Cirrus@Austlit

'As children, many of us were raised on the dream-like qualities of fairy tales. We imagined happily-ever-after in magical far-away lands. But where do the fairy tales go when we cross the threshold of adulthood?

'Writers often embark on a lifelong journey in search of perfect storytelling; a journey that takes them beyond where the fairy tales go.

'This anthology features work by members of the Hunter Writers Centre. Our members are poets, novelists, memoirists, and genre writers of romance, horror, sci-fi and more. We are thrilled to publish this collection of short pieces.

'The Hunter Writers Centre is the literary hub of the Hunter region, New South Wales, and is supported through funding from Create NSW.' (Publication summary)

'For over 30 years, the Newcastle Poetry Prize has championed Australian poets and their craft.

'The Newcastle Poetry Prize stands out in Australia as it embraces the long form poem, allowing poets to explore their craft across up to 200 lines. This distinctive aspect presents a challenge for poets to skilfully sustain their work, carefully balancing tone, pace, and rhythm to captivate readers throughout the journey.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Each poem in this anthology is an anabranch in itself-a deviation from the mainstream; a moment where time would seem to stand still; a 'stay against the confusion of the world' in Robert Frost's memorable phrasing. There something anabranch-ish about our moment, as our deviation from what life was in 2020 reconnects further down stream in 2022. Rivers moved from drought to fullness to flood. Our communities were pushed and pulled either side of the poverty line. We oscillated between an open world and isolation.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'This anthology brings together twenty-two pieces of creative nonfiction - memoir, family history, personal essay, travel narrative - by Newcastle and Hunter writers, produced during COVID-19.'  (Publication summary)

'A few hours after your death, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower peaked, lighting up the sky with shooting stars. It gave us a way to mark your splendour.
~ Splendour in Darkness by Polly Watkins

'Grieve volume 9 features poems and stories by Australians living all over the world. This anthology is in honour of Grief Awareness month.' (Publication summary)

'The strength of the Newcastle Poetry Prize is that it encourages both emerging and more established writers to test out new work of an extended nature. We congratulate the winning, commended and shortlisted poets and would like to encourage all who entered, and who keep on with the task of writing poetry.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The winning stories are noticeably different in style and theme, but display flair, confidence and a genuine proficiency in the tricky business of short story writing. The diversity exhibited in this year's anthology pleases us enormously. It's a glimpse into the established and emerging talents of Australia's wonderful short story scene.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'2020 is the 8th year of the Grieve Project. Since 2013, Australians have submitted poems and stories about their experience with parental grief, sibling grief, loss of a home and numerous other forms of grief and loss.

'2020 was a year of collective grief for Australia and the world. Yet the telling of grief here is much the same as in previous years. While tales of devastating bushfires and the crippling consequences of the coronavirus do feature in this anthology, its core remains unchanged: grief is universal arising from a multitude of experiences and we express it in myriad ways.

'Writing about grief is a most noble expression. This anthology exposes that nobility and humility. It also gives us, the readers, hope.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'On the river whose far bank is unknowable
there's a boat with your name on it.
The water birds stand on one leg and shiver their wings.
The blank-eyed fish kiss the tide's underbelly.
The horses lower their muzzles to drink.
Nothing lasts, not horses or mothers.
Meanwhile, the wind runs across the fields, the wind runs across the fields.

- from Not Horses, or Mothers by Lisa Jacobson

'Loss of a parent, a child, a job, a house, a pet and much more. Over 100 stories and poems about grief and loss in this 6th volume of the Grieve project.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

A brilliant collection by Australian poets selected by the 2017 judges.