Tasmania Dreaming
Ever wonder about that island 'down under,' described by writer Nicholas Shakespeare as 'the literal end of the world: if you travel any further you are on your way home again?'
Prince Edward Island has strong links with Tasmania, which hangs like a teardrop off the island continent of Australia. On Wednesday, December 3, 'Tasmania Dreaming' will feature two guests from Tasmania, poet Jane Williams and publisher Ralph Wessman, along with writers Dianne Hicks Morrow and Deirdre Kessler; and hosted by Island Studies scholar Laurie Brinklow. We'll take a journey of our two islands through poetry and photos, and talk about the attraction we have for one another: two islands that are poles apart.
Jane Williams is the award-winning author of six books of poetry, the most recent being Days Like These (Interactive Press), and has been widely published in journals and anthologies. She recently started a blog featuring her writing for children (janewilliamsforkids.wordpress.com).
Jane's partner Ralph Wessman is a writer and former publisher of Famous Reporter, a semi-annual literary magazine that published out of Hobart from 1987 to 2012. He is the publisher of Walleah Press, which produces fine books of poetry, fiction, essays, and memoir. Jane and Ralph are also the creators of Communion, an online poetry journal (walleahpress.com.au/communion.html).
Deirdre Kessler is the author of two dozen books, ranging from award-winning children's picture books and chapter books to poetry, memoir, nonfiction, and educational books. Many have been translated into other languages. Deirdre teaches creative writing, children's literature, and the course on L.M. Montgomery with UPEI's Department of English.
Poet and adult educator Dianne Hicks Morrow is the author of two volumes of poetry and a book of essays on Kindred Spirits. As the Island's fifth Poet Laureate, she writes and performs poems for stately occasions and hosts a monthly Open Mic reading series at the Haviland Club.
Both Deirdre and Dianne participated in the PEI-Tasmania Writers' Exchange, whereby three Tasmanian writers and three PEI writers swapped islands once a year from 2006 to 2012. Deirdre was the first PEI writer to spend a month in the Writers' Cottage in Hobart in 2007; she returned to Tasmania in 2010 as writer-in-residence in Launceston. Dianne was the last, in 2012. Other participants included PEI's Richard Lemm, along with Tasmania's Danielle Wood, Tim Thorne, and Louise Oxley.
Laurie Brinklow is an editor and former book publisher, and Interim Co-ordinator of the Master of Arts in Island Studies Program at UPEI. As host of the evening, she will draw upon her ten months spent in Tasmania as part of her PhD research comparing island identity in Newfoundland, Tasmania, PEI, and British Columbia's Gulf Islands. She looks forward to engaging the guests in conversation about our islands, and to asking them to share some of their poetry and other writings.
'Tasmania Dreaming' will be held at the Haviland Club, December 3, 7:00-9:00 pm. Admission is by donation. Everyone is welcome to attend.
For more information, please contact Laurie Brinklow at brinklow@upei.ca, or 902-894-2881.
For information:
Dave Atkinson, Research Communications Officer, UPEI
(902) 620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca
