Cirrus@Austlit

'Afghanistan’s rich culture of poetry and storytelling was celebrated at a dinner in Sydney last December attended by members of PEN Sydney and friends. Claudia Taranto discovered that freedom of expression and continuity of culture are ideas that the community of people from Afghanistan have embraced.' 

(Introduction)   

'Writing and publishing a book about a controversial public figure is like diving into shark-infested waters ABC investigative journalist Louise Milligan said at the recent Adelaide Writers’ Week. She wondered if she’d written her 2017 award-winning book Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of Cardinal Pell today, whether it would even be published. “There’s a lot more caution in the publishing world. It’s a defamation-happy climate.” Jane Sullivan reports.' (Introduction)

'Two years ago, writer Saba Vasefi devised an ambitious initiative to create a safe creative place for exiled women and non- binary people, a place to soothe, restore and lift the despondency common to many who find themselves in a state of exile. Her efforts inaugurated Writing in Resistance and found a place at Red Room Poetry. The project provides writing and performance mentorship, editing and translation, paid publication, and public performance. Here, Dr Vasefi outlines her mission.' (Introduction)

'Robert Adamson’s publisher Devin Johnston celebrates his friendship and professional relationship with the poet with this reminiscence.' 

'Writer Sarah Malik, whose acclaimed memoir Desi Girl: On feminism, race, faith and belonging was published last year, describes her journey to discover an independent creative voice in her address on International Women’s Day in March at the University of Technology, Sydney.' (Introduction)

'Last year, Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert delivered PEN’s keynote address on the Day of the Imprisoned Writer at the NSW State Library on November 15. This is an extract from her acclaimed memoir, The Uncaged Sky: My 804 days in an Iranian Prison.' (Introduction)