GUEST POST: Down Beside the Sea with Deb and Ron Kandelaars

Posted on 15 July 2021 by Maddy Sexton

Victor Harbor: Down beside the sea is the fascinating story of how Victor Harbor came to be, told by the people who live and work in this breathtakingly beautiful coastal locale.

Compiled by Deb and Ron Kandelaars, Victor Harbor represents years of research, memories and experiences from the people and places that make Victor Harbor what it is today.

Earlier in the year, Deb and Ron delivered a wonderful talk to a captive audience, explaining the provenance of the book, as well as sharing some of their favourite stories from within its pages. They’ve been kind enough to share their words with us on the blog – read on to find out more.

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GUEST POST: Winnie Pelz AM responds to ‘Elaine Haxton’

Posted on 1 July 2021 by Maddy Sexton

Arts legend Winnie Pelz, AM, artist, writer, arts administrator, and current affairs presenter, has written a wonderful response to Elaine Haxton: A colourful artist and life, Lorraine Penny McLoughlin’s biography of the late Australian artist.

Winnie has been kind enough to share her words with us, and has given permission for us to republish them here.

Read more about Elaine Haxton in Poppy Nwosu’s own response to the book here.

Cover image: Mexican Fields, 1939 (detail)

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GUEST POST: Peggy Brock and too many Captain Cooks

Posted on 27 May 2021 by Maddy Sexton

As part of South Australia’s History Festival this year, the David Roche Foundation House Museum displayed a special exhibition: Captain Cook and the Art of Memorabilia. Accompanying the exhibition was a special presentation by various speakers discussing Aboriginal accounts of Captain Cook.

One of the speakers was Wakefield Press author and academic Peggy Brock (Colonialism and its Aftermath (editor), Yura and Udnyu). Peggy has kindly allowed us to reproduce her fascinating talk, ‘Too Many Captain Cooks’, here on the blog. Read on to delve deeper into this controversial figure’s place in the context of historical pandemics.

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Wakefield Press acquires Edwina Preston’s novel of art, motherhood and ‘selfishness’

Posted on 7 May 2021 by Maddy Sexton

Wakefield Press is delighted to announce the acquisition of Edwina Preston’s novel of women artists struggling to make their mark in 1960s bohemian Melbourne, provisionally titled Veda Grey, via agent Jenny Darling. Publication is projected for May 2022.

Read more about this exciting new acquisition below!

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Launching BECOMING A BIRD by Stephanie Radok

Posted on 1 April 2021 by Maddy Sexton

Our brand-new event series, the Saturday Soirees, continued in March with the launching by Kay Lawrence of Stephanie Radok’s Becoming a Bird: Untold stories about art.

Our laneway was once again filled with eager punters and supporters of Stephanie’s collection of meditative stories. And, as a special treat, our bookshop was also graced with a small collection of Stephanie’s Spend More Time Listening to Birds Suite. One of the etchings from the collection features as the cover for this beautiful new collection.

Today, we are thrilled to be publishing launcher Kay Lawrence’s speech for all to enjoy.

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Launching THE SOUTHERN OSCILLATION INDEX by Cath Kenneally

Posted on 4 March 2021 by Maddy Sexton

At the first of our new afternoon event series, Saturday Soirees, the Wakefield Press laneway was filled with merry makers for the launch of The Southern Oscillation Index by Cath Kenneally.

Launched by Linda Barwick, Emeritus Professor of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and Emceed by Wakefield Press’ fearless leader Michael Bollen, the launch was a wonderful way to start the series.

Find out about future editions of the Saturday Soirees series by subscribing to our newsletter here.

We are thrilled to be publishing Linda Barwick’s wonderful launch speech for all to enjoy.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: Stephen Orr Long-Listed for the DUBLIN Literary Award

Posted on 9 February 2021 by Maddy Sexton

We’re thrilled to announce some exciting news from across the seas this week, as the long-list for the 2021 DUBLIN Literary Award is released. Amongst a host of stellar books sits our very own Stephen Orr and his marvellous This Excellent Machine. Read on to find out what the judges are saying …

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POETRY SPOTLIGHT: ‘Endless Summer’ by Cath Kenneally

Posted on 29 January 2021 by Maddy Sexton

This week’s poetry spotlight shines on Cath Kenneally’s new poetry collection, The Southern Oscillation Index.

These poems reflect on travel, on staying at home, on the passing of time, and on our afflicted world. Both tough and gentle, nostalgic and sharply political, Kenneally’s work is enlivened by flashes of gallows humour.

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Launching THE FEELING OF BIGNESS by Helen Parsons

Posted on 17 December 2020 by Maddy Sexton

When Adelaide’s quasi-lockdown hit in mid-November, the launching of Helen Parsons’ The Feeling of Bigness: Encountering Georgia O’Keeffe was momentarily put on hold. We were so thrilled to be able to have a rescheduled launch in early December.

Launched by Jan Owen, and Emceed by Louise Nicholas, the launch was held on the beautiful grounds of St John’s church on Halifax Street, on a balmy evening befitting Helen’s gorgeous poems.

We are delighted to be publishing Jan Owen’s launch speech from the evening here for all to enjoy.

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POETRY SPOTLIGHT: ‘Going Home’ by Geoff Goodfellow

Posted on 11 December 2020 by Maddy Sexton

This week’s poetry spotlight shines once again on Australian literary icon Geoff Goodfellow, whose most recent release, Out of Copley Street, received glowing endorsements from Tim Winton and Helen Garner.

‘A rollicking slice of an unlikely life. Watch young Geoff find poetry – and a few scraps of wisdom – the hard way. Ears up, chest out, flat-chat, punching on and wising up.’ – Tim Winton

‘A dry, sparkling clarity, a pure tone that hovers on the edge of laughter: these stories are a revelation.’ – Helen Garner

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Wakefield Press

Wakefield Press blog

Author Archives: Maddy Sexton

GUEST POST: Down Beside the Sea with Deb and Ron Kandelaars

Victor Harbor: Down beside the sea is the fascinating story of how Victor Harbor came to be, told by the people who live and work in this breathtakingly beautiful coastal locale.

GUEST POST: Winnie Pelz AM responds to ‘Elaine Haxton’

Arts legend Winnie Pelz, AM, artist, writer, arts administrator, and current affairs presenter, has written a wonderful response to Elaine Haxton: A colourful artist and life, Lorraine Penny McLoughlin’s biography of the late Australian artist.

GUEST POST: Peggy Brock and too many Captain Cooks

As part of South Australia’s History Festival this year, the David Roche Foundation House Museum displayed a special exhibition: Captain Cook and the Art of Memorabilia. Accompanying the exhibition was a special presentation by various speakers discussing Aboriginal accounts of Captain Cook.

Wakefield Press acquires Edwina Preston’s novel of art, motherhood and ‘selfishness’

Wakefield Press is delighted to announce the acquisition of Edwina Preston’s novel of women artists struggling to make their mark in 1960s bohemian Melbourne, provisionally titled Veda Grey, via agent Jenny Darling. Publication is projected for May 2022.

Launching BECOMING A BIRD by Stephanie Radok

Our brand-new event series, the Saturday Soirees, continued in March with the launching by Kay Lawrence of Stephanie Radok’s Becoming a Bird: Untold stories about art.

Launching THE SOUTHERN OSCILLATION INDEX by Cath Kenneally

At the first of our new afternoon event series, Saturday Soirees, the Wakefield Press laneway was filled with merry makers for the launch of The Southern Oscillation Index by Cath Kenneally.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Stephen Orr Long-Listed for the DUBLIN Literary Award

We’re thrilled to announce some exciting news from across the seas this week, as the long-list for the 2021 DUBLIN Literary Award is released. Amongst a host of stellar books sits our very own Stephen Orr and his marvellous This Excellent Machine. Read on to find out what the judges are saying …

POETRY SPOTLIGHT: ‘Endless Summer’ by Cath Kenneally

This week’s poetry spotlight shines on Cath Kenneally’s new poetry collection, The Southern Oscillation Index.

Launching THE FEELING OF BIGNESS by Helen Parsons

When Adelaide’s quasi-lockdown hit in mid-November, the launching of Helen Parsons’ The Feeling of Bigness: Encountering Georgia O’Keeffe was momentarily put on hold. We were so thrilled to be able to have a rescheduled launch in early December.

POETRY SPOTLIGHT: ‘Going Home’ by Geoff Goodfellow

This week’s poetry spotlight shines once again on Australian literary icon Geoff Goodfellow, whose most recent release, Out of Copley Street, received glowing endorsements from Tim Winton and Helen Garner.