Stories that shape us

On 28/05/2018 By More to the StoryIn book review, Events, Festivals

Isn’t this a great theme for a writer’s festival? I’m looking forward to participating in the Margaret River Readers and Writers festival that runs from 1-3 June in the picturesque south west of WA.

Each of us builds a narrative about ourselves and I’m lucky enough to interview three writers with many layers to their stories. Even though two are fiction writers, each has been influenced by their own stories.

Still glowing from her Stella Award short listing, I will interview my friend Shokoofeh Azar about her book The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree. It is a chance for us to visit the world of magical realism and understand real life events in Iran after the 1979 revolution. It is the moving story of a family told in the style of classical Persian literature. Here is an excellent interview with Shokoofeh that gives you some more information.

My second interview is with Mohammed Massoud Morsi an Egyptian/Danish/Australian writer. If you visit his website you’ll see he is a photographer and so much more. I spent two hours with him over coffee this week and we could have talked for much longer. We will be discussing his latest book, Twenty Two Years to Life, which is a work of fiction, based on a true story. His raw and powerful words took me, as the reader, to the realities of daily life for an ordinary family living in Gaza.

My final interview is with Sisonke Msimang. We will trace her life through the lens of race, gender and democracy. Sisonke’s memoir is called ‘Always Another Country’. If you get a chance have a look at her TED talk. you will hear her question our emphasis on storytelling, as well as spotlight the decline of facts.

I round out my festival participation in an enticing session called Coffee and the Papers on Sunday morning. Fellow panellists Ian Parmeter, Nikki Gemmel and Chris Nixon and I will dissect recent news events. Should be interesting!

I’ll let you know about any new writers I discover at Margaret River.

Enlightenment of the greengage tree cover twenty-two-years-to-life cover always another country book cover

Freedom to read…freedom to write

On 10/05/2018 By More to the StoryIn Events, get involved

As I write, hundreds of journalists and writers are in prison.

More than half of those jailed for their work are behind bars in Turkey, China, and Egypt. The pattern reflects a dismal failure by the international community to address a global crisis in freedom of the press.

Founded in 1921, PEN is a worldwide association of writers with a common concern for the art of writing and freedom of expression. PEN groups campaign all around the world on behalf of writers who have been silenced by persecution or imprisonment.

PEN Perth is one of 147 PEN international centres around the world. As part of its major launch and fundraising effort, PEN Perth will welcome award-winning and internationally recognised foreign correspondent Peter Greste to the city on Thursday 31 May. In 2013, Peter spent 400 days in an Egyptian prison on false charges. PEN International worked alongside thousands of individuals and organisations around the world to campaign for his release.

Joined by Victoria Laurie, Peter will speak to issues of media censorship, freedom of expression in times of war, human rights, the role of writing, and how people can participate as private citizens in safeguarding democracy.

As a former journalist and as a writer, I believe it is essential we speak up for freedom of expression at all times. We must always remember the importance of writing in our society, no matter where we live in the world. Renowned Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk reminds us:

“When another writer in another house is not free, no writer is free”.

I urge you to join up to your local PEN branch to stay informed. PEN Perth is still developing a website, but in the meantime you can follow activities on the Facebook page and subscribe via the Centre for Stories website.

Remembrance and hope

On 03/05/201803/05/2018 By More to the StoryIn Events

On 25 April I attended my local Anzac Day service to pay respect and remember all Australians who served and died in war and on operational service. It is one of Australia’s most important national occasions, similar to Remembrance Day in the UK and Memorial Day in the US. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

My Grandfather and Great Uncle George were among the first landing troops at Gallipoli. Grandad survived that disastrous campaign and went on to fight throughout the rest of World War One on the western front in Europe. Tragically, we lost Uncle George on the first day.

During the Second World War my father and several uncles served in the air force. So it was probably no surprise when three of my brothers followed them into military service. Personally, I am relived none of them were still in the forces by the time Australia sent troops into Afghanistan and Iraq. So, on Anzac Day I always take time to reflect on the number of Australians currently serving in the military, and those on active service, in different parts of the world.

But Anzac Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. While it is a day to think about the freedoms that have been won, I also pause and think about the futility of war and how little we have learnt from history.

I meet many people from a refugee background all the time whose families have been impacted by war. I know some of their stories, but others are too traumatised or frightened to speak of their past lives. When I ask them what they most enjoy about living in Australia, the usual answers are freedom and peace. I daresay not too many Australians think about this these days.

Not a week goes by when I don’t think about other what’s going on in different countries. Millions of lives are still affected by different conflicts and war. Countries are still being torn apart over power, religion, culture or other issues. I don’t know the answers, but I continue to hope for a world with more peace, justice and inclusivity for everyone.

Uncle Ray, my Dad and Uncle Blue — Uncle Blue, my Dad and Uncle Ray