Cirrus@Austlit

'While the ‘ nerdy white man’ stereotype of Autism dominates in media and popular culture, other Autistic people miss out on seeing themselves, their unique experiences, their hardships and their triumphs. In Someone Like Me, edited by Clem Bastow and Jo Case, twenty-five Autistic gender-diverse and women writers explore their experiences—and explode stereotypes. This groundbreaking anthology ranges from sex, living room dance parties and the natural world to eating disorders, all-encompassing passions and religion. Autistic people of all kinds are invited to find company in this book—and maybe even see themselves, too. Contributors include Fiona Wright, Sara Kian-Judge, CB Mako, Jess Ho, Kay Kerr, Khadija Gbla, Adele Dumont, Erin Riley, Shadia Hancock, Amanda Tink, Tash Agafonoff, Kai Ash, Anna Whateley and Kate Gordon.' (Publication summary)

'Like so many avid readers around the world, I was fascinated by the recent New York Times list of the Best Books of the 21st century, as voted by 503 authors, critics and book lovers.'

'Divorce and midlife breakdowns are key themes across two memoirs and a speculative novel reviewed by our books columnist this month. She also casts her eyes over the Miles Franklin Literary Award’s eclectic 2024 shortlist.' (Introduction)   

'YA Publisher Jo Case hosts a discussion with four Australian YA Authors: Sarah Epstein, Poppy Nwosu, Kay Kerr and Anna Whateley. This is a live recording of an online event hosted via Zoom during the Covid-19 crisis.'  (Production summary)

'Malcolm Knox told Kill Your Darlings in 2012 that with The Life (2011), his celebrated surfing novel set on the Gold Coast, he wanted to write a historical novel about the Australian coastline and ‘that moment when one person could live right on the coast on our most treasured waterfront places, and then all of a sudden they couldn’t’. In Bluebird, set on a northern beach a ferry ride from ‘Ocean City’, this brutally undemocratic transformation is promoted from a minor theme to the engine that drives the highbrow soap-opera narrative.' (Introduction)

"With her second essay collection The World Was Whole, Fiona Wright 'continues to set the standard for the essay form in Australia', writes reviewer Jo Case. She speaks to the author." (Introduction)

'In 2007, Angela Meyer started her blog LiteraryMinded.The first Australian book blogger to gain a significant following, Meyer's blog was syndicated by Crikey and its posts invited readers into book launches, reviews, festivals and the pages of the books she loved. 'For a couple of years I had this weird fifteen minutes of fame,' she says now. In the years since, she's reviewed for broadsheet newspapers, chaired events at writer's festivals, and been a guest on ABC TV's Jennifer Byrne Presents.

(Introduction)

'With the tally of Australian literary festivals reaching more than 90 in 2017, Jo Case takes a look at the role festivals play in an increasingly crowded literary events landscape.'