August is definitely shaping up to be a busy month, with loads of news and book events. First up, we are delighted to announce the launch of our new Digital Feminist Classics series, made possible by a grant from the Australia Council for the Arts. The series will add to our growing list of eBooks, making out-of-print or hard to locate feminist classics available in a variety of digital formats.

NEW RELEASES

This month sees the release of Fethiye Çetin’s memoir, My Grandmother, an urgent, passionate memoir of the author’s discovery of her Muslim grandmother’s true Armenian Christian identity. My Grandmother is available in print and digital formats.

Looking ahead to September, Spinifex will release debut novel, My Sister Chaos by Lara Fergus. This is compelling new writing, heralded by Spinifex director Susan Hawthorne as “the best debut novel I’ve read in 25 years of publishing.” My Sister Chaos will be available in print and digital formats and keep an eye out for upcoming readings by Lara and the book launch party later this year. 

AWARDS

On July 21 it was announced that Lesley Thomson won the People’s Book Prize For Fiction, for her book, A Kind of Vanishing. This prize is a showcase for new talent in the UK, judged by the public. 

Sandy Jeffs has been shortlisted for the Age Book of the Year Award (non-fiction) for her autobiography, Flying With Paper Wings. Spinifex has published three collections of poetry by Sandy beginning in 1993 with the best-selling Poems from the Madhouse (now in its third printing). Blood Relations (2000) and The Wings of Angels: A Memoir of Madness (2004) followed. All of us at Spinifex congratulate Sandy Jeffs for this wonderful achievement.

EVENTS

Susan Hawthorne will be performing at the Queensland Poetry Festival this year. The festival runs from August 27-29 at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, Brisbane.

In September Fethiye Çetin will be in Australia promoting her memoir. Join her at events in Sydney and Melbourne as she offers a personal window on family, identity, and the politics of history.

Melbourne 

When: Wed 9 September, 5.30pm

Where: Queen Victoria Building, 4th Floor 210 Lonsdale Street

Tickets: $10 ($5conc)

Bookings: The Victorian Women’s Trust 03 9642 0422

Sydney

When: Friday 10 September, 6 for 6.30

Where: Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe

Tickets: $10 ($7 conc)

Bookings: 02 9660 2333 or online

Fethiye will also be a guest at the Melbourne Writers Festival. Click on the link to book any of these events.

Other Spinifex authors participating in the festival are: Sandy Jeffs, Lucy Sussex, Carol Bacchi and Susan Hawthorne.

SPINIFEX BLOG

Here is what has been happening on the Spinifex blog:

Nikki Anderson presents an optimistic piece on feminism and a sense of current revival.

Susan Hawthorne suggests the high incidence of rape going on in the Democratic Republic of Congo is really a civil war against women.

Spinifex intern Kate Page comments on Gay marriage and the disappointing views of Julia G; and wonders how much nuptial equality and inclusion we can really take.

The Spinifex blog can be found at the "News & Events" link at the top of our website. You can also find our news page and the newsletter archive there.

FEMINIST NEWS

Melinda Tankard-Reist will be visiting SA in August to promote her grass roots campaign Collective Shout. Click on the following links to find out more details on upcoming events:

Toxic: The impact of popular culture on girls and young women

Toxic Culture: An evening with Melinda Tankard Reist

A Morning with Melinda

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