Tuesday 20 January 2015

A Shout Out to Auckland Libraries

Thanks Auckland Libraires for your support of our Pride literary events.  We love what you are doing and how supportive you are of our events.

Check out the library events page!
pridefestival2015 library events




Presenters of Writing Off Valentine's Day Announced

Writing off Valentine's Day is the PRIDE 2015 creative writing seminar for GLBT writers of all levels of aspiration and accomplishment.


Hopefully we will have enough room for everyone.  But there is no need to book or secure a ticket.


Any inquiries can be emailed to alternativebindings@gmail.com.


There will be input from authors from a range of genres, along with editors and creative writing teachers. Bring your creative soul, ideas, paper, pen, laptops to write, discuss and produce words. This will be ideal way to word-up Valentine's Day in your own queer way.

Learn about the Zeitgeist of publishing and current literary trends, explore writing fiction and a new system for writing poetry and challenge yourself to switch genre without starting a new story from scratch.

Your presenters are:
Michael

Michael Giacon, an Auckland songwriter, poet, performer and educator.








Anne

Anne Kennedy, a poet and author, the winner of the 2014 Nigel Cox Unity Books Award, a finalist in the 2014 NZ Post Book Awards and in the 2015 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award,


Ian



Ian Watt, a publisher, editor and author,










Gina

Gina Cole, a barrister, poet and writer of Fijian, Scottish and Welsh descent. Gina won the 2014 Writing Contest.








Venue:
Leys Institute Library
20 St Mary's Road, Ponsonby 

11.00 am to 4.00 pm
Saturday 14 February 2015

Supported by the Waitemata Local Board of Auckland Council and Auckland Libraries



Pride events for February 2015

Our events are all promoted and described on this blog.

In summary we are presenting:
All the Words of the Rainbow, Poetry Meet on Monday 9 February at 6.00 pm in Ponsonby at Ley's Institute Library.

Big Gay Book Group on Tuesday 10 February at 6.00pm at Shnaghai Lils.

Writing off Valentine's Day Creative Writing Seminar from 11.00 to 4.00 pm on Saturday 14 February at Ley's Institute Library.

Review Revue and Writing Contest Winner Announcement from 5.00 pm on Tuesday February 17 at Auckland City Library in the Whare Whananga space on Level 2.


Sunday 18 January 2015

Airport Audabe by Gina Cole won the express Writing Contest in 2014

Airport Aubade

(Lesbian Departure)

As she stands at the check-in counter, I wait to see
bright patterned luggage on the weighing machine.
My feather puffer jacket fits fatly around me in the cold morning light,
enfolding me like the Michelin man
floating above an empty car yard.

Her white silk scarf which, in the rush, she left with me
lies furled around my neck.
She released it quick.
It holds her shimmering outline;
a memory of moulding to my back, belly, breast.

I lean into a silver guardrail and hear her
laughing between clattering departure boards.
Strands of light extend into daytime walls.
Her swirling flower suitcase jostles along a conveyer belt
and disappears through vertical rubber blinds.

Her red coat, in glassed escalators
flows glorious in metallic waterfall.
I am marooned on the concourse,
waving my feathered arm as she glides away
like strobe light among the crowd.

I linger at her exit gate until the last slice of her.
The fading heel of her boot;
a sleeve flips, then sinks back.
The quiet silk scarf at my cheek
slips into my blood stream.



By Gina Cole

Friday 9 January 2015

Writing contest entries now closed.

The entries for the express Writing Contest are all in.

Please don't bite your nails too much while we await the judges decision on the 17th February.
With over 30 entries there is lots of reading and rereading ahead.


The judges might be biting theirs. There are some great stories in the over 30 submitted. It will be a difficult decision. 

Monday 5 January 2015

All the Words of the Rainbow - Monday 9 February 2015


Share poetry and a light refreshment with others of a poetic bent. The courtyard at Leys Institute transforms into a safe haven for sharing poetic treasures from others and ourselves.

Bring your own tea cup. Its cute and saves on dishes.

The opportunity to share poetry will be co-ordinated in a caring and friendly way.

Venue:
Leys Institute Library
20 St Mary's Road, Ponsonby 

Monday 9 February 2015
6.00 p to 7.30 pm




Big Gay Book Group - Tuesday 10 February 2015


Let’s take the book group out of the suburban living room and present it centre stage on the Ponsonby Strip! 

A mix of open mike presentations and smaller group sharing of favourite books from all our great Rainbow Writers. Hear what your fellow queers are reading and share in a safe
environment over a refreshing glass of what you fancy.

Venue: 
Shanghai Lil's
212 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby

10 February 2015
6.00 pm to 7.30 pm





Writing off Valentine's Day - 14 February 2015



Writing off Valentine's Day is the PRIDE 2015 creative writing seminar for GLBT writers of all levels of aspiration and accomplishment.

With input from authors from a range of genres, editors and creative writing teachers, bring your creative soul, ideas, paper, pen, laptops to write, discuss and produce words. The ideal way to word-up Valentine's Day.

Venue:
Leys Institute Library
20 St Mary's Road, Ponsonby 

11.00 am to 4.00 pm
Saturday 14 February 2015

Supported by the Waitemata Local Board of Auckland Council and Auckland Libraries








Review Revue 17 February 2015

Venue:
Whare Whananga Level 2
Auckland Libraries
44-46 Lorne Street, City

5.00pm to 7.30 pm 
17 February 2015


Join us as we celebrate the world of GLBTIQ writing with a lively, varied and unpredictable evening of stand-up reviewing! 
This will be an eclectic line up of well known writers and readers with a book in hand and seven minutes to make it notorious.

Kicking off from 5.00 pm with a glass of wine, at 5.30 Peter Wells will announce who he and his fellow judges: Stevan Eldred-Grigg, Gina Cole and Julie Helean have chosen as the winners of the GABA funded, express writing contest.




Our talented and eclectic line-up includes Ron Brownson, Erin Fae, Michael Giacon, Sam Orchard, Steven Oates and Alex Jespersen Wild, all armed with a book they love and seven minutes to make you love it too.

The evening will kick off at 5pm with a glass of wine, courtesy of Glengarry, followed by the announcement of the winning entries in the express writing contest.
Then it's on to stand-up reviewing at its best: sharp, witty and always full strength, curated by Karen Craig.
Ron Brownson is Senior Curator New Zealand and Pacific Art at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki.
Erin Fae is an artist, activist and mischief maker who divides her time between Auckland and New York City. She creates prints, books, zines, mail art and photographs, and is very fond of books in all shapes. Visit Erin's website.
Michael Giacon is an Auckland songwriter, performer, poet and educator.
Johnny Givins is a media icon, TV producer, director and actor, noted for such shows as Queer NationHero Parade, and Captain’s Log. He is head of on-screen acting at South Seas Film and Television School.
Steven Oates is a radio and TV presenter, an actor, a DJ, and sometimes a quizmaster. His hit list of shows includes Around the Bend on 95bFM,  Takataapuiwith Māori Broadcasting, the ALT TV show Sparkle on SundayWild Oates on Radio Ponsonby, and Queer Nation with TV2. Visit Steven's website.
Sam Orchard describes himself on Twitter (@Sam_Orchard) as “Just your regular ol’ transman comic artist”. He is also an advocate and educator for queer and trans rights.
Craig Ranapia is a freelance critic and cultural commentator who's old enough to know better. He contributes to Public Address and the New Zealand Listener but is open to all reasonable offers.
Alex Wild Jespersen is a teacher. She's also the author of The constant losers, a novel about queer nerds making zines in Auckland in 2008.
Supported by Auckland Libraries and the GABA Charitable Trust




Sunday 4 January 2015

express Writing Contest for Pride 2015


Alternative Bindings express Short Story Competition 2015



The competition provides a safe and supportive environment for both emerging and established writers to share their stories.


Other than a set length of 750 words and a theme "Lost and Found", there are no restrictions; entries might express the triumph and joy of alternate sexuality, or the pain and difficulty. 

They might be funny or sad, sweet or bitter, outrageous or introspective.

Participation is the most valued aspect of Alternative Bindings. It is a competition, however, and we are blessed to be part of a kind and generous community — so the prize is fabulous!

With the support of the GABA Trust and express Magazine we are awarding $500 cash and publication in express for the winning story and $200 cash for the runner up.
 




Our judges are well known in queer literary circles and they take their duties very seriously, looking for outstanding sparks of creative brilliance. And, they say, thoroughly looking forward to the experience.  Their decision is final.

If the Alternative Bindings Short Story Competition encourages us to keep telling our unique stories the best way we can it will have achieved its aim.

The theme for 2015 is "Lost and Found". You may interpret it in any way you choose, just so long as it is obvious to the judges.

2015 COMPETITION RULES
1.  Stories must be your own work, and not previously published. 
2. Stories must be original fiction. 
3. All stories should have relevance to the broader New Zealand LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer) community.
4.  All stories must relate to the theme in some way.
5.  Stories must be 750 words or less. Please include your word count at the end of your story.
6.  Stories must be emailed as attachments in Word to alternativebindings@gmail.com
7.  All stories must be received by midnight on 9 January 2015.  Late entries will not be accepted.
8.  Please include your full name, email address and contact phone number in your submission email.
9. Your name must not appear in headers or footers or anywhere in your story – our judges read all stories in blissful ignorance of the writer’s identity.
10.  If you submit a story to the competition, you are also giving us permission to publish it.
11.  You may submit more than one story.
12.  We accept stories from writers based in New Zealand only.
13.  The Winner will be invited to read their work at our winner’s event, Auckland Library at 5pm on Tuesday 17 February.


Your judges this year are Gina Cole, Julie Helean, Stevan Eldred-Grigg and Peter Wells.
Gina Cole


Julie Helean

Stevan Eldred Grigg
Peter Wells