Cirrus@Austlit

'In these thirty-five interviews with verse novelists from Australia and Aotearoa–New Zealand, Linda Weste explores the uniqueness of storytelling through poetry and the genre of the verse novel. Her subjects are notable representatives of a region where verse novels for Adults, Children and Young Adults thrive; among them is Steven Herrick, winner of the prestigious Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 2019; and what they have to say enriches our understanding of the verse novel across each of its publishing categories.'  (Publication summary)

'In these twenty-two interviews with verse novelists from the UK, USA, Australia and Canada, Linda Weste explores the uniqueness of storytelling through poetry and the genre of the verse novel. Her subjects are notable representatives of countries where the genre thrives; among them is Bernardine Evaristo, joint winner of the Booker Prize in 2019; and what they have to say enriches our understanding of the many ways poetry and narratives can meld to create a unique reading experience.' (Publication summary)

'Having read several of Geoff’s verse novels as part of my doctoral research, I introduced myself at the 2012 launch of his Coda for Shirley. I shared with Geoff my plans to improve reader reception of verse novels, and thanks to his generosity, this interview is an outcome to that end.'  (Introduction)

'The two thousandth anniversary of the poet Publius Ovidius Naso – one of the canonical poets of Latin literature and known to us more directly as Ovid – provides inspiration for this anthology of poems edited by Nessa O’Mahony and Paul Munden and published by Recent Work Press. In Metamorphic: 21st century poets respond to Ovid, one hundred participating poets – from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, India, Singapore, the Philippines, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada – rewrite or re-envision Metamorphoses in a mix of poetic styles and forms.' (Publication summary)

'They may have been born privileged into the Claudii Pulchrii family, but siblings Clodius Pulcher and Clodia Metelli are firebrands: kindred spirits; brazen, impetuous, headstrong; determined to live by their own rules. Together they incite the wrath of Rome’s elite – and in particular, Cicero. But nothing is sacred in late Republican Rome – and rules keep changing when change threatens to rule …

'The vagaries of the period are brought to vibrant life through the eyes and exploits of Clodius and Clodia in this historical novel in verse.' (Publication summary)