Vale Dr Nick Herd: my beloved former-boss, film buff and friend. He was a lighthouse of a leader. Quiet, steadfast, sweeping his light over all. So wonderfully smart. And kind. It's been a week since Nick died, a week of reflection for me, on what a good life looks like.

Last year when I offered copies of my ex-boyfriend's books to people, one reader said "thank you but if you give that to me I'll just throw it in the bin." It stung. For some reason I had never considered that a book could be thrown into a bin.

Honoured to be nominated for City of Parramatta's Citizen of the Year, 2026 for my volunteer work across arts and culture in the city. Thank you to my nominator, and all the artists and organisations I've worked with or for in the City - it's been my pleasure!

If you want to know what your new year's resolution should be? Aim to be more like this man: Kind. Gentle. Patient. Sweet. Adventurous. With great taste and full integrity. He's well read and easy to cook for. @Thebooksdesk.bsky.social #happynewyear

The squirrel guardians of Leipzig keep me safe...

Here she is! Christmas cake for dear @thebooksdesk.bsky.social , made with ingredients sourced from 4 trips to markets seeking ingredients that don't exist in Germany. Containing 1.1Kg of fruit, utterly drowned in Brandy. It has taken a day of "soaking" & 3 hours to bake/rest. #christmascake

PLAYWRIGHT EOI OPPORTUNITY: The Parramatta Play Project is calling for EOI from writers to join a collaborative team of 8 writers to write a new full-length play inspired by Parramatta’s histories, culture + identity. EOI closes 5pm, 11 Jan 2025. Apply here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/MHM3Y5R

The loveliest little Tannenbaum in Leipzig, thanks to @thebooksdesk.bsky.social and his willingness to humour me. It makes me so happy to look at, not least of all because it's been a long time since I got to decorate a Christmas Tree with someone... And it's nice it's him. #christmasingermany

Poor @thebooksdesk.bsky.social - again it appears he's been coaxed into a festive tradition he wasn't expecting: wrestling fairylights onto a tree. He's such a good sport. (And he was rewarded with Gluhwein and applause.) #christmasingermany

Poor @thebooksdesk.bsky.social he just wants to be at home with some red wine...

Let's talk about cultural disconnect: Should we go to The Rocky Horror Picture Show and expect to see a work by Pina Bausch?

Thank you International Film and Entertainment Festival Australia (IFEFA) for awarding me the great honour of being recognised as the 2025 IFEFA Woman of the Year at NSW Parliament House today. Such an honour to be amongst those that champion our arts, film and cultural sectors!

A good day. A big day. A good day.

I'm proud to have been on the judging panel that selected Yumna Kassab as the inaugural Parramatta Laureate in Literature. And I'm pleased she is getting recognition for an epic work. www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...

So grateful for the wonderful Kate Fagan, who was my partner-in- literature when I was the Cultural Strategist at City of Parramatta and creating the Laureate in Literature program. It was hugely challenging and incredibly rewarding to create this opportunity for a writer.

One of the greatest issues we are facing as Australians at the moment is "what are we talking about?" Are we quoting our poets? Are we discussing the latest new Australian play? Are we engaging with questions of philosophy? Or are we talking about real estate and growing wealth?

Wonderful for NSW to finally have its own Writing and Literature Strategy - "Stories Matter" is a three year strategy to best support our $1.3B industry. www.nsw.gov.au/departments-...

Questions I asked a publisher today at Parramatta's Lit! Industry Day about things that impact his decision making when. Considering a manuscript to be published... #ozlit

Friday is Parramatta’s Lit! “Industry Day”: all welcome and free to attend - it should be a great arvo! @parramattaslit.bsky.social @augustasupple.com #ParramattasLit

Really loved this conversation. It was fascinating hearing industry professionals speak frankly about the state of modern publishing and how they each contribute to it, both machinery and soul. Insightful, honest, sincere. Top marks for the discussion and event overall @augustasupple.com!

Did someone say "sustainable careers for writers"? Parramatta’s Lit! "Industry Day" is on the horizon, part of @augustasupple.com's collaborative, grassroots festival of Australian writing #ParramattasLit

I'm not sure about the stuff on Substack. As I get older and with the prevalence of AI, I prefer the analogue. Substack kind of sucks. Except for this. This Substack post from David Maney. I think it's perfect. (At least for me in this moment.) open.substack.com/pub/davidman...

All Lit Up! An evening of true stories told by Western Sydney writers: KT Major, Linda Atkins, Paris Rosemont, Jelena Curic, Shondelle Pratt, Augusta Supple. $25 11 Sept, 6pm PHIVE, Parramatta Square Parramatta's Lit! and @sydneyfringe sydneyfringe.com/events/all-l...

Wir leben in einer Welt, worin ein Narr viele Narren, aber ein weiser Mann nur wenige Weise macht. ▪️Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

I have been awarded an extraordinary opportunity to pursue my work as a playwright and dramaturg internationally thanks to support from a Next Steps Professional Development Grant from Create NSW. As such I have resigned from the Board of Vitagraph Publishing, which I co-founded 2 years ago...

Next month in Parramatta, I'll be leading a playwriting workshop on the Raffetys stage at the @RiversideParra as part of #ParramattasLit! DETAILS: Cost: $25 Duration: 2 hours Date: 2nd September, 2025 Time: 6pm Bookings: boxoffice.riversideparramatta.com.au/WebPages/Ent...

Delighted to be included in the Future of Women in Western Sydney Summit speaking about arts, culture and creative industries Entrepreneurship on the 4th Sept in Blacktown. For tickets and more information - check out: westernsydneysummit.com.au #westernsydney #artsandculture

My room with a view in Ojai - the most incredible gift of time and space to listen, connect and write during the Ojai Playwrights Conference and Festival.

Just leaving this one here... #hottest100 www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N5a...

Incredible to be at the Ojai Playwrights Conference in California for the 2025 Summer Conference and New Works Festival - with an incredible company of artists and staff- all passionately committed to being in the service of new plays. #newplaydevelopment #newwork #ojaiplaywrightsconference

A fair articulation of the importance of criticism being more than opinion - it is context in all its dimensions, writ large.

Director @augustasupple.com's swell new festival: "Parramatta’s Lit! is about celebrating our local literary community – the authors, readers and publishers that are dedicated to sharing stories – and who are putting Parramatta on the global map" www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/202...

We are in the last weeks of Vitagraph Publishing's EOFY Fundraising Campaign via the Australian Cultural Fund! 100% of funds raised go directly to writers. And every donation is fully tax deductible! We appreciate your support. artists.australianculturalfund.org.au/s/project/a2...

It's that time of year, when a donation to an arts organisation means a warm, happy glow and great works continue to flow in our cultural community. It's why I've chosen to donate to Story Factory Parramatta. For more info on how to make a donation: www.storyfactory.org.au/donate/

Congratulations to Ivor Indyk for being honoured today in the King's Birthday Honour roll: awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to Australian Literature (incl as editor @giramondobooks.bsky.social #SydneyReviewofBooks #HeatLiteraryJournal & @westernsydneyu.bsky.social)

One for your calendars: two shining stars of the OZ literary firmament are sharing the stage! Namely Angela O'Keeffe is interviewing @eleytherius.bsky.social regarding her (stunning!) new novel at Kinokuniya on July 17 events.humanitix.com/an-evening-w...

Can't wait to attend this launch at Better Read Than Dead Newtown next week!

Travelling Tip for when in Europe:A Sydney Review of Books bag holds nearly everything I need (tictacs, laptop, notebooks, water) with a logo which subtly conveys "I'm Australian and I read."

Written Off in Berlin, Germany. #australianwriting #vitagraphpublishing

When I arrive in Germany, I eat my first pretzel on the train. There's a blue sky. There's a florist downstairs. Angels are in the architecture. Graffiti & political stickers everywhere. The streets are lined with linden trees in bloom, the air is sweet. At the pharmacy I buy a yellow toothbrush.

Looking forward to meeting the playwrights of Lake Macquarie next week! I'm hosting a #playwriting workshop "Stories for the Stage" on 16 May as part of #writehere festival at Windale Hub, bilyabayi #LakeMacLibraries #workshop www.eventbrite.com.au/e/stories-fo...

Thanks to support from the Sydney Fringe, the poets, writers and literary communities of Parramatta are gearing up for a really exciting September for Parramatta's Lit! @parramattaslit.bsky.social

A fun night out with The Boyz. Happy birthday #drmike! And thank you for the full discussion on female protagonists in Disney VS Lucasfilms - and that last squabble about AI and brain function was amazing! Love you both. #bestfriendchris #bobhawkesbeerandleisurecentre

A pleasure and delight to write about Emma Harrison's HIGH OCTANE at Campbelltown Arts Centre... And class... And politics... And burnout... limelight-arts.com.au/features/hig...

27yrs ago as a Fairfax editor I was paying freelancers a too modest word rate which was just liveable. Today, freelancers (like me) are getting paid pretty much the same rate - in other words effectively a major cut in pay - by the same company now even more dependent on freelancers.