Compulsive Reader Talks

Omar Musa joins us to perform from and talk about his new album The Fullness. We talk about collaboration and his amazing collaborators, pushing into liminal spaces of multiple identities, leaning into grief and joy ("our lives given shape by shadows"), ego deflation, how some of the songs on The Fullness were created, the percussiveness of rap and its conjunction with poetry, the alchemical process of art, the dissolving of borders between artforms and nationalities, the resonance of the mother tongue, poetry as a language of feeling, the value of working on multiple projects at once, and lots more.  Listen to The Fullness: https://open.spotify.com/album/4KTsmsM6AlcoZbno4rlpax?si=91db8a8708684c52 Omar's website: https://www.omarmusa.com.au/

Kent MacCarter joins us to read from and talk about his new poetry book Fat Chance. We talk about Kent's process, about having written the "feel bad book of the year”, his journalistic process, the nature of Gossypiboma (retained medical objects), memoir, reverse ekphrasis, and lots more. For more information or to purchase a copy of Fat Chance visit: https://upswellpublishing.com/product/fat-chance Kent will be a guest at this year's Brisbane Writers Festival. For details about his two events, visit: https://bwf.org.au/2024/brisbane-writers-festival/artists/kent-maccarter

Robbie Coburn reads from and talks about his new book Ghost Poetry. Topics covered include the many ghosts that haunt the pages of the book, dreams and nightmares, the relationship between horses and people, subject and object, the subconscious, confessional poetry and the creative act/the artifice, horses, gothic country as a genre, and lots more. Where to buy the book: Upswell - Ghost Poetry (upswellpublishing.com) Robbie's website: Robbie Coburn

The author of Kin: Family in the 21st Century reads from and talks about her new book, about the many permeations of family both nuclear and otherwise, about the book's origins, some of her key themes and challenges including such things as donor privacy versus the rights of a child to know their origins, helping people start families vs the commodification of reproduction, future tech and the risk of Eugenics, and lots more. Find out more about Marina and Kin at: Marina Kamenev Marina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamenevwrites

Valerie Werder reads from and talks about her award-winning debut novel Thieves. In this wide-ranging interview we talk about such things as representation, semantics, spirituality, thievery and its many iterations, cognitive dissonance, the changing subjectivity and tenses, the art and cosmetic industries, connection and lots more. Find out more about Valerie Werder at her website: Valerie Werder | Thieves Get a copy of Thieves direct from the publisher here: Thieves: A Novel by Valerie Werder (fenceportal.org)

Beatriz Copello, author of No Salami Fairy Bread drops by to read from and talk about her newest poetry book. We talk about such things as the linguistic quality of the book, its structure, overall themes including migration, memoir, feminism, coming-of-age, the use of humour, why she chose verse, her new fantasy work-in-progress, and lots more. The book can be purchased here: https://www.ginninderrapress.com.au/store.php?product/page/2905/Beatriz+Copello+%2F+No+Salami+Fairy+Bread

Award winning filmmaker Samuel Lucas Allen talks about their new short film CUT. We talk about how the film came together as a project, the extraordinary cinematography, on working with their father, Richard James Allen (who has been on the show several times to talk about his own work), and the father-son relationship in general, Judaism, guilt, toxic masculinity, the acting team (including a well-behaved chicken), the film score by composer Sam Weiss, what's exciting them right now and lots more. Samuel's website: https://www.samuellucasallen.com/ Sydney premiere of CUT at JIFF: https://www.jiff.com.au/films/2023-shorts# Stills (including the one we talked about at the Sydney Jewish Museum) and other worldwide showings of CUT: http://physicaltv.com.au/cut-2023/ Compulsive Reader review: https://mubi.com/en/au/films/cut-2023-samuel-lucas-allen

Award winning author Eugen Bacon reads from and talks about her latest book Serengotti. We discuss such things as the books themes including notions of privilege, racism, misogyny and the multiplicity of the self, the book's unique narrative voice, the protagonist Ch'anzu and other characters, on working through and beyond binaries and genres, on world and app creation, and much more. Find out more about Eugen at: https://eugenbacon.com Grab a copy of Serengotti at: Serengotti | Transit Lounge Video version of interview: https://youtu.be/5zLkGK0owAU

Esther Ottaway talks about and reads from her new book She Doesn't Seem Autistic. Through a number of poems, Esther talks about many of the key themes, rhythms, structures and concepts in the book, including masking, humour, her use of animals, on reclaiming clinical labels, the relationship between art and advocacy, and lots more. Find out more about Esther at: Home | Esther Ottaway, Poet (jimdosite.com) Purchase a copy of She Doesn't Seem Autistic: She Doesn't Seem Autistic - Puncher & Wattmann (puncherandwattmann.com) Video version of the interview: https://youtu.be/eer1YIfCyvk

Richard James Allen joins me to read from and talk about his latest book Text Messages from the Universe. We talk about many things including the book's deeply spiritual themes, its links with The Tibetan book of the Dead, the unique format of the book and how it relates to its matching film, what's exciting him at the moment, and lots more. Video version can be seen here: https://youtu.be/0lKl8XXydfs You can get hold of Text Messages from the Universe (at its ridiculously low price of $10) from: https://flyingislandspocketpoets.com.au/product/text-messages-from-the-universe-by-richard-james-allen/ For more about the film Text Messages from the Universe (available for screenings and readings, email PhysicalTV@gmail.com) visit: http://physicaltv.com.au/text-messages-from-the-universe/ For more about Breaking Plates (film in post production by Karen Pearlman: tax deductible donations gratefully received via Documentary Australia): https://documentaryaustralia.com.au/project/breaking-plates/ For more abo

Soil scientist Alisa Bryce reads from and talks about her book Grounded. In this conversation we cover such things as how the book came about, Alisa's deep love of soil and both how important it is to all aspects of our lives, but also how fun and interesting it is, the importance of broad-reaching science communication and its relationship to academia, soil and the microbiome, why we have only mapped 2% of the underground world, on the comfort of how “the human story in the soil ends about 5-19 metres down”, the many chapters that might make it into her next book, her inspiration, and lots more. Find more about Grounded and Alisa at: alisabryce.com.au Video version of this interview: https://youtu.be/QW6WjTXnTwI The Digsloo (fantastic children's poem/story by Alisa, referenced in our conversation): https://thedigsloo.com/ Mary Roach (major influence referenced in our conversation): https://www.maryroach.net/

Alan Fyfe joins us to read from and talk about his latest novel T, which shortlisted for the T.A.G Hungerford Prize (Australia) and the Chaffinch Press Aware Prize (Ireland), and was recently was shortlisted in The WA Premier's Prize for an Emerging Writer.  Alan also reads from and discusses his debut collection, G-d, Sleep, and Chaos, forthcoming from Gazebo Books in 2024. Find out more about Alan and his work at Alan's website: https://alanfyfe.com Purchase a copy of T: https://alanfyfe.com/purchase-t-a-novel Contact Alan (as per his request!): https://alanfyfe.com/contact

Ashley Kalagian Blunt joins us to read from and talk about her new thriller Dark Mode. We talk about such things as her research, the Dark Web, her protagonist Reagan Carson, her fabulous plant store setting Voodoo Lily and dark flowers, what she's reading now, her work-in-progress (hint it's another thriller), and lots more.  Ashley's website: ⁠https://www.ashleykalagianblunt.com/⁠ Click here for more information on Dark Mode, the free book club pack, or to take Ashley up on her offer to come talk to your club:  ⁠https://www.ashleykalagianblunt.com/dark-mode⁠ James and Ashley Stay at Home podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/james-and-ashley-stay-at-home/id1514919350⁠

In this wide-reading and humorous interview, Irish poet, academic and journalist Oisín Breen reads from and talks about his new poetry book Lilies on the Deathbed of Étaín & Other Poems with Simon Whitby Brown.  Find out more about Oisin here: https://www.pw.org/directory/writers/oisin_breen By a copy of Lilies on the Deathbed of Étaín & Other Poems here: https://beirbuapress.com/2023/01/01/lilies-on-the-deathbed-of-etain-and-other-poems-by-oisin-breen/ Find out more about Simon Whitby Brown and his famous moustache here: https://twitter.com/lordhandlebar?lang=en

Meera Atkinson reads from her book Traumata and talks about her work, the ongoing relevance of Traumata, the difficulty and the necessity of the hybrid form,  on language, blood, the patriarchy, beauty and its commodification, the power of engagement with the past - personally and collectively, literature, poetry and much more. Find out more about Meera and her work at her website: https://www.meeraatkinson.com Two recent publications of Meera's: http://cordite.org.au/scholarly/writing-threat-and-trauma/?fbclid=IwAR0_Jw8QBcYTnoamuqiNNUt5_E2XTb58_Ontnasx4kGspZasq81mAF4ZR6w https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-reclaiming-artist-musician-anita-lane-from-the-despised-label-of-muse-188815

One of the two editors of Voices of Freedom: Contemporary Writing From Ukraine reads from and talks about her new anthology.  Kateryna Kazimirova talks about the project and how it came together, how she chose the 27 authors, the importance of art in wartime, the many styles of the work, on translation and collaboration, her project Craft Magazine, and lots more.  Voices of Freedom: Contemporary Writing From Ukraine is published by 8th and Atlas Publishing and can be purchased here: https://www.8thandatlaspublishing.com/product-page/voices-of-freedom-contemporary-writing-from-ukraine Editors: Kateryna Kazimirova and Daryna Anastasieva Craft Magazine: https://craftmagazine.net YouTube video link: https://youtu.be/ElGBscZ9BuI

Poet, performer, emeritus professor, and new media artist Hazel Smith reads from and talks about her new book Ecliptical. We talk about metapoetry, multimedia, humour, eclipses, emphasis, John Ashbery and Frank O'Hara, and lots more.    Visit Hazel's website here: http://www.australysis.com/hsmith.htm YouTube video version of session can be found here: https://youtu.be/M_G6ExLaFxY My review of Ecliptical here: https://compulsivereader.com/2022/10/31/a-review-of-ecliptical-by-hazel-smith/ To purchase a copy of Ecliptical in both hard copy and digital visit: https://shortaustralianstories.com.au/product/ecliptical/ We spoke about the multimedia piece "The Lips Are Different" which can be viewed and read about here: https://thedigitalreview.com/issue00/lips-are-different/begin.html For more of Hazel's multimedia work visit: http://www.australysis.com

Sara Kidd joins me to talk about her new cookbook The Vegan Cake Bible. We cover such things as how Sara became the vegan cake queen, why she's drawn to cake, the extensive process she went through to create a cookbook including doing all of her own photography, how she chose which cakes to include, her favourite cake (hint - see links below), her 'holy grail' cake she wants to veganise, on collaboration, her feelings about the future of veganism and the planet, on coming to terms with sugar, her vintage style, on living sustainably, and lots more.  Sara's website: https://sarakidd.com Sara's cooking class Patreon which we discuss: https://www.patreon.com/join/sarakidd/checkout?rid=3463991&&ru=undefined Sara's favourite cake (Swedish Princess Cake): https://youtu.be/q6vj5a_wBmE

Bastian Fox Phelan reads from and talks about their new memoir How to Be Between. We talk about such things as speaking about the self with all of its multitudes, finding a voice, gender norms, facial hair, their nature writing, motherhood, what's next and much more.  Find out more at Bastian's website: https://www.bastianfoxphelan.com/#

Beth Spencer talks about and reads from her new book The Age of Fibs.  Beth talks about how the book came come together, about the transformation of her work through proximity, on the incorporation of popular culture, the relationship between artefact, memory, memoir and fiction, the way identity is a construct, on trauma and hope, and lots more.    Visit Beth at her website: https://bethspencer.com Watch the video interview: https://youtu.be/Fr2_TD8VX6w Age of Fibs page: https://bethspencer.com/blog/books/the-age-of-fibs/