I’ve been preoccupied recently by other life roles and yet poetry always burns quietly in the background. I’m now thrilled to share a few updates with you.
Tasmanian Literary Awards 2025
It was a pleasure to attend the Tasmanian Literary Awards
shortlist announcement event on 12 February this year. While Dancing
with Empty Prams didn’t make the final shortlist, I was delighted
that it was longlisted in the poetry category. A reader recently told me they’d
read it three times and thought it was “a great novella about courage”—a
reminder of why I write.
Congratulations to the four outstanding poets who were shortlisted: Anne
Kellas, Pam Schindler, Kathryn Lomer and Sarah Day. Each of their collections
brings a unique and powerful voice to the page. If you haven’t already, I
highly recommend checking out the full list of shortlisted works and the
winners—including the People’s Choice Awards—on the Tasmanian Literary Awards website.
Hobart LitFest
I was honoured to be a featured reader at this year’s Hobart
LitFest, held at the Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart on 4th
April. The event brought together writers, readers and publishers in a
celebration of Tasmanian literary talent. Thanks to everyone who came along and
to the wonderful organisers for their support of local voices.
Wellways Poetry Workshops – August
In August, I’ll be running two poetry workshops with Wellways in the lead-up to
Mental Health Week 2025:
·
In-person:
Monday 11th August at Wellways Hobart, 10:30am-12:30pm
·
Online:
Monday 25th August via Zoom from 1-3pm
These free, creative workshops are open to anyone with a lived experience of
mental health challenges. We'll use poetry as a gentle way to explore
resilience, imagination and voice.
👉
More details here and here
Book Launch: Incandescence
And finally—the big news! I’m thrilled to announce the launch of my new poetry
collection, Incandescence, happening on:
📚 Sunday 31 August
📍
2:30pm at Fullers Bookshop, Hobart
Esther Ottaway will speak about my book and I will share some poems from it.
Esther’s beautiful book Intimate, low-voiced, delicate things (Puncher
& Wattmann) won first prize in the Poetry category and People’s Choice
in the 2022 Tasmanian Literary Awards. Often powerfully bringing to light the
experiences of women, Esther’s work is widely published nationally and
internationally and it’s an honour for her to be launching my book. You’re
warmly invited to come celebrate with us.
About the book:
Susan Austin's third collection of award-winning poetry shines
with compassion, illuminating connections between ourselves, each other and the
environment.
Praise for Incandescence:
"Austin's sure contemporary voice carries us with power and
immediacy into experiences of parenthood, relationship, nature, and the stories
of many. Poetic drama in the best sense, cutting to the bone of matters, often
taking our breath away." Esther Ottaway
"Here's a collection to relish. Images fresh as lime zest
on your tongue. Words that zing with wit. Deft and delicious. Delighting all
your senses. Sure to spark conversations various and piquant." Dr
Gina Mercer
Incandescence is now available to buy at Fullers Bookshop and The Hobart
Bookshop, along with my other two books. They are also available from many
distributors online, but if you’re going to order online it’s even better for
me if you order directly through my website. Copies will of course be available at the launch and I will gladly sign them
for you.
Thanks, as always, for supporting poetry and for being part of this ongoing
journey. I hope to see you at the launch or one of the upcoming workshops.
Warmly,
Susan
