Litbits: What’s on in the Canberra literary scene, June 23, 2018

What's on

June 23: The ACT Storytellers' Guild is presenting a Room in June, a warming evening of stories with music by the Canberra Harmony Chorus at 7pm at the St James Uniting Church Hall, Gillies Street, Curtin. Stories are suitable for adults and older children. Cost $15. includes refreshments.

June 24: Political journalist Michelle Grattan will speak about her book Back on the Wool Track, retracing the journey of Charles Bean who in 1909 wrote a series of articles about the wool industry in western NSW. Tuggeranong Homestead, Johnson Drive, Richardson, 2pm. $20 entry includes Devonshire tea. Bookings essential: contact Jenny on 6231 4535 or [email protected].

June 24: After a lifetime spent actively searching for happiness as well as studying it, communications executive and yogi Lisa Portolan shares valuable insights into how we made happiness a science and an industry — but is "brand me" just a recipe for unhappiness? In conversation with Sheena Ireland. Her book, Happy As: Why the quest for happiness is making us miserable, is available now. At Muse, Kingston, from 3pm. Tickets: $12 (includes and complimentary glass of house wine or soft drink)

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June 25: That Poetry Thing features Canberra performance poet Tahi Atea, Sydney poet Michele Seminara and Nauru survivor and poet Ravi Nagaveeran. For this night only it will be at the Poseidon Room in the Hellenic Club in the City (13 Moore Street). $5 entry, shorter open mic.

June 28: At 7pm at Manning Clark House, 11 Tasmania Circuit Forrest, readings of poetry published in Recent Work Press by Jacqui Malins, Martin Dolan and Shane Strange. $10 entry, nibbles and wine included.

July 2: Performance poet and writer Maddie Godfrey and poet and novelist Heather Taylor Johnson will be at That Poetry Thing, at Smith's Alternative, 76 Alinga St, Civic. $5 entry, open mic.

July 4: Dunera Lives: A Visual History by Ken Inglis, Seumas Spark and Jay Winter with Carol Bunyan will be launched at the National Library Foyer at 6pm, Free but bookings essential on 6262 1424.

July 4: At 6pm in the Coombs Lecture Theatre, ANU, in a free ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author event, Bob Carr will be speaking on his new book, Run for your Life: Tearing up the Rules on Political Memoirs, a candid revelation of his life, dealings with the media, and the secrets of his political life. Bookings at anu.edu.au/events or 6125 4144.

July 5: At 6pm in the Molonglo Lecture Theatre, Crawford Building, ANU, in a free ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author event, political editor of The Guardian, Katharine Murphy, will be in conversation with Michelle Grattan on Murphys new book, On Disruption, examining the impact of the 24-hour, seven-day-a-week news cycle. Bookings at anu.edu.au/events or 6125 4144.

July 7: Writing Place with Kim Mahood, 10am-4pm, hosted by ACT Writers Centre at Gorman Arts Centre. Places and living environments underpin all human experience – but how do we evoke them on the page? Rich settings should act as characters, with personalities louder than mere description. Book online: http://bit.ly/2LxRAw6

July 9: Writer and literary critic Jorge Carrion will discus his extended essay Bookshops, at Paperchain Manuka at 6pm. RSVP [email protected] or phone 6295 9723

July 9: 2013 Australian Slam Poetry Champion CJ Bowerbird and performance artist Jacqui Malins (and ​ Julia Horvath, cellist) will be at That Poetry Thing, at Smith's Alternative, 76 Alinga St, Civic. $5 entry, open mic.

July 16: Not Very Quiet Journal presents Electric Eclectic (PS Cottier, Mary Besemeres, Kendall Kirkwood), three female Canberra poets speculating, translating, performing. $5 on the door, shorter open mic. Smith's Alternative, 76 Alinga St Canberra City, 7-9pm.

July 18: At 6pm in the Molonglo Lecture Theatre, Crawford Building, ANU in a free ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author event, Professor David Christian, co-founder with Bill Gates of The Big History Project, will be talking about his new book, Origin Story: A Big History of Everything, an epic story of the universe and our place in it. Bookings at anu.edu.au/events or 6125 4144.

July 23: That Poetry Thing: Ross Gibson and Steven Amsterdam (NSW) $5 on the door, includes open mic. Smith's Alternative, 76 Alinga St Canberra City, 7-9pm.

July 30: That Poetry Thing: Hilary Davidson and Harry Laing (both NSW) $5 on the door, includes open mic. Smith's Alternative, 76 Alinga St Canberra City, 7-9pm.

Contributions to Litbits are welcome. Please email [email protected] by COB on the Monday prior to publication. Publication is not guaranteed.

Karen Hardy is a reporter at The Canberra Times.

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