Viola Beadleton’s

Yes it is and I feel optimism on its way also, along with the rising Wellington winds and warmer weather. So many w’s! Better than so many Viola’s.. I just heard the cousin of a friend of mine named her baby after me, fabulous name of course, the mother is infinitely artistic so no wonder she picked such a dazzler..none the less I hope it’s a not the start of a new naming trend, its nice to be one of the few daffodils found in a field of full of (yes I know they are pretty) daisy’s.

To change the subject:

Soon my website will have PayPal! You’ll even be able to buy a copy of the Compendium in Antartica! I know what a joy that will be for so many of you who live outside of New Zealand.

In other news I received an email that I have copied below. I hope all of you support NZ literature and join the celebration by getting the next issue of Bravado:

… though not without a few teenage tantrums and traumas along the way, accepted as a normal part of the creative process. Production is now in the capable hands of Dianne Cullen Smith, writer, publisher and editor, who has ten years experience with InDesign. Despite recent changes in editorial and production roles, B16 continues to maintain the high standards set by its predecessors, and is, as usual, a blend of emerging and established writers and artists.

Our cover artwork is based on a seahorse from Rotorua mosaic artist Janet Keen, noted as much for inspiring others to ‘be creative’ as for her own complex and colourful work. Janet was interviewed for B16 by Kirsten Cliff, an up-and-coming young writer who will now be responsible for all the insightful commentary on cover artists that is a feature of Bravado.

In B16, our black and white artwork is by Derek McCrea, an established US artist who has also served in Iraq, where drawing and painting provided a welcome break from the stress of military engagements. We also introduce the work of self-taught, Tauranga-based photographer Rod Mueller, profiled recently in D-Photo, who delights in capturing landscape detail, especially in black and white.

We offer new and interesting poems from Sue Fitchett, Helen Lehndorf, Emily Starrett Wright, Kerrin P. Sharpe, Stephanie Grieve, Karen Zelas, Sally Houtman and Isaac Pressnell. All take us on some internal and exterior journeys of the mind, eye and heart. In addition, we have Peter Branson from the UK; first-timer Charlotte Flyte, and a poem from Maori writer Vaughan Rapataha, now based in Hong Kong. Leonel Alvarado, a well-known Spanish writer, essays his first poems in English, with some wry explorations of the Kiwi psyche.

B16 also introduces our judge for the 6th Bravado International Poetry Competition 2009. Sue Wootton who appears regularly in journals, competitions, and anthologies, and has earned many awards over the years; most recently, the Robert Burns Fellowship at the University of Otago. And, for the first time, Bravado is introducing a special prize for a poem from an unpublished poet – to encourage new writers of whatever age or style. You can download details or enter online at www.bravado.co.nz.

Fiction is a continuing strength in Bravado, and in this issue we welcome stories from Laura Borrowdale, Seth Davies, Janis Freegard, Jane Seaford, Latika Vasil and David Hill – scheduled to do a masterclass at the University of Waikato in Tauranga on October 31st.

As for prose, Jack Ross shares with us an excerpt from a new work; Mark Pirie muses on the meaning of ‘home’ for Ursula Bethell and Dinah Hawken; Michael Lee succinctly explains Dirty Realism, and Sean O’Leary confides the delights and dilemmas of being schizophrenic. In addition we have our regular columnists: Peter Dashwood exploring another Sharp Point and Marcel Currin blaming The Ministry of Ideas for causing writer’s block, along with Tim Upperton’s thoughtful reviews. Tim’s first collection of poetry, A House on Fire, was launched on Montana Poetry Day.

All this for only $30 a year for 3 ($55 for 6). Bravado is now with subscribers and on sale in local bookshops. The Bravado team are grateful for the generous grant-aid it receives from Creative New Zealand, and for our contributors and subscribers. Could you be one of them?

I know word has been spreading like a wildfire…and it’s all true..Volume Three of the Compendium is finally out.

What a wonder, yes these words have been said to me by so many people, contentment radiating out from them just like young children with handfuls of sweeties.

For those of you who are wanting to join the legions of newly-happy, pick up a copy of the Compendium from Magnetix in Midland Park, Wellington or email me at viola@wellingtonwriters.co.nz and happiness will soon be your new best friend!

I’m sure you are all itching to send your latest masterpiece off to the Bravado Poetry Competition..great judges..great prizes..all inviting great poets to participate! If you’ve missed out on recent news and want to know more, well here it is…

Last year she was The Robert Burns Fellow at the University of Otago. This year Sue Wootton is the highly-esteemed judge for the 6^th Bravado International Poetry Competition. Competition secretary Jenny Argante jokes, “It was the only way we could stop her winning prizes in it! In 2007 she came third. In 2008 she came second. We thought we’d baffle her intentions this year, and invite her to be our judge.”

Sue Wootton has published two collections of poetry, Magnetic South in 2008 and Hourglass in 2005, both with Steele Roberts in Wellington. Her individual poems and stories have featured in a diverse range of magazines and on Radio New Zealand, most recently in Blackmail Press 24 online, and in the anthologies Our Own Kind, 101 Poems about Animals (Random House, Auckland) and Voyagers: Science Fiction Poems from New Zealand.

Was Sue foretelling her own future as judge when she penned these lines?

Suddenly tired

of the complicated interlacing of words in lyrical trim

she goes outside

and shouts very loudly

into the night

                                                          (from ‘the verdigris critic’)

‘Words in lyrical trim’ are what Bravado is seeking, and the literary arts magazine from the Bay of Plenty is offering its usual generous cash rewards –a First Prize of $500, 2nd @  $250 and 3^rd @ $100. This year for the first time it’s introducing a Special Prize of $100 for a previously unpublished poet, and five runners-up will get a year’s free subscription. The entry is $5 a poem, or three for $10. All prizewinning poems will be published in the November edition of Bravado.

You can download a copy of the rules and an entry form from the Bravado website at www.bravado.co.nz) or send an e-mail to bravadoinfo@bravado.co.nz or, if you prefer, drop a line to Competition Secretary, Bravado, PO Box 13 533, Central Tauranga 3141. Briefly, poems must be original, unpublished and no longer than 40 lines. Theme is unimportant, as is form, or whether free verse or rhyme.  “All we ask”, say the Bravado team, “is send us your best.”

We’ve had tornadoes, water spouts, hail storms, 4 dead cows, a man with an arsenal shooting police, and Mothers Day all in the last few weeks.

Winter’s approaching, the landscape’s changing with the cold, and the emotional climate of our country is changing with job losses and growing unemployment.

Thank goodness there is at least one source of brightness in these troubled times.  The contributors of my Compendium are providing some solace in the darkness. Some of NZ’s literary legends coming to the aid of all NZers who are willing to receive help and happiness (by reading my Compendium of course.) There is a wonderful story by Jenny Argante, the Prose editor of Bravado, something spooky from Janis Freegard, the 2001 winner of the BNZ Katherine Mansfield award, something fasinating from Jennifer Lane, a winning writer in the 2007 Six Pack, and a thought provoking piece from Laurice Gilbert, the President and National Co-ordinator of the NZ Poetry Society, …and there is so much more on top of that.

I expect every subscriber to the Compendium will be well cheered up when the next issue comes out in July. If only it could come out sooner I hear you all cry! Never fear dear readers, good things will be arriving soon in the future.

Yours with Warmth and Sincerity,

Viola Beadleton

My dear readers,

Thank you for all your emails giving support for my new political party, as well as your suggestions for a possible name for it. I’m not sure if ‘The Happy Elves who want to Help NZ’ or ‘Viola’s vigorous violets’ are quite the feel I am after, but I appreciate your interest all the same. As you can see I missed getting something off the ground for the last election, I was too busy getting Volume Two of the Compendium out to the shops for sale. No doubt you have purchased yourself a copy already! What a fabulous read don’t you think? We have so many talented writers in this country, it’s such an honour to be able to publish some of them.

If you would like to join the ranks of these absolutely incredible authors then read my submission guidelines on my website and send me an email with your story/poem/article for Volume Three of the Compendium!

Yours with Warmth and Sincerity,

Viola

Dear Readers,

I have received mail from some of you wondering why it has been so long since I’ve written anything on my blog. I must confess to being quite distracted. First there was the superb spectacular at the State Opera House of the musical Cats. I’m sure you all know how much of an animal lover I am, and never have I seen such sonorous and athletic actions from a collection of felines. I was so impressed I went to every performance of the show.

Also occupying my attention has been the continued media spotlight on odious money grubbing politicians. For a long time I thought to myself ‘everyone to their own’, but recently I’ve been thinking ‘wouldn’t it be nice if some of these politicians cared about the important things in life – like happiness and harmony?’. Of course I thought perhaps the time had came for me to form a political party myself that promoted the adoption of these values in our political system. Alas I have not yet had time to think of a name for this revolutionary new movement. So I welcome all suggestions for a name from you my dear readers. Together I’m sure we can create a party to remember!

Yours with Warmth and Sincerity,

Viola

Dear Readers,

Hasn’t it been a glorious summer? I have been quite distracted by the balmy weather and out and about to all manner of places. I know all of you appreciated having the first volume of my Compendium to add to your enjoyment of recent months, because many of you have written to me to tell me this.

Sadly the rain has now come and the days are getting colder, but all is not lost. The waning of the warm weather is leaving a space for the creative spirit to fill. And that space is generously being given a home in Volume Two of the Compendium.

I look forward to receiving all your submissions and to creating a new issue that will chase away any winter blues!

Yours with Warmth and Sincerity,

Viola

My Dear Readers,

It is my honour and my pleasure to announce the release of my Compendium of Seriously Silly and Astoundingly Amazing Stories – Volume One.

I know the wait has been long and hard, but here it finally is, available for you, perfect as a Christmas stocking filler, or as the present you always wanted to give to your nearest and dearest. And who ever would have thought that such a glorious gift could be bought for just $9.95?

The Compendium features short stories from award winning and renowned New Zealand authors, Jennifer Lane – prize winning writer also featured in this years Six Pack, Janis Freegard – Winner of the Katherine Mansfield Award in 2001, as well as many other published and prize winning NZ authors.

To purchase this perfect summer reading treat either visit Graphic (106 Cuba Mall), Kwanzaa (119 Manners St), or Magnetix (by Midland Park) where stocks are available immediately. Or visit Unity books (in Willis St) where stocks will be available sometime soon.

If you are not in the mood to leave the house, write to me at viola@wellingtonwriters.co.nz and I will organise for a copy to be sent directly to your mailbox.

Yours with Warmth and Sincerity,

Viola

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I was most distressed to read a recent comment on my blog site. The comment I refer to seemed to adulate the criminal exploits of a certain chap called Beckham, who is unfortunately visiting this fair land soon.

I will certainly be out in protest against this fiend. For the love of all that is good, surely one day the world will realise that fame and adoration should not be given to those whose only talent is repeatedly kicking a defenceless object.

I suggest instead of being sucked in by the media driven madness that my dear readers could involve themselves in healthier and happier pursuits. We can all end the violence if we don’t participate in it.

I just read in the newspaper today that the ‘Greatest Trumpeter on Earth’ is to play with our own symphony orchestra in just a few weeks time. What an incredible experience it will be for all of Wellington to be able to hear this musical maestro. Events like this are far better for ones mental and moral health than the exploits of degenerate and brutal foreigners.

Finally I am happy to report that the first Issue of my Compendium is on its way to the printers in short order. So for all of you who are counting the days until you can finally hold a copy in your hands, take heart. It won’t be long now.

Yours with Warmth and Sincerity,

Viola

Dear Reader,

I was horrified to read a survey that 90% of school children say that they want to be famous when they grow up. If only they truly knew the price of fame. Let me tell you a story about when I was famous. It was many years ago now and I had it all, looks, money, adulation. It wasn’t long before the dark side of the famous life reared its ugly head though. First it was the stalkers. Then it was the press twisting all my words to sell a story. Then of course when you get too famous people just plain get jealous and all sorts of trouble begins. Because of the lies of petty minded people your fame can quickly develop into infamy. Believe me, I’ve lived it all. I ended up having to change my name, and get plastic surgery to de-beautify myself, just so I could escape the constant glare of the spotlight.

So my words of wisdom for all the wannabe famous are to remember that in a sense you are already famous. Secret Service Organisations all around the world already know what you are saying, doing and take great pains to record your every move. Of course they say they do it all in the interests of national security, but deep down I suspect they know they are just the ultimate form of a gossip junkie. So in anycase, now that you are comforted by already attaining the fame you never knew that you had, you can go out and do something useful with your life, like buying my fabulous new magazine for example.

Yours with Warmth and Sincerity,

Viola