Thanks Carolyn for your thoughts on books having a life of their own because books have readers and that readers bring their own lives to the books they read.

As part of the free Summer Read events across Victoria, Carolyn will be appearing at:

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, Cnr Ballarto Rd and Botanic Drive Cranbourne on Wednesday 4 February 2009, 10.30 – 11.30 am.
Author event to be followed by wander around the Australian Garden (limit 50 people)
For more information phone Cranbourne Library 5990 0150 or book online at http://summerread9.eventbrite.com

Grampians Road Halls Gap (behind Brambuk Cultural Centre) on Saturday 14 February, 2009 from 1.00 pm BYO picnic and chair (Author appearing at 2.30pm). Children’s activities provided and light refreshments provided at the event conclusion.
For more information and phone Horsham Library 5382 5707 or book online at http://summerread38.eventbrite.com

Vote for Cups with no Handles or SMS CUPS to 13 46 88

Carolyn Landon is next Summer Read author blogging from 31 January to 4 February.

Carolyn Landon was born in the US and came to Australia in 1968. She taught in the Victorian State School System, and has recently completed an MA in Biography and Life. Carolyn is currently working on the life of Aboriginal artist Eileen Harrison.

Her book Cups with no Handles is one of the books on the Summer Read shortlist.

Cups with no Handles tells the true story of Bette Boyanton; a woman who struggled to overcome the disadvantages of poverty, lack of education, inequality and poor health, to become an inspiring feminist and environmental activist. This memoir gives us an understanding of social and feminist history in the twentieth century, and what gives a life value.

As part of the free Summer Read events across Victoria, Carolyn will be appearing at:

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, Cnr Ballarto Rd and Botanic Drive Cranbourne on Wednesday 4 February 2009, 10.30 – 11.30 am.
Author event to be followed by wander around the Australian Garden (limit 50 people)
For more information phone Cranbourne Library 5990 0150 or book online at http://summerread9.eventbrite.com

Grampians Road Halls Gap (behind Brambuk Cultural Centre) on Saturday 14 February, 2009 from 1.00 pm BYO picnic and chair (Author appearing at 2.30pm). Children’s activities provided and light refreshments provided at the event conclusion.
For more information and phone Horsham Library 5382 5707 or book online at http://summerread38.eventbrite.com

What Carolyn says about summer reading

“The words ‘summer reading’ immediately send my mind to the beach at Torquay from Jan Juk to Zeally Bay where we lie on the warm sand every January year in and year out and read books. We only put our books down when we get too hot and have to run into the surf or swim around the buoys at Cosy Corner to cool off. One summer I had both Charles Waterstreets’ memoirs – Precious Bodily Fluids and Repeating Leaving – with me, and a woman reading near me noticed. She told me she knew Waterstreet and what a wonderful man he was and how glad she was people were reading his clever books. “That’s the great thing about Australia,” I said. “Someone always knows someone and you never feel like a stranger. I love these books and will cherish them.”  They now stand together on my bookshelf with sand in their pages and they smell like summer reading.”

Thanks Dennis for your honest posts and for allowing us to look into your life. Your amazing story just may inspire others to share their own story. Hope you see a few of your old mates at your events.

As part of the free Summer Read events across Victoria, Dennis will be appearing at:

• Richmond Library, 415 Church Street, Richmond on Tuesday 27 January 2009, 7.00 – 8.00 pm
For more information phone 1300 695 427 or book online at  http://summerread4.eventbrite.com

• Shepparton Library, 41-43 Marungi Street Shepparton on Wednesday 28 January 2009, 6.00 – 7.30 pm
For more information phone 5832 1600 or book online at  http://summerread6.eventbrite.com

• Barwon Park, 105 Inverleigh Road, Winchelsea
Join Dennis for a BBQ, coldie and a darn good yarn. Wander through this magnificent  historic National Trust Homestead from 6pm; join us for a sausage and a coldie from the  bar-b-que.
Borrow books from the mobile library and settle in the historic courtyard overlooking  bluestone buildings for an evening of yarns from Dennis McIntosh.
For more information phone Annmaree Harper at Geelong Library 5241 6151 or book online at  http://summerread7.eventbrite.com

Vote for Beaten by a Blow or SMS BLOW to 13 46 88

Dennis McIntosh is next Summer Read author blogging from 6 – 10 January.

His book Beaten by a Blow is one of the books on the Summer Read shortlist.

Dennis McIntosh was born in Townsville and grew up in Newcastle and Melbourne’s outer west. He has been a manual labourer for twenty years, a recovered alcoholic for ten years, and a student of writing for three. This is his first book.

Beaten by the Blow details the life of a hopeful young man who, through the sights, sounds – and smells – of the sheep-shearing sheds, learns the gritty lessons of life and all its hardships. Heavy work, heavy responsibilities and heavy drinking – all lead to this young man dropping the shears and picking up a pen to write this compelling memoir.

As part of the free Summer Read events across Victoria, Dennis will be appearing at:

• Richmond Library, 415 Church Street, Richmond on Tuesday 27 January 2009, 7.00 – 8.00 pm
For more information phone 1300 695 427 or book online at  http://summerread4.eventbrite.com

• Shepparton Library, 41-43 Marungi Street Shepparton on Wednesday 28 January 2009, 6.00 – 7.30 pm
For more information phone 5832 1600 or book online at  http://summerread6.eventbrite.com

• Barwon Park, 105 Inverleigh Road, Winchelsea
Join Dennis for a BBQ, coldie and a darn good yarn. Wander through this magnificent  historic National Trust Homestead from 6pm; join us for a sausage and a coldie from the  bar-b-que.
Borrow books from the mobile library and settle in the historic courtyard overlooking  bluestone buildings for an evening of yarns from Dennis McIntosh.
For more information phone Annmaree Harper 5241 6151 or book online at  http://summerread7.eventbrite.com

What Dennis says about summer reading

‘I’ll never forget a few summers ago I started reading ‘The Reader’ I quickly realized I had a great book on my hands and I stopped reading immediately. I did all my jobs, cancelled any appointments, locked myself in the house, shut the curtains, put the jug on and read it from start to finish. It was great. Then I went round trying to get other people to read it. When I find a great book I always want to share it with my friends, or anyone who’ll listen to me.’