April Newsletter
Everything to do with reading and writing.
Hello fellow readers and writers,
We spent a few days on a farm at Burradoo recently. It reanimated my dispirited self to see children learning to compost, being taught about crickets as a viable protein source and the importance of bee-keeping. Sometimes when the world seems like it’s never going to change, there is always a glimmer of light that peeps through to give me hope.
It was also a chance to catch up on some reading and writing my book. Armen had to work throughout our time away (is an editor’s work ever done?!) but managed to take some longs walks with me and Molly and to squeeze in a Basque cheesecake or two for sneaky afternoon teas.
Here is your monthly roundup of curated books, courses and resources, especially for all you antipodeans.
Recommended reading
Two books have caught my attention recently. The Ruin of Magic by Kate Holden and published by Black Inc. is just out. It’s on a topic close to my heart - the erosion of wonder, enchantment and the luminous in Western culture especially. If you liked Katherine May’s Enchantment and Julia Baird’s Phosphorescence you will love Holden’s evocative and gravitas-bearing prose. Below is her book launch if you are in Melbourne.
The other book is Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. Long-listed for the Stella Prize, McConaghy actually sailed to Macquarie Island (with her small child!) for inspiration on what it’s like to live on a small island with a dark history - a great setting for her story of mystery, climate action and hope.
Best articles about writing and creating this month
A fabulous article about the power of resisting constant production in our obsessive society - and how women are leading the way in slowing down to produce quality not quantity:
A beautiful piece on repetition and rhythms:
https://lithub.com/the-poetics-of-repetition-in-praise-of-the-art-of-replication/
Writers festivals
This salty one looks fantastic.
https://wordsonthewaves.com.au/words-on-the-waves-writers-festival-program-2026/
Worthy mention in poetry
We caught up with award-winning poet Mark Tredinnick in Burrradoo and chatted all things poetry and publishing over coffee and farm-picked veggies. Mark is Managing Editor of the revitalised 5 Islands Press, which brings us the best of Australian poetry.
Check out their recent much-talked-about publication on Australian poet Robert Gray:
https://www.5islandspress.com/product-page/bright-crockery-days
A new book we are publishing
We are thrilled to be publishing Homecoming: The art and practice of trauma recovery by emerging writer Ratu Nida Farihah. Ratu is a trauma recovery and survivor advocate, and founder of Women’s lantern, a survivor-led initiative supporting migrant women rebuilding after violence. Ratu’s work bridges storytelling, social justice and neuroscience, weaving memoir and grounded practice into a powerful guide for those reclaiming their bodies, voices and stories.
The book launch is at the iconic Gleebooks on 6th May at 6-8pm. Please register at the link below:
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1566043
You can order your copy of Ratu’s book on the link below:
https://gleebooks.com.au/p/the-homecoming-the-art-and-practice-of-trauma-recovery
Luminous offerings
I found it interesting that the editor of Kill Your Darlings - one of Australia’s most interesting online magazines - is noticing a trend in book publishing on the topic of wonder, enchantment and even spirituality - all things luminous. Suzy Garcia writes in her newsletter:
“Today I’m chasing a trend. A holy trend. After so many religious holidays, it feels like an apt time. Not too long ago I interviewed Samuel Rutter, the Australian-born editor-in-chief of New York-based literary magazine Kismet. The publication features some of the most exciting names going in literature (Sheila Heti! César Aira! Zain Khalid!) but has a key focus: It’s a space for writing about religion, spirituality and mysticism—and it’s for believers, seekers and skeptics alike.” Our conversation got me thinking.
Religion has always been a ripe topic for literary exploration, but Kismet sits among other recent happenings which suggest that spirituality is a big force in literature right now.”
Here are some of my (Karina’s) suggestions for reading the luminous:
The ruin of Magic by Kate Holden
Enchantment by Katherine May
Don’t forget we’re here forever by Lamorna Ash
‘Practice Losing Everything’ by Gary Percesepe
Poetry by Mary Oliver, e.g. Devotions
Kismet Journal
And, recommended by Suzy Garcia:
Sheila Heti, ‘Outside of Story’, Kismet
Matthew Sini, ‘No Atheists in Plotholes’, New Mythologies
Rebecca Varcoe, ‘An interview with Patricia Lockwood’, KYD
Tim Winton, ‘Episode 508’, Life & Faith
At the Edges offerings
Writers Studio is on every Thursday morning at Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre. Would you like to join a monthly Saturday workshop? Let us know if yes.
Our new book is out! We have been No 1 on Amazon’s “Faith deconstruction” category for weeks now. (You can also buy it from Booktopia.)
In May, our little writing community will go to a few of the Sydney Writers Festival events together. Want to join us?
We may be starting a monthly Zoom book club if there is interest. Are you keen? Let us know.
We will be at Surry Hills Markets on 6th June for Read ‘n Sip. You can buy a book at our stall, or borrow a book for $6 and take it to read at Wilson Cafe across the road to claim your free hot drink in a comfy lounge setting!
Coming up in July there will be another Connecting with Your Creative Self workshop.
And …. a Zoom editing workshop. How do you work with an editor? How do you find a good one? What are the kinds of editing available for you? Can you edit your own work? All these questions and more as we reveal the mysteries of editing in our workshop coming up in August.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter. Please comment and let us know what you liked and what else we can include. If you have specific resources to share, please pass them on.
At the Edges is ….
A constellation of writers and readers drawn to the luminous, telling our stories from the edges.
With love from
Karina
and
Armen
Thanks Karina & Armen. Always love reading your newsletter full of great resources and inspo!