Countdown to QPF

August 23, 2011March 1, 2013 / Zenobia Frost / Leave a comment

Suddenly it is August. I’m not quite sure how that happened, but here we are.

Queensland Poetry Festival is this weekend (August 26–28). I’ve just spent two weeks on the couch entertaining the EKKA flu with six seasons of Red Dwarf and a little bit of The X Files. I’ll be emceeing opening night, Of Rhythm and Rapture, so I’m coaxing my voice back with pot after pot of lemon and ginger tea.

You mustn’t miss:

Of Rhythm and Rapture: Friday, 7.30 pm — Sandra Thibodeaux, Sawako Nakayasu, Jacob Polley
A Babble of Skywalkers: Saturday, 10.30 am — Jeremy Thompson, Red Room
Filled with Ink: Saturday, 1.30 pm — Ron Pretty, Jaya Savige, Jacob Polley
A Tattoo of Light: Saturday, 4 pm — Joanne Featherstone, Matt Hetherington, Zenobia Frost
All is Roar and Crash: Saturday, 4 pm — Kevin Gillam, Andy White, Marisa Allen
A Million Bright Things: Saturday, 8 pm — A short set from every poet on the program
That Profound Machine: Sunday, 5pm — QPF Filmmakers showcase
Onwards to Infinity: Sunday, 7pm — Closing night, with encore performances

In other QPF-related news, I will have a new chapbook available at the QPF: a handmade, limited-edition collaboration with poet Jeremy Thompson. Look out for it at the bookstore — it’s called Petrichor: Two Poets, and it sports gorgeous cover art by Bettina Walsh (The Voyage). Petrichor contains new work, including some co-written bits and pieces, and revisits a few old friends. Reward us for a whole weekend spent folding and stapling by grabbing one — there are only 20 in existence! And they have magic semicolons on the back!

In less-QPF-related news, Head over to the Australian Women’s Book Review to read my review of Pam Schlinder’s debut collection, A Sky You Could Fall Into. Then go and do yourself a favour by reading Pam’s book (Post Pressed, 2010).

Personally, I’m looking forward to a festival weekend. And losing the cough means getting back to the theatre: Animal Farm (QPAC) this week and The Hamlet Apocalypse (La Boite) next week. Fortunately Cabaret kept me happy — and thoroughly earwormed — in between episodes of Red Dwarf, curries, and lager milkshakes.

Boy Girl Wall Accordion

April 1, 2011March 1, 2013 / Zenobia Frost / Leave a comment

It has been the kind of month that invites adventure in and won’t let it leave till it’s properly sloshed—by which stage it’s difficult to ever get rid of. I’ve been to see some outrageously good shows, rambled around cemeteries, written lots, and re-manifested myself as the love child (imagine that) of Tank Girl and Delirium. Hullo, April—where did March go?! This is where:

Jason Webley @ The Zoo

Early last week, Jason Webley arrived in Queensland to finish the Down Under leg of 2011’s epic world tour. Finally seeing him perform, after four and a half years of waiting, was a singular joy. Webley’s Brisbane show at The Zoo on March 23 attracted around 200 punters, all very ready to stomp and sing and become his makeshift orchestra.

When he’s on stage, the slogan on promo posters, “post-apocalyptic fun,” makes perfect sense. I can imagine Webley—in his beloved, battered dancing hat—as the kind of musician that would get us through the apocalypse and still have us dancing even after the sky had long since crashed down.

Those who came along to Webley’s farewell house party (/hosts’ housewarming) were in for an extra treat. The night turned into one long, glorious jam session. (I even got out my trumpet! And toyed with an unsuspecting ukelele!) You’ll find a garage-full of people playing Eleven Saints floating around on YouTube, no doubt.

Jason Webley @ The Zoo—photo by Zen’s dodgy phone

Poetry & Graveyards

Earlier in the week, I was very pleased to be able to drag Mr Webley and a RagTag group of Brisbanites around my favourite of haunts, Toowong Cemetery—an adventure in itself. After several months of guilty neglect, I’ve been visiting the graveyard much more often. (I don’t know how I manage to forget the necropolis down the road–inside the gates it is always cooler and quieter than it could ever get in our sweltering house.)

More gravewalks means more grave poems—a good thing, since last year’s ramblings are beginning to see the light. Issue 35 of Cordite Poetry Review, Oz-Ko (Envoy) is online as of today, and I’m super excited to say that there you’ll find Warning. Consider it the introduction to that forthcoming cemetery collection I so often talk about (see! bits of it exist!).

And in extra shiny, super-duper rad breaking news, our own Jeremy Thompson is one of three poets commended by judge Peter Minter in 2010’s Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize, rising above over 1000 entries into the realm of Awesome. Whee!

boy girl wall @ La Boite

Bear with me, because my segues for this blog are about to get worse. In fact, non-existent. Run with it. You might remember me raving away last year about a wonderful little Brisbane show called boy girl wall. Well, it’s back on this year at La Boite, and last night’s opening performance proved its just as marvellous as we thought the first time around. Maybe a bit more marvellous.

Lucas Stibbard in boy girl wall—photo by Al Caeiro

In 2010, The Escapists’ one-man show, performed by Lucas Stibbard—with live music from Neridah Waters—relied on the walls of the Sue Benner Theatre at Metro Arts (the set was literally drawn on with chalk), so I was interested to see how they’d handle La Boite’s in-the-round set-up. Fortunately, The Escapists have made something gorgeous out of a potential problem: a chalk-board green stage hits the horizon line and becomes a collage of blackboards rising into the rafters. In the vast La Boite space, Keith Clark’s lighting really helps to hold everything together (I only wish he could use his lighting powers to rig up a more powerful OHT).

Beyond the venue, not too much has changed, and it was lovely to visit the 20-something characters again (especially dear Power Box and the lovely, but somewhat gothic library assistant). The script is clever, life-affirming, and above all, maddeningly funny. Seeing boy girl wall again, the influence of Under Milk Wood (which Stibbard and I chatted about recently in Rave Magazine) becomes delightfully clear. If you enjoy being happy, you should grab tickets before the rest of the season sells out.

Aaaarrggh 2010!

February 16, 2010March 1, 2013 / Zenobia Frost / Leave a comment

Everything that could possibly be crammed into a month has been, dear readers. I’ve moved house (down the road), kicked off a new job at Rave Magazine (whee!), and orchestrated not one but two Gentlemen’s Tea Parties at the Woolloongabba Tea Parties (with the help of a number of seriously Superior people).

The first Gentlemen’s Tea Party at the WAC was a raging success, with Absolute Tits (and their very special guests); The Ragtag Review Band (pictured–thank you, Seb), poets Graham Nunn, John Knight and Ross Clark; Evelyn Hartogh; The Coin-Operated Boy; The Merch Girl; and burlesque darlings Bertie Page and Rita Fontaine (as Johnny Castrati). I had such a great time! Thank you so much to Tiara, Tim, Wayne and JT, all of whom kept me sane during the week and made the event run smoothly.

Next week’s event welcomes the addition of Miss BB le Buff and Phoebe Manning, and we can expect it to be an even more wondrous and gentlemanly day. There are fewer than ten tickets left, so contact Tiara at rubyfizz@gmail.com if you’d like to book.

In other news, I have a poem in the new publication The Tangled Bank, details below. Hurrah!

____________________________________________________________

The Tangled Bank: Love, Wonder, & Evolution has launched!

The anthology, which marks the 150th anniversary of Origin of Species, features over 100,000 words of speculative fiction, poetry, artwork, and essays about evolution.

An international line-up of nearly 50 contributors includes Sean Williams, Brian Stableford, Patricia Russo, and Carlos Hernandez.

Just US$4.99, The Tangled Bank is now available for download as a PDF at http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/the-tangled-bank-love-wonder-and-evolution/8340048

Check out “Darwin’s Daughter” by Christopher Green (a free short story from the anthology)
http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/darwins-daughter/8339953

For more information, visit the website, or our Facebook or Twitter pages.

Palatal Liquid sought to cure Voiceless Fricative

November 14, 2009March 1, 2013 / Zenobia Frost / 2 Comments

Newsliness: I’m in Famous Reporter! See below.

Welcome to the second summer of the year. Well, my second—the first was the bipolar (seriously—0 degrees to 30 in a couple of days?!) Wisconsin summer way back in May/June. I’ve been dreading the Australian variety because that means Sweating and Christmas Decorations and…well, that’s about it, isn’t it?

Anyway, it’s here. This morning the front lawn had exploded into dandelions. A red dragonfly approximately the size of France flew by. Nesting birds have spent the last three weeks using my skull as target practice.

I have put my togs on. Not being I like swimming, or because I’m going near any kind of body of water, but because it seems like the only appropriate uniform for the sort of day when I’m going to be doing a lot of overdue housework—and homework—and my little Queenslander maintains a steady temperature of Surface of the Sun.

But! I do have reason to celebrate. I have a huge bucket of finest gelati (nectarine, lemon, cardamom) and I have finished the linguistics class I should have dropped out of months ago. The only thing I got out of it was a variety of phonological puns (see blog title)—they were good. Beyond that, good riddance.

And today I have a date (another one! she came back!) with Simone de Beauvoir. Taking the phone off the hook, kids.

Last but certainly not least, Ralph Wessman at Famous Reporter has published a chat we had regarding poetry and Stuff and Things. You can read it here. In it I claim that dead poets are copying me, amongst other things. And, re-reading it now, I realise I had (another) Gillam fangirl moment in the interview, too. Ah well, it happens.

Bucketsfull of amazing poets can be found in Issue 40, including Geoff Page (squee!), Graham Nunn, Max Ryan, Nathan Curnow, Ross Donlon, Kent MacCarter, Cameron Hindrum, Sarah Day, and Anthony Lawrence. But you’ll have to buy the journal to get all the goods—and you should.

There’s also a poem from yours truly in the print version. (You might have seen it before if you’ve got my chapbook, but I think it’s twice as nice to see it in Famous Reporter.)

Stalking the Moon

We sail under the moon
and it sails through the sky
oblivious—or not wanting
us to know that it has noticed us.
We neither lag nor gain, passing under
the arched backs of bridges
(lazily curious or curiously lazy
in our skyfishing).

We lace backwards and forwards
across the waist of the river,
tying ourselves to the city in case
the moon should dive
(we’ll be a steady net to catch it)
or turn and lift us up
(looking into its face would surely be
too like a mirror)
and swing our steamboat from its anchor
like a censer in a dark cathedral.

The moon only looks over its shoulder
and hurries when morning comes
(with torchlight strong enough
to scan a row of beds for stragglers)
to urge its late body, full with travels,
into a slow descent.

And there is no doubt that the sun
is gaining on us, too.

(Still, we follow.)

Good luck with summer, guys. Haul out the barbeque, roll out the slip ‘n’ slide and put ice in the kiddy pool. Then send me photos of you in your cossie and silliest apron, in the backyard, covered in suds and eating a burger. Don’t forget your hat; plovers and sunshine want your brains.

Er, signing off.

—Z

Voiceworks V-v-v-voom!

October 31, 2009March 1, 2013 / Zenobia Frost / 7 Comments

In their latest issue, Fluid, Voiceworks magazine has kindly included two of my poems: The Waiting and A Letter to the Romans Sealed with Beeswax (surely my longest ever title – it’s my very own call-to-arms poem, dedicated to my namesake, Palmyra’s warrior queen). Not only that, there’ s an interview with me (and a number of other fine young writers) about the writing process. So grab Voiceworks for a bit of a Zen-fix, and lots of great writings and artworks by Australia’s under-25s. The cool ones who aren’t nuisances on public transport. Or so I like to think.

Anyhoo, a poem to tempt your tastebuds:

The Waiting

My limbs are made of moths
that flutter under skin.
The storm quivers across the bay.

I have been at home
all day in your dressing gown.

I told work the truth for once; I said,
My limbs are made of moths.
My head is trying to fly off
and I’m just getting lighter and lighter.

The ocean is the colour of the sky
is the colour of the ocean. In this blue gown
no one would notice if I slipped out.
I stroke the window’s fading frame,
tracing the timber’s severed years. The sky darkens

and I move the candle to the sill.
I watch like I’m waiting for a fisherman
to come home. I wait like I’m watching
for a chance to open the window.

Hurrah!

May 4, 2009March 1, 2013 / Zenobia Frost / 4 Comments

I’m fairly sure yesterday was the best birthday ever.

I had a wonderful time with Nerissa (as Madrigal Maladies) at SpeedPoets earlier in the day. Big thanks to Graham & Jules and the lovely crowd at The Alibi Room.

Cupcakes!

The launch at !Metro Arts in the evening was an absolute dream event. Somewhere between 80 and 100 friends and family came along (we lost count!), the book supply nearly sold out and the punctuative cupcakes were gone in a snap.

Thank you to:

Kim and the team at !Metro Arts
Ross and Jeff at SweetWater Press
Bettina Walsh, artist extraordinaire
The writing circle that shall remain unnamed
Tiara, our fabulous Merch Girl
Rob Morris, grooviest poet in Brisbane and a gent with excellent taste in shoes (thank you, thank you, thank you; they fit perfectly)
James Sherlock, jazz-guitar maestro
The (other) Frosts for supplying a dozen excellent bottles of wine
Caitie for a fine day of baking fun
Everyone else involved with catering: Mum, Tina & Jerome, and the family members who helped out
Dad, whom I know would have loved to have been there; your messages from afar were much appreciated (and don’t worry, there’s a video!)
All the gorgeous people who came along or sent messages of support, especially those old friends who came out of the woodwork to say hullo
The crazy ladies and gents who came along to The Pancake Manor (etc.) after the launch, and the waitress who put extra blueberries on our pancakes
Those who took photos or video (I look forward to seeing them!)

launch

I had a great time, I couldn’t be happier with the book, and I hope you all enjoy The Voyage (and are amused by my inscriptions, if you had your copy signed).

I’m pleasantly tired today, and intend to spend the rest of the afternoon in my pyjamas, probably watching The Hunger.

With love,
Zenobia

The Voyage launches this weekend

April 29, 2009March 1, 2013 / Zenobia Frost / Leave a comment

I have a groovy little book in my hot little hands.

Jeffrey Harpeng says, on the blurb, “The poetry of The Voyage has both the resignation of the sage, and the wit and passion of the articulate romantic. Frost hopes lovingly against all odds and oddities.” (Thanks, Jeff!) And, of course, Bettina’s art brings the chapbook to life.

I’m looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday for a rather magnificent little party. I shall be baking all weekend; expect there to be sprinkles in my hair. Again.

Don’t forget James Sherlock will be providing jazz grooves and Rob Morris will be bringing further tales from the rock-n-roll after-life. Not to be missed!

With affection,
Zenobia
x o x

The Voyage
book launch
7pm, 3rd May
!Metro Arts, 109 Edward St, Brisbane

The Voyage, featuring James Sherlock

April 17, 2009July 10, 2022 / Zenobia Frost / 4 Comments

As close to a media release as we’ll get:

The Voyage, the debut collection from local poet, Zenobia Frost, will be launched by SweetWater Press on the 3^rd of May. Zenobia has won prizes for the poems written during her school years, and more recently has had work published in Going Down Swinging, Small Packages, Stylus, Mascara and Voiceworks. This first collection somehow combines undertones of both The Ancient Mariner and The Hunting of the Snark, while remaining determinedly in her own voice.

The volume is illuminated by Bettina Walsh’s lively drawings.

Zenobia has been described by fans as “a poetic adventurer, hat fetishist and protector of apostrophes who works with the Queensland Poetry Festival and coordinates The Ruby Fizz Society, a light-hearted opportunity to indulge in fine food, fine arts and high-class frivolity”.

Guitarist James Sherlock will be providing jazz grooves, cupcakes will be sprouting up everywhere, and libations will be quaffed during the evening, beginning at 7.00pm, in the !Metro Arts Basement, 109 Edward Street, Brisbane.

Easter

April 12, 2009March 1, 2013 / Zenobia Frost / Leave a comment

Well, the launch is shaping up, and the response insofar has been very positive, which is making me all warm and fuzzy. Thank you.

More shameless self-promotion in the lead-up to May 3rd. I’m posting a portion of my interview with Graham Nunn at Another Lost Shark (thanks G!), in which I blather on about whatever it is my chapbook’s about…

zenobia-frost

SweetWater Press is due to release your debut collection. Tell us about its evolution.

A university manuscript-writing project gave me an excuse to compile a chapbook, so I’ve been working on the collection for a year or so. It’s a quiet little thing, but I quite like the way it’s come to life. It’s funny that you chose the word ‘evolution’, because the chapbook, The Voyage, began as an excuse to bring together all of my oceanic love poems, but somehow it grew legs and crawled onto land with a series of poems about bugs, reptiles, people and finally houses. (However, if we follow the book’s idea of the ‘natural flow’ of evolution to its conclusion, then a tall gin and tonic is the height of civilisation. Maybe I’m onto something?)

The Voyage will be launched on May 3rd (7pm, !Metro Arts Basement), before I set off on a voyage of my own (with a box of books!) to enjoy the Midwest-American summer.