Louise Zedda-Sampson's Blog

On 25 August 2024 I finally launched The Cocktail Connoisseur’s Message Cards and The Cocktail Connoisseur’s Recipe Book in the Peninsula Room at the Chelsea Heights Hotel. It was fantastic! A big thank you to everyone who attended and I hope you enjoyed yourselves.

The launch commenced with the multi-talented award-winning author, editor and interviewer extraordinaire Rebecca Fraser interviewing me about my cocktail cards and book and then interviewing another special guest, psychic medium Rhonda Kelly.

Rebecca’s questions were insightful and explorative and had me talking about my op-shopping for glasses and the photo-taking process. We even delved a little into how I managed to construct the card messages from the cocktail histories.  Rebecca also told the audience about my other developing projects – my bookmarks and my jewellery making – taking the opportunity to show the cocktail earrings I had made for her several months ago. I’d forgotten I’d done that! How lovely of her to wear them to the launch.

The second interviewee was Rhonda, who talked about her journey to becoming a psychic medium. It was an unusual path as Rhonda left careers in the sciences and law to follow this vocation. Rhonda explained how she worked as an animal communicator as well as a medium and psychic.

The bar staff were fantastic and had three featured cocktails available for purchase: an Aperol Spritz, Margarita and a Mojito. It was lovely to see the audience enjoying some of these as I looked around the room during the break. Austin, our lead bartender, also commented that he had never seen the room decorated so beautifully, which was such a lovely compliment. I put a lot of thought into the finishing touches so I was thrilled to hear him say this.

After a short break for book signing and conversations, Rhonda took to the stage to perform audience readings. There were some incredible insights that came through. One lady in the audience was asked if she was making something from some of her mother’s clothing as a keepsake of her mum, and if she was having trouble deciding what to make. It was such a specific and detailed question and it was spot on. The message then followed that whatever this woman made would be the right thing to make so to just decide and make it. There were many other instances like this, and the hour and a bit Rhonda did audience readings was over in a flash.

I didn’t put my hand up for a reading, but I’ve booked for one later today.

Sue Morrison won the free reading with Rhonda and Catherine Jordan won the door prize – a bottle of Brown Brothers Prosecco, a set of The Cocktail Connoisseur’s Message Cards and The Cocktail Connoisseur’s Recipe Book and a few other small treats.

Many many thanks to my husband Paul who has had to live the book launch at home for three weeks, and to Paula Boer who is an amazing author, citizen scientist, friend to wildlife and collector of dragons and unicorns, and who also managed the payments on the day and was a huge support. Paula came down from near Canberra for the event and it was lovely to spend some time with her as well.

Another big thanks to Rebecca Fraser for being such an awesome MC, interviewer and mate. Rebecca has also shared some of the production journey being a companion on many of the op-shopping trips for the glasses and the props.

A big thank you to Rhonda Kelly for her amazing contributions to the event – it was such a pleasure to have you be part of the celebrations.

Last thanks go to Yanni Dellaportas, who was like a ninja (I think Rebecca used this term!) moving almost unseen through the crowd taking all these wonderful shots.

I’ve included a few of Yanni’s pictures of the afternoon for you to enjoy.

 

What’s in store for 2023? Hopefully lots of great things! We wave goodbye to another year and in our hearts many of us hope in some ways for change. One year finishes and as the next arrives, and we are full of expectations that things may be different, or if we are struggling, different and better.
Will this next year deliver what we seek? What I’ve come to realise is that this is largely up to us.
Regardless of what we see as being ahead, here’s hoping your 2023 is filled with lots of good things and good feelings.

Even though 2022 had a considerable amount of health challenges for me (don’t worry, working through them!), it was a busy and successful year. The absolute highlight came in September when I was awarded the Horror Writers Association Rock Wood Memorial Non-Fiction Scholarship for a history project on Australian horror. It is a competitive international award, and I was truly honoured to receive it.

2022 was also my most published writing year.

In review

Publications

‘A Stranger with my Face’, Nightmare Fuel Magazine, Dec 2022 **read online
‘Be Gone’, Nightmare Fuel Magazine, Nov 2022 **read online
‘Phone Calls’, Our Pandemic, Writers Workout, reprint,  Oct 2022
‘Subscribed’, Never Cheat a Witch, Wolfsinger Publishing, Oct 2022
‘The Dreams that Shape Us’, Brink Issue #4, Oct 2022
‘A Shadow in this Red Rock’, From the Waste Land, PS Publishing, Oct 2022
‘Lola’, Analogue #1, Paul Dunne and Carolyn Swindell, July 2022
‘End of the Line‘, Dark Recesses Press Webzine, 10 March 2022 **read online 
‘Talking to the Horror Tree as it turns 10’, Horror Oasis, Feb 2022 **read online
‘Nothing To Contest’, Pendulum Papers, Feb 2022 **read online

In 2022, I also worked on a bunch of fabulous editing projects, one being Cornish College’s A Celebration of Courage. This book was a compilation of the College’s short 10-year history, and an acknowledgement of its tumultuous journey. The book was created to showcase and celebrate what had been achieved in a short time and consisted of images and reflections from parents that represented the College’s formation and history.

The College began as a campus of St Leonards before it came into its own right, only after it faced closure in 2012. Parents, staff and students banded together to find a new benefactor, which, after a series of trials and tribulations, they eventually did with the Uniting Church. Cornish is now a thriving and vibrant College, and the 10-year anniversary commemoration is truly the celebration of the courage it took to keep it going.

Other editing work consisted of health and wellness books, New Age card sets, fiction and memoir – quite the variety this year!

What’s coming up

As far as future projects go, I’m hoping for lots of publications (or at least successful pitches to publishers) in 2023. I am currently working on the horror history project which is quite detailed and involves a lot of interviews. The aspect of horror writing history I am looking at is something that has not been explored and I’m having to do a lot of investigation – which is just how I like things with my non-fiction projects!

Next in line are a few secret, smaller projects. These are something completely different for me and are in the line of inspirational message cards. Lastly, is another cricket history book. Something I’ve wanted to write ever since I finished Bowl the Maidens Over. This one will be set around Sydney and will focus on equality in sport, and the attempts that were made to get there.

In between, there are always loads of short stories to work on, and I have a few other non-fiction topics to explore. Never a dull moment here.

Once again, good wishes to you for 2023.

Here are a few covers and story images from my publications this year:

I’m delighted to say that I have been awarded a Horror Writers Association Rocky Wood Memorial Scholarship to work on a non-fiction project focusing on Australian horror history. I’m incredibly thankful to the HWA and selection committee for this fabulous support, and can’t wait to really get stuck into this project. Congratulations to all the recipients, and once again many thanks to the HWA. I can’t wait to get writing!

Horror Writers Association Scholarships Announced

I’ve run writers’ retreats for four years. I generally hold them over weekends with days extending either side. I tried it as a business, but this clashed with my desire to run them as low-cost and accessible events, so now they are run for friends and immediate colleagues. I thought it would be useful to share what I have learnt in case you wanted to organise something too.

There are lots of different types of writers retreats on the market. They offer many different things and cater to different groups of people. The best advice I can give about hosting your retreat is to tailor it to how you would like to see it run.

Step 1. Identify your group

Who would you like to attend? How many attendees will you host? Will it be genre / gender/ experience specific – or can anyone attend?

For my original retreat, I put a call out in a writer Facebook group and it flowed on from there. You could already have a group of friends that are interested. If not, you’ll have to do some advertising. But remember, you’ll all be living together for the retreat so think about who you invite!

If you run a retreat on behalf of friends or as a business venture the application in many ways is still the same: lock in dates, source a venue, collect deposits, book events and guest speaker(s), decide what you are doing for meals.

If you are running a retreat as a business, you will wear the set-up costs of securing the venue, and cancellations if the retreat has to be cancelled. There are also legal matters in regard to running a group for other people at a private residence. Speak to your accountant or a business advisor if you are considering taking this on as a financial venture.

Cost affects so many set up decisions: sleeping arrangements, venue, activities, food choices. Assessing prospective attendees’ budgets is essential – people’s decisions are often based on cost.

Questions:

BudgetFind out people’s budgets and room preferences before you start planningMid-week, weekend and school holiday rates are different. A mid-week retreat will be more cost-effectiveAccommodation requirementsSleeping arrangements: shared/own room/bothConference room /large lounge with tablesLocationFood/alcoholEat in/dine outWhat does the venue offerSelf-cateredBooze – yay or nayWho, what, how?Genre-specific retreat or generalWill there be guest speakersLength of retreatHow manyWho is organising/ who’s the teamTerms and conditions/agreements

The last point is a must have. If you are all in agreeance about how the retreat will run, it makes for a smoother event.  I send out a comprehensive but informal checklist pre-retreat to ensure we are all on the same page regarding times, what’s available and included, and general and expectations.

Once you have an idea of your demographic and what you hope the retreat will look like, it’s time to get down details. Also worth noting, you need to be flexible. What you have in mind and what the group may want could differ. I had wanted guest speakers, but the group wanted to have a weekend of writing and connecting with other writers. In the end, I gave up on guest speakers because I found this was my preference too. It was easier to manage the retreat without guests and, to be honest, we got more writing done.

Step 2. Times, dates and venue selection

Sometimes suitable venues just didn’t have enough rooms, or to hire a bigger space went over budget. A six-bedroom home, for example, was often considerably more expensive than a five-bedroom one. There were places that offered communal rooms with a multitude of beds plus separate shared spaces for writing, but I wasn’t ready to host a retreat for 20-30 people, nor manage the collections and risk to pay that hefty deposit.

The retreats I’ve run have been smaller groups up to 15 people. The initial retreats were in a five-bedroom residence with five or six attendees. This venue had WIFI, two lounge areas, a good outdoor area and was walking distance to restaurants.  Finding the right place involved a lot of research, a few phone calls and a deposit months in advance to secure the booking.  Now I run the retreats at a motel, where everyone has the option of own or shared rooms, and we have a communal writing space during the day and early evening. This has been the format I have stuck with.

There are many things to think about.

Things to consider when choosing a venueOwn rooms/shared rooms/number of beds and bedrooms requiredCooking facilities and/or nearby restaurants and availabilityHow far will people travel to get hereIs the venue you have in mind too far away for someWhat attractions are nearby – if you want a break

It’s also important to think about how you will use the space.

Are there a few different areas to relax so attendees don’t feel crampedIs the outdoor area just as important as the indoor oneWhat will it look like if X number of bodies inhabit this space for X number of days

If possible, it’s a good idea to visit the chosen venue prior to confirming your booking to ensure the facility is as it appears in the advertisement and suitable for your needs.

Food and drink

The initial retreats I ran were a combination of eating out and me bringing food. This was a lot of work, and in hindsight, a silly thing to do! I was so busy organising, I barely wrote. There are several options to think about regarding food. You could hire cooks or be fully catered to maximise writing time, or organise precooked meals and snacks. Another option – attendees all bring something to share. The eating choices come back to your budget. My next retreat is eating out/attendees’ choice: breakfasts are available at the motel, but all meals are the responsibility of attendees. In saying that, we’ll probably have a pub night and a pizza night in there somewhere.

Alcohol is another factor. The first few retreats I ran were pretty boozy! Not so productive but loads of fun. Now we have a loose agreement to have a dry day and open the bottles at about 5pm. It’s still a writing weekend rather than a drinking one, so the drinks are social as we eat/write/talk. Also, there are many who don’t drink at all. Again, this part is about preferences and putting things in place before you start.

If sharing food and drink, consider the following:

Always check for allergies and preferences when cooking/arranging meals for othersRemember to bring fresh fruit and healthy stuff to snack on tooDecide if the weekend with be alcohol free or if there are any limitationsThings you could do on a writing retreat

If you don’t want a purely writing-focused retreat, include activities that break things up:

A welcome dinner is useful to break the ice in a new group. It prepares the group for spending the time together. Plus, it’s something fun and social. One of our retreats was held in July and we booked a ‘Christmas in July’ dinner at a nearby restaurant we could walk to.Having a guest speaker can be very inspirational. Reach out to your network and ask a writer you admire if they would like to attend, and compensate them for their time. Or, can you schedule a session where you or any of the attendees have relevant experience you can share?Attend a local event like a market or tourist location.Step 3. Go forth and write!

Speak to attendees about noise levels – what’s okay and what’s not – and about how they’d like the weekend to go. I have found headphones are great, and people bothered by noise use them when they need to. You can decide if you want scheduled breaks or not. My retreats seem to flow organically, with breaks as they happen as needed for each person. People come and go, but the space is there to write or spend time with other writers.

However you decide to work it, remember your goal is to write, so go get those words on the page! And, have a fabulous time in the company of likeminded friends.

In conclusion

Attending a writing retreat is such a valuable experience and hosting one can be a great deal of fun. It’s really up to you what you decide to do, how many people you want to attend or what it will look like, but if you run something that you enjoy, others will enjoy it too.

And, don’t worry if on the first one the calculations aren’t quite correct, or if something doesn’t work as you expected. Like everything, we all have to start somewhere and sometimes it’s just a matter of trial and error.

This article was first published in The Victorian Writer in 2019, and then in the AHWA newsletter in 2021. The article has been adapted to factor in the last few years of coronavirus restrictions. Now Australia is opening up again, it’s more relevant than ever to renew those connections and enjoy making some new ones.

I’m a social person – I love connecting, networking, talking: all things communication. I also love meeting others and learning more about them, what they do and about the field I’m working in. I’m also a sucker for volunteering! I’ve been a volunteer membership officer, general committee member and mentorship coordinator at various writing and editing organisations. I’ve been a slush reader, judged awards, hosted presenters for talks and seminars from interstate and organised regular local catch ups for some of the Aussie horror writing community. I also do short courses where I can because I like to learn about my craft.

In my previous working life, I was a customer service officer and debt collector. What a change in career! These days I’m a writer and editor. I edit fiction and non-fiction and write feature articles and short stories that are generally speculative. My first non-fiction book was published in 2021 and I’m working on my next. But that’s all about me. This article is aimed at helping you find your people: the writers you gel with and the ones that make you feel like you belong.

There are so many ways to connect, and in so many locations. I realised, after a while of feeling unsuccessful and intimidated by all these successful writerly people, that the only person stopping me from finding people I connected with was me! Fancy that.

So, here’s a how-to guide to get you out of your shell and take some risks. There might be some hit and miss attempts, but don’t worry about that. It’s part of the journey. And it changes. As I meet more people my tribe stretches in different directions and in different ways, always adding value.

One of the best places to connect with other writers is at writerly events. While these have been on hold in most locations, now we’re opening up things will start again. Follow Australian social media pages or handles to see when they are scheduled or keep an eye on member organisation correspondence. It can be a bit hit and miss until you know who to follow and where to catch the news, and because everyone has different social media preferences, there’s no single answer.If crowds turn you off, consider a smaller get together like a writer talk or workshop at the writers’ centre or the State or local library. Or do one online. I’ve seen amazing presenters at some of these sessions.Consider joining an association that supports writers of your genre. You can be in more than one! A few examples are Romance Writers of Australia, Australian Crime Writers Association and the Australasian Horror Writers Association. Many of these associations have member events, another way to meet people.Social media connections. If you have an interest in a particular genre of writing, there are many Facebook groups that are genre specific and very welcoming to those with similar interests. Once you have joined one, you could even take a punt and invite others to join you at a writer talk or event as a way of meeting some new people.Subscribe to various writer centre newsletters, your local library updates and Facebook pages to see what’s happening nearby and in other parts of the country. When attending the bigger events you meet people from interstate – or even overseas – extend your network and find out about other events you might want to attend.Volunteering is a great way to meet people. If you are considering volunteering, you can attend an organisation’s events and watch things a bit before putting the hand in the air to volunteer. Ask other volunteers about their organisations and roles. Or, you can just be like me, jump in blind then wonder what on earth you have taken on! I, however, don’t regret any volunteer role I have done. I’ve enjoyed them all, made some great friends and have learnt so much.Some writers make connections through study, so you may want to look at further education as a way of learning and connecting with other writers. If not a degree, why not consider a short course in an area that suits you?

I’m keeping in touch with my community mainly online right now via Twitter or Facebook and attending a social catch-up here and there. I look forward to attending more writer conventions.  In June 2019, I spent a wonderful weekend at Continuum 15, a speculative fiction convention hosted in Melbourne, listening to writers talk about writing, books and all sorts of things. I met old friends and made new ones. I’ve also been to GenreCon in Brisbane, which was also awesome.

In 2022, the next event on the Spec Fic calendar is The Aurealis Awards Ceremony and Writers’ Development Afternoon, to be held on May 28. I’ll be at a writers’ retreat in Victoria  instead for this one, but I’ll be aiming to attend Conflux in Canberra in October.

Each path is individual and can take time. It’s taken me about five years to build my current network – a network that keeps expanding as I attend more events and participate in other writerly things. For some people it will take less time, others more. But hang in there and keep pursuing it. And don’t be too hard on yourself if sometimes the networking doesn’t work. It will, just get up, brush off and try something else.

Mixing with other writers fills that empty spot inside me that I think comes from working on my own. Writer buddies have enriched my life personally and professionally. And in writing this article, I wish the same thing happens for you.

Every year Writers Victoria hold the challenge during April, and each year I look forward to it.  It took me a bit to get into the swing this year – especially as I’ve vowed 2022 is the year I cut down social media time! But the camaraderie, encouragement and the joy of reading fellow authors’ work during this event is hard to resist.

Here are my 30 days of 30 words – except there are only 29 because I missed one!

1. Hint
‘Why me?’ Joe said, cuffed, cranky.
Detective Jane showed the image on her phone: Joe smiling, knife against the victim’s throat.
‘$%$^%$^$,’ said Joe.
‘Was just a hint,’ said Jane.

2. Pyrite
‘A pie, right?’ Gav’s on lunch order duty again.
Inwardly I groan. ‘Gluten free. Salad.’
It’s always the same joke.
‘I know.’ He laughs. ‘Gold. Gotcha.’
Ha. Yeah. Fool’s gold.

3. Glow
Sheila had a certain glow. Lit up the room, flickered lights, pinged the microwave, scrambled TV. Happened to all astronauts, apparently. Hilarious – until Nana and her pacemaker visited …

4. Fortune
Jenna’s hopes: Spanish Villa. Beachfront mansion. Exotic dining. Fancy wines. Child-free.
Fortune-teller’s reading: Big 4s. Mother-in-law’s house. KFC. Six-packs. THREE KIDS!
True?
Not waiting to discover, it was bye-bye Tim.

5. Idol
Enya ordered an ancient all-seeing idol from Benny’s Mystic and Multipurpose Store, unsure her request was understood.
Suspicions were later confirmed.
‘Ancient seeing-eye dog? Benny said, patting an old Lab.

6. Intermittent

**missed**

7. Bright
Lots of legs
walking
Many voices
talking
Eyeball pairs
scoping
Distracted minds
bending
Synapses not
connecting
No time for
reflecting
Days of
never-ending
Reset button
pending…
….
….
….
Sparks of brightness
loading.

8. Moon
Jimmy is a stunner, no question. When his bio explained how he dressed:
‘Girls dig the night sky, and low pants show a half-moon (hehe)’
It is understandable he’s single.

‘Moon moths! Luminous, sparkling like stardust!’
She grips my hand. ‘Beautiful. I wish you could see them.’
Cheeks dampened with sadness, I stare into unseeing eyes.
‘Me too,’ I say.

9. Perceive
Paranoid delusions, Doctor Brown writes. Patient perceives as real.
New strategy. Honesty: ‘Aliens don’t exist.’
Emma shakes ‘No.’
‘White light beams you—?’
Emma clicks her fingers.
‘–- uppppp…’

Suzy was a sex-worker
Billy, a priest.
Inviting him over,
She cooked quite a feast.
An innocent affair—
Otherwise perceived.
Rumours reached the Parish,
And Father Billy sent on leave.

10. Twinkle
‘Into balls then flatten. Good. Bake 30 mins.’
A twinkle of accomplishment in 8-year-old Mary’s eyes as directions were followed, biscuits went in.
The magic of motherhood. Sweet as sugar.

11. Sequin
Grandma’s sequins are a galaxy; each star a part of her.
Sunbeams pierce stained glass. Light fills the church.
Hearts broken but full.
In death she shines.
Sparkle on, Grandma.

12. Shimmer
‘This is wrong, Ebony!’
‘All those diamonds. What’s she going to use them for?’
Ebony lifts the lid…
Something shimmers and it ain’t the diamonds.
‘No you don’t,’ says grandma.

13. Altar
Jessy lays the photo on the altar.
‘A nice pic. Good choice,’ Daddy says.
‘Does Mummy have to be dead?’ Jessy asks.
‘Let’s find out!’ Daddy says, reciting the invocation.

14. Horizon
‘Wormholes, event horizons, quantum mechanics. Theory of—’
‘But—!’
‘—relativity. Even time travel…’
When Benny asked if Dr Peters wanted olives on his pizza, answers were not straightforward.

15. Subdued
Jenny was reserved, shy, and Pete, her high school love. Our vote: the perfect couple.
Her funeral brought truth. Subdued, not shy. Pete – her murderer.
We’d been complicit all along.

16. Oasis
Bill wanted an oasis, something lush, rejuvenating. His marriage was stale, old, tasted of sand. He didn’t realise he was chasing a mirage. Bill wanders his Sahara now, empty, alone.

17. Dapple
Pigment dances, vitiligo patterns skin. Dappled morning sunlight streaming through the trees, the world’s colours in one palette, pebbles on the beach. Unique, beautiful. Now you wear your inner glow.

18. Faint
Your outline’s on the pillow, your spot on the couch. A faint luminosity in special places in the night? You’ve found glow-in-the-dark ink? You’re obsessed. Stop marking what is yours!

19. Blink
‘One wish.’ Genie shrugs. ‘Cutbacks.’
Yvette considers. ‘A husband, like Ken—’
‘Done.’
‘—but not annoying.’
‘Woops!’ Genie blinks away.
Ken’s wedding band gleams.
Occult shop discounts proved unreliable.

20. Waver
Jan wanted to be a footballer but the club said not for ‘chicks’. After 20 years campaigning, she succeeded and Now Jan and her daughter play. Her commitment never wavered.

21. Gold
My father always chased the dream:
fortune, glory, gold.
He searched a lot of places:
Far, near, new and old.
He died a lonely, saddened man;
his story left untold.

22. Scintillate

‘I don’t have to toe the line,’ said Bianca, fresh from prison. ‘I can have fun, sin till late…’
Bianca knew how to party – not how to use a prompt.

23. Hope
Harry
opened
Penny’s
envelope.

It spelt hope.

24. Inkling
Her tattoos foretell futures, covering her skin. She calls herself Inkling. Townsfolk, frightened, call her Witch.
A lynching ensues.
The final artwork depicts her murder, and the revenge she’ll exact.

25. Sparkle
‘Add an incisor glint, a twinkle in your eye?’ said Lynette.
‘Too sparkly?’ Vlad was an old-school vampire.
‘Modern.’
Reluctantly, Vlad admitted this Tinder profile now captured his inner glow.

26. Neon
Mirri’s skin is vellum soft, she’s delicate, demure. Her words glimmer, incandescent pearls.
She lives in my dreams. Mirri begs to have a heartbeat, I refuse. She cries neon tears.

27. Soft
The assortment disappeared fast around Jelly. Everybody hated him.
‘Don’t cry, mate. They like ‘em hard. You’re soft,’ said Brittle.
Ultimately, Jelly didn’t have long to wait. Sugar was sugar.

28. Flash
A silver flash: the cord is cut. You look discombobulate, unsure. Scared. We’ve got you, we say. You cry, we cry. I hold you to my breast. Welcome, tiny one.

29. Eye
‘Eye, eye, Captain,’ says Seaman Thom, pointing eyewards, laughing.
Captain Cutlass unamused, said. ‘Hold out yer hand!’ and lopped off Thom’s pointer.
‘Get my point?’
‘Aye, aye, Captain,’ sobbed Thom.

30. Glimmer
The shuttle carries the survivors. Riva cries for her broken planet. Lights blink out. Clouds swirl – a dying breath. Riva holds a glimmer of false hope. One day she’ll return.

 

 

 

It’s been a busy start to 2022 and quite a varied one. Even though people were hesitant to venture out and many of us were still working from home, cricket season was still in full swing. I had a great chat with Donna and Nigel at That’s a Wrap over at 2NVR Nambucca Radio.

I spoke with Sam Hargreaves at The Sporting Capitol and we discussed how the ladies came to play, and what happened after the game. Sam had connections to Bendigo as his parents do walking tours in the region. One of the things I mentioned in this interview was how one male reader had said he’d read almost every newspaper article in my book, but had never realised how these games must have been from the women’s perspective. I’ve had three publications so far this year. It’s not often that this occurs, but all three are free to read online.

My short story ‘Nothing to Contest’ appeared in Pendulum Papers and is available to read free online. This story is about divorce, with a surprise outcome during proceedings.Stuart Conover and Stephanie Ellis from The Horror Tree talked with me about what they do, and how they help the writing community in ‘Talking to the Horror Tree as it Turns Ten‘. It was fascinating to hear about the journey over ten years, and great to talk to passionate people about a great cause. Thanks to Horror Oasis for hosting.My survivalist horror short about a mother and child  ‘End of the Line‘ is featured online in the Dark Recesses Press webzine.

As always, busy, busy!

November turned into a very busy month. There was the book launch, and before and after a lot of people wanted to talk about my book. Cricket season was upon us and post-lockdown, Victoria was opening up. In the first of what seemed to be many new experiences this year, Nick Richardson approached me to participate in his podcast The Maiden Summer. I was honoured to appear in the first episode ‘The Trailblazers’ and talk about the response to the first women’s game. It’s a great series and I recommend checking out the other episodes as well.

I spoke with Fiona Parker on ABC Central Victoria Breakfast Radio. Fiona was so engrossed that we chatted a little longer that we should have! I loved talking about the cricketers’ experiences, shedding some light on their trial and tribulations and ultimately their success. Articles also featured in the Bendigo Advertiser and Bendigo Times. It was fantastic to see so many people interested in my book and its story.

I had one November publication, and two December ones. My poem ‘The Beating of Her Heart’ was published in Midnight Echo 16, AHWA’s annual publication. It’s a creepy story about possessiveness and ownership, and ultimately about people not letting go. I also published a writers’ guide for horror writers called ‘Horror-Writers-Ink: Community and Your Writer’s Toolkit‘, which was featured by the kind folk at The Horror Tree. It talks about where to find publication markets and what’s around at the moment in ways of associations and organisations that are genre-specific to horror.

And one more to sneak in before the New Year! My ghostly story – also about hanging on to your past – called ‘The 504’ appears in Haunted, published by Specul8 Publishing.

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Horror Writers Ink




ME16




Haunted

Those following the Australian Football League Women’s, (AFLW), will know Harriet as the Vice-Captain of Richmond Football Club, and the granddaughter of Don Bradman. You can read about Harriet briefly here. A lesser known fact is that Harriet Cordner is a direct descendent of one of Australia’s first women cricketers, Nellie Rae. Nellie played in the first recorded revenue-raising spectator match of women’s cricket in Australia, in Bendigo in 1874. You can read more about that story in my book Bowl the Maidens Over: Our First Women Cricketers.

Harriet filmed this presentation for the book launch, as she was unable to be there on the day. Harriet talks about what has changed since that first game of women’s cricket in 1874. Its so refreshing to see how different things are in many ways, and that Harriet has not faced the same barriers as her ancestors.

Thanks Harriet, for  your fantastic presentation and for being such a champion of your sport and of other women as well.

Click to play Harriet’s videoClick Me

 

On 27 November 2021, friends, family and a guests joined me for my debut book launch at an event hosted by City of Greater Bendigo at the historic Bendigo Town Hall. The launch had been cancelled and rescheduled numerous times since June. It’s also taken ages to post! Because of the delay,  I’ve made an extra effort to make this post choc-full of pictures and extra info.

The Bendigo Town Hall was the perfect venue for the launch – I was very lucky indeed. The town hall was built in 1859 and extensively remodelled in the late 1800s, and in 2003 was restored to its original splendour by the City of Greater Bendigo. The venue captured the essence of the period in which Bowl the Maidens Over was set in.

Photos by Paul Sampson, unless otherwise noted. Above photo is courtesy Paula Boer.Ceiling photo courtesy Rebecca Fraser, pre-launch photo courtesy Paula Boer.

Guests came from Melbourne, regional Victoria and even interstate. One thing’s for certain – Bendigonians really know how to stack on a turn. The room was well set up with refreshments and plenty of exhibits for the guests to look at. Enormous thanks to Jamie Cail from the City of Greater Bendigo for all her organising. The exhibits included many items  of cricket and late 1800s memorabilia. The exhibits were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! My only regret is that I didn’t have more time to look at everything.

The Bendigo Historic Society put on a display of clothing from the late 1800s, and it was a real eye-opener to A) see how small the women were; and B) think about them playing sport in all those long dresses! Women were not only shorter by today’s standards, but a lot more petite! I think I heard these dresses would have been fashioned for a ladies’ size 6 (or was it size 5?). Tiny either way.

Undergarments photo courtesy Rebecca Fraser.

Included in the display was Billy Midwinter’s bat. Midwinter was an Australian cricketer that played in the late 1800s. He had a rather unusual story, with an unfortunate and tragic end. You can read about him briefly here, or in more detail here. It was said that Midwinter leant this bat to his sister to play in the 1875 women’s game. The bat was provided for display by the Eaglehawk Heritage Society.

Stan Cue presented memorabilia from the former VCWA’s 5th Test of the 1984/85 Bicentennial Ashes Series played at the Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo. Stan was the curator of the ground at the time. Stan also had a mini cricket bat that featured the player signatures.

Peter Scullie had an amazing array of artefacts from the period. I wish I’d been able to have a closer look! The display included books, cricket belt buckles – all the rage in the Goldrush era, apparently –  a skeleton pad, stumps and many other interesting bits and pieces. After the launch, I found a 7NEWS report about Peter’s amazing cricket collection here. Also on display was John Edwards’s bat and a baggy green cap, provided by Tony Edwards. John Edwards was a Bendigonian who played for Victoria and Australia between 1879-1890.

Midwinter's bat (in single glass case) photo courtesy Rebecca Fraser. Other displayed items: Stan Cue's stand, a newspaper clipping of Stan at the ground, a close-up of Stan Cue's mini bat (taken earlier!), Peter Scullie's cabinet, John Edwards's bat and a baggy green cap.

It was a real honour to having the City of Greater Bendigo host the book launch. The speeches by Councillor Mayor Andrea Metcalf and Councillor Margaret O’Rourke ( a former Mayor and also MC of the event), were strong and heartfelt. It was fantastic – and symbolic – to have women leaders launch a book that was about unrecognised women’s endeavours. The speeches reflected a strong sense of connection to and understanding of the Bendigo community, and provided a fascinating history of the Bendigo Town Hall, revealing it was  almost torn down rather than restored.

During the launch, I was truly overwhelmed with how the story of the ‘maidens’ had been embraced by the Bendigo community, and thankful that this piece of history had finally made its way back to such a welcome home.

A special shout out to Dennis Johansen, walking tour guide and pillar of the Bendigo community, who knows so much about local history. If it hadn’t been for Dennis and his introduction to the councillors, there wouldn’t have been a launch like this at all. Dennis was a guest speaker and shared some of his knowledge about Bendigo cricket and his plans for a local cricket museum. Bendigo has a fascinating cricket history and the museum will bring it to light.

Dennis Johanson; Councillor Margaret O'Rourke speaking and guests seated from left: Stephen Cordner, Dennis Johansen, Louise Zedda-Sampson, Mayor Andrea Metcalf.

There were so many other highlights for me at this event. Descendants of the stars of my book, the Rae family, attended the launch.  Stephen Cordner, a direct descendent of Nellie Rae, was a guest speaker  and attended the event with his wife and daughter. Stephen talked about the family’s past, noting they have footage of Nellie Cordner (nee Rae) – when she was in her ’90s – on a reel of film somewhere in the family archives. Fancy that! Footage of one of the first Australian women cricketers. I hope to see it one day.

Rohan Potter was also in attendance with his wife, Wendy. Rohan is a direct descendent of Barbara Rae. Wendy sent me a newspaper article about Barbara, and a picture of her gravestone in Bruthen Cemetery. It was lovely to connect with the descendants of the first women’s games and have them here, 147 years later, to finally share and celebrate their ancestors’ success.

Another descendant of Nellie Rae is Harriet Cordner. Harriet is an Australian women’s footballer, Vice-captain of Richmond football club and granddaughter of Brownlow medallist Don Cordner. As Harriet was unable to attend the launch in person, she kindly put together a few words by video link. Harriet talks about being a female sportsperson and what that means to her, reflecting on points in the book to highlight how things have indeed changed. You can listen to Harriet’s speech here.

From left: Deputy Mayor Matthew Evans, Dennis Johansen, Mayor Andrea Metcalf, Louise Zedda-Sampson, Wendy Potter, Rohan Potter, Councillor Margaret O'Rourke, Stephen Cordner and his daughter.

Among the guest were Janice Parker (nee Wady) and Anne Gordon (nee Lonsdale), both Australian Test cricketers. Janice Parker played five Test matches for Australia between 1963 and 1969, and Anne Gordon played nine Test matches between 1968 and 1977. Anne was also a Test cricket captain of Australia, and played in the inaugural 1973 World Cup, and was the first Australian captain to lead the team onto the Lords Cricket Ground.

Several members from the Pioneer Victorian Women’s Cricket Association Inc. (the Pioneers) were in attendance, including the president Cath McLeod. The Pioneers have a very interactive Facebook Page full of photos and news items about the rich and sometimes not so well known history of women’s cricket. Through the group and their work they are making the lesser known history more available and recognised.

Group shot, from left: Janice Parker, Anne Gordon, Louise Zedda-Sampson, Roslyn Hyde, Cath McLeod; Janice Parker with the 1800s ladies' dresses; Anne Gordon with Louise Zedda-Sampson.

I was delighted so many people came to be part of the event, especially after all the restrictions. Here are some final photos from the signing.

Signing desk display, photo courtesy Rebecca Fraser.

The book is launched! My husband and I at the end of the day.