ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Have just heard that my poem 'Solace' which won the 2017 Boyup Brook Writing Competition attached to the BB Country Music Festival, has been included in Melbourne Books, '2017 Award Winning Australian Writing' which presents award winning poems (of all genres) and short stories from all around Australia -- www.melbournebooks.com.au www.awardwinningaustralianwriting.com.au

In 2016, although David Campbell and Jacqui Merckenslager had writing included, mine was the only poem with rhyme and metre. Hopefully, this year, there will be more poems of our genre. If you hear that any of your writing will be in the book, it would be great if you could pass this on to Shelley or to me so that we can promote it, and you, on our Facebook page.

Every time any one of us gets something into a predominantly free verse environment is another step forward.

Wow! Good on you Brenda, many congratulations!

As you say, it's great that traditional Aussie rhyming verse is being recognised in an arena dominated by free verse and other genres.

Cheers
Shelley

That's good news, Brenda. My "A Man Alone", which won the bush poetry section of the 2017 Laura Literary Awards, will also be included...so that's at least two rhyming poems! I've sent it to Neil as well.

Cheers
David

Congratulations David, I am not surprised. Tom Mc has one in too so that is three. That is two years in a row for Laura too so an extended accolade for the Rocky River 'Riters also.
BJ

Congratulations David and Tom also.

Hi All

Keep an eye on the AWAW Facebook page. I've discovered in a roundabout way (I'm not on Facebook) that they're publishing a few lines from a successful poem/short story each day and an excerpt from my "A Man Alone" went up on July 15. So others from the ABPA will presumably also appear and some "likes" would certainly help to lift the rhyming verse profile!

Cheers
David

Thanks for this "heads up" David - I'm not a follower of the AWAW Facebook page, but I will speedily remedy that and help in my small way to widen the circle of viewings!

Cheers
Shelley

Well done everyone

Last night I went to the launch of this anthology. Max and Jacqui Merckenschlager were also there, and both Max and I were able to read our poems, which meant that two of the five readings were traditional verse…a great opportunity for promotion and a reaffirmation of the support that Melbourne Books has given to us over the years.

It’s the tenth anniversary edition, and, although I’ve only been able to glance through it at this early stage, it provides a valuable snapshot of what is happening in today’s Australian writing competitions. Much of the book is, understandably given their comparative length, devoted to short stories, but about 50 pages showcase poetry competitions ranging from those which offer first prizes in the thousands of dollars through to those with only a couple of hundred dollars available. Poetic styles range from a variety of free verse forms through haiku to our tightly structured rhyming verse, and there are three poems written by children from last year’s Dorothea Mackellar Competition, which Stephen judged.

Apart from Max and I, Brenda, Tom, and Will are also featured, so, given that Melbourne Books (unlike the Puncher and Wattman anthology) is enthusiastically supporting bush verse, please return the favour by buying a copy (or copies!). It costs $29.95 and can be ordered via the AWAW website (http://www.melbournebooks.com.au/produc ... iting-2017)

Happy reading!

David

Thanks very much David - and congratulations again to you, Brenda, Tom, Will, Max and Jacqui.

As you say, it's great to see the inclusion of rhyming verse in this anthology. Details including the link for purchasing have been posted on ABPA Facebook page, so hopefully some of our members will support Melbourne Books by purchasing a copy.

Cheers
Shelley