#it says a lot that one of the few australian things to get impact internationally as of recent is bluey

[vogelmeister]

thinking about the australian cultural cringe on this sunny sunday hbu

[psychichideoutpeace]

Call her Bengali not Bangladeshi

It was a gloomy day and raining heavy outside, I was in enjoying a tranquil time in my veranda sipping on a cup of smoking hot coffee in between scrolling my Facebook feed. Suddenly a post shared by a girl piqued my curiosity which says “Proud day for Bangladesh as she made it to MasterChef Australia, what are you doing girls?” 

I knew that very moment that something is not right about this post as Australian immigration is not allowing foreigners to their country because of pandemic but I pressed pause on my curious mind for a second, I asked mother to cook kichuri for the lunch and started researching about this Bangladeshi who made it to MasterChef Australia in this pandemic situation. 

After couple of google search I found that only Australian citizen and permanent resident can participate in MasterChef Australia. This lady named Kishwar Chowdhury, born and brought up in Melbourne Australia. She studied there and then in London. Her father is from Bangladesh and mother from Kolkata, India which makes her from Bengali origin but “Bangladeshi” ? no chance, she is Australian. 

In a few days, the whole virtual space of Bangladesh flooded, Kishwar became the household name of Bangladesh and successfully became the topic of discourse. So back to the Facebook post of that girl confidently claiming Kishwar as ours who made it to MasterChef, taunting other girls with Kishwar’s success, trying to make other Bangladeshi girl questioning what they are doing maybe in a hope to inspiring the women to dream big and want to see empowered female gender, didn't know the fact about Kishwar’s nationality. But why ? lets find out.

Kishwar Chowdhury source : Google 

First and foremost, Kishwar’s exhibition of recipes in MasterChef Australia. She presented Bengali traditional food like “Panta bhaat, alu bhorta, paan, mach bhat, kulfi, fuchka chotpoti and so on which every Bengali can relate, as these all are just our daily day to day choices of food, popular culture. When such normal food (for us) exhibited and won rounds in such a huge international platform like MasterChef, it instantly evokes the waves of emotions for most of the people. It feels great when we get validation of our work by others right ? Our traditional food, which is a big part of our Bengali culture is getting validated in the international platform, a proud moment for Bengali people. These Bengali recipes are passed on from her parents to her and she exhibited Bengali food gracefully proving once again, Culture is learned !

Furthermore, most of the Bangladeshi relating to and taking pride in her is because of her ethnicity. Majority of the people lives in Bangladesh are Bengali and absolutely delightful see Bengali food, which is again one of most important part of Bengali culture, got represented by a girl who belongs so same ethnic group.

Finally Kishwar is a symbol of hope, pride and success for the women around the world and specially for Bengali women as she went to MasterChef finale at the age 38, after getting married and having kids, representing Bengali day to day foods yet made it big is a big thing for Bangladeshi women Why ? because they are thinking of Kishwar as one of them. In Bangladesh, women lives in a patriarchal society and deprived of many human rights. Kishwar being Bengali made Bangladeshi women feel empowered. 

All of the above factor worked for Kishwar to become extremely popular in Bangladesh. She also got popular in India and just like Bangladeshi people and media, Indian people and media is also clamming her as theirs because her mother is from Kolkata. 

When a particularly important part of some culture gets international media coverage repetitively, it is spontaneously becomes big achievement for the people of that culture and they wants take pride in it. MasterChef is like the highest standard of food cooking competition. Seeing Bengali local day to day food making it to the finale of such international platform has a lot of positive impacts for Bengali culture. People around the world are now exposed to Bengali culture which is great for Bengali / Bangladeshi people. 

Italian pasta, pizza internationally, “Bogura doi” locally doesn't need any introduction. It shows how food can become a dominant ambassador of a culture and how people of other culture can get hooked with it, which surpasses the man made borders.  

To be continued ...

Reference :

Rahman, S. (2021, August 2). OP-ED: Is Kishwar ours? Dhaka Tribune. https://www.dhakatribune.com/opinion/op-ed/2021/08/02/op-ed-is-kishwar-ours

Is Kishwar of Bangladeshi or Indian heritage? Actually both. (2021, June 30). Dhaka Tribune. https://www.dhakatribune.com/showtime/2021/06/30/is-kishwar-of-bangladeshi-or-indian-heritage-actually-both

Indian news outlet mentions Bangladesh-origin MasterChef contestant Kishwar as ‘Indian’. (2021, June 28). The Daily Star. https://www.thedailystar.net/life-living/food-wellness/news/indian-news-outlet-mentions-bangladesh-origin-masterchef-contestant-kishwar-indian-2119953

[oliverphisher]

Graeme Simsion

Graeme C. Simsion is an Australian author, screenwriter, playwright and data modeller. Prior to becoming an author, Simsion was an information systems consultant, co-authoring the book Data Modelling Essentials, and worked in wine distribution.

Graeme Simsion is the internationally bestselling author of The Rosie Project, The Rosie Effect and The Best of Adam Sharp. He also co-authored Two Steps Forward with Anne Buist.

What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life? 

I’ve long forgotten the name and author of a book about career planning I read more than forty years ago when I was at university. The author spent all but one chapter describing in painstaking detail how to build and execute a career plan, and how to stay on track in the face of setbacks and changes. The last chapter was written by someone else: an alternative approach, based on opportunism. ‘Winging it,’ he called It and it was the first time I’d heard the expression: have broad goals, but be prepared to change the plan as opportunities arise; be willing to take on something for which you’re unprepared and learn as you go; invest in new skills as they’re needed. It was a revelation—and the philosophy has defined my professional life.

I was running a thriving consultancy business when I read film critic Joe Queenan’s The Unkindest Cut, his often hilarious account of his attempt to make an ultra low budget movie. I was hooked, and followed in his footsteps, dragging my partner and friends with me, undeterred by my utter lack of experience in any facet of filmmaking. The movie was forgettable (and best forgotten) but the screenwriting seed was planted. Within a year I had sold my business, and went on to enrol in a screenwriting course while I supported myself with freelance consulting work. That was the beginning of my transition from consultant and business owner to full-time writer.

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?

The answer’s always going to be a book; I’ll try to look beyond that. So…a backup battery for my phone. I’ve hardly ever used it, but it’s eliminated low-battery anxiety.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? 

I spent five years studying screenwriting and—throughout that time—working on a screenplay for a romantic comedy. It won a prize but the step to production for an unknown screenwriter with an original script was just not going to happen. I should have realised that from the start: most mainstream movies are adaptations of novels—generally bestselling novels. The studios let the publishers and public sort out the winners before they invest.

So I re-wrote The Rosie Project screenplay as a novel. At first it was a means to get the screenplay noticed, but I quickly became immersed in the novel as a work in itself (which was surely necessary if it was going to be successful). And now I’m a novelist first and only an occasional screenwriter.

Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?

Pay it forward. It’s the social contract, a basic principle to live by. In the context of writing, I’ve had a great deal of luck, and I do what I can to help others who are trying to break in. So teaching, talks, mentorship, endorsement, contributing to blogs... I encourage those who might benefit from such help to do the same for others in turn. I have a book on novel writing underway—I doubt it’ll make me money, but hope it’ll be helpful to at least some aspiring authors.

You never understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. – Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. In other words, practise empathy. I taught consulting skills for many years, and if consultants could do this with their clients, most of their problems would disappear. In writing, you need to be able to do it for all of your characters—if you can’t answer the character’s question ‘What’s my motivation?’ with something deeper than a stereotype (‘he’s just a boss’) or a label (‘she’s a histrionic’) he or she has no substance. That said, when I’m writing, I don’t explicitly think about my readers!

What is one of the best investment in a writing resource you’ve ever made? 

I bought my first computer in 1984, and since then I’ve always typed; I can barely hand-write. You write differently when you use a word processor—and, unlike some of my generation, I’m well used to it. And I learned to touch-type—an undervalued skill.

Right now, I’m beginning a 10-day hike, and my i-Pad (with keyboard) will repay the weight it adds to my backpack: writing tool, research tool, communication tool (plus all the non-writing-related functions). For writers seeking the lightest computing solution, at present what I’m using seems to be it. 

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?

I still buy CDs and have a pretty big collection of them. I’ve got a bit of vinyl too, and that’s probably even more absurd but more fashionable. Plus the high-end turntable. I suspect it’s about being able to afford things that I couldn’t when I was younger. Our kids find my consumerism pretty distasteful, but they’re reacting against growing up with it, whereas I grew up having to save for that 7-inch single of Hey Jude…

In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life? 

A year ago, my partner bought me an Apple Watch (I’m sounding like a shill for Apple here, with the iPad and all). I set the ‘move’ goal (calories / kilojoules burned each day) to the highest setting and aim to hit it every day. I feel better; I’ve lost weight; I’ve been motivated to get back to the gym. I’m sure it won’t work for everyone, but so far it’s worked for me.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven aspiring author? What advice should they ignore? 

Get published. As you’re starting out, write a few short stories. Get them into competitions, submit for magazines, anthologies, whatever. Agents will be less quick to dismiss you if someone has rated your work. And it’ll improve your writing. That final look at the manuscript before it goes in the envelope frequently prompts another improvement.

Join a class and / or writing group. I’m a supporter of creative writing classes: there’s a body of knowledge relevant to writing and you should know it. Why should writing be different from every other trade or profession in this regard? Plus, you need feedback—and to get used to dealing with it. Critiquing others’ writing will improve your understanding of what works and what doesn’t.  And the group or class will help you keep to deadlines and connect with the industry.

Plan. OK, some writers write by the seat of their pants, but if it’s not working for you, plan. If it is working for you, meaning that you’re finishing novels, not just getting a great 30,000 words down, keep doing what you’re doing. Otherwise, do what just about every other profession does and introduce an element of top-down development i.e. plan.

Draft like it doesn’t matter. Don’t get it right, get it done. If you’ve a plan to follow, it’ll make sense, it just may not be pretty. But you’ll have a massive sense of progress and of satisfaction in getting it done.  You can then come back and apply your creativity to the sentence level. 

Rewrite. You should know that, but in the euphoria that accompanies the completion of a first draft, it’s easy to forget and to start sharing your work of genius. Don’t. Let it sit. Rewrite. Repeat until satisfied. I always go over what I’ve written the previous day before starting on the fresh work of the day. I can always improve it.

The best way for most of us to deal with rejection is to have more irons in the fire—another publisher to send to; another short story in competition; the new novel we’re working on.

Ignore, or take with a big grain of salt, advice on writing from anyone who isn’t a successful writer (defining ‘successful’ in the way that you yourself define success).

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession often? 

Write every day. I don’t. But I work on my novel or other work-in-progress almost every day. That work may be writing, but it could be research, planning, editing, thinking about the opening sentence, solving a plot problem, reflecting on the writing process.  And yes, promotion. If you’re down to participate in a public debate in the evening, don’t expect to get a lot of writing done during the day. If you want to write every day, do it, but it’s not for everyone.

Build your presence on social media (see below). I mean, sure, if you want to, but it’s got nothing to do with being a good or successful writer.

Read this book – or movie or TV series that’s in the same space as what you’re writing. You’ll be intimidated (you’re comparing a final product with a first draft), feel you’re not original and become paranoid about stealing ideas. I’ve never watched The Big Bang Theory – any overlap between Sheldon Cooper and Don Tillman is entirely coincidental.

In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)?

I’ve become slightly better at saying no to requests for endorsements. I’ve had to. I feel a responsibility to read new books (especially by debut authors) but it’s easy to become overwhelmed. If I don’t write myself, a blurb from me won’t have much cred anyway! 

What marketing tactics should authors avoid?

‘Buy my book’ messages on social media. In fact, with a few exceptions, using social media as a marketing tool at all. I’m an old data guy, and I’m here to tell you that Twitter doesn’t sell books. Your time will be much better spent writing a better book. In fact most ‘marketing’ effort on the part of authors would be better devoted to writing. Even book tours (especially in the US which is massively over-serviced by touring authors) generally have little impact.

Broadcast media is a different thing. If you get a chance to be on radio or TV, drop the computer and grab the microphone with both hands.

I know I’m out on a limb here, but I challenge any marketing people reading this to show me figures to disprove it.

What new realizations and/or approaches have helped you achieve your goals? 

It’s human, and often helpful, to be unsatisfied, to want to stretch further. We dream of being published, but when it happens we want to be a bestseller. Then we’re not happy until we’re number one on the NYT bestseller list. And then, what about the Pulitzer? Yes, this sort of thinking will drive us onwards, but it can also drive us nuts. When I was offered a publishing contract, I reminded myself that I had achieved my goal. Anything more was gravy. There’s been a lot of gravy, and as The Rosie Project sat at no. 2 on the NYT bestseller list, I was dreaming of that ‘No 1 NYT bestseller’ blaze on the cover. It didn’t happen (The Goldfinch kept me out) and I was disappointed, but only for about ten minutes. How lucky was I? So I’ve learned to enjoy the roller coaster ride (notably with movie adaptations) and not to pin too much on external achievements.

And, perhaps paradoxically, being sanguine about success has helped me achieve it; by not dwelling on failures, but moving forward with what I want to do.

When you feel overwhelmed or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? 

I don’t often feel overwhelmed. I spent a long time running a business, and you learn how to deal with overload: in my case, make a list and (in order) dump; delegate; defer; do.

And focus…hold on. I’m probably one of the more goal-driven, businesslike, organised writers around, but I’m hesitant to apply the rather American motivational model to what I do—and especially to recommend it to others. I lose my focus, I do something else. That’s a little glib, but I’m not driven by writing goals; I’m driven by a desire to write. There’s a huge difference.

That said, and being practical, I frequently find I have to force myself to sit down to the day’s writing (editing and planning are not so hard for me) but I’m soon into it. It gets easier the more you do it and have the feedback of it working. And ‘do something else’ can mean research or that blog that someone’s asked you to contribute to. It’s not an excuse for going to the pub.

Any other tips?

My most important advice to aspiring writers is that it’s a profession. Approach it as you would any other profession in terms of the amount of learning you’ll need to do and how long it will take to become expert. If you’ve worked in another profession, there’s your benchmark; if not, look to that friend who wants to be a neurosurgeon. There are more jobs for neurosurgeons than novelists. But if you have a modicum of ability and put in that level of work, you have a very good chance of success.

________

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[dippedanddripped]

WITH MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK (MBFWA) IMMINENT, GQ SPOKE TO THE CEO OF THE AUSTRALIAN FASHION COUNCIL (AFC) DAVID GILES-KAYE ABOUT WHY MENSWEAR IS HAVING ITS MOMENT DOWN UNDER, AND THE IMPACT IT’S HAVING ACROSS THE BOARD.

Double Rainbouu, ExInfinitas, SSS World Corp, Bassike, MNdatory, MJ Bale, Christian Kimber, Chris Ran Lin, Blair Archibald, Homie, Jac + Jack, Strateas Carlucci, Trenery, Song for the Mute, Daniel Patrick, The People Vs, The Critical Slide Society, Calibre, Assembly Label, Venroy, Zanerobe, Commas, Ten Pieces, Non-Type, Academy Brand, Barney Cools, Ksubi, Jack London, Joe Farage, P Johnson, RM Williams, AMXANDER.

These are just some of the Australian menswear brands that spring to mind thriving at the moment. Together with department stores like Harrolds, David Jones, Marais and Masons, you have all the evidence you need that men’s fashion in Australia is booming.

MBFWA is about to kick off and with more menswear set to walk the runways than ever before, we decided to catch up with David Giles-Kaye – a man who’s flying the flag for fashion and menswear from a more business-focused position in Australia.

Yes, a more vested interest in fashion means more options for the Australian gent to get enthused by and greater opportunities to fill your wardrobes with. But this is serious business we are talking about.

The fashion industry brings in billions of dollars to Australia’s economy, and it’s also leading the way in the sustainability stakes too.

So while the two candidates to be our next prime minister may struggle to grasp the importance of personal style, we’re here to dig deeper into one of the fastest growing industries in this country. And Scott Morrison or Bill Shorten, if you’re reading, feel free to get in touch for some election-day tips.

In the meantime, here’s to a fantastic Fashion Week.

GQ: Let’s start off by discussing the growing importance of Sydney’s Fashion Week.

David Giles-Kaye: From AFC’s point of view, it is really important that it’s growing and is healthy. It’s also important for labels as a way of entering the international buying system, indeed we’re seeing MBFWA feature more prominently on international buyers’ schedules.

Indeed, we have buyers from the likes of MatchesFashion.com, Neiman Marcus, Lane Crawford, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue attending, which is great. But what improvements are there to make?

We’re supportive of IMG’s efforts to make it attractive for more international buyers to come here – so they find something interesting, different and unique. We also see MBFWA as a place where we can educate labels around how to sell internationally, understand what buyers are looking for, and how they can best prepare to do business on a global scale.

This year, there are a couple of seminars on the schedule focusing on just this. McKinsey & Company are presenting their State of Fashion Report, which is connecting labels to the key global trends impacting the world’s fashion businesses and engaging around that. Lambert + Associates are also hosting a Sales Seminar for brands on how to best establish themselves in the international market.

While we have people together we want to help them, not just for fashion week but for the future, to build that business capability.

How can MBFWA become more relevant to the Australian gent?

Well, men’s fashion is really on the agenda like it’s never been before. It’s a strong trend globally and is going from strength to strength here.

Although there are several local labels making waves internationally, we’re not showcasing enough menswear at home, and setting the agenda for more to come. We still don’t have that pathway established.

Emerging labels, like MNDATORY, Ex Infinitas, Chris Ran Lin, Blair Archibald, and AMXANDER are coming through strongly. So the more we can showcase these labels, and demonstrate that they are developing strongly as designers and as brands, then the more that pathway will start filling up with people, designers, starting labels.

MBFWA have a great line-up of menswear designers this year and we need to keep building on this.

Why are menswear trends increasing on a global scale, and how is that starting to translate in Australia?

Similar to other markets, Aussie men are more style conscious, we’re not as inhibited as we once were, and we’re engaging with fashion in a more authentic way.

As men embrace personal style more strongly, we need more options for them, where they can buy what they like. From a commercial point of view, more men’s labels may take a while to come, as people slowly start to trust in these trends. And that ties in with the significance of fashion week – engaging men so we can help that ecosystem evolve more quickly.

Fashion week happens to collide with election week, and I know Julie Bishop was a huge backer of the industry, who is now taking over that to show how valuable the fashion industry is to the Australian economy?

We’re yet to see someone take over from Julie Bishop. She has been a fantastic advocate for the industry both here and overseas for many years.

Engagement with all levels of government is really important to building the health of our 25 billion dollar industry. And it’s not just about building economic value and employment, but recognising that fashion is important for reflecting our many cultural identities and our expression of our creativity as a nation. Julie Bishop really got this and we miss her.

How do you feel about cultural representation and what needs to be done to support more Indigenous brands in the industry?

There are fantastic Indigenous artists and designers working in textiles and fashion. But there are way too few of them, and, as an industry we really haven’t done enough to help them develop in the past. We have a focus on this now

. It’s a collaborative focus, connecting with Indigenous designers and their communities and bringing them together with established fashion designers and industry mentors to figure out how we can help them grow.

It’s so important that our Indigenous culture is strongly represented in our industry, but we’ve still got a long way to go.

A couple of weeks ago was Fashion Revolution Week – what’s the AFC’s stance on that?

Yeah that’s such a huge area. We’re very supportive of Fashion Revolution and think it is fantastic how the Australian fashion industry have embraced it, there are over 60 events that have been organised around the country this year.

Protecting workers’ rights and ensuring a living wage is just so critical to the future of the industry. Fashion has an undeniable social and environmental footprint, second only to the oil industry it’s one of the largest polluters. And with so many touch-points from fibre to the consumer, it’s also a huge employer.

There are a lot of problems in the supply chain and we’re working very hard to fix them. Fashion Revolution is one of the bodies that is really helping and pushing us.

This year MBFWA has put in place its first steps to reduce event waste and increase energy efficiency, which is great. But are we doing enough to enable brands to be more sustainable?

It’s fundamentally about building transparency within the industry so that consumers can make informed decisions where they buy products and be part of making that change happen.

Sustainability and ethical practice are absolutely critical. They are arguably the two most important issues of our time. So trying to bring people together and get projects going about this topic is key.

A lot of companies in Australia are highly engaged and actively investing in building transparency in their businesses – publishing reports and factory names and really digging deep into their supply chains to understand what’s happening and then fixing it if there’s a problem. We also have technology companies developing new fibre recycling processes, which we might even see in place by the end of this year.

We can definitely see a future with a truly circular economy and where we can be assured that workers are treated properly in our supply chain. We would like Australia to be one of the leaders in the world in this area and I think we are starting on the way to being that.

The other thing I’ll say is that our emerging designers are leading the way; labels like A.BCH have really set the bar high. They’re putting a huge amount of effort into knowing absolutely everything that’s going into their products and then communicating that to their customers.

That’s great. Is it more difficult for established brands to completely change their methods and turn things around?

Yeah, it’s about the more established brands having to adapt to it. The recent Baptist World Aid fashion report scored some of our more established fashion labels quite low. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that they are actually poor in this area, it just means that they don’t have the documentation in place to demonstrate how they’re making their clothes. These companies now need to invest in new systems for building transparency.

[realestatedigitalsales]

Real Estate - Recession Signs Everywhere

Real Estate - Recession Signs Everywhere

Real Estate - Recession Signs Everywhere

By John Mauldin Real Estate - This month, the Federal Reserve joined its global peers by turning decisively dovish. Jerome Powell and friends haven’t just stopped tightening. Soon they will begin actively easing by reinvesting the Fed’s maturing mortgage bonds into Treasury securities. It’s not exactly “Quantitative Easing I, II, and III,” but it will have some of the same effects.

Why are they doing this? One theory, which I admit possibly plausible, was that Powell simply caved to Wall Street pressure. The rate hikes and QT were hitting asset prices and liquidity, much to the detriment of bankers and others to whom the Fed pays keen attention. But that doesn’t truly square with his 2018 speeches and actions. The Fed’s March 20 announcement suggests more is happening. I think two other factors are driving the Fed’s thinking. One is increasing recognition of the same slowing global growth that made other central banks turn dovish in recent months. The other is the Fed’s realization that its previous course risked inverting the yield curve, which was violently turning against its fourth-quarter expectations and possibly toward recession (see chart below, courtesy of WSJ’s “Daily Shot”). That would not have looked good in the history books, hence the backtracking.

On the second point... too late. The yield curve inverted, and recession forecasts became suddenly de rigueuramong the same financial punditry that was wildly bullish just weeks ago. My own position has been consistent: Recession is approaching but not just yet. Yet like the Fed, I am data-dependent and the latest data are not encouraging. Today, we’ll examine this and consider what may have changed. Cracks Appearing Let’s start with a step back. The global economy clearly hasn’t recovered from the last recession like it did in previous cycles. Yes, the stock market performed well. So has real estate. We’ve seen some economic growth, which in a few places you might even call a “boom,” but for the most part it’s been pretty mild. Unemployment is low, but wage growth has been sluggish at best. Rising asset prices, fueled by almost a decade of easy monetary policy, also contributed to wealth and income inequality, which fueled populist and now semi-socialist movements around the world. This slow recovery began fading in the last few quarters. The first cracks appeared overseas, leaving the US as an island of stability. Not coincidentally, we also had (slightly) positive interest rates and thus attracted capital from elsewhere. This let our growth continue longer. But now, signs of weakness are mounting here, too. Recall, this follows years of astonishing, amazing, unprecedented, and astronomically huge monetary stimulus by the Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, European Central Bank, and others. In various and sundry ways, they opened the spigots and left them running full speed for almost a decade. And all it produced was the above-mentioned weak recovery. (Chart below from my friend Jim Bianco, again via “The Daily Shot”)

That, alone, should tell you that putting your faith in central bankers is probably a mistake. We can’t know how much worse the last decade would have been without their “help,” but does this feel like success? Yet here we are, with millions still in the hole from the last recession and another one possibly looming. We also can’t rely on historical precedent to identify where, when, or why it will start. But we can make some educated guesses. First Domino Earlier, I called the US an “island of stability.” Other such islands exist, too, and Australia is high on the list. The last Down Under recession was 27—yes, 27—years ago in 1991. No other developed economy can say the same. The long streak has a lot to do with being one of China’s top raw material suppliers during that country’s historic boom. But Australia has done other things right, too. Alas, all good things come to an end. While not officially in recession yet, Australia’s growth is slowing. University of New South Wales professor Richard Holden says it is in “effective recession” with per-capita GDP having declined in both Q3 and Q4 of 2018. (By the way, Italy is similarly in a “technical recession.” Expect more such euphemisms as governments try to avoid uttering the “R-word.”) As often happens, real estate is involved. Australia’s housing boom/bubble could unravel badly. Last week, Grant Williams highlighted a video by economist John Adams, Digital Finance Analytics founder Martin North, and Irish financial adviser Eddie Hobbs, who say Australia’s economy looks increasingly like Ireland’s just before the 2007 housing collapse. The parallels are a bit spooky. Australia’s household debt to GDP was 120.5 per cent as of September last year, according to the Bank for International Settlements, one of the highest in the world. In 2007, Ireland was sitting at around 100 per cent. At the same time, the RBA puts Australia’s household debt to disposable income at 188.6 per cent. Ireland was 200 per cent in 2007, while the US was only 116.3 per cent at the start of 2008. RBA figures also show more than two thirds of the country’s net household wealth is invested in real estate. In 2008, that figure was 83 per cent in Ireland and 48 per cent in the US. Meanwhile, 60 per cent of all lending by Australian financial institutions is in the property sector. In 2007, the International Monetary Fund gave the Irish economy and banking system a clean bill of health and suggested that a “soft landing” was the most likely outcome. Last month, the IMF said Australia’s property market was heading for a “soft landing”. House prices in Sydney and Melbourne have fallen nearly 14 per cent and 10 per cent from their respective peaks in July and November 2017, coinciding with sharp drop-off in credit flowing into the housing sector both for owner-occupiers and investors. Real estate is, by nature, credit-driven. Few people pay cash for land, homes, or commercial properties. So when credit dries up, so does demand for those assets. Falling demand means lower prices, which is bad when you are highly leveraged. It gets worse from there as the banking system gets dragged into the fray. Losses can quickly spread as defaults affect lenders far from the source. This is not only an Australian problem. Similar slowdowns are unfolding in New Zealand, Canada, Europe, and China.It’s a global problem, and one company reveals the impact. Constrained Hiring Shipping and transport stocks are kind of a “canary in the coal mine” because they are among the first to signal slowing growth. Last week, FedEx reported its international shipping revenue was down and cut its full-year earnings guidance. Its CFO blamed the economy, reported CNBC. Slowing international macroeconomic conditions and weaker global trade growth trends continue, as seen in the year-over-year decline in our FedEx Express international revenue,” Alan B. Graf, Jr., FedEx Corp. executive vice president and chief financial officer, said in statement. Despite a strong U.S. economy, FedEx said its international business weakened during the second quarter, especially in Europe. FedEx Express international was down due primarily to higher growth in lower-yielding services and lower weights per shipment, Graf said. To compensate for lower revenue, Graf said FedEx began a voluntary employee buyout program and constrained hiring. It is also “limiting discretionary spending” and is reviewing additional actions. FedEx shares have dropped roughly 27 percent in the past year, lagging the XLI industrial ETF’s 1 percent decline. This little snippet overflows with implications. Let’s unpack some of them. Revenue fell due to “higher growth in lower-yielding services.” So those who ship international packages have decided lower costs outweigh speed. Likewise, “lower weights per shipment” signals they are shipping only what they must, when they must. FedEx is responding with an employee buyout program and “constrained hiring.” The company is overstaffed for its present requirements. This might also reflect increased automation of work once done by humans. In any case, it won’t help the employment stats. In addition, FedEx is “limiting discretionary spending.” I’m not sure what that means. Every business always limits discretionary spending, or it doesn’t stay in business long. If FedEx is taking additional steps, then whoever would have received that spending will also see lower revenues. They might have to “constrain hiring,” too. Obviously, FedEx is just one company, although a large and critically positioned one. But statements like this add up to recession if they grow more common… and they are. Tariff Trouble One reason FedEx is in the vanguard is that it’s uniquely exposed to world trade, the growth of which is diminishing for multiple reasons. Part of it is technology. The things we “ship” internationally are increasingly digital, and they travel via wires and satellite links instead of ships and planes. These sorts of goods aren’t easily valued for inclusion in the trade stats. Energy is another factor. Between US shale production and renewable energy sources, we don’t import as much oil and gas from across the seas as we otherwise would. That shows up in both trade and currency values. The US dollar is stronger now, in part because we send fewer dollars to OPEC. Note the massive (and stealthy!) growth in LNG (liquified natural gas) exports in the past few years. Think what this will look like in a few years, with not one but four LNG export terminals on the US coasts. Natural gas is also the basis for much of the chemical and fertilizer industry. Abundant US supplies (and prices less than half the cost of Russian gas in Germany) help many US industries compete.

Those are just signs of normal progress and change. The economy can adapt to them. The greater threat is artificially constrained international trade, which is what the Trump administration’s trade war is creating. Last year, I explained how trade wars can spark recession and trade deficits are nothing to fear. I won’t repeat all that here. But we have since seen several market swoons/rallies as harsher trade restrictions looked more/less likely. Whether you like it or not, asset values depend on the (relatively) free flow of goods and services across international borders. Interfere with that and all kinds of assets become less valuable. Starting a trade war, at the same time growth is slowing for other reasons, is more than a little unwise. Agricultural tariffs have already ripped through US farm country to devastating effect, leaving losses some farmers may never recover. The president’s tariff threats had other impact as well. Companies raced to import foreign-supplied components and inventory before the tariffs took effect. This jammed ports and highways last year, not with new demand but future demand shifted forward in time. This is important, and I think we will see the impact soon (if we are not already). Transport and logistics companies geared up for last year’s surge, expanding their facilities and hiring new workers. Importers built up inventory in an effort to avoid tariffs that were supposed to take effect in January. The deadline was extended, but the threat is still alive. At some point, all this has to stop. Carrying inventory is expensive and will eventually outweigh the benefit of avoiding tariffs. Then the boom will come to a screeching halt. Imports will fall as companies work down inventory. All those jobs and construction projects will disappear. That, combined with the other cyclical factors and high debt loads everywhere, could easily add up to a recession. Exactly when is hard to say. Recessions usually get pronounced in hindsight, so there’s some possibility we are in one right now. But I still think we’ll avoid it this year. Getting into this box took a long time and so will getting out of it. Regardless, we’ll have a recession at some point. I think the next subprime crisis will be in corporate debt. Next week, we’ll look deeper into the timing question, what the yield curve tells us, and why the next decade will bring little or no economic growth. I realize this is not a happy conclusion, but I call them as I see them. I’ll leave you with one final but critically important thought: Prepare, don’t despair. Tough times are coming but we can handle them. You have a chance to get ready. I highly suggest you take it. Read more https://global.goreds.today/real-estate-markets-brace-for-near-crisis-level-drop-in-retail-property-values/ Read the full article

[thornburgrealty]

Acting appeared 1753 and his dramatic works 1760

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All I do is throw 30 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. is a fast-moving, high-energy show that covers everything you need to begin your day. His first preseason against the Detroit Lions 2012 left fans wondering who is this rookie safety and why is he missing tackles? Because of the latter, Chicago Cubs catcher and former Arizona Diamondback Miguel Montero was the latest position player used as emergency pitcher, and he didn’t perform all that poorly despite his pitch mix consisting solely of 80-mph changeups. Here’s PFF’s breakdown this : 9. Best corner the draft & it is not even close. That’s the scary four of Drummond’s first five seasons, he has been significantly more valuable on the defensive end of the floor than he has been offensively. I think Garfield Vol. 1 people that office is just, they always want to find something to stick us with and it’s just sad we’ve come to this, but that’s what is and we’re going to continue to fight it, . He doesn’t have burning speed either with a 4 40-yard dash.

has he improved since then?

from WordPress http://www.thornburgrealty.com/2018/07/04/acting-appeared-1753-and-his-dramatic-works-1760/

[adelaidecity]

How virtual reality is changing Australia's wine industry

Australian winemakers are turning to virtual and augmented reality technology in a bid to tap into international markets. The Federal Government recently coughed up $2.8 million for a handful of Australian winemaking associations or bodies to invest in tourism projects. Three of the successful applicants plan to use their share of funding to create either a virtual or augmented reality experience. Riverland Wine, based in South Australia's largest wine grape producing region, is one recipient creating a virtual reality wine experience at a cost of over half a million dollars. The body's executive chair, Chris Byrne, said it was technology they hoped would sell the regional area to potential wine lovers. "We are really confident that we can begin to attract a lot more attention to Riverland Wine, and what it has to offer the globe," Mr Byrne said. "The beauty of it is that it is entirely portable, so we will be able to experience it right here in the region, but we can also send it to international wine events." "It is consistent with our whole approach here in the Riverland, which is to look towards technology as being the way forward, whether it be in the farm or on the marketplace."

SA's Seppeltsfield Wines first invested in virtual reality technology in 2016. (Supplied: Seppeltsfield Winery)

SA's Seppeltsfield Wines first invested in virtual reality technology in 2016. Supplied: Seppeltsfield Winery Tapping into China In the past two years, China has emerged as Australia's boom market for wine. Just last month, statistics from Wine Australia showed the value of Australian exports to China cracked over $1 billion between March 2017 and March 2018. South Australia's Seppeltsfield Winery was one of few investing in the technology back in 2016, in an effort to market their cellar door and vineyard to tourists. Sales and marketing manager, Chad Elson, said the virtual reality experience has been well received in Asia. "We found that particularly in China, it is a fantastic element of our marketing mix," he said. "I think it is a fairly logical step for businesses to take." "It is just another compliment in what people are doing to help sell their wine internationally and their businesses as destinations for tourism." Will virtual reality replace the real thing? The growing investment in creating a virtual tourist experience begs the question could the technology ever replace a real winery experience? General Manager of Destination Riverland, Caroline Phillips, said despite the large investment in virtual reality technology, she anticipates tourists will still want to visit the area. "Virtual reality and anything online is the way of the future," she said. "I do not see this as having an impact in terms of visitation. I see it as a great opportunity to give people a taste of what we have here in the region, and encourage them to come here and experience it for themselves."

Could virtual reality wine tours ever replace the real experience? (ABC News: Rob Koenig-Luck)

Could virtual reality wine tours ever replace the real experience? ABC News: Rob Koenig-Luck Seppeltsfield's Chad Elson agrees, saying the technology was designed as a tool for events like wine trade fairs, but not to replace the real experience. "Just being able to give them a small flavour of what they can expect increases their interest," he said. "We find it more as an interest prompter." Having no doubts about its future growth for Australian winemakers, the challenge, according to Mr Elson, is trying to keep pace with a revolving door of tech advancements. "Back in 2016, virtual reality was really unknown in the wine industry," Mr Elson said. "When we launched our first tour, even getting a hold of the actual virtual reality headsets was really difficult. "Even for us now, the technology we launched two years ago is dated." http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-05-08/virtual-reality-boosts-australian-wine-industry/9728440

[newandbrave]

The Paper Kites – Revelator Eyes

The process of making an EP (let alone an album) can be an incredibly long task for any aspiring band or musician. It requires a lot of dedication and hours spent in the studio working alongside producers to perfect the album. But there are also other things to consider, including whether to record locally or overseas and what sort of concepts will the new record be based around. Young Australian indie-folk band The Paper Kites has recently gone through the process of releasing a second album, and it is vastly different from what they produced earlier in their careers. This band has a very dream-like sound about them, and you could be left in a daze by listening to a few of their songs. While they are still starting out in music, their retro and diverse sound shows just how mature each of the band members are as musicians.

The Paper Kites originated in Melbourne back in 2010. In the beginning it was based around band members Sam Bentley and Christina Lacey who had been performing together and writing music since high school. Early on in their music careers they would play Melbourne coffee shops, and they would eventually be offered a chance to play at a local festival. It was then that Bentley and Lacey came to the realisation that they would need more members if their music was to take off and make an impact. These three other members included David Powys who was recruited from another Melbourne based band (guitar/banjo), Sam’s friend and co-worker Sam Rasmussen (bass/synth) and Sam’s cousin Josh Bentley (drums). Their debut single Bloom followed soon after the line-up was complete. The EP Woodland was released in 2011, and by the early months of 2012 they were headlining festivals across Australia and even got the chance to perform on live TV. The hit tracks from the EP including Featherstone and Bloom generated over 5 million YouTube views. Following this they opted for another EP called Young North, instead of a full album, so that they would have the chance to continue to develop their live sound. Young North was co-produced by Wayne Connolly and the band at the Sing-Sing recording studio in Melbourne. In 2013 the band released their first full LP ‘States’ and they followed it up with a tour of North America supporting Canadian band City & Colour.

The concept and planning of the second album was originally took place in Sam Bentley’s family home where he would be in his studio creating new music during the early hours of the morning. All the long hours and hard work would pay off when the band went to Seattle to record the album and create a more in-depth sound that was different from their previous album. In Seattle they would work alongside critically acclaimed producer Phil Ek who assisted them in developing a more synth focussed sound. The second album ‘Twelvefour’ was released in 2015 and it was based around the idea of it being recorded during the hours of 12.00 AM and 4.00 AM. Bentley described the different sound of their second album as a natural progression and he feels that the change was definitely a good thing.

They have an indie-folk sound which is a nice combination of synth and an earthy folk guitar which is then supported by some nice vocals. A documentary by Matthew J Cox has also been made about the making and progression of the bands second album. Sam Bentley says they wanted to give viewers an insight into what they went through to make the record and the processes that they had to follow. The Paper Kites have stood by the style of music that they love and they believe that it is what will make them successful. They also have a local but very loyal fan base that have supported them from the start. Sam Bentley said that he wanted to be part of that band where people would give them a listen when they needed something more than a song to make them feel happy.

Revelator Eyes is taken off their second album ‘Twelvefour’ and it shows off the synth inspired indie sound that The Paper Kites have progressed towards. The first twenty to thirty seconds shows off the light synth sound straight away, it then progresses to some vintage indie pop which a lot of band have turned to as of late. I think the chorus is what makes this song so special as it has some great indie guitar combined with some light vocals which immediately brings me back to some of the very famous indie-pop songs from the 80’s. The music video was shot by Dan Huiting and it was based around a fictional venue that was thought up by Sam Bentley and the band known as Jam Bar. Sam Bentley said that he intended the concept behind the video to be that people would order their music from behind the bar and then play the records at small vinyl record stations with headphones. So instead of ordering some drinks and sitting down at a booth and having a conversation, people actually get the record and they listen to it together in silence. The whole idea is very retro and it could easily be set in one of Melbourne’s many underground bars, clubs and hidden laneway gems. 

The Paper Kites remind me a lot of English indie band Bloc Party. While The Paper Kites use more synth in their current song I can still hear some elements of indie-pop/rock in their music that Bloc Party rely on create their emotional and upbeat songs.

The Paper Kites seem to have found a new niche in their song Revelator Eyes. I enjoyed the retro sound and it immediately made me feel like I was wandering down one of Melbourne’s back laneways while looking for a new place to go late at night. The vocals still have the folk feeling but this new indie-pop that they have come out with is worth a listen because there are not many bands in Australia right now who can produce such a smooth and laid back retro sound. I would love to hear more of their new style in the near future.

I’m starting to see The Paper Kites as a band with a more human element. The Melbournians seem to enjoy sharing their story and the highs and the lows with their group of fans, and they also seem to have the right attitude about their work as well. I think we will see more artistic music video concepts and delightful retro based indie-pop tracks from them in the near future, and while they may not be making headlines around the world just yet I believe that they can become an internationally recognised band very soon.

Why we love it: Dream-like vibe, indie-pop sound, retro aesthetic

Facebook • BUY IT

By Kieren

[oliverphisher]

Belinda Murrell

At about the age of eight, Belinda Murrell began writing stirring tales of adventure, mystery and magic in hand illustrated exercise books. As an adult, she combined two of her great loves – writing and travelling the world – and worked as a travel journalist, technical writer and public relations consultant. Now, inspired by her own three children, Belinda is a bestselling, internationally published children’s author with a history of writing in her family that spans over 200 years.

The Locket of Dreams (Belinda Murrell Timeslip Books) By Belinda Murrell Buy on Amazon

Her previous titles include four picture books, her fantasy adventure series The Sun Sword trilogy and her seven time-slip adventures, The Locket of Dreams, The Ruby Talisman, The Ivory Rose, The Forgotten Pearl, The River Charm, The Sequin Star, and The Lost Sapphire.

These books have been recognised by various awards, including Honour Book KOALAS 2013, shortlisted eight times for the Young Australians Best Book Award (YABBA), CBCA Notable List 2012 and 2017 and highly commended in the PM’s Literary Awards.

For younger readers Belinda has her popular Lulu Bell series and more recently, Pippa’s Island, about starting a new life on a tropical island, finding your courage and the best group of friends you could wish for. Belinda’s books have been published in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, USA, UK, Turkey, South Africa and Brazil, with translated into Afrikaans, Czech, Turkish and Portuguese. She is an Author Ambassador for Room to Read and Books in Homes.

Belinda lives in Manly in a gorgeous old house overlooking the sea with her husband Rob, her three beautiful children - Nick, Emily and Lachlan, and her dog Rosie.

What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life? 

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia) By C. S. Lewis

As a child, the book that most fired my imagination was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.

Five on a Treasure Island (Famous Five) By Enid Blyton

I also loved Famous Five by Enid Blyton, especially Five on a Treasure Island.

Pride and Prejudice By Jane Austen

As a teenager I adored Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?

A London Oyster card. As part of the research for our new book, I travelled to the UK with my sister Kate Forsyth and our daughters. My sister and I are writing a book together on the life of our great-great-great-great grandmother Charlotte Waring, who wrote the first Australian children’s book in 1841.  I had been struggling with elements of the writing, particularly my memoir sections but wandering the streets of London where Charlotte grew up really brought her story to life.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? 

Four years ago, I had an idea for a realistic contemporary story about a girl and her family who move from London to a tiny tropical island offthe coast of Australia, leaving everything behind.  I hadn’t written for this age group before and decided to write in first person, which was a new challenge for me. I wrote a large chunkof the book with great enthusiasm but was devastated when my publisher Zoe Walton at Penguin Random House, gently told me I was way off the mark with voice, tone, and story. She encouraged me to throw the whole lot out and start again. That hurt! It had been months of work. But I took her advice and started again. The result was Pippa’s Island, a five-book series, which has been hugely popular with 8 to 10-year-old girls, translated into Czech and pitched for a live action TV series.  The TV series may never come off, but I get lots of letters and emails from kids telling me how much they love this series and my cast of feisty girl characters.

Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?

‘Aim for the moon, and if you fail, you’ll fall among stars.’

What is one of the best investments in a writing resource you’ve ever made? 

My notebooks. I carry a notebook with me all the time, and scribble down my thoughts, observations, ideas and images whenever inspiration strikes me. When I travel, I usually keep a journal to record my experiences in greater detail.

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love? 

I love getting sweaty and dusty in the cattle yards on my brother’s farm near Dungog. My whole family goes up there a few times a year to help with mustering, tagging and vet work especially when there are young calves. My favourite part is riding my horse while we muster the cows in from the distant paddocks. It’s hot, hard manual work but such a contrast to my usual writing life. I love it!

In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life? 

To remember to stop and celebrate the small successes along the journey.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven aspiring author? What advice should they ignore? 

Embrace your tribe! Become an active and generous member of the publishing community. Attend festivals and conferences to keep learning. Support other writers by attending book launches and buying their books. Some of my very best friends are the warm and wonderful writers I’ve met along the way.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession often? 

That writers who are persistent enough will eventually get published.

In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)? 

I think very carefully about every invitation and request. I found I was being asked to do so much for so many people (usually for free) that I was running myself ragged. Now I am much more careful to protect my time and my energy. I don’t appraise other writers’ manuscripts anymorebut I do volunteer for several children’s literacy organisations, such as the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Room to Read, Dymock’s Children’s Charitiesand Books in Homes.

What marketing tactics should authors avoid?

Being pushy.

What new realizations and/or approaches have helped you achieve your goals? 

Taking time out to travel, spend time with my family and friends or have some fun, helps keep my my writing fresh and joyful.

When you feel overwhelmed or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? 

Go for a walk with my dog along the beach. Swim in the surf. Make a cup of tea and talk to my kids. Escape to my brother’s farm to ride my horse. Cook a beautiful family meal.

Any other tips?

Write with Joy!

________

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[oliverphisher]

Tohby Riddle

Tohby Riddle is an Australian creator of picture books and illustrated books that have been published in many countries, and translated into many languages, around the world. His picture books include The Great Escape from City Zoo, The Royal Guest, Nobody Owns the Moon, My Uncle's Donkey and Unforgotten.

He is an internationally award-winning Australian picture book author / illustrator and cartoonist. His latest book Yahoo Creek: an Australian Mystery was released in March 2019 by Allen & Unwin.

What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?

So many books have influenced my life - but to name a few:

The Art of Maurice Sendak, because it inspired me to try making picture books;

The Art of Maurice Sendak By Selma G. Lanes

On the Road by Jack Kerouac, because it extended my ideas about prose; and

On the Road: The Original Scroll (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) By Jack Kerouac

The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, because it entertainingly challenged conventional thinking about reality.

The Black Swan: Second Edition: The Impact of the Highly Improbable: With a new section: "On Robustness and Fragility" (Incerto) By Nassim Nicholas Taleb

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?

More books! And music too (including on vinyl).

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

Failures are inevitably instructive if you can process them constructively. But you also need a good amount of determination to overcome the initial disappointment that failure can bring and stay focussed on your ultimate goal.

Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?

Actually no single quote comes to mind, but as an artist and writer I remind myself to notice things, and that in art and life patience never stumbles.

What is one of the best investment in a writing resource you’ve ever made?

More books! But also – because I do book illustration and design too – two small cases of letterpress that I bought from a retired printer. I’ve used that letterpress on so many projects!

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?

It’s hard to be sure what’s unusual or absurd, but I love road signs - mainly the yellow and black pictorial ones; unsensationalised reports of hairyman/yowie encounters; and many other things and oddities - it’s my business! I think the creative process benefits from having a natural interest in just about anything.

In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life?

Increasingly trusting in my judgement. And doing some of the things I’ve been meaning to do for a long time - like fine art painting.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven aspiring author? What advice should they ignore?

The Great Escape from City Zoo By Tohby Riddle

Finish things - authors are people who finished something. And don’t pay attention to rules unless you think something you’re doing isn’t working.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession often?

I can’t say I hear bad recommendations often in my profession. The people I deal with want to make good books and are nearly always good to work with and learn from.

In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)?

For some reason, and unlike many other professions, authors get asked to do a lot of things for free - like donating time, books or artwork. You simply can’t say yes to everything - or you’d wouldn’t get your work done.

What marketing tactics should authors avoid?

I’m not sure. It really depends on the book.

What new realizations and/or approaches have helped you achieve your goals?

Again, I’m not sure I’ve achieved too many goals yet, but I think reflecting on what you do and how you can change or optimise things is always a good practice. Never stop learning.

When you feel overwhelmed or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do?

Anything that has nothing to do with what you are trying to do. I do a bush walk or town walk, go to an art gallery, or browse some op shops. Somehow the mind benefits from a timely, conscious break from a problem. And while you are otherwise occupied, the unconscious mind often takes over and - when it is ready - delivers a solution!

________

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source https://www.thecommunitywriter.com/blog/tohby-riddle

[oliverphisher]

Belinda Murrell

At about the age of eight, Belinda Murrell began writing stirring tales of adventure, mystery and magic in hand illustrated exercise books. As an adult, she combined two of her great loves – writing and travelling the world – and worked as a travel journalist, technical writer and public relations consultant. Now, inspired by her own three children, Belinda is a bestselling, internationally published children’s author with a history of writing in her family that spans over 200 years.

Her previous titles include four picture books, her fantasy adventure series The Sun Sword trilogy and her seven time-slip adventures, The Locket of Dreams, The Ruby Talisman, The Ivory Rose, The Forgotten Pearl, The River Charm, The Sequin Star, and The Lost Sapphire.

These books have been recognised by various awards, including Honour Book KOALAS 2013, shortlisted eight times for the Young Australians Best Book Award (YABBA), CBCA Notable List 2012 and 2017 and highly commended in the PM’s Literary Awards.

For younger readers Belinda has her popular Lulu Bell series and more recently, Pippa’s Island, about starting a new life on a tropical island, finding your courage and the best group of friends you could wish for. Belinda’s books have been published in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, USA, UK, Turkey, South Africa and Brazil, with translated into Afrikaans, Czech, Turkish and Portuguese. She is an Author Ambassador for Room to Read and Books in Homes.

Belinda lives in Manly in a gorgeous old house overlooking the sea with her husband Rob, her three beautiful children - Nick, Emily and Lachlan, and her dog Rosie.

What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life? 

As a child, the book that most fired my imagination was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.

I also loved Famous Five by Enid Blyton, especially Five on a Treasure Island.

As a teenager I adored Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?

A London Oyster card. As part of the research for our new book, I travelled to the UK with my sister Kate Forsyth and our daughters. My sister and I are writing a book together on the life of our great-great-great-great grandmother Charlotte Waring, who wrote the first Australian children’s book in 1841.  I had been struggling with elements of the writing, particularly my memoir sections but wandering the streets of London where Charlotte grew up really brought her story to life.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? 

Four years ago, I had an idea for a realistic contemporary story about a girl and her family who move from London to a tiny tropical island offthe coast of Australia, leaving everything behind.  I hadn’t written for this age group before and decided to write in first person, which was a new challenge for me. I wrote a large chunkof the book with great enthusiasm but was devastated when my publisher Zoe Walton at Penguin Random House, gently told me I was way off the mark with voice, tone, and story. She encouraged me to throw the whole lot out and start again. That hurt! It had been months of work. But I took her advice and started again. The result was Pippa’s Island, a five-book series, which has been hugely popular with 8 to 10-year-old girls, translated into Czech and pitched for a live action TV series.  The TV series may never come off, but I get lots of letters and emails from kids telling me how much they love this series and my cast of feisty girl characters.

Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?

‘Aim for the moon, and if you fail, you’ll fall among stars.’

What is one of the best investments in a writing resource you’ve ever made? 

My notebooks. I carry a notebook with me all the time, and scribble down my thoughts, observations, ideas and images whenever inspiration strikes me. When I travel, I usually keep a journal to record my experiences in greater detail.

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love? 

I love getting sweaty and dusty in the cattle yards on my brother’s farm near Dungog. My whole family goes up there a few times a year to help with mustering, tagging and vet work especially when there are young calves. My favourite part is riding my horse while we muster the cows in from the distant paddocks. It’s hot, hard manual work but such a contrast to my usual writing life. I love it!

In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life? 

To remember to stop and celebrate the small successes along the journey.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven aspiring author? What advice should they ignore? 

Embrace your tribe! Become an active and generous member of the publishing community. Attend festivals and conferences to keep learning. Support other writers by attending book launches and buying their books. Some of my very best friends are the warm and wonderful writers I’ve met along the way.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession often? 

That writers who are persistent enough will eventually get published.

In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)? 

I think very carefully about every invitation and request. I found I was being asked to do so much for so many people (usually for free) that I was running myself ragged. Now I am much more careful to protect my time and my energy. I don’t appraise other writers’ manuscripts anymorebut I do volunteer for several children’s literacy organisations, such as the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Room to Read, Dymock’s Children’s Charitiesand Books in Homes.

What marketing tactics should authors avoid?

Being pushy.

What new realizations and/or approaches have helped you achieve your goals? 

Taking time out to travel, spend time with my family and friends or have some fun, helps keep my my writing fresh and joyful.

When you feel overwhelmed or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? 

Go for a walk with my dog along the beach. Swim in the surf. Make a cup of tea and talk to my kids. Escape to my brother’s farm to ride my horse. Cook a beautiful family meal.

Any other tips?

Write with Joy!

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