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Writing Spirit

Writer

Interests: Food, family & stories

Recent Activity

Mission impossible

The shop is filled with oversized wine barrels and old fashioned wicker baskets; strange-looking sausage casings and sharp-bladed slicers; and all manner of equipment to make and bottle your own sauce. My husband chanced on this place on the dusty outskirts of suburbia a few weeks back. I’m out here... Continue reading

Posted Mar 21, 2019 at The Tribal Tomato

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Life writing workshop Sunday 24 February 2019

My one-day intensive 'Write your life' workshop plus traditional wood-fired oven lunch is back by popular demand. It's designed for budding and experienced writers who want to start or progress a life writing project. It promises to be yummy! More information in the flyer below. Download Life writing flyer February... Continue reading

Posted Dec 6, 2018 at The Tribal Tomato

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Memoir-writing workshop, 8 July 2018

So you want to write about your life, but you’re not sure where to start? Maybe you have a few ideas, a bunch of notes, or perhaps even a few chapters? Now is the time to get the skills under your belt to finally write that memoir or life writing... Continue reading

Posted May 31, 2018 at The Tribal Tomato

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Rizogalo for the soul

It’s been a month since the launch of my new memoir My Ikaria. The celebrations started with the book’s Melbourne launch, closely followed by the Sydney launch. There’s been some fabulous media interest, which is terribly affirming when you’ve been working on a bookish project for some years and have... Continue reading

Posted Apr 29, 2018 at The Tribal Tomato

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My Ikaria is now available

‘My Ikaria is a kindly wake-up call to live a more mindful, meaningful and generous life – a joy to read.’ —Alice Pung I'm delighted that my latest book, My Ikaria, is now available for purchase. Thanking all who have helped it come to fruition, from my publishers at Black... Continue reading

Posted Apr 13, 2018 at The Tribal Tomato

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The primal belly

The last time I took belly dancing classes was in the back room of an inner-city pub more than twenty years ago. I remember rushing from work every Tuesday so as not to be late. Many times I would be peeved because the instructor would be very late; at other... Continue reading

Posted Feb 6, 2018 at The Tribal Tomato

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My mid-life village

I’m was a luncheon party for a friend’s birthday recently. We were packed into a small room in a tiny terrace cafe in a middle suburb of Melbourne, waiters weaving around us. The walls resounded with waves of conversation and laughter from some dozen women, there to help our host... Continue reading

Posted Sep 13, 2017 at The Tribal Tomato

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Five tips for writing dynamic annual reports

Creating annual reports can be daunting. The process can be derailed by challenging timelines, editing various writing styles to get a consistent voice, and the number of decision makers involved in sign off. Save yourself time and create your most dynamic annual report ever by checking out these tips. Continue reading

Posted Jan 22, 2017 at The Tribal Tomato

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Annual report writing workshop

Learn to deliver concise and dynamic annual reports in this half day seminar at Writers Victoria on Friday 10 February. Find out more here. Continue reading

Posted Jan 9, 2017 at The Tribal Tomato

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The alpha to lambda of losing weight in the New Year

One of the good things about getting older is you tend to wise up to your youthful, immature ways. Like how I would drink and eat myself silly through most of November and December, and then resolve to lose weight in the New Year. Enter diet/gym membership/gadget bought from telemarketing... Continue reading

Posted Dec 28, 2016 at The Tribal Tomato

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Why can't I live my fantasy?

At this time, of year, I fantasise about lying on a hammock with a glass of wine. There's some crusty, just-baked bread dipped in olive oil on a table beside me. I have a great book in my hand, and more waiting where that one came from. I’ve just finished... Continue reading

Posted Dec 19, 2016 at The Tribal Tomato

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The secret to a long and happy life – Stand straight, keep active and have lots of sex

Lately, I’ve been very preoccupied with old age. Firstly, about how I might get there without falling prematurely off this mortal coil. About how I might do it without my heart limping along, my bladder packing it in, or my memory finally going completely AWOL. And, once I have the... Continue reading

Posted Nov 18, 2016 at The Tribal Tomato

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Writer and passionate traveller Margaret Taylor did my Road to Redemption 12 Step Program for Procrastinating Writers course at Writers Victoria in 2015. We made a connection and I started mentoring her last year. I’m very excited – she has just released a blog of selected writings – everything from... Continue reading

Posted Nov 4, 2016 at The Tribal Tomato

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The impromptu village feast

‘I’ll come over on Thursday,’ I say to Mum over the phone. ‘Great. What time?’ ‘Around midday, when I finish teaching.’ ‘I’ve got some artichokes. You like those.’ There’s no doubt about it. I like artichokes, especially the way my mum makes them – fried in olive oil, then finished... Continue reading

Posted Oct 27, 2016 at The Tribal Tomato

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An instant connection

Have you ever met someone who you instantly connected to? I met this woman Tess Woods at a HarperCollins Books Australia event. We talked for about five minutes (mostly about dessert). In that time I found out that she lives in Perth, her background is Eqyptian, and that she has... Continue reading

Posted Oct 8, 2016 at The Tribal Tomato

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They don’t make models like my mother any more

In a few days, it’s going to be a year since my mother had a stroke. She lost her ability to speak clearly, to put words in order, to say her loved one’s names. She forgot how to read, and for months, was confused about where everything was in her... Continue reading

Posted Jul 12, 2016 at The Tribal Tomato

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Sneak in some training before the end of the financial year - Writing annual reports

On Monday 6 June I will be running a full-day workshop on writing annual reports. It will be held at Writers Victoria, Melbourne. A well-written annual report tells a powerful story – but many people see the process (and the final product) as dry and boring. Learn to deliver concise... Continue reading

Posted May 19, 2016 at The Tribal Tomato

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A guide to eating more ‘fakes’

For years, I have been trying to get my kids to eat fakes. They titter at the rudely-named dish (it’s pronounced ‘farkhes’), and then promptly reject it. Fakes (brown lentil soup) was a staple dish of my childhood – along with other traditional Greek legume dishes including gigantes (‘giant’ beans)... Continue reading

Posted May 15, 2016 at The Tribal Tomato

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Mentoring for writers

It's hard yakka being a creative writer. You need to be discipled. You need a hefty dose of faith. And you need to ditch the voice that says it's not good enough. What about talent I hear you ask? A bit of that doesn't go astray, but it's not top... Continue reading

Posted Feb 16, 2016 at The Tribal Tomato

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Cullers and collectors

Our son turned 13 recently – and all he wanted for his birthday was a new room. It’s seems a big ask, but given the circumstances, it’s a reasonable request. Ten years ago, he was allocated the smallest room in the house simply because he was the youngest, least assertive... Continue reading

Posted Feb 7, 2016 at The Tribal Tomato

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The feasty friendship

You know it’s a comfortable friendship when you don’t panic even though your friend of 30 years (give or take a few months) is coming over to brunch and there's not much in the pantry and fridge. Herein lies the dilemma: Do you rush out to the supermarket and buy... Continue reading

Posted Dec 5, 2015 at The Tribal Tomato

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Another clever photographer in the family

There's another clever photographer in the family - our son Emmanuel is a finalist in the Moran Prize 2015 Secondary Years 7-8 category - with a portrait of our neighbour Stefano taken at last year's pizza party at ours. If Emmanuel wins, there will be extra pizza and bubbles going... Continue reading

Posted Oct 15, 2015 at The Tribal Tomato

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American snow is softer

‘The first person to see snow gets $5,’ says my husband. It’s a cheap shot to raise the energy levels in the car, but it works. The kids perk up, start paying attention. It’s grey and misty up on the mountain; even the denuded trees look cold. Our 14-year-old would... Continue reading

Posted Aug 21, 2015 at The Tribal Tomato

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The hope and courage mural

What happens when five internationally-recognised street artists, an Ethiopian cafe owner, a truckload of helpers and a volunteer with an extraordinary vision get together? Read this article I wrote for the City of Maribyrnong to find out. Mural image courtesy of David Russell Photography. Image of Brian MacManus (left) by... Continue reading

Posted Jul 27, 2015 at The Tribal Tomato

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The 12-step program for procrastinating writers

Want to write but don’t know where to start? Are you lost in a mess of notes and half-started pieces? Or are you holding onto your manuscript because it just might not be good enough? Join the other procrastinators and get on the road to redemption. Part bookish boot camp,... Continue reading

Posted Jul 13, 2015 at The Tribal Tomato

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