New writing prize! For "an outstanding unpublished manuscript by an emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writer" - AUD$10,000 sponsored by Simon & Schuster Australia and ms development with a First Nations editor. www.simonandschuster.com.au/p/BundyiAUPr...

New writing prize! For "an outstanding unpublished manuscript by an emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writer" - AUD$10,000 sponsored by Simon & Schuster Australia and ms development with a First Nations editor. www.simonandschuster.com.au/p/BundyiAUPr...

#GUFF delegate on her way to #Swancon It's a tough gig so you have to prepare yourself in body and mind! Park work out!- #Vote #Brisbanein2028 #Meanjinin2028

DC sent us their #TinyKoalaAdventures from Glasgow, Scotland! #TinyKoalas #Brisbanein2028 #Meanjinin2028 #AustralasianSFF #Worldcon

Another one of Queensland, Australia's marvels! #Brisbanein2028 #Meanjinin2028 #AustralasianSFF #Worldcon

A common question to SF fans is 'what do you read when you aren't reading science fiction/fantasy?' Top of the list is usually crime fiction. Crime Reads offers us this fantastic list of cosy mystery, hard boiled investigation and outback noir. crimereads.com/five-great-m...

@satellitecons.bsky.social 's science track reminds me of one of my favourite science movies, the Australian movie, The Dish (2000, dir. Rob Stitch, Writers: Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy). Unaccountably it didn't make the Hugo Ballot. #AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028  #BrisbaneIn2028

Good morning from Glasgow! @satellitecons.bsky.social a science & science fiction convention. Talks on the economics of interstellar mining, later, the science of chilli, Soviet Space dogs, and one on the Vikings in Scotland. #AustralasianSFF Vote #MeanjinIn2028  #BrisbaneIn2028 !

@sworthen.bsky.social sent us a photo of their #TinyKoalaAdventures! #TinyKoalas #AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028 #BrisbaneIn2028 #Worldcon www.instagram.com/p/DYmS-FYjOAR

Here is something a bit different; Folio, Stories of Australian Comics. Open the Folio, browse the themes, explore the community, and discover the unique stories of Australia's comics creators. - [ ] #AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028  #BrisbaneIn2028 foliocomics.com

Me (Farah) starts her Fan Fund Trip to Australia next week. Janice Gelb won the Down Under Fan Fund Race in 1999 and loved it so much that she moved to Australia. You can find out more from the zine she wrote in 1999. smofbabe.net/janth.html #AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028  #BrisbaneIn2028

And further to our recently posted interview...

Find Angela Slatter at: www.angelaslatter.com and www.instagram.com/angelaslatter/

... Love the Arts precinct at Southbank with the galleries and State Library. Love the Yeronga Bakery because they have excellent neenish tarts. #AustralasianSFF #meanjinin28 #brisbanein28

Typically Australian things in your work: If I’m writing something set in Australia, it’ll be peppered with some weird Australian sayings in general and extra peculiar ones that my family uses. Fave Brisbane thing? Too many to count. Love the river even though it floods with malice aforethought...

Her novella The Cold House was released last October; a new collection To Bell the Cat & Other Terrible Ideas is out on submission; she has begun a new novel in the Sourdough universe, Our Lady of Battles. The Sourdough Companion is about to come out.

ICYMI!

Meet @angelaslatter.bsky.social! Based in Brisbane, Slatter's work runs the gamut from contemporary horror to folk horror to gothic fantasy and fairytales. Recurring themes are the position of women in society, female agency, redemption, recovery, sisterhood, revelation of long-buried secrets.

I'm actually planning a trip to Australia in 2028 anyway for the eclipse, so yes, please vote for Brisbane! (But also, ha ha ha ha ha ha I love this weather comparison. Melbourne July is like Philadelphia April, come on now, that's fine weather!)

Time to meet one of the instigators of #brisbanein28, @halloranelder.bsky.social! I grew up in country Queensland & moved to Brisbane for university. Eventually I moved to Melbourne (Naarm, the lands of the Woiwurrung and Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation) and have been here almost 20 years.

One of the #TinyKoalas visited the Botanic gardens in #Glasgow yesterday and was delighted to find a plant from "home". The Wollemi pine is found just outside Sydney. One Wollemi pine fossil has been dated to 90 million years ago.

For a Monday morning, meet another volunteer: @sjgroenewegen.co.uk I live in the Highlands of Scotland (but was born and raised in Sydney, Australia). I'm generally helping out with the bid. It's been too long since the last Worldcon was down under, and it would be the first time in Brisbane.

... Plus, Australia hasn't had a Worldcon since 2010 and we wants it my precious, we do. #worldcon

... We have a great conference venue with lots of hotels and restaurants nearby, so could host a Worldcon with all the vim and pizzazz that is typical of Brisbanites. I think Worldcon members would really like it here and the city is so alive as we gear up to host the Olympics in 2032. ...

ICYMI!

@cymerafestival.co.uk is a science fiction and literary festival that runs in Edinburgh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 each year. They have just announced the longlist for the 2026 Cymera Prize for Speculative Short Fiction. Congratulations to everyone listed from us at #AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028  #BrisbaneIn2028

#TinyKoalas #TinyKoalaAdventures #AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028 #BrisbaneIn2028 #Worldcon

Time to meet our Treasurer, Melanie! 1. I live in Brisbane. 2. I'm the Treasurer - I like numbers. 3. Why Brisbane? It's my favourite place in the world! I moved here from the UK in 2020 and I love this city. It's compact, beautiful, and it has the best climate. ... #brisbanein28 #meanjinin28

One of our followers just shared a post for them, so let's give, them a boost. Scylla: Australian publisher of sapphic spec-fic - "Who Am I? Sapphic Spec Fic of Identity and Purpose" anthology coming SEPT 4! scyllapublishing.com -#AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028  #BrisbaneIn2028

10:47 BST and we have 666 followers!!! Follow us, quick! Before something Devilish happens! #AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028  #BrisbaneIn2028

Voting for the 2026 #DITMAR awards closes at midnight this Sunday 17 May. Members (including supporting members) of the Continuum, Conflux or Swancon conventions 2022-2026 are eligible to vote. Shortlist and ballot here: swancon50.sf.org.au/awards/ #AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028  #BrisbaneIn2028

Over the next few weeks, you'll meet some of our splendid volunteers. Today, we're starting with (Hugo-nominated!) Terri Ash - @crewgrrl.bsky.social Location: Seattle, WA, soon to be Skokie IL Role: Committee member, outreach & policy and Fiber Crafts Czar Why Brisbane: Because eclipse & Australia!

Australia has a strong sense of writing as community. Not-for-Profit, Writing NSW, founded in 1991 offers courses, workshops, groups, festivals, events, grants, prizes, information & advice. writingnsw.org.au #AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028 #BrisbaneIn2028

Introducing Trent Jamieson… ( @trentonomicon.bsky.social) I live in Brisbane (Meanjin as it is called much more beautifully by the Turrbal and Yuggera people). I tend toward darkish fantasy with a taste and flavour of the places I grew up in rural New South Wales, and urban Queensland.

Tiny koalas love a great view. This little fellow is overlooking the Weser gorge at Porta Westfalica. #TinyKoalaAdventures #Brisbane2028 #PortaWestfalica

Not all of our #TinyKoalas are attending conventions this weekend - but they do have FOMO. This one fancied a trip to Scotland’s northernmost town, Thurso. Surf’s up! Bonza, but it's not the sunshine coast. #AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028 #BrisbaneIn2028 #Worldcon @brisbanein28.bsky.social

I am working on a research project today and it's nice to take a break and see what others are talking about. Tell #BrisbaneIn2028 #MeanjinIn2028 about your favourite local convention. Is it big? Small? Generalist or specific? What do you like about it?

Me (@effjayem) has just had a fantastic time at @norncon.bsky.social in Belfast. Local conventions are the life blood of our community. Without them, we'd not have a Worldcon. #AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028 #BrisbaneIn2028

Because you may need some extraordinary beauty right now. www.popsci.com/science/milk...

The #TinyKoalas are at Norncon @norncon.bsky.social again today! Pick one up for your lanyard, and post a selfie with YOUR Tiny Koala. #AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028 #BrisbaneIn2028 #Worldcon #Norncon

I had tickets to WorldCon 2020. It was going to be my first international trip. Then the pandemic happened. It can't replace that WorldCon but if it's in Brisbane, that means I (and many others in the Southern Hemisphere who missed out on Wellington) might actually be able to attend!

All the #TinyKoalas at Deepcon 26 have found lanyards to cling to! @brisbanein28.bsky.social

The #TinyKoalas will be at Norncon @norncon.bsky.social today! Pick one up for your lanyard and post a selfie with YOUR Tiny Koala. #AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028 #BrisbaneIn2028 #Worldcon #Norncon

Kell Woods' ( @kellinthewoods.bsky.social) two publised novels take fairytales you might think you know and makes them something new and often darker. Upon A Starlit Tide won the 2025 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel. www.kellwoods.com.au #AustralasianSFF #Meanjinin2028 #BrisbaneIn2028

'Eucalyptus? You gotta be kidding, more like!' #TinyKoalas have gone foraging in Fiuggi @brisbanein28.bsky.social

#TinyKoalas have travelled to Deepcon 26 in Fiuggi, Italy to spread the word @brisbanein28.bsky.social

Peter M Ball (@petermball.bsky.social) is a Australian writer of science fiction, horror and fantasy; he also writes writing advice, and convened Brisbane's GenreCon. He's the brain behind Brain Jar Press, a small press coming up on a decade of publishing excellent Australian work: brainjarpress.com

#AustralasianSF @trudicanavan.bsky.social is a well known Melbourne writer. Her Kyralia series, beginning with The Magician's Apprentice, was a huge hit and is still in print. She's won awards including the Aurealis and the Ditmar. Check out her work at www.trudicanavan.com

Lots of #TinyKoalas for @brisbanein28.bsky.social are travelling to Deepcon 26 in Italy!

Our #TinyKoalas have been travelling! This one has swapped a gum tree for a Scottish gorse bush in bloom. #AustralasianSFF #MeanjinIn2028 #BrisbaneIn2028 #Worldcon #GreenAndGold @brisbanein28.bsky.social