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Welcome to my website...
Here you can find out about me, my writing, any books I have for sale and news about writers and writing in Bass Coast.
My books for sale
Available from Turn the Page Bookshop, 40A Thompson Ave, Cowes VIC 3922. Phone (03) 5952 1444
Minibeasts of Phillip Island Millowl insects, spiders, molluscs and crustaceans. $19.99 Aus
Still some copies left with me at home. The Lost Blanket - children's picture story book, paperback, 10"x10". Themes of wildlife, animal behavior, telling the time in morning, afternoon, evening and night - digital and clock face, friendship and family. Yes, it has a happy ending ! $19.99 Contact me via
I also have a number of free history books available for download on the websites of Phillip Island & District Historical Society and Phillip Island Conservation Society. See the Books and Sales page for details.
This weekend! Sunday 17 November - Fishy Stories Festival 2024!
Not far out of the Bass Coast area, this full day at Fish Creek is too good not to feature here!
"The 2024 festival in Fish Creek is where families both local and visiting will converge on Fish Creek for a day of free workshops by authors and illustrators, ticketed children’s performances, selected Writing Challenge stories being performed live by actors and storytellers, presentations from the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, MyLi Libraries and events all day storytelling and story making."
Lots of free and fee events, performances, readings, author talks, art and music! What's not to love about a festival with this Vision and Mission from their website?
Our Vision
To cultivate and inspire children’s aspirations, imagination, interest, and engagement with Literature, Art, Music and Performance through:
The world of storytelling and story-making
Pictures and words
Creative and stimulating, interactive and joyful activities.
Our Mission
Fishy Stories will delight, ignite, and inspire a passion for the sharing of the ageless art of making stories.
See their website, and register to attend here: https://www.fishystories.org/
and here's the program for the day:
Coming up in Bass Coast... Writing events
Myli virtual writer-in-residence - Lucy Goodwill - online
First session: Thursday, November 21 online - free. 6.30 - 8.00 pm
A Room of One’s Own: Creating a Joyful Writing Practice
Second session: Friday, November 22 online - free. 6.30 - 8 pm
Writing for Wellbeing: Words of Joy
“A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction” – Virginia Woolf
Join Virtual Writer in Residence Lucy Goodwill for an empowering creative workshop for women and non-binary people. You don’t need to have written before or to have any experience – this session will support you to build confidence and ideas on how to start writing and keep going.
In the first session, we will:
· Interrogate and smash through barriers to writing in a safe supportive space
· Experiment with joyful writing activities and define our writing goals
· Explore how to create a sustainable and joyful writing practice.
In the second session we will focus on the links between writing and wellbeing.
· Explore the benefits writing can have on your mental health
· Look at how writing about positive emotions can boost your wellbeing – focusing on joy
· Try journalling exercises and take inspiration from joy to create your own journal
To book (free) and further information about Lucy Goodwill, go here:
First session:
and second session:
Friday, 22 November
Writer Support Group @ Inverloch Library
A writers support group hosted on the last Friday of every month by Inverloch Library.
"Meet with like-minded authors and creatives to discuss your writing, any issues or blockages and gain support from other authors on the last Friday of every month at Inverloch Library. Note: this is not a writing group and no writing prompts are given, this is a group for support and discussion surrounding the topic."
To register go here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/writer-support-group-inverloch-library-tickets-740577395927
Wednesday, 27 November
Youth Writing Group on Zoom
Join the Myli youth online writing group - a writing community for ages 12-17. This session is hosted by Leongatha Library, and young writers can attend in person or online
"Get some inspiration. Share your stories, poems and other forms of writing. Talk about how to get 'unstuck' with writer's block and more. If you are a writer or want to try writing but aren't sure where to start, this group is for you. Monthly on Zoom. You can attend from home on your own device, or come along to Leongatha Library where staff can set you up on one of the library's devices."
Go here for more information and to register - free:
Youth Writing Group on Zoom Tickets, Thu 28/11/2024 at 4:00 pm | Eventbrite
AND...designed to get your to really focus in on your writing project - twice per month and free at Phillip Island library, Berninneit, Cowes:
Phillip Island Library has allocated a regular time and space each month for writers to get energy from each other in a quiet space, while working on their
writing projects!
This regular silent practice may just be the impetus you need to really get stuck into writing your novel, or poetry anthology,
blog posts, or even your dissertation.
Next session: Wednesday 11 December 2024, 10 a.m. - 12 midday
Every second Wednesday, 10 a.m. until 12 midday. Inside Berninneit (cultural centre) 91-97 Thompson Avenue Cowes, VIC 3922
Myli says: "Come along to Phillip Island Library to join the The Island Silent Writers - a group dedicated to providing a space for all writers to be encouraged in your writing discipline. This will run every month on the second Wednesday at 10am -12pm
This is a space perfect for writers of any project or any stage of the writing journey. Bring your laptop, notebook or writing device and immerse yourself in a silent writing session surrounded by fellow writers.
There will be opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals for the first 15 minutes and then the next one hour and forty five minutes is for you to dedicate yourself to your writing practice, each writer working independently in company.
There is no need to book for this event but if you would like an email reminder please register for a ticket".
Local Community Writers Groups
The Bass Coast Writers was founded in 2003 to support local writers, foster literary creativity, and to promote learning through friendly discussion and ad hoc writing exercises during the weekly meetings.
At the weekly meetings members are presented with a theme or prompt which forms the basis of the writing to be shared at the following meeting. The writing can be a story, an essay, a poem, an anecdote, a memory, an article or any other form. The diversity of interpretations of the theme is always a pleasant surprise. Members’ writings can inform, draw smiles, laughter or tears, inspire, encourage and spark discussion. It is a fun group to which new members of all writing style and capabilities are welcome.
The periodic production of an anthology, the first of which was published in 2003, encourages members through the publication of their work.
After the meetings, all members are invited to gather at a local café for a social get together.
Meetings are held on Thursdays from 1pm to 3pm, February to Mid-December, at the Inverloch Community House, Inverloch Hub, 16 A’Beckett Street, Inverloch. For further details contact Gayle Marien on gayleb@ozemail.com.au or the Inverloch Community House on 5674 2444 or office-ichi@dcsi.net.au
Phone them if you would like to go along and participate:
Ibis Writers meet at the Education Room at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum, Newhaven Phillip Island Millowl.
Phone Jane: 0498 064 248.
Next Meeting: Next get together is their Christmas gathering, then no meetings until February 2025.
To give you a taste of what Ibis Writers are working on, here's a report from their meeting in November 2024:
"John: Two readings. One, a piece on Australian History - Adventure Bay, on Bruny Island and early Dutch explorers. And second, a new instalment in Caz’ travails, this time she finds peace, perhaps, on the Murray River.
Robbo: on the meaning of life, in a few succint pages.
Lorry: vivid recollections and acute observations of fellow passengers on a slow tourist train trip around regional Victoria.
Steve: further progress, of a sort, of Australia’s newest undersea drone, and potential rival to AUKUS, in it’s sea trials."
Creative writers are welcome to join Ibis, which meets on the first Tuesday of the month (apart from January) at 1pm at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum in Newhaven. Some enjoy lunch at the museum’s Nui Dat Café beforehand. Ring Jane on 0498064248 for more information.