South Australia’s History Festival, held annually in May, features a wide variety of events – author talks, workshops, guided tours – shining a light on the state’s rich history. History Hit Parade is one of these upcoming events, featuring Keith Conlon and Steve Davis (of the Adelaide Show Podcast) discussing ten original songs written by Steve about South Australian life.

Wakefield Press will make an appearance at both sessions, selling a selection of our favourite South Australian history titles.

In this special guest post, Steve tell us the story behind History Hit Parade.

Earlier in the month, author Stephen Orr shared an extract from his forthcoming novel, The Night Parrots, to his Substack audience. We’re pleased to be able to share this sneak peek into the pages, along with an introduction by Stephen.

The Night Parrots will release on 15 May, but is available to pre-order here.

We have a special guest poetry writer this week: year 10 work experience student Tegan Reinschidmt-Ryan! Tegan has chosen to shine our poetry spotlight on ‘What the Creek Said’ by Mike Ladd, from his latest collection Now–Then: New and selected poems.

We’re pleased to announce the winner of the December/January WWWC: James Smith. Responding to the prompt ‘over the bridge’, ‘Undalya’ is a short but evocative piece, taking us back to hot childhood summers.

Read his winning piece in full below.

We’re pleased to announce the winner of the October WWWC: Nicole Lenoir-Jourdan! Responding to the prompt ‘on the wrong side’, Nicole’s piece poetically explores the oceanic journey of a determined eel.

‘I often find myself asking: what is photograph? But I do not ask what is a water colour or a pen and ink sketch or even a print from an etched plate or woodblock. What is it that I understand about these latter images that I do not understand about a photograph?’

Christopher Race poses the question in his book The Missing Photograph, a collection of photograph-accompanied stories and essays. In some pieces, the photograph is an enigma, only made sensible by the accompanying text. In others, the photograph is a clear launching point for a story, remaining virtually untouched.

Through depictions of family, friends, fate and identity, Christopher explores how images and words refract off one another, re-framing stories, memories and even our self-perceptions.

We’re pleased to share an extract of one of the essays from his collection: ‘Destiny’.

We’re pleased to announce the winner of the September WWWC: Chloe Staykov! Responding to the prompt ‘the things you learn’, Chloe’s story is a humorous, touching exploration of grief and making your own rules for life.

Read her winning entry below.

We’re pleased to announce the winner of the August WWWC: phil saunders! Responding to the prompt ‘news from afar’, phil’s triptych of postcards home deftly combines poetry and prose.

Read his winning entry below.

In July, friends and family of historian Julie Marcus gathered at the Arkaba Hotel for the launch of Sex and Savagery in the Good Colony: South Australia 1836–1901. Launched by Katrina Schlunke, the event celebrated an important, wide-ranging and accessible account of our colonial past.

We are pleased now to be able to share Katrina’s launching speech.