Living Landscape Writers Festival

The City of Port Adelaide and Enfield played host to the inaugural Living Landscape Writers Festival on April 9th and 10th at Harts Mill. Amongst the speakers, prominent authors such as Hannah Kent, Molly Murn and Karen Wyld ensured an entertaining and informative event. Along with many other people present, I gained a lot of insight listening to a wide range of writers discussing the role of the natural environment in their work. The event was ideal for more than just writers; there were enough events and festivities to keep everyone enjoying themselves. To compliment the stunning scene and vibrant events, we were blessed with exquisite weather.

After a full day of festivities, there was a presentation of awards for the short story competition conducted by Writers SA and the City of Port Adelaide and Enfield had conducted. I had felt honoured to be short-listed for the open award, and when my name was read as the winner, it was an amazing feeling. It was said that one of the judges had been moved to tears by my story, Sanctuary.

It was a work I was proud of, having had the shell of an idea for a story set on Snowden Beach along the Port River. After making a couple of trips there, I was able to flesh out the story with an enhanced focus on the scene around me. I sat on the beach for hours, noting everything I saw, heard, smelt and felt. From there, the tiny details that had seemed almost significant at the time, helped make the tale spanning forty years grow into something that readers could imagine vividly.

Copies of Sanctuary will be available free at the launch of my novel, ‘The Ride to Work,’ in late June. A free copy of Sanctuary will also be provided to anyone buying The Ride to Work through this website. Keep your eyes on the website and my Facebook page for details of the release date.