Tired of violence and crass, tasteless humour in our entertainment? Authors Billie Dean and Andrew Einspruch were. And it spurred them to launch a summer writing retreat to help writers of all levels create new stories. Writing the New Stories will be led by Dean, whose book Secret Animal Business recently earned her an Outstanding Author award, chosen from an international pool of entries by the global Vegan of the Year panel. She's joined by Einspruch, who has had more than 100 children's books published worldwide. With them is a panel of writing experts, including comic Tim Ferguson and Geoffrey Atherden (Mother and Son). Writing the New Stories will held in Braidwood on the weekend of January, 11-12, 2014. For more information, visit wildpureheart.com.
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POETRY PLEA
Poetry at The Gods organiser Geoff Page says the numbers for the reading on Tuesday are significantly lower than would do justice to the two substantial poets from Perth and Hobart, Lucy Dougan and Adrienne Eberhard respectively. He says if everyone who came last month comes this month there will be a full house. Waged $10, unwaged $5. Meals available from 6.30pm, reading at 8pm. Bookings with The Gods on 6248 5538 or thegodscafe@gmail.com.
NEW LAUREATE
It's been noted elsewhere but congratulations to Jackie French, best-selling author of more than 140 books, including Diary of a Wombat and Hitler's Daughter, the Australian Children's Laureate for 2014 - 2015. She will take over from the inaugural Laureate - a position shared between Alison Lester and Boori Monty Pryor - in January 2014. The theme for French's two-year term will be ''Share a Story''. To find out more about what she will be doing and how to get involved with Laureate projects, visit childrenslaureate.org.au.
POETRY COMPETITION
With a first prize of $15,000 and a total prize pool of $25,000, the University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor's Poetry Prize is one of the most generous competitions of its kind in the world. The judging panel is leading Australian poets Jennifer Harrison, Brook Emery and Judith Beveridge and British poet Philip Gross. The prize is administered by the University's International Poetry Studies Institute. In addition to the $15,000 for the best poem, there is a $5000 prize for a runner-up. The shortlisted poems will also be published in an annual anthology.
Entry is open to anyone in the world except the judges and University of Canberra staff. Entries must be previously unpublished poems, written in English (translations are not eligible) and up to 50 lines in length.
For more information, visit canberra.edu.au/vcpoetryprize.
WHAT'S ON
Saturday: 11am: A Paperchain Kids: Meet the Author, Book Reading and Book Signing event features Blossom Possum And The Christmas Quacker by Canberra author Gina Newton. Blossom Possum and her friends must wake Koala Claws to save Bush Christmas.
Litbits submissions should arrive by 9am on Wednesday to be considered for publication. litbits@canberratimes.com.au
