I've been quiet lately, for which I apologise. (Writing 100,000 words in four weeks doesn't leave time for much else, although somehow I did manage to buy a house in there too. More on that later.) I just thought I'd quickly point out a couple of official appearances I'll be making in the coming months.

WORD: 21-23 March
This is the inaugural writers' festival for the Adelaide Fringe. Other guests include Anna Funder, Richard Flanagan, Shaun Tan, Fiona McIntosh and D M Cornish. I'm in the spotlight for a "Meet the Author" on the 21st, an industry panel with Fiona McIntosh on the 22nd, and a masterclass on the 23rd. If you're in town for WOMADelaide, the film festival or the rest of the Fringe, come along! WORD is going to be a hoot, with highlights such as "Read Dating", poetry and prose slams, performances by actors of authors' work, and other fun events to look forward to.

Sydney Writers Festival: 28 May - June3
The program will be announced April 14. I'll post the details here when they are official.

Also, the Australian Society of Authors is running elections for its Board of Management. I've put my name forward, so if you're a member of the ASA and are thinking of voting...well, you have been warned. :-)

* The subject line, btw, is a tip of my hat to the spoken intro to Frank Zappa's live performance of "Cheepnis", in which he talks about B-grade monsters emerging from their lairs to do battle with a movie's wide-collared protagonist (the inspiration for my current userpic.) This is a bit how I feel at the moment. I can be a bit of a cave-dweller at times, especially when I'm working to a tight deadline. Hopefully life can now get back to normal...