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Amanda Holohan

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4 April 2010

The cheesecake is cooking, my daughter is drawing, and half-eaten chocolate eggs with bright foil wrappers are strewn across the living room. My stomach feels like dough – all weighed down with Easter buns, coffee and cream-cheese filling that just demanded to be tasted.

Marinated meat is waiting to be strung on wooden skewers, which are soaking in a pan. And the ‘kitten’ – who recently turned two – is cuddling on the couch, eyes all gone wide, bemused by the eggs and foil.

Here’s wishing you all a happy Easter, no matter how you choose to celebrate.

5 February 2010

Still buzzing from The Magic Hat Bookclub night recently, where I got together with a fabulous group of women to discuss Hunter S Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. It's a book I've meant to read for a very long time, so it was great to finally sit down and devote some time to it. Bizarre, wild, chaotic and with some very funny sequences, I found its underlying message to be devastatingly sad. In those brief moments of clarity, Hunter delivers some devastating insights into the disappointment experienced at the crumbling of the 60s - defined by the summer of love and all the hope and euphoria that went with it. Of course, there's a lot more to the book than this, but this is what, for me, had the most impact. 

January 2010

No fireworks for us this year: friends, family, wine, food and a holiday house by the beach — simply sublime. Here's wishing everybody a happy, healthy and bountiful new year!

12 September 2009

Last night was the annual Sassy Awards and Seminar. During the day we were treated to talks by authors Kate Morton, Sue Williams, Stephen Irwin,  Jacinta Tynan, Grant Hyde, Karina Machado and others who discussed their new books or works in progress. And during the night we got to party with friends, writers and publishers in the banquet room, while enjoying a great cabaret performance.  I got to gussy up in a pretty dress — yes, I'm quite fond of doing that - and talk books and writing, and all manner of interesting things with new and old friends. Now the urge, already strong, to immerse myself in the world of my book is burning me ... Got to it this morning for a while; will get to it again a little later on. For the rest of the day, I'll enjoy my beautiful family - they're the ones who make everything worthwhile.

28 August 2009

Today I had the honour of speaking to some of the students at Marrickville High School and Petersham Public for book week. They made a wonderful, attentive audience and asked some very insightful questions. Afterward, I did a workshop with the creative-writing students, brainstorming characters. I was most impressed with the imaginations, writing skill, humour and natural sense of allegory possessed by many of these young writers. I was having so much fun, in fact, it was difficult to have to end it, and I wished I had more time with each person to discuss their written pieces. Keep writing students of Marrickville High and Petersham Public School.

22 August 2009

Tonight was crime writer Tara Moss's fourth Literary Salon; the books up for discussion were The Maltese Falcon by Dashiel Hammett and Monkey Mask by Dorothy Porter. Though both are detective novels, each is remarkably different: Monkey Mask, written as first person verse is incredibly emotional and intimate. The Maltese Falcon definitely has a greater sense of distance, particularly after reading Porter's compelling prose. But when asked which book I preferred, I found it impossible to answer. Both are page turners, both were intriguing enough to hook me in completely. I loved looking for the subtext in The Maltese Falcon - I realise I have a penchant for a puzzle.

Afterwards, Tara held a gathering to celebrate the launch of her fifth novel Siren, which has been three years in the writing.  I'm very much looking forward to reading it!

13 August 2009

Yesterday I was lucky enough to attend the Sydney launch of Jack Heath's latest offering Third Transmission at one of my most favourite bookshops - Shearer's Bookshop on Norton Street, Leichhardt. Jack gave a compelling talk about the book, which is his third to feature Agent Six of Hearts and this time he's speeding towards a warship in a torpedo ... but no spoilers from me.  This is snappy, riveting stuff!  Of course, I left the launch with an armful of books.

July 2009

This month I drove down to Wollongong for the launch of Richard Harland's young adult fantasy novel  Worldshaker. The theme was steampunk in keeping with the richly imagined, industrial setting of the book, and the packed event was held at the Port Kembla Steelworks visitor centre.  It was opened by Transport Minister David Campbell who had some great things to say about the book, and Harland did an inspired reading from the start of the novel – taking us straight into the action. The book is set on a huge juggernaut, travelling across the globe. The characters are intriguing and the conflicts are of the kind that resonate with our modern lives, the twists are thrilling and often sudden. Harland first conceived of this novel from an incredible dream – the kind that gives you goosebumps and makes you wish someone had invented the dream cam – and worked on it for 13 years (publishing other books in the meantime). I devoured it in a couple of days and loved every moment. It's a stand alone novel but I, for one, have my fingers crossed for a sequel. 

Btw - Wollongong, what a beautiful place. Got lost by the beach for a while, simply sublime.

5 Jun 2009

We're now in winter again, and starting to feel the cold.

12 January 2009

Back from a break at Jervis Bay and feeling refreshed and excited about the year ahead.  Resolutions for this year? Writing and making sure I achieve my aims. Being active! I look forward to kayaking this year and bush walking –  lots more bush walking!

5 December 2008

Seems time is just rushing by right now so here's a recap of the past couple of months. October saw me at crime writer Tara Moss's first Literary Salon, discussing the works of Anais Nin and Henry Miller with fellow authors Josephine Pennicott and Kate Forsyth. Amongst the speakers were author Lee Tulloch who held us wrapped with a rather naughty piece from Nin's Delta of Venus;  and young adult writer Jack Heath – who gave a brilliant and very amusing reading of his story Right Angles and Hair from The Sex Mook: What is our Sex?

November 15th was the Sassy seminar and banquet. SASSY stands for Selwa Anthony's Success Stories of the Year - and what a great year it was. During the day I was motivated and inspired by talks from Richard Harland, Ian Irvine, Karen Brooks , Traci Harding and a host of other fascinating writers.  Come evening it was time to relax with amazing food and in great company. Satisfying to see prolific and deserving author Kim Wilkins awarded the Lynne Wilding Sassy Award for Excellence.

Now it's December and we're hurtling toward Christmas. I'm trimming the tree, hanging bells and thinking about yummy things to make, eat and share around. At my house, we're wondering how Santa gets down the chimney in one piece without scuffing up his bright red suit and hoping the reindeer don't land on the roof, frighten the cats and send the tiles crashing.

On the book front, I've come to the end of my grant and handed my new novel on to my agent;  already the next one is bubbling away and I'm spending the next few weeks getting to know my new protagonist...oh, what fun!

October 23rd I attended the Sydney launch of Margo Lanagan's novel Tender Morsels. I love Margo's short stories (Singing my Sister Down from her Black Juice anthology simply blew me away) and I've just recently embarked upon the novel. It's beautiful, magical and at times so terribly sad - it has me thoroughly absorbed.

18 September 2008

Tore through Uglies, Pretties and Specials. Just finished reading Extras and find myself talking in Tally speak -  icy!  (For those not yet in the know - Tally is Westerfeld's heroine). This is a wonderful series of books!

Now onto Tim Winton's Breath.

2 September 2008

Just finished reading Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.  Haven't had a series grip me this much since reading John Marsden's Tomorrow When the War Began and that's really saying something! Got to find a bookshop asap. Desperate for a copy of Pretties to find out what happens next.

6 May 2008

Launch of What is Mother Love? was wonderful.  Great to meet up with fellow authors Richard Harland, Josephine Pennicott, David Levell, Traci Harding and Sue Williams - to name just a few. Heart warming also to see so many children accompanying their parents and having an absolute ball.

The book is published by Penguin at the recommended retail price of $19.95.  Edited by Selwa Anthony and Selena Hanet-Hutchins. To purchase online go to Dymocks .

9 April 2008