Cooking good

The wonderful Mel Ulm has posted a great review of Cooked Up; Food Fiction from around the World, over at The Reading Life, including my story "Food Bank".

"The close of the story is poignant and powerful, we can feel the woman trying to maintain her pride in front of her son." - Mel Ulm.

A graphic affair

On Sunday, A Graphic Affair went public at Auckland writers Festival and I was involved, and there were witnesses. And photographs.

OK.

Here's Ant Sang, assisted by Damon Keen, reading an excerpt from Dharma Punks.

I presented a medley of poetry, graphics, feminist activism and even a spot of promotion for Three Words tied in! many thanks to Christine O'Brien for assisting me!


But it was Sam Orchard's funny, open and heartfelt puppet comic that stole the show.

Hamilton's paradise lost

 Saturday was a sunny day for Hamilton Zinefest 2015.

 Brent Willis was among the first to get his stall set up. The early bird catches the worm, as they say.

 Tim Danko and Three Words co-editor Indira Neville were fine company and at 12.30, we channelled the spirit of Sarah Laing as we talked about Three Words.

 There was live comic drawing in the afternoon.

 And table holders were often absent from their seats, mingling and chatting to other comic folk.

 The crowds ebbed and flowed as the day progressed.

 And more comic drawing and reading.

 Four o'clock was "Swap o'clock", when zine-makers exchanged their remaining fare for their neighbours'.

 Then it was time to go home (after "Fearless" played out on vinyl), via a little detour: Hamilton Gardens, with Taylor Swift fanziner Erin Fae.

All in all, a lovely way to lose a Saturday.

Graphics: a fair

 Clockwise from top left: Rae Joyce, Damon Keen, Ant Sang & Sam Orchard.

Rae Joyce will be presenting graphic poetry in A Graphic Affair at the Auckland Writers Festival on Sunday May 17. Entry is free!

Radio

I was on Radio NZ, or Raedio, as my Three Words co-editor Indira Neville put it, to talk to Justin Gregory about taking graphic poetry to Auckland Writers Festival, and humans.