Cirrus@Austlit

 (Publication summary)

'The verse novel is a form now in constant transition and evolution, and here we see a huge range of writers interviewed, and their individual work explored. The Verse Novel Australia & New Zealand (2021) throws a wide and inclusive net, almost literally across the sea, from Australia to New Zealand, including parts of the Pacific.'(Introduction)

'In his eleventh poetry collection, John Jenkins displays a boldness and creative variety, across a wide sweep of subject matter, which should hold great appeal to readers. Here are poems of heartfelt emotion balanced against playful humour, plus jabs of fast wit and satirical asides, plus serious reflection on some pressing political and social issues of our times. There are also long-form prose poems, often of considerable imaginative daring, and also mini poems and shorter lyrics. Many have a lively formal balance and hypnotic beauty. Altogether, Jenkins takes us on a rich and engaging journey, into the heart of modern Australian poetry.' (Publication summary)

'Silly stuff for kids of all ages

'Yum, yum

'Here are 77 original nonsense poems, plus drawings to go with them - silly stuff for kids of all ages

'John Jenkins is a widely published writer of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. But there's nothing serious here, in a feast of pun fun and play with words.

'John wrote the poems and also did the line drawings, and here serves up a delightful dish of half-baked treats, nuts and nonsense.

'Bon appetit'  (Publication summary)

'Considerable work has gone into this wide-ranging anthology, which the editors describe as ” a representative and compelling selection … written by Australians since the 1970s… (and including) a generous selection of twenty-first-century prose poems.”' (Introduction)

'Ashbery Mode is an anthology of poems by 67 of some of the brightest and most innovative contemporary poets from all around Australia; and also contains a 1992 photo portrait of John Ashbery, plus a thumb-nail sketch and several concrete poems. I also have a poem included, but will endeavour to be objective.' (Introduction)

'I first met Rae Desmond Jones (or ‘RDJ’ if you like, for short) in the mid 1970s, just after I had taken up with my new partner, the former New York poet Carol Novack. Soon after meeting Carol, I moved to Sydney, to live with her.' (Introduction)

'This very lively collection contains a wide sweep of poems, many of them prize-winning, taking readers on a remarkable journey. Some look to the past, others to the future, but all are of their time: the reverberating now. The tone is contemporary and bold, while the poet’s sensibility tends to favour an eclectic inclusiveness. Uniformly, this wide-ranging and poetically inclusive collection demands to be enjoyed.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Thanks everyone, for coming along today … to the launch of Debi Hamilton’s new book, The Sly Night Creatures of Desire.

'Hybrid Publishers have done Debi proud, I think… with this well-produced and attractive collection. I particularly like the spacious layout, which gives ample ‘breathing space’ around each poem, adding to one’s reading pleasure.' (Introduction)