A Journal of Australian & International Cultural Reviews, News and Criticism.
Aideen Henry is a poet, short story writer and dramatist. She completed an MA in Writing, NUI, Galway and has published 3 books of poetry with Salmon Poetry, Hands Moving at the Speed of Falling Snow, Slow Bruise and A Bloodless Field.
Paul Scully is a Sydney-based poet, an actuary by training and works part-time in finance. He holds a Masters in Creative Writing and is a Doctor of Arts from the University of Sydney. ‘The Literate Detective and Other Crimes’ is his fourth published poetry collection.
It seems to me that themes in this collection include medicine, reflecting Aideen’s work as a doctor; relationships, often bringing the sting of betrayal in their endings;
Allan Lake, originally from Canada, has lived on Cape Breton Island, Ibiza, Tasmania, Sicily and Melbourne. His latest chapbook of poems, My Photos of Sicily, was published by Ginninderra Press. Such journals as The Hong Kong Review, The American Writers Review, Tokyo Poetry Journal, The Antigonish Review, New Philosopher and The Fabians Review have published his poems.
What stands out for me in The Literate Detective is its sustained celebration of what it is to inhabit language, to become larger through breathing in this added dimension language gives us.
Mark O’Flynn has published seven collections of poetry, most recently Undercoat (Liquid Amber Press, 2022) and Einstein’s Brain (Puncher & Wattmann). His novels include The Last Days of Ava Langdon, (UQP, 2016), Grassdogs (Harper Collins, 2006) and The Forgotten World (HC, 2013).
Lizz Murphy’s latest collection, Bitumen Psalms is a collection of short song-poems in a tiny book exploring ‘tiny’ moments of life.
The poetry is carefully crafted and elegant. The subject matter is wide ranging… richly brought to life within the forms Roberts has chosen. Reading through this collection has been a privilege and a delight.
Thank you for inviting me to speak at the launch of Life Itself. It is an immense honor. And thank you for editing Life Itself and guiding its journey into the world. And kudos to Salmon Poetry, to Jessie Lendennie and Siobhán Hutson Jeanotte, for making this gorgeous book.
Rochford Street Review 