The WestWords Podcast: Recent Episodes
WestWords
WestWords is the Western Sydney literature organisation. We're all about creative storytelling in all its forms, and this fortnightly podcast is the place to hear news, interviews and featurettes.
Happy birthday, Dorothea Mackellar. Sally Piper reads from Bone Memories (UQP, 2022). Plus news and opportunities.
Happy birthday to Robert Allen Zimmerman. We hear from the three top-placed poets in the 67th Blake Poetry Prize. Plus news from WestWords.
Happy Mothers' Day! In recognition of mothers everywhere, we're recommending two wonderful and moving books about motherhood. Plus all the usual news from WestWords.
It's ANZAC Day, and we discuss Catch-22, one of the great war novels. We hear from Hani Abdile, Somalian-Australian poet. Plus news and opportunities.
Happy birthday to the Anne Statute, and to Anne Lamott, amongst others. We speak with the Auburn Poets & Writers. Various opportunities await.
Happy birthday to Quentin Tarantino. Also announcing an exciting publishing opportunity, and a competition with real actual prizes! Plus we announce the winner of the Blake Poetry Prize. Audio of Quentin Tarantino appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live is taken from the Jimmy Kimmel Live YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6SEqO7OQVI Recovered 27 March 2022
In this fortnight's podcast, we discuss ways to help the flood-affected communities in our state's north-east, we share some thoughts about our first event in our new premises, Linda Jaivin drops in, and more.
Happy birthday to Anthony Burgess, author of A Clockwork Orange. Poet Ouyang Yu reads and discusses his poem Someone. Plus the latest news from WestWords.
It's the first WestWords Podcast for 2022 -- welcome back! Today we wish a happy birthday to a writer whose books have sold over 300 million copies, and who won an Oscar for screenwriting. We hear Grace Karstens read from her award-winning book People of the River. Plus all the usual news you've come to expect.
Happy birthday, William Blake. A big win at the 2021 WSABE awards for WestWords and our director. The WestWords-Varuna Residency wraps up.
Happy birthday, Robert Louis Stevenson. We announce the winners and highly commended entries from the Fisher's Ghost Writing Prize. A reading from Lucy Neave, and plenty of news from WestWords.
Happy birthday to... the universe? Massive congratulations to a WestWords regular for a major award shortlisting. Plus we have a reading from Lisa Fuller, reading from her novel Ghost Bird.
Happy birthday John Lennon. Jack Heath reads from his latest book. We talk Booktober, writing groups, and more.
It's International Literacy Day! (At least, it was on Wednesday). Happy birthday to a musical legend. It's time to sign up for Booktober. Plus we hear from a library champion about libraries then and now.
A recap on who we are and what we do at WestWords. Happy birthday to John Betjeman, British Poet Laureate and writer of the much-discussed poem Slough. Plus a rundown on the opportunities currently open (but closing soon).
It's Groundhog Day... I mean, Lockdown 2.0! What a time to be alive! But seriously, what better time to start - or continue - that creative project? And if that's the case, we have all the encouragement and resources you need. Plus opportunities for poets and writers of all stripes. And last but not least, James reveals his desert island album in Quote of the Day.
WestWords is nominated for a massive award... twice! And again! Happy birthday to someone who is the answer to an oft-asked trivia question. Plus tons of opportunities for artists at all stages of writing development.
Today it's a quote de jour that's over 2,000 years old, but that still strikes true today. Plus three tremendous opportunities for emerging practitioners.
Happy birthday to Tom Stoppard. We announce the winners of the Living Stories Western Sydney Writing Prize. Plus other news, including a job opportunity...
What's your favourite language-learning app? I bet it's not the same as our guest Gina's. One of those rarest of commodities - a job in the arts - is going at WestWords. Plus there are our projects and opportunities.
Happy birthday to someone musos love to hate (but who has outsold almost all of them). Interview excerpt with playwright Brooke Robinson. Opportunities for picture book illustrators. Our fundraising art auction. A new student anthology.
Happy birthday to Charles Azvanour. We announce the winners and highly-commended entries in the WestWords-WestLit Living Stories Writing Prize. Our new WestWords art auction. Jacqueline Harvey is still out guest blogger.
Happy birthday to the author of The Writing Life, Annie Dillard. A reading by debut novelist, Alison Gibbs. The Living Stories Writing Prize closing soon.
Happy birthday, Kingsley Amis (even if we don't necessarily agree with you). We talk to our first Daffodil Cottage Artist-in-residence, Nix Hamilton. The Living Stories Writing Prize is still taking entries. Tim Harris is in the Clubhouse.
Happy birthday to Philip Roth. Plus (drum roll...) we announce a MASSIVE new project right across Western Sydney that is open to everyone (provided they are over 10 years of age, and live in WS).
International Women's Day is approaching. Happy birthday Penn Jillette. Author/illustrator team Jasmine Seymour and Leanne Mulgo Watson. Plus some news, as always.
Happy birthday to Jeff Daniels. We announce a MASSIVE new residential opportunity for artists. Plus other news from WestWords.
We're back! Happy New Year – let's get straight into news (including some that is still only at the hint stage), segues, a reading by Vivian Pham, and the quote of the day (sort of). Intrigued? Then you'd better tune in!
Introducing our very own GWS - Great Western Summer - of reading , watching and listening. James and Michael look back at a massive year, and look forward to a bigger, brighter one in 2021. Interviews with Suzanne Leal and Johanna Bell from the Prime Minister's Literary Awards.
The penultimate podcast for 2020. Happy birthday to Woody Allen. Several WW publications about to land. Tegan Bennett Daylight reads from The Details. Plus Michael shares a rather icky story about life on the road as a touring dancer.
A thought-provoking quote from Aileen Moreton-Robinson. A reading by Tristan Bancks. Plus, apropos of not much, the best Brussels sprouts recipe you'll ever try.
Happy birthday to Kamala Harris. We meet Wai Chim, author of The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling. News from WestWords.
Happy birthday to Pvt Ryan, and not one but TWO Ramones. Meet our newest staff member, Chris Donoghue. Pinerolo Illustrator in Residence announced. What Matters? competition school visits announced.
Vale Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Business awards recognition for WestWords and Michael Campbell. Booktober launched. Blake Prize awarded. Plus readings from James Knight and the Blake winner/runner-up.
Happy birthday to the most successful songwriter you've probably never heard of. Scot Gardner talks about "rats in a maze". Fellowships, Pinerolo, Varuna Residency, and more. And goodbye to Hajer.
Want to work with WestWords? We have a vacancy. Big news about Vice-Regal Patronage! Our 2019 Emerging Writers Fellows sign off, and applications open for the 2020 crop. New interview with Jessie Tu. Plus news.
Happy 100th birthday to PD James, and happy 43rd birthday to the TRS-80 personal computer. We hear from WS writer and debut novelist, Jessie Tu. We open the callout for the 2021 WestWords Fellows. Pinerolo residencies still accepting applications. Blacktown Mayoral Writing Prize.
Frida Kahlo. Running a writers' group. Crime writing. News and opportunities. Harry Laing reads Rouse Hill Magic Lantern.
Happy birthday to one of the four great Japanese haikuists. A legend of the Australian picture book publishing world offers some sage advice to prospective PB writers. A couple of great opportunities for emerging writers and illustrators.
It's the "angry episode"! Happy birthday to Alanis Morissette. Ali Whitelock talks about her found poem "this is coal don't be afraid". Deborah Abela talks about crankiness. A free book about... happiness! Plus a great opportunity to own a piece of Australian picture book history.
It's a Quote of the Day from Ms Bossypants herself. We chat with James Elazzi and Nardean about the Sydney Living Museum's "A Thousand Words" project. Music from Nardean.
Pete Shmigel, former CEO of Lifeline, talks to James Roy about his tribute to his mother Nadia, who died in New York from COVID-19. (Sydney Morning Herald, 15 April 2020 – https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/covid-19-took-my-beloved-mother-but-in-every-way-she-is-greater-than-this-virus-20200413-p54jh4.html (https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/covid-19-took-my-beloved-mother-but-in-every-way-she-is-greater-than-this-virus-20200413-p54jh4.html)) Pete's blog can be found at https://peteshmigel.com/ (https://peteshmigel.com/).
A quote for Star Wars Day. An interview with Pete Shmigel. The WestWordsOFFICIAL YouTube channel grows. Fiona Wright to headline this months' Kitten Club.
WestWords continues to transition many of its programs to on-line. Happy birthday Crispin Glover. News and opportunities. We meet our third WestWords Fellow, Erin Sayers.
A quote from French balloonist and photographer Nadar. WestWords goes virtual. Announcing the new WestWords Mini-Masterclasses (including a sneak peek). Competitions and opportunities. Meet some of our Academians.
WestWords' COVID-19 response. Eunice Andrada and Sydney Living Museums. Meet the first crop of Academians. WestWords-Western Sydney University Writers in Residence applications now open.
Poet's corner. Celebration of Writing. Charles Bukowski. Interview with WestWords Fellow, Aishah Ali.
An interview with journalist, non-fiction writer and WestWords presenter Laura Greaves.
The first Westside Poetry Slam for 2020. Our upcoming Celebration of Writing. Interview with Claire Cao. The WestWords Academy. News. Music by Peter Valentine Fenton.
We announce the brand new WestWords Academy! Plus the usual news and views from the WestWords Centre for Writing.
What is WestWords? 2019 in review. Interview with actor, musician and writer Peter Valentine Fenton. News. A tribute to YA writer Steph Bowe.