P'rea Press

A lively group of poets, writers, artists, aesthetes and bon vivants meets regularly at Yours and Owls café/bar/gallery in Wollongong, Australia. Some of those participating in 2nd April’s readings were Leigh Blackmore, Kyla Lee Ward, Laura E. Goodin, Margi Curtis, and Richard Harland.

Charles Lovecraft spoke about continuing to buy poetry books during difficult economic times. The occasional purchase of an appealing poetry book really makes a difference to the financial viability of small press publishers. Most importantly, this creates the opportunity for new and unknown poets to be published and read.

The “Indian Pacific” train traverses the vast loneliness of the Australian interior, referred to by H. P. Lovecraft in “The Shadow Out of Time.” It’s a journey of 66 hours and 4352 kilometres/2698 miles, coast to coast, including the Nullarbor Plain, with traditional serviced sleeper comfort and gourmet meals!

Charles Lovecraft caught the train in February 2012, heading to Western Australia’s capital city, Perth, in drought and with summer temperatures of 38 C +. Highlights of the expedition:

• Trek to Kellerberrin to meet the Smiles family and see N & A Smiles’ fabulous collection of Arthurian Literature, Australiana, Collectible Paperbacks, Horror, J. R. R. Tolkien, Medieval Studies, Myths and Legends, Science Fiction. http://www.abebooks.com/home/smilesbooks
• Talking fantasy literature and life with Ben Szumskyj in the seaport of Fremantle.
• Wave Rock, Cervantes, Hyden and The Pinnacles, rock formations which inspire strange thoughts in even the most sensible of minds ...
• Art work of the talented Norton family. Lynne Norton’s QANTAS painting commissions are large, brilliantly-colored coastal scenes and waterscapes. Audrey Norton’s paintings of unique W.A. wildflowers, such as kangaroo paw and leschenaultia, are stunning. Frank Norton, Australia’s first official Naval artist, war artist for WWII and the Korean War, Director of the W.A. Art Gallery, painted wonderful marine scenes and landscapes; and he was among the first to preserve Australian Aboriginal cultural artifacts such as pukamani (funerary) poles.

So for anyone who dreams, and Australia is the land of the Dreaming, (pinch me), visit Western Australia!

I wanted to thank Karen Herkes personally for getting in contact with me in the couple of weeks before the convention, Conflux 7 thereby allowing me to be part of it. I enjoyed what I saw and experienced of it and appreciated her always terrific effort in putting it all together. The convention was once again a thorough tribute to her and her staff. Congratulations on a fine convention and with the hope she will be hosting a national one again soon. Charles Lovecraft