19/11/10 on campus event

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“There is something very human about gathering together to read.”

When we talk about success a few things pop into mind; the first being that we had some sort of goal, secondly that this goal was attempted, and lastly that is was completed and accomplished in a triumphant way. Success for the Speakeasy team just continues to visit their events and if it wasn’t for all their hard work, it may appear unfair to the rest of us. It’s a very pleasing thing to be able to enjoy the work of other writers who have joined the ranks of the Speakeasy readers. As a reader from the last campus event, I can safely say that standing up in front of a room full of people who are expected to glance in your direction for that length of time (which feels like forever) is rather daunting. Something which I’m proud to say (and a little jealous) that none of the readers at this event seemed to be showing. The crowd appeared to grow as the night progressed and many of the mismatched chairs had been moved from and to several different tables. Trips were repeatedly made inside to the bar and not one person returned empty handed, some having numerous glasses balanced among weakening fingers. Soon, the pizza was to arrive and the soft chatter turned into deep chewing. In the breaks from the sets the room seemed to have a constant murmuring, one which invited conversation and allowed the readers of the next set to ease into something other than their own terrifying thoughts. All of these things combined managed to create a strong, thick atmosphere for the evening and I’m sure that the reason the attendees had such an enjoyable night wasn’t just for the food, friends and fresh air, but for the fantastic words spoken from the stage. Each speaker had differing quirks and hand gestures, different voice projections and very different story lines. However, that doesn’t mean any of them were less. After all, we’re all human, and there is something very natural about it. It’s here that we should acknowledge those readers, and who best to start with then the Flinders first year BCA Creative Writing students who feel no fear in showing their talent; Jaqui Lawson, Mario Pilla and Samuel Williams. Having studied with these writers myself, I am very proud to have heard their wonderful words read aloud from the page. Next we’ll move on to those who have studied much further into Creative Writing, and as such had many interesting stories to share; Brendan Whittaker, Tom Drahos, Neil Philbey and Helen Dinmore. Of course, we cannot forget the remarkable guest headliners who took the time to show us how it’s done—Ben Chandler, Molly Murn and Kate Hayford. I must encourage support and praise for the readers and organisers, and with any luck those of you who’ve yet to experience such an event will be just as impressed in the future when I expect to see the likes of you amongst the crowd. Speakeasy Review for Sept 22nd 2010 at the Wheatsheaf Hotel– Molly Paton.

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Molly Paton is a first year Creative Writing Student at Flinders University. She believes somewhat in the quote ‘a writer can only write what they know’ and feels that she writes about everything and nothing. This is of course what she knows. Whether actually knowledge or just things she knows she doesn’t know. .

Speakeasy at the Wheatsheaf Sept 2010

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More about our readers at the Wheatsheaf in Sept

Helen Dinmore Helen Dinmore recently graduated with a first in Honours from the Creative Writing program at Flinders. You can read her short fiction in this month's edition of Wet Ink, this December's edition of Island and in the March edition of Overland next year.


Neil Philbey Many years ago, Neil made an unsuccessful attempt to conquer world-wide evil and establish why some kangaroos jumped in front of trucks while others didn’t. Recognising the need for more education in order to fulfil his destiny, he waited patiently until he could sneak into the BCA course at Flinders without anyone noticing. In the meantime, he hitchhiked to Perth, towed a caravan to Darwin, and drove a backhoe to Yankalilla to interview suspects in the theft of Kevin Rudd’s personality.Neil is currently doing Creative Writing Honours, and will probably sneak out of Flinders at the end of the year without anyone noticing.

Jaqui Lawson Jacqui Lawson is a first year BCA Creative Writing student. It took her 5 years of working and backpacking to finally realise she wanted to write. She's hadone short story published.

Mario Pilla

Mario Pilla is a first year BCA (Creative Writing) student. He still hasn't done very much, aside from that.

Samuel Williams

Samuel is a first year student in the Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing). He's been an avid reader ever since he first learned to read, and grew up on the likes of Emily Rodda and Harry Potter. Now, he'll read just about anything, and at the moment likes to write just about anything, too. In particular, he loves tweaking real world scenarios to make them just a little bit fantastic, and seeing where it takes him.

Brendan Whittaker

Brendan Whittaker is a 25-year-old media student with slight literary delusions. Having never really found a practical use for any of his abilities, he decided some time ago to simply do what he enjoyed and hope that one day he can find a way get cash from making stuff up. His profit margins are still pretty low, but if someone could fling a dollar coin at him tonight he might just break even.

Tom Drahos Tom is studying Honours in Creative Writing and is interested in theories ofmetafiction, intertextuality and post-everything. He doesn't read very much. He managed to give away most of his books. Physical possessions are NOT sacred. In his spare time he likes to play or listen to music, with tastes ranging from avant-garde to boring.

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A big thanks to Jessica Royans

We are very grateful to Jessica Royans for the beautiful poster that she made for our recent event at the Wheatie on Sept 22. Some info on Jessica: (pic here soon) Jessica is extremely fond of scribbling, adores birds and is a proud drinker of decaf tea. She has had a pen in her hand for as long as she can remember & is currently putting together an online portfolio of paintings, drawings & other sorts of heart-felt ponderings. .

Our Headliners for Sept 22nd

Ben Chandler Ben lives mostly in worlds of his own creation but occasionally misses the real world and comes home to Adelaide. He holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Flinders University, where he occasionally teaches Creative Writing and English Literature, and has published academic work on popular culture, video game narrative theory, Japanese heroism, anime & manga, and creative writing pedagogy. In 2010 he was awarded the Colin Thiele Creative Writing Scholarship from Carclew Youth Arts Board and was a finalist in the Channel 9 SA Young Achiever Awards. Ben loves heroes, villains, comic books, and video games, and believes you can learn more from watching cartoons than you can from the news. Like all fantasy writers, Ben has a cat. His cat is named Loki. It’s possible Loki is the reincarnation of the Norse God of Mischief, but Ben hopes this is just a flight of his fancy. Quillblade: Volume One of the Voyages of the Flying Dragon is in stores now! http://www.benchandler.com.au/ Molly Murn Molly Murn is completing a Masters in Creative Writing at Flinders University. She also teaches part time at Flinders in English and Creative Writing. As part of her thesis she is writing a novella, The Heart of the Grass Tree, set in Kangaroo Island. Molly has had several poems published in the Friendly Street Readers Rewired (2008) and Catch Fire (2009). Her poem 'Lubra Creek' won the Satura prize — best poem of a new poet in the Friendly Street Reader in 2008. Molly has also had some of her poems broadcast on community radio. Kate Hayford Kate Hayford is currently undertaking a Ph.D in Creative Writing at Flinders University. Her creative project is a contemporary Australian novel that focuses on the trials and tribulations of a thirty-year-old man stuck in an employment rut, lusting after his mate’s girlfriend and playing for a country football side of chronic losers. A chapter of this was published as a short story in Goodnight Goodnight, the 2009 Wirra Wirra short story anthology. Kate also does the odd book review on Radio Adelaide. She lives with her partner, their two little boys and a mad cat, in a house next door to a mad chicken and across the road from three mad cows. She juggles her literary pursuits with football, cooking and maintaining her eldest son’s millipede collection. She dislikes capsicum and Hugh Grant. Link to ‘Fisho’s Frolics’, Kate’s interactive blog thread (which she writes under the name ‘Fisho McSpaz’): http://www.safooty.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=29241&start=0

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Speakeasy at the Wheatsheaf Hotel Thebarton Sept 22nd 6pm

Come to the Wheatsheaf Hotel on Wednesday night, September 22nd for Speakeasy’s second public reading event showcasing Flinders University’s creative writers. Hear some of Flinders University’s most talented creative writers including special guest Ben Chandler who will be reading from his 1st book, 'Voyages of the Flying Dragon 1: Quillblade', which is being published in September. Bring a friend and a gold coin. Doors open at 6pm. Check this space for more details of readers soon. For more information please email Margot McGovern & Threasa Meads at: speakeasy.flinders@gmail.com .