for one will be supporting this every year whether I have a play being performed or not.

It was wonderful having so many of my friends come along in support for my play but also for supporting other artists, writers, actors, and directors while being entertained.

Thanks to the awesome Short +Sweet crew, Candice Diana and Sean Dennehy and the many more who I didn’t get to meet.

And now for the winners:

Nuns Gone Wild

The Short+Sweet Award Presented to the best overall production - taking into consideration acting, directing and script - performed at the Gala Final.

Nuns Gone Wild

Writer: Leon Foo

Director: Tim Driver

Cast: Bronwyn Morrow, Barbara Chaffe, Marion Welsch

Best Comedy Presented to the writer of the Best Comedy performed at the Gala Final.

Nuns Gone Wild

Writer: Leon Foo

Director: Tim Driver

Cast: Bronwyn Morrow, Barbara Chaffe, Marion Welsch

Best Drama Presented to the writer of the Best Drama performed at the Gala Final.

The Devil’s Aftershave

Writer: Pete Malicki

Director: Matthew Filkins

Cast: Jeremy Wood.

Michelle Miall & Sean Dennehy

Best Director Presented to the Best Director of plays performed at the Gala Final.

Michelle Miall 

for

Lifetime

Writer: Angie Farrow

Sound Designer: Cameron Rollo

Cast: Dirk Hoult, Emma Che Martin.

Best Actor (male) Presented to the actor who gave the most outstanding performance throughout the festival.

Jeremy Wood

for

The Devil’s Aftershave

Writer: Pete Malicki

Director: Matthew Filkins

Cast: Jeremy Wood.

Best Actor (female) Presented to the actor who gave the most outstanding performance throughout the festival.

Bronwyn Morrow

for

Nuns Gone Wild

Writer: Leon Foo

Director: Tim Driver

Cast: Bronwyn Morrow, Barbara Chaffe, Marion Welsch

The Wildcards Winner The play judged to be the best overall production (taking into consideration acting, directing and script) performed during the Wildcards.

Queen Of De Nile

Wrought Iron Productions

Writer: Carmen Cuskelly

Director: Christopher Cherry

Cast: Carmen Cuskelly

Best New Talent Presented to an emerging writer, director or actor who performed outstandingly either at the Gala Final or during the festival.

Marion Welsch

for

Scissors. Paper. Rock.

Writer: Marion Welsch

Director: Marion Welsch

Little Black Duck Productions

and

Nuns Gone Wild

Writer: Leon Foo

Director: Tim Driver

Cast: Bronwyn Morrow, Barbara Chaffe, Marion Welsch

Best ITC Presented to the Independent Theatre Company who presented the most outstanding overall production either at the Gala Final or throughout the festival.

Testy

Wrought Iron Productions

Concept: Christopher Cherry

Writer: Carmen Cuskelly

Director: Christopher Cherry

Cast: Chris Holt, Adam Drake, Christopher Cherry, Fabienne Drake, Evie Richards.

 and

Queen Of De Nile

Wrought Iron Productions

Writer: Carmen Cuskelly

Director: Christopher Cherry

Cast: Carmen Cuskelly

People’s Choice Award For the most popular play as voted by audiences throughout the festival.

Testy

Wrought Iron Productions

Concept: Christopher Cherry

Writer: Carmen Cuskelly

Director: Christopher Cherry

Cast: Chris Holt, Adam Drake, Christopher Cherry, Fabienne Drake, Evie Richards.

Congrats to all and now can’t wait for next year :)

Midnight rambler is planning.

The Corpse cannot Play



Just some of the lovely audience...

More pix of celebration from the 'Wildcard' session of The Corspe cannot Play held at the Judith Wright Centre for the Contemporary Arts Saturday 13th November can be found here

Professionals shot of the dress rehearsal coming soon...Stay tuned

Midnight rambler contemplating writing some story beats

Corpses, ghosts and broken glass...

Jessica Armbrust (Director) with Moi (writer)

Finally got to meet the beautiful and talented Jessica Armbrust (Director of my ten minute play) The Corpse cannot Play and the lovely actors Susie Omar (who played Katherine) and Alex Hines (Carol).  Their performance was convincing, and exuberant bringing my characters to life.

Alex Hines & Susie Omar

I'm so incredibly excited about how this play was represented.  With no prior collaboration or discussion as planned, Jessica interpreted my vision pretty much spot on.  Susie and Alex owned their roles as Katherine and Carol giving it their all. 

It was fantastic to have my wonderful supportive friends come out and watch it along with nine other great plays.

Was I nervous on the night?  Hell yeah.  Not because I didn't trust the direction or the performances - it was more about it being out there for the world to see...but love it or hate it -  I'm still rapt my little play saw the light of day...

We didn't make the finals but nevertheless it was a blast.  It's not over yet as we enter into week two of the top 20 plays.  I have tix for Friday and Saturday night which include the Gala/Finals.

If you haven't checked out the biggest and coolest little play festival in the world then don't delay!  Do it now by booking tickets here.

Midnight rambler doing the happy dance ♥

Short + Sweet Theatre Festival 10 November – 20 November 2010



November 10 - 20, 2010

 Great newz!!
Yes, I'm just a little bit excited to announce that The Corpse cannot Play - written by moi has made the Wildcard sessions of the Short + Sweet Theatre Festival held at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts -Brisbane.

If you've been following this blog you would have read my blog post about this amazing theatre group and if you haven't read it, and would like to - you can read it here

Details for Wildcard entry:

What:     The Corpse cannot Play

Where:  Performance Space, Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts

When:    Saturday 13th November, 2010 @ 1pm & 4pm

Tickets can be purchased here or by phone (07) 3872 9000 9am–4pm Mon-Fri or email boxoffice@jwcoca.qld.gov.au

Tickets are:  Adult $28 and Concession $24.

Be sure to secure your tickets early as the season – especially the Wildcard and Gala Final performances will sell out quickly.

Check out the flyer below for full details.

Looking forward to seeing you there!



Midnight rambler is doing the happy dance…

All I Know...

All I know...after a day from hell this song from a great Melbourne outfit Eagle and the Worm manages to cheer me no end.







This clip was filmed on the Mornington Peninsula so it's a pretty cool back drop to a groovee tune that is all about having some fun...


Midnight rambler wishing you a week of fun or finding the fun in the mundane or the days from hell or whatever gets you down. 

May this bring you some sunshine ♥

 

finding strength and being connected...

"Never Fade Away’ speaks about finding strength from our families, the importance of family and also the importance of seeing all human beings as being connected and part of a global community. Never Fade Away, the music video, was all shot in our hometown of Melbourne, Australia. It features some of our regions finest multicultural artists, dancers and musicians, it’s recognition and a celebration of the strong multicultural foundation that is modern Australia." 

The above is taken from Blue King Brown's website which sums up this band beautifully.  I have seen them perform at one of The Cat Empire gigs.  They are amazing. 

Lately, I have been thinking about so many things.  Have just started a new job that has many challenges and the one thing I keep coming back to, besides writing, is travelling and what I love most about travelling.  It's the culture and the celebration of culture and the global connectedness.  I think this song is fitting and a reminder of how important it is to stay connected to the world and not just our personal patch.  Enjoy :)

Midnight rambler attempting to stop the itch in her feet...

I'm on my way to where I won't look back...

'Cinema' - The Cat Empire, the latest release from one of my most favourite LIVE Australian bands is brilliant. The more I listen to it, the more I love it. All their albums are great, they all offer something unique with the distinctly Cat Empire sound.

This album, however, is probably one of my favourites - wish I could explain why - so I've copied from their website the perfect description for this album which captures it perfectly below:

The album serves up a set which captures the inexorable force - and sheer joy - of their live performances, delivered in a format perfect for lounge-rooms, backyards, BBQ's, cafes, road trips and parties all over the world. This is music which defies definition, but has a sound all of its own.

The only thing we can tell you it is that it is incredibly infectious, undeniably uplifting and definitely danceable.

I have chosen track #10 off the album 'On My Way' for all sorts of obvious reasons. Listen to it loud, sing and dance and just Enjoy!


The Cats are currently touring Australia - check out their tour dates...

Midnight rambler can hear the train...oh,oh, oh, oh, oh, oh...

A WICKED return home...

Where does the time go? What happened to my regular blogging? Weekly feature song? Clearly, I’ve been off track, lack of clarity in so many areas of my life, with writing being just one of them!



However, today some clarity has returned and because it may only last a day, or an hour, I feel this overwhelming urge to blog – YAY! I’ve just had the wonderful opportunity of returning to my old stomping ground, the Eastern suburbs of SYDNEY.

Vaucluse

Besides a short trip in 2008 that had me laid up in bed with a virus from hell, I hadn’t been back to explore since I left for grander things like ‘London’s calling’ in 1991.


How could I go so long without returning to my home? Extraordinary isn’t it? I have no idea why but that’s about to change. It was wonderful to take my partner in life and in crime, David to share the experience. We visited the bays from Rushcutter’s to Vaucluse, immersed ourselves in the beach culture from Bondi to Bronte. We ate good vego food and drank fab coffee. We walked the streets of my stomping ground in Woollahra and Paddo, wandered around the Saturday markets held in the historical Paddington Uniting Church grounds, to hanging out in Centennial Park!!

Woollahra

A stroll around the wonderful terraced houses that line the tree filled streets, old corner pubs and houses converted into hip, cool and funky eateries. Dogs of all shapes and breeds, sitting obediently by their owners side while they ate and drank coffee in the sidewalk cafes. Love the zany people of Oxford Street carrying designer pups in designer bags and this is the men!!

And the icing on the cake was seeing the Musical ‘ Wicked’ inspired by the novel 'Wicked: The life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West' written by Gregory Maguire, a parallel novel of 1939’s Frank Braum’s classic film ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’. Wicked has been a musical I’d been aching to see since its release in Melbourne July, 2008. It didn’t disappoint as It was a night filled with magick, art, culture, and an exquisite taste of something my heart aches for when I return to Brisbane. It’s not just the show, it’s the glorious old theatres such as the Capitol theatre which opened in 1928 and later restored in 1995, with its marble staircases, twinkling stars in the ceiling, velvet drapes and box seats.


These theatres take me back in time, and their beautiful restoration of historical buildings add flavour and character and fits comfortably within the modern architecture of a revamped downtown Sydney. WICKED was worth every penny spent, from the A Reserve dress circle seats, to the program and the two tees I couldn’t resist. My only regret was not buying the ‘wicked green dacquiri’ served in a keepsake plastic martini glass that lights up and glows every colour of the rainbow!! Soooo’ very groovee!!


The cast were magnificent, Lucy Durack as Glinda, the good witch of the north. She was fabulous and had a voice that could shatter glass. Patrice Tipoki as Elphaba, the future wicked witch of the West had some amazing witchy, flying moments. Tim Campbell as Fiyero (some might know him for his character Dan in Home and Away) was delightful and sang and danced better than I expected. Maggie Kirkpatrick well known for her role as Fergie, the freak from Prisoner, was brilliant as Madame Morrible. Rodney Dobson as Doctor Dillamond, the goat like creature was awesome, and then there was Bert - Bert Newton as the Wizard. His performance of ‘Wonderful’ was quite wonderful :) The music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz was brilliantly delightful. The story telling of life in OZ before or around the introduction of Dorothy was spellbinding, unique and beautiful.


The stage design remarkable, from the dragon on top of the stage to flying witches on broomsticks, flying monkeys, dazzling, sparkling lights of Glinda the good witch and a cast that made you laugh and cry. Brilliant, whimsical, magickal and an extraordinary delight which now has me scouring the shelves of 'Blockbuster' for Judy Garland in the classic itself, and enjoying it again from a whole new perspective, especially now I know how the witch from the West became truly WICKED!


Wickedly entertaining and I give it 5 stars and then some…


Watch the promo here


And, last but not least - as you leave the theatre and the magick within, this sign hangs above the exit door:

‘YOU ARE LEAVING OZ, REALITY STRAIGHT AHEAD!


Aaah *sigh*


Midnight rambler – back to reality! 

The language of music, vinyl and deejays...

Well it seems I haven't been listening to the radio much lately.  

Today I had the pleasure of tuning into Triple J - the best part about spending an hour in the car cruising to the other side of town.  What a fabulous morning show it was - either because I hadn't tuned in for awhile or they just had an awesome playlist.  I suspect the latter as not all songs were new but fab all the same.

This one got me rocking my feet between brake and accelerator, singing, and smiling.  Hey, this is what music is all about and if music lifts my heart and makes me feel lighter even for the 4.36 minutes, then it can't be bad.  Crank up the volume and check it out!

Death on the Nile...

And part II of many more misadventures of the midnight rambler...

'Old Cataract Hotel' -
featured in Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile

Desert, sand and the Aswan Moon

Part I

of more misadventures of the midnight rambler...

How cool is this?

Welcome to the featured song! 

I've chosen this song more for the video - I'm not really a great Black Eyed Pea fan but I tell you this got me smiling.  This is corny, feel good stuff I know, but after the 'curve ball' hell I've been in, this cheered me no end. 

It's been around the net since Sept last year so a lot of you may have already seen it but just in case I'm gonna share it with you.  This was a street party that Oprah put on for her 24th season in Chicago!

Remember this clip is more about the visuals rather than the music so watch people, watch! 

This is fun.  Let me know what you think...

Midnight rambler is smiling...