Sunday Blog 197 – 10th August 2025
On a wild, wet Saturday a couple of weeks ago, I was scampering across Perth, spreading myself across several different writing events on that one day. I missed the interview with Helen Garner, arguably one of Australia’s greatest living writers, at the WA Museum. Luckily Gillian O’Shaughnessy took notes on Helen’s writing tips, such as the importance of writing down dreams. I’m thinking especially the kind that wakes you up with the intensity of feelings it creates.
I did manage to catch Helen Garner later that day at the tiny launch event for issue 20 of Giramondo Press’s literary journal Heat. It was at a place called Light Works I’d never heard of and resembled more of an abandoned warehouse than a venue worthy of Ms Garner. I crowded in, and wondered, would Helen be there in person? It seemed too much to hope for.
She was there in person. Curious, quirky, engaged and friendly. I talked to her. Of course I talked to her. I wish I hadn’t momentarily forgotten the title of her latest book The Season and so had been spared uttering the gauche phrase, “Bloody loved that football book.” But she seemed unfazed. Even I knew it wasn’t the place to whip out my copy I’d brought with me to get her to sign it.
Instead, I took my place to the side, at the front to watch the four writers who were reading from earlier Heat editions. What a joy to hear Helen Garner read out her piece. A friend of mine was standing behind me so took a shot for me to remember the moment. These happenings in life to savour.