Chris Johnston Newstead Arts Hub, The Writing Life

Cate Kennedy: The Writing Life

Cate Kennedy is a regular contributor to local writing activities and an acclaimed author of poetry collections, a novel, a travel memoir and many short stories. We were delighted to host her on the evening of Friday 26 September at the Newstead Arts Hub. Cate shared her experience of the writing life with a full audience, as well as reading extracts of her work.

Cate regards fiction as a ‘perfect medium for creating empathy’ and believes that short stories offer ‘constraint’ to the creative mind. A short story, she explained, is the ‘perfect dive’, as an execution of an idea. Dark Roots, a collection of award-winning short stories published in 2006, offers some great examples of her skill.

Chris Johnston Newstead Arts Hub, The Writing Life

The Writing Life 23 May: Bonny Cassidy

Newstead Writers hosted local writer Bonny Cassidy at our evening session of The Writing Life on 23 May. Bonny engaged a full audience with reflections on the creative process, her life spanning forest and city, her ‘compost of poetry’, the constellation of elements of long-form writing, and how she allows work to find its own form. We were treated to Bonny’s poetry readings and selections from her critically acclaimed first book of nonfiction, Monument (Giramondo, 2024).

Bonny Cassidy
Intensely engaged audience
Thank you gift for Bonny

The Writing Life is an occasional evening session inviting local writers to reflect and share insights into the experience of writing, the life behind the words and how the writer comes to create a unique published work. In Bonny’s case, it has been also the process of finding the emotional and creative space to write within a busy working regime.

Find further information on Bonny’s website here.

Our monthly writing sessions are on the 4th Friday of the month between 1-5pm at Newstead Arts Hub. Come and join our growing community of writers and feel the support of writing together. No need to book – just turn up. Dates for the rest of the year: 25 July, 22 August, 26 September, 24 October, 28 November.

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