THE COVER OF my debut novel Tank Water is ready to share with the world!
Created by Kim Lock, lead designer of MidnightSun Publishing since 2013, this cover stood out from the group of samples I was sent, and didn’t need much tweaking at all.
Life-giving water captured in tanks comes from rainfall, so the approaching storm in Kim’s design is apt, but it’s also prescient. Facing it is a young person, who could be any one of several characters.
The railway causeway says everything about the rural decrepitude of the novel’s country setting. The person on it is walking into the storm, whereas flocks of birds are escaping in the other direction.
Yet there is hope in the light at the horizon… and the neon-strong pink should flag to those who know me that this work is like just about everything I write: bursting with messages of equality.
Tank Water will be published in October 2021 and is available for pre-order on Booktopia and Amazon.
Pre-ordering assists a book’s launch because pre-ordered purchases are counted in a title’s first week of sales, the strength of which can generate positive buzz about a book… so if you feel like buying your copies ahead of Tank Water’s release, you’ll be helping us!
My novel will also be available in bookshops nationally. Stockists will be able to order it in for you, if you’d like to support your local.
Soon, I’ll be releasing dates on a year-long book tour, with dates in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and more!
See you out there on the road. Meanwhile, thanks Kim (an author in her own right with a new book out this month), you really ‘got’ my story!
I RECENTLY FRONTED a music hall; an old-school, East-End-of-London line up of rollicking romance replete with all the requisite roister-doister of an era long gone.
How did this happen?
Well, truth be told I tried to get out of it. Twice. It had been fifteen years since I’d trodden the boards of any theatre and part of me wondered if I could still cut it in front of an audience. So I let it be known that the part of Eric von Schneider, master of ceremonies, was up for grabs… but no man in the Deepwater region of NSW would take on this pivotal role. It was up to me to play the lecherous ladies man!
The Deepwater Players have performed a piece of community theatre every couple of years since 1981, when much-needed funds for medical equipment could be raised in no other way. Across those decades, high-school teacher Jenny Sloman has directed the shows, and this year she handed over the reins to Richard Moon (who happens to be my husband… maybe that’s how I got the part?) to make his directorial debut.
The troupe stages its work within the Deepwater School of Arts, a late-Victorian country hall with a proscenium stage that we transformed into the Whitechapel Music Hall Theatre. Community volunteers did everything from feeding audiences to performing the show!
People flocked from across the region. Some even came from Brisbane, Sydney, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast to see us sing, dance and move our way through music, lyrics and steps from Noel Coward to Lady Gaga and Kenny Rogers!
Thanks to Max S. Harding having a camera at a central table, images were captured (please note: despite wearing an extremely convincing wig, it’s not my real hair!).
Stepsisters (Cath Wheatley & Charlie Coldham) and Handsome Prince (Chris McIntosh) get their Tom Jones on. (Photo: Max S. Harding)
Martha (Jen Lanz, centre) pays tribute to Ethel Merman with stagehands Charley and Fred (Cath Wheatley and Charlie Coldham). (Photo: Max S. Harding)
Daphne, Millie and Mrs Worthington (Catie Macansh, Monica Newsome, Katie Newsome) sail away with Eric (Michael Burge). (Photo: Max S. Harding)
Eric (Michael Burge) spooked by the Phantom (Chris McIntosh). (Photo: Max S. Harding)
Eric (Michael Burge) takes the Fairy Godmother (Denis Haselwood) through her moves. (Photo: Max S. Harding)
Eric (Michael Burge) points out that he and stage manager Arthur (Denis Haselwood) may soon be on the unemployment line. (Photo: Max S. Harding)
Eric (Michael Burge) sees that Martha (Jen Lanz) has that certain star quality. (Photo: Max S. Harding)
The true Phantom (Charlie Coldham) reveals himself. (Photo: Max S. Harding)
Eric (Michael Burge) holds the curtain until Queen Victoria (Helen Grant) wakes up. (Photo: Max S. Harding)
Stepsisters (Charlie Coldham and Cath Wheatley) try to stop Cinderella (Monica Newsome) from going to the Prince’s Ball. (Photo: Max S. Harding)
Queen Victoria (Helen Grant) in pursuit of The Phantom (Charlie Coldham). (Photo: Max S. Harding)
Mrs Worthington (Katie Newsome) steps up to the mic with Kenny Rogers. (Photo: Max S. Harding)
Kenny and Dolly with backing dancers. (Photo: Max S. Harding)
Eric von Schneider (Michael Burge) opens the show. (Photo: Max S. Harding)
Phantom of the Music Hall was written in 1996 by Australian playwright Judith Prior and is bursting with comedy of highly questionable political incorrectness. Nevertheless, it manages to say something about diversity.
It’s the story of a misunderstood Phantom (played by Chris McIntosh) who doesn’t like pantomime but stalks the wings of the Whitechapel Theatre, spooking the cast and crew.
Ambitious new owner Mrs Worthington (Katie Newsome) is convinced that pantomime is the way to make money, and is madly pushing actors with questionable abilities – because all of them are actually the backstage crew – including stage hands Charley and Fred (Cath Wheatley and Charlie Coldham), stage manager Arthur (Denis Haselwood), and wardrobe mistress Martha (Jen Lanz) to rehearse Cinderella. Her daughter Millicent Worthington (Monica Newsome) pluckily plays the lead role despite an early encounter with the Phantom that leaves her rather dazzled.
After Queen Victoria (Helen Grant) makes an appearance at the Whitechapel Theatre, things start to come undone like Millicent’s seams. Eric Von Schneider tries one too many moves on the talent – Daphne de Lace (Catie Macansh) – who refuses to go on if the dreaded Phantom makes an appearance.
The efforts required to convince this spectre that a fairytale is in fact a melodrama create a night of hilarous Cockney-themed comedy, proving that we all see things differently, even ghosts and queens!
If you were in the crowd, thanks for coming to support our show.
Phantom of the Music Hall, May-June 2021 by Deepwater Players Deepwater School of Arts Director: Richard Moon Producer: Jen Lanz Designer: Michael Burge Choreographer: Lindy Alt Stage Manager: Mari Grantun Cast: Charlie Coldham, Helen Grant, Denis Haselwood, Jen Lanz, Catie Macansh, Chris McIntosh, Katie Newsome, Monica Newsome, Cath Wheatley, Michael Burge Chorister and Soprano: Christine Davis Featuring: Deepwater’s Cool Choir Lights: Peter Sloman, Rob Wheatley, Jenny Sloman Thanks to all behind-the-scenes, front-of-house, kitchen and bar staff and the Chapel Theatre Glen Innes for the loan of costumes, props and sets
AN EXHIBITION OF new ceramic work will open at Glen Innes’ creative hub The Makers Shed in June, featuring the work of local ceramicist and potter Anita Stewart.
Stewart has regularly exhibited work at The Makers Shed since the venue opened in 2018, and is well-known to locals as part of the Glen Innes Pottery Club, situated like the Shed on Grey Street. ‘Winter Clay’ captures some exciting new directions with the ceramicist’s form and style.
Anita Stewart, Glen Innes-based ceramicist.
“Discovering clay for me was like a fish taking to water,” Stewart said.
“I studied Fine Arts in Western Australia for three years. Like many artists, I had been practicing before I actually decided to do formal training.
“At Fremantle Tech I did units in painting design and drawing, then in 1995 I travelled to the New England region and discovered the wonderful ceramics courses run by Max Powell at the Glen Innes TAFE.”
Stewart’s newest work features an array of fresh forms – evocative black tiles, ceramic ‘breasts’, and stylised platters – in addition to some classic styles she’s already well-known for, such as her vibrant citrus squeezers.
“The inspiration to create a new body of work usually comes when working on new forms at the wheel,” she said.
“For instance, the last federal election inspired my ‘message in a bottle’ series. Using the surface of the pot as a canvas I add multiple layers to create an image that speaks. The New England Landscape has also given me great inspiration for my work.”
According to Stewart, the Glen Innes Pottery Club was established about 30 years ago and has remained a vibrant part of the community.
“Lots of well-known potters have been a part of the club,” she said.
Winner of multiple awards for her ceramics, Stewart laughs when asked to define what it takes to be a practicing artist, adding that “stamina, determination and absolute passion” are essentials for anyone wanting to make a long-term career of creativity; although she believes people should never be shy of signing up for a workshop and having a go.
“It’s really nice teaching people how to work with clay because it’s a very tactile medium and they usually seem really pleased when they’ve created a functional and colourful work of art,” she said.
“The wheel can be a bit more of a challenge, but they are overjoyed when they manage to throw a pot on it.”
Winter Clay opens at The Makers Shed, 123 Grey Street Glen Innes at 2pm on Saturday June 19 and runs until August 28.
