Meet the Summer guest editor

Meet Lisa Ford our Summer issue guest editor. She has previously written articles for the hillscene so I was very pleased when she decided to be our guest editor. She’s decided to donate her earnings from doing the hillscene to the bushfire fundraising efforts. What a legend.

Tell us a little bit about your writing journey?

It all started when I was just a slip of a girl at school: I used to write my older sister’s English essays and was encouraged by the As ‘we’ used to get!. I majored in English Literature at university and worked as a journalist before the 1990s recession took my career down a different path. Two decades and three children later, my withering creative urge prompted me to study creative writing for a couple of years at Coonara Community House, where I wrote for the Foothills mag before jumping to hillscene.

Why did you want to become an editor/writer?

I love words and working with them in any capacity. After my toe-dip into writing, being an editor was always on the bucket list to satisfy my passions for grammar and spelling (nerd alert!) and for a sense of finally being the conductor of the orchestra.

What is an editor’s role in this era of fake news and alternative facts?

Ah, the era of fake news and alternative facts is a logical outcome of the seemingly benign Age of Relativism, in which the truth is now just one of many casualties of humankind’s mad march to idiocracy, along with the planet’s environment, most species except our own, democracy, science, reason etc. (don’t get me started!) In short, it should be the editor’s role to ensure the truth is told. 

How did you become involved with the hillscene?

 I have always enjoyed reading hillscene at local cafes and am a huge fan of the arts, the performing arts and Burrinja. It seemed like a great fit for me. 

In what ways, if any, do you engage with the hills community?

Our kids went to school locally for 12 years, played various sports, joined voluntary organisations such as scouts and CFA Juniors. I have also joined writing groups, tai chi and yoga classes and am an avid fan of plays, performances and art shows at Burrinja, the 1812 and Cloudehill.  Every experience deepens my connection with the community. But even more than that, I love the human scale of the hills, where I can exchange ‘Good mornings’ with a stranger in the street to fleetingly recognise our shared humanity.

What do you wish you knew about being a writer/editor before you got started?

I wish I had the hillscene style guide, because I missed a few things – sorry! 

Who are your creative heroes?

It has to be Shakespeare for literature and Puccini for opera. Both make me swoon.

What do you enjoy about living in the Dandenong Ranges?

Nature, wildlife, the earthy arty people and our fabulous townships 

What are your plans for the future (immediate or long term)?

I want to do a 10 day Vipassana silent retreat this year.   It’s time. 

Something else you want us to know? Here is your chance!

My hero is Greta Thunberg. We need young people like her to save the world. 

Meet the Spring guest editor

Meet Melanie Bateson, our Spring guest editor. We met many years ago when I had a clothes swapping party at my house. Her humour comes out in her writing and I’m glad she has joined our team as an editor.

Tell us a little bit about your writing journey?

I have always loved writing and reading stories.  My Mum read to us as children, which fired my imagination up. I still have a couple of little stories and poems that I wrote in primary school, which are pretty cute. I was encouraged by two particular teachers at secondary school, and enjoyed developing my style while at Monash Uni in the 1990s, particularly through the study of film. Having teachers who see your talent and know how to tease it out of you is an amazing gift, so thank you to Mrs Jones, Ms Bruzzese and Liz and Heather!

Why did you want to become a writer/editor?

Being a writer is not a conscious decision, it just is. I was encouraged to apply for the guest editorship earlier this year and was successful in my application. I suspect I was the only applicant…I have found myself glowing a little since undertaking this role, which is all kinds of lovely.

What is an editor’s role in this era of fake news and alternative facts?

Keeping content genuine and grass roots is a passion of mine. Getting to the kernel of truth via the human story is my idea of real news and actual facts. The human story is everything.

How did you become involved with the hillscene?

After having children, I realised that writing was a compulsion for me, and was provided an opportunity to write for the Hillscene by Adriana as a result of our offspring attending the same local kinder. After a bit of a hiatus, and a loss of self-belief, I decided at the beginning of this year to get back into it. As a result, I have had an article picked up by the AFL website, and online magazine Mamamia. None of this would have happened had I not been encouraged by Adriana.

In what ways, if any, do you engage with the hills community?

Most of my engagement with the Hills community has been via my children, and the people I have met through their kinder, primary school and sporting exploits. Meeting artists, of all ilks, this way is a wonderful point of commonality, lending itself to a connection that is personal rather than professional. Half the time, none of us know what the other “does” until a lengthy time into the friendship.

What do you wish you knew about being a writer/editor before you got started?

Everything! I feel so lost in this world, as I have only recently decided to give it a real crack, and there is much to learn and navigate. A glaring example is how do writers get paid? This appears to be largely arbitrary. Why is this not already sorted out? The best part of it, however, is the support and encouragement afforded by other writers. They are utterly generous.

Who are your creative hero’s?

Stephen King, Danny Katz, Catherine Deveny, and anyone who has made their creative endeavour their profession.

What do you enjoy about living in the Dandenong Ranges?

The close knit community

Where can people find more information about you?

poopnbumpublishing.com

What are your plans for the future (immediate or long term)?

To continue writing articles, submitting them to various publications for publication, and observing the world through my own lens.

Something else you want us to know? Here is your chance!

Be yourself, maintain your sense of humour, it may even save your life.

The writer within

Hillscene mag in partnership with Writers Victoria presents “Unleash the writer”.

Write an essay. My stomach clenches and I wonder why I would volunteer to say yes to that. Like me the essay format may be one you associate with long word counts, looming deadlines and late nights studying to get your degree. Not all essays are created equal. Essays are also ways to tell your story, or another’s story, or the tale of an experience, or express a deep insight into a problem in the world. Essays expand us and our knowledge, they open doorways into experiences and ideas expressed by real people, in real life. They have the potential to give light to a seemingly mundane and ordinary observance, to unleash the ordinary and make it extraordinary.

Here is your chance to explore the form of the essay, to learn from award winning writer Fiona Murphy at this exclusive workshop on writing personal essays and stories. Master the art of getting started, how to research your idea and how to pitch your work to the right people. This insightful three hour workshop will provide practical insight and skills to all writers, whether you’re emerging, emerged or somewhere in between, it is bound to get you inspired.

Fiona Murphy

The workshop is presented by the hillscene maga’zine’ in partnership with Writer’s Victoria, thanks to funding from Yarra Ranges Council. The past few years has seen a bevy of special guest editors and designers taking the reins at the hillscene and creating some really great issues. The hillscene, with the support of Writer’s Victoria, is now opening its doors to offer local writers and writing enthusiasts the opportunity to participate in this insightful workshop with an award winning writer. Re-invigorate your creative practice, dispel your writers block and be inspired by Fiona Murphy.

Fiona Murphy is a Deaf poet and essayist. Her work has been published in the Griffith Review, Overland and Kill Your Darlings, amongst others. In 2019, she was awarded The Monash Prize for creative writing. In 2018, her non-fiction manuscript, ‘The Shape of Sound’, was shortlisted in the Richell Prize and highly commended in the Next Chapter Fellowship.

Writers Victoria is the state’s peak body for writers and writing, a leading provider of information, resources and skills development for the literary community. With 3,000 members, Writers Victoria is the largest of Australia’s writers’ centres and a significant employer of Australian authors and industry professionals.

This incredible workshop is free, but bookings are essential. This worlshop was so popular it is already booked out, it filled up within an hour of it being advertised. However, we will be taking names for a waiting list and you will be contacted if a spot becomes available.

When: Saturday 14 September 1:00 – 4.00pm
Where: The Black Box, Burrinja

To add your name to the waiting list, head to the Burrinja website http://www.burrinja.org.au/art

Proudly supported by Yarra Ranges Council.

Meet our Autumn guest editor

Post by Adriana Alvarez.

Justine Walsh, our Autumn guest editor, is a familiar face around the hillscene and many other community projects. She has been both a writer and an interview subject in the hillscene for her varied talents. Justine has also been involved in the hillsceneLIVE festival and has a wealth of creative ideas she’s happy to share. She’s fearless and a huge advocate for creating and facilitating culture in the hills. We talk to her about her many projects and love of writing.

Tell us a little bit about your writing journey?

I have always written poetry and songs, making art with text and finding playful and experimental ways to use language. I also ran a poetry night in the hills for 5 years, To the Ends of the ‘Verse, which was beautiful and powerful in equal measure. 

Why did you want to become an editor/writer/poet?

As a young person I realized a big part of me was storytelling, which has over the years emerged in so many different ways. I’d say ‘artist’ works best as I have a broad set of skills, dreams and projects… I can’t say I ever aimed to become an artist as such, I just had to do it and I followed my nose, testing many forms and methodologies, learning my cycles of creativity and fallow periods, allowing for it to change as it needs.

What is an editor’s role in this era of fake news and alternative facts?

To be discerning but also to do your best not to flavour the stories with your individual values. And to fact check, of course. 

How did you become involved with the hillscene?

I was originally interviewed back in 2013 as a musician I think… I have done a few articles for the mag since then and still have a solid back catalogue in my possession!

In what ways, if any, do you engage with the hills community?

I work in a leadership capacity for the arts & cultural events of the Dandenongs, helping to run projects such as hillsceneLIVE, Belgrave Survival Day and up until recently, Belgrave Lantern Parade. It’s very intense and often unpaid (mostly underpaid) work, but I have done it for the love of the community and the arts, and have learnt unbelievable amounts along the way. I am so grateful for the community up here, there are so many artists and members of the public who have put endless hours into the arts in the region. I started out working on End of the Line festival 2012, began the poetry night, was an artist/mentor at tiffaney bishop COLLECTIVE, and everything unfolded from there… it’s been the most tumultuous and spectacular time I must say!

Who are your creative heroes?

People like Gareth Hart, Leisa Shelton, Tiffaney Bishop, Ross Farnell, Toni Main, Renate Crow, people who I am close to and work with tend to be the ones who inspire me the most. Pretty lucky to have such amazing friends and peers!

What do you enjoy about living in the Dandenong Ranges?

I can never get enough of that air. The moss and the lichens, the incredible worlds of forested beauty, I am always discovering new little tracks to walk. The land here has held me in such a deep and enduring way, I can’t express how grateful I am for these green places.

Where can people find more information about you?

You can find me on instagram @justinelwalsh and my website is www.entwinearts.com.au.

What are your plans for the future?

Well, I am very excited to be Co-Directing hillsceneLIVE again this year, and working on the committee of Belgrave Survival Day. Both of these teams are looking for new people to be a part of them too so get in touch!! 

Apart from my events work, I have been learning about herbalism and collaborating with plants! Very exciting to spend time with them in a new way. I have also been working with sound school to run and help organize free workshops for young/queer/POC/femme people to access resources and learn about sound, which is awesome and very important. Also I am working on some sounds to be released mid-year on bandcamp through my project radiant/resonant… and of course there are some other projects in the pipeline haha… always 🙂 

Winter is coming

Post by Adriana Alvarez.

WINTER IS COMING. So it’s time to start working on the Winter issue of the hillscene. Which of course means there’s a poem call out. What is a poem call out? Well we want you to get creative, writing a poem about our local area, get your writing cap on and make those words sing.

POEM CALL-OUT:  Write a ‘Winter’ poem for the hillscene magazine

Requirements: 5 lines maximum; and must include water in one of its forms, i.e. stream, ocean, fog, mist, cloud or waterfall.
Due by: 26 May 2019.
Check out: www.hillscene.com.au

Send your entry to our resident poet and this issue’s guest editor and designer Cameron Semmens at cam@webcameron.com by the due date for your chance to have your poem included in the hillscene. No payment. Just the pleasure of having your poem in print.

calling all designers and editors!

Post by Adriana Alvarez.

WE’RE SO EXCITED!

In 2019 thanks to a grant from Yarra Ranges council the hillscene is extending it’s guest editor and designer program. Providing an opportunity to designers and editors to be part of our team. Are you interested in editing, writing, or self-publication? Or are you a graphic designer keen to get creating? This is your chance to be a part of a cherished local magazine and gain some experience in publishing.

For each issue this year, there will be a different guest editor & designer. You will be provided with templates, mentoring and a team of volunteer writers & photographers. There will be a small fee paid for each of the roles. There are four issues each year, one for each season!

In 2018 we began this journey and produced three issues with guest editors and designers. Each editor and designer adding their own unique ideas to each issue giving the hillscene a fresh look and feel. Anna James, who had worked with us before on the hillscene, was the editor and designer of the Autumn issue. Cameron Semmens produced the Winter issue adding his poetic expertise and flavour to that issue. The Summer issue was a collaborative effort between Stephanie Lightfoot as the editor and Amelia Campbell as the designer, which proves that working on the hillscene is an opportunity to create great connections within the artistic community as well. Working with each editor and designer has been a real pleasure and a great learning experience for me and the editorial team. It’s good to see the new ideas and energy that each new collaboration brings, broadening our vision a little further each time.

Cameron said of the experience “It was a treat to work on hillscene. Curating the stories, collaborating with other creatives and simply making something beautiful and meaningful for this community that I love. It was a challenge, but a good challenge and a worthwhile challenge.”

Clockwise from top left: Anna James, Cameron Semmens, Stephanie Lightfoot & Amelia Campbell.

If you are interested in either opportunity, please complete the expression of interest form by Feb 1, 2019. Editors and designers at all stages of their career are encouraged to apply. Apply here.

Important Information:
Each issue of the hillscene takes approximately 6 weeks to create, from the first editorial meeting to the distribution of the printed mag. You will need to be available for one of the following times:
Autumn issue: Feb – Mar
Winter issue: May – Jun
Spring issue: Aug – Sept
Summer issue: Oct – Nov

Meet our Summer guest editor

Post by Adriana Alvarez.

Our Summer guest editor and talented wordsmith, Stephanie Lightfoot, has graced us with her quiet, calm demeanour this issue. Stephanie is a recent graduate who has joined us this season to edit and write articles for the hillscene. She has worked with other hills’ publications so she understands our local community’s fondness for showcasing stories that are like little hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Here she shares her experiences of editing, writing and her passion for words.

Why did you want to become an editor?

I’ve been an avid reader from the tender age of four, at which I convinced myself (but not my parents) that I had learnt to read the picture book ‘Dear Zoo’ by Rod Campbell – as many kids do, I had simply memorised the tale, word for word. This appetite continued – albeit slightly less fraudulently – into primary school, when I would consume the material on the back of milk cartons and Vegemite jars along with my breakfast. In my teen years, I became enamoured of the dictionary, and would look up and transcribe the meaning of any word I encountered that I did not know. By this time, I had also reached peak spelling confidence and would inappropriately point out teachers’ errors on the whiteboard. I took this voracity into an English degree, and then an interim period of volunteering to proofread friends’ essays and theses. But it was writing for fellow hills publication, The Local Voice, and the experience of working with and being edited by the wonderful Gülsen Öser, that led me to give writing and editing a real crack. I enrolled in the Master of Publishing and Communications at the University of Melbourne, which I’ve just completed. Editing, for me, is the perfect marriage of building and navigating relationships and immersion in the written word and world.

Tell us a little bit about your writing journey?

I’ve had several flirtations with writing, however, find that I am much more comfortable with the role and responsibilities of editing – not least because it is necessarily collaborative. Reflecting on my writing last year, I realised the joy that I find in the medium of cultural criticism and other nonfiction. Most recently, I had the opportunity to contribute to this issue of the hillscene, and interview a number of impressive people: CJ Baxter, Jordan Crook, Pia Nesvara and our cover artist, Georgia Steele. Hearing from or talking to and writing about these locals and their work was an absolute pleasure.

What is an editor’s role in this era of fake news and alternative facts?

The opportunities for publishing are increasingly wide and accessible, and on many counts, this is a good thing – certainly, barriers to entry are often there for less-than-just reasons. The role of the editor is shifting, and sometimes out of the equation altogether, in tandem with sensationalist, fast-paced production schedules. I see an editor’s role as ensuring that truth and impact are given equal weight. Though easy to proliferate, words are extremely powerful, and should be handled with care.

How did you become involved with the hillscene?

The opportunity to guest-edit an issue of the hillscene was passed onto me by my friend, Gareth Hart. Having written for The Local Voice a couple of years ago, as well as being generally charmed with the hills’ cultural scene and community, I felt compelled to throw my hat in the ring. I’m beyond appreciative to Adriana and the team at Burrinja, as well as Amelia, for their support, mentorship and encouragement as we put the issue together. It’s been a team effort through and through, and a privilege to work with such passionate people. I’m especially grateful to have worked closely with Amelia on this issue. and am really proud of what we’ve achieved together.

In what ways, if any, do you engage with the hills community?

For now, my engagement with the hills community is twofold: social, and creative, and I hope that the friendships and connections I have fostered at the hillscene can continue to thrive.

What do you wish you knew about being a writer/editor before you got started?

Every single writing and editing experience is different. Whatever the genre, whether you’re dealing with fiction or nonfiction, it’s always ultimately a creative and human process and your ability to navigate relationships is key. This year has dealt me a number of diverse, steep learning curves – and all of them have reinforced the importance of communicating kindly and respectfully.

Who are your creative heros?

A couple of years ago, hearing from one of the Stella Prize founders, Aviva Tuffield, I resolved to read more writing by women or non-binary folk. Growing up, my favourite writers were probably Charles Dickens and Haruki Murakami, and a good look at my bookshelf and high school and undergraduate reading lists was sobering. I’m infatuated with Isabel Allende, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Mel Campbell, Nayuka Gorrie, Eileen Myles, Alexis Wright, Fiona Wright … the list goes on!

What do you enjoy about living in the Dandenong Ranges?

For now, I live in Coburg, in Melbourne’s north, but I dream of one day settling down in the hills.

What are your plans for the future (immediate or long term)?

Having just finished my degree, the future is suddenly somewhat of an overwhelming concept. At the moment, I’m working in community engagement. In the not-too-distant future I hope to find work in editorial, hopefully in-house, and ideally at one of Melbourne’s small or mid-sized independent publishers. In the longer term, I have my sights set on literary agenting – that’s the dream!

From Forest Haiku to Spring Poem

Post by Cameron Semmens

As editor and designer of the 2018 Winter edition of the hillscene ‘zine I decided to open it up to all those aspiring writers out there – to write a haiku for the forest! ‘Cause I love the forest, and I know a lot of other people out there do too.

Haiku holds a unique place in many people’s story. They are one of the few poetic forms taught in school that don’t rhyme, and that can be deliberately open and ambiguous. Which I think is a healthy acknowledgment of the mystery and ‘poetry’ of reality, rather than the spreadsheets and certainty we are sometimes sold.

The tight constraints of haiku: allowing only 5 syllables for the first line; 7 for the second and 5 for the third – act like a focussing lens; like a magnifying glass – cutting out all that isn’t needed, utilising just the most effective and evocative words.

I think this form of poem is at its best when simply capturing a single suggestive moment; an emotive word-photo of a landscape; or a fragment of a scene that is emblematic of a whole world. And so many people did this really well.

I got about 40 haiku submissions – which was great. But it wasn’t easy to whittle them down to the final ones published in the ‘zine.

My selection criteria was pretty simple: it had to be in and around the forest; to be original and fresh; to be vivid and evocative. And on top of that I was looking for both ‘heart’ and ‘craft’ – words that felt honest and emotional that also showed precision and deliberate crafting.

After making the selection, I paired them with an appropriate photo, and then tried to match them with a space or story in the ‘zine.

A big shout out to Katie Cremean at Ferny Creek Primary School – she got her whole grade 3 class writing haiku and producing complimentary art – which was just delightful.

So, I hope you enjoy the haiku selected… 

But before that – the next poetry challenge! Since the last call out went so well, I’ve made a new poetry challenge for the Spring issue.

Write a Spring poem for Hillscene!

For potential publication in the Spring/Summer edition of Hillscene. To qualify, your poem must mention: 

– 1 colour

– 1 type of plant or tree, and

– 1 place name from The Dandenong ranges.

5 lines MAXIMUM.

Send in by Oct 10, 2018.

Have a go. Let the inspiration flow. Put pen to paper. 

Send it through to me, Cameron, at cam@webcameron.com

An example:

Stepping away
from grey-skied, tourist-busy Sassafras
wet ferns kiss me with ancient love
and fog-lavished forest rehydrates
my data-parched soul

The key words being: grey, fern, Sassafras.

I look forward to reading your entires. And of course, sadly, we won’t be able to publish every entry. But good luck.

In the meantime, enjoy these haiku!!!!

Meet the Winter editor and designer

Post by Adriana Alvarez.

Now it’s over to our second editor and designer who will be putting their own touches to the hillscene. Cameron has contributed to the hillcene in the past giving us a series of poetry workshop ideas for people to try out for themselves. With his ususal wit, he tells us a bit about his writing and what he has in store for our readers.

Tell us a little bit about your writing journey?

Age 1 – couldn’t write.

Age 10 – poor writer, bad speller.

Age 15 – loved writing fun little poems to entertain myself and my friends.

Age 19 – published my first book of poetry called Splat. Not classy, but fun… and you have to start somewhere.

Age 29 – only at this age did I actually start using poetry as a form of self-expression, thought clarification and emotional catharsis. And the publishing of Through The Lover’s Window represents this change.

Age 40 – at this age I felt a change in myself – moving away from the thrill of performing my own poems towards the joy of helping others find their way into considered words through writing workshops.

Age 44 – the present – I’m loving writing and sharing quieter, more meditative, poems; and I’m trying to write a long-form prose memoir called My Lemon-moon in Norway; and I’m loving running poetry workshops for students and adults and teachers and ESL students.

Cameron with his daughter Mieka.

Why did you want to become an writer/poet?

The power.

The power to guide people into new worlds.

The power to bring beauty into others’ brains.

I’m all about the power.

What is an editor’s role in this era of fake news and alternative facts?

I do have a deep intolerance for fear-mongering and thoughtless living. I believe a commitment to truthfulness needs to be consciously chosen. And I believe that hard truths can still be said with gentleness and generosity.

Thus!

I see my role as the editor of hillscene as hope-mongering, pro-thinking, and nodding enthusiastically towards inclusivity and generosity.

How did you become involved with the hillscene?

I’ve read hillscene for years – had a number of bits and pieces in published within it – and I think it does a great service for the arts and community in the Hills. So, naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to put my stamp on it as a wordsmith and a designer.

What do you wish you knew about being a writer/editor before you got started?

That people like to be asked to help.

Who are your creative hero’s?

At this moment:

Poet and philosopher – JOHN O’DONOHUE – his deep insights on being and his powerfully unique way with words are a beacon to me.

and

Pulitzer-prize winning poet – MARY OLIVER – her exquisite, precise observations of nature intermingled with pungent realisations and revelations are lighthouses to my panicy paddlings along the dark coastlines of creativity.

But next week, maybe, I’ll have two new heros.

What do you enjoy about living in the Dandenong Ranges?

I moved to the Hills six years ago, and I just love it up here. Its truly where my heart is. I live in Upwey. I frequent many of the local cafes… frequently. I regularly walk the paths of Sherbrooke Forest. And I love being part of the general milieu: the markets and all the special events.

Where can people find more information about you?

You can check out my website: www.webcameron.com
Facebook: just search for Cameron Semmens
Instagram: for my arty alter ego, you could check out: The_Crappy_Artists_Campanion

What are your plans for the future?

To make a living.

To keep being nice.

To try a few new weird hairstyles.

To make some beautiful things.

To be a good dad.

Something else you want us to know? Here is your chance!

Sometimes I write poems in my dreams.

 

Get poor quick

Tell me a bit about your latest book.

Okay, so the book is called:

GET POOR QUICK through Poetry (and other arty enterprises)
101 super easy steps to obscurity, disappointment and straight-up cashlessness.

It’s the mutant book-baby of a troubled artist and a life coach. It’s a self un-help book. It’s petite – 5 x 7 in old-school inches, 130 pages. Hopefully it’s a feather to the funny bone, and chink in armoured self-righteousness.

Most simply I would describe it as a funny, self-help parody for artists and art appreciators.

Are these ‘pearls of wisdom’ derived from your own life experience or are they more universal?

Basically, yes, this wisdom (if you can call it that) has emerged from my life and experiences. I’ve been a poet for 26 years now, and Poetry and Poverty have always gone hand-in-hand for me. And recently, I just got to the point where, instead of trying to fight that, I thought I’d embrace it. Perhaps ironically, I do sort-of survive as a poet, doing workshops and school incursions and gigs and selling a few books here and there. I don’t earn much, but it’s just enough to survive with other little bits of book design work.

Universal wisdom? I’m not sure if there such a thing. Because the same single piece of advice can be perfectly correct for one person at their stage in life and development, but completely wrong for another person at different stage. So I ‘spose I’m saying I’m slightly dubious of any universal truths. But, at the same time – paradoxically – I DO think there are some universals and absolutes that do apply to all humans. So as you can see, I’m a deeply confused individual. The perfect person to write a book about obscurity and disappointment.

 Are self-help books really helpful?

Yes, I think some self-help books can be properly helpful! BUT some are not! The ones that I have a problem with are those that strongly assert with absolute certainty – they make me dubious. I think we as humans often want things to be more clear and simple that reality is. Maybe it’s because of my age, or some of the heartbreaking experiences I’ve had, but these days I am just very cautious around simple assertions of certainties which some self-help books are prone to.

You mention ‘brainstorming this book with arty friends’, is this book just for artists?

Yes. It should be illegal for anyone who is not an artist to read this book. Anyone who does not have a full-time, full-on creative practice should be forbidden from consuming these illuminating instructional insider insights!!!!!!

Or… on second thoughts… my sister’s a civil engineer, and she said she really liked it.

So actually, I think, anyone who enjoys the arts will enjoy this. As well as artists themselves.

If being rich is most people’s idea of success. What’s your idea of success?

For me, money has never been my currency. That’s not me being noble or anything, I just can’t get myself excited by it. I know we all need a bit of money. Because if you don’t have enough for rent or food or for when the car suddenly breaks down, life just gets way too stressful.

I’m totally open to being rich. I think I’d be really good at it. And I’d be willing for this book to sell millions and set me up for life. That would be the most hilarious irony. But earning money is not the primary motivation for doing books and projects like this.

The richness I value sits more around authenticity, communication, friendship, openness and community. So success for me usually has something to do with enabling these things in myself and in others.

You’ve written 21 books, what do you most enjoy about the writing process?

I remember in high school I just loved doing projects – the process of getting information, adding pictures, finding a sense of flow or narrative and then packaging it up into a pretty little self-contained entity – was just fun and satisfying for me. And these days, doing a book, is just like doing a high school project, but then I try to sell it to people! It’s just been a natural evolution.

And there is something unique about working towards writing, producing and designing a physical book. It can really focus your mind, because you know it’s going to go out into the world, and potentially be around for hundreds of years. This motivates me to produce the best result I can in that moment.

Where and when is the launch and where can people get the book?

The book is available locally at the Belgrave Book Barn, Little Rebellion and Grunge Cafe (thanks to those guys for the lovely local support!!!). And you can also buy it directly from my website www.webcameron.com, and I’ll mail it out to you promptly.

The launch is on Dec 11, 2017 between 6 and 8pm (7pm formalities)
25 Matson Drive, Upwey, VIC (just across the road from Burrinja).

There will be light refreshments, and dark refreshments.
RSVP: Yeah, go old-school and tell me if you’re coming, it’ll help with catering:
0438 72 55 88