And another student gets published

I'm always thrilled when former students get in touch about their first published work. I'm even more thrilled that this is something that happens very frequently!

I received this email from Carolyn this week:

Hi Valerie,

Thanks to your support and inspiration, I am now officially able to join the ranks of your published former students.

If not for your very clear message that there is so much material being published that there is definitely work out there for those who want it, I would have given up, thinking it is a closed shop.

Anyway, thanks for your support - here's the link to what I hope is the first of many.

Cheers,
Carolyn Swindell

And here is the link to her travel excellent article on Antarctica:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/pole-position/2006/10/10/1160246130725.html

Comments

[Ayana Noble, MLitt.,B.A.]

Hi Val,

Firstly, Congratulations to Carolyn Swindell!

Secondly, I have successfully completed post-graduate Master of Letters/Creative Writing (CQU, Qld) during which was published a book of poetry: 'This Barren Land My Bed of Roses' (UQP, St Lucia, Brisbane, Qld).

I am currently working on several Short Stories and a Life Story.

Thank you for the encouraging Newsletters with the great and informative up-to-date content!

Cheers,
Ayana

[Ayana Noble, MLitt.,B.A.]

'This Barren Land My Bed of Roses'

AYANA NOBLE, "This Barren Land My Bed Of Roses: Contemporary Australian Poetry" A unique exploration of the Self, in the unfolding of the Literary process. The work, originally submitted as part of a Master of Letters programme, was awarded two High Distinctions and The Deans Letter of Commendation Central Queensland Univeristy, Rockhampton, 2004 and includes Award-Winning poem 'Rain Wall' 1st Prize, Bauhinia Literary Awards, 2004.
The work can be used as both a Reader and Study Guide in Creative Writing and is divided into sections that provide examples of the use of literary techniques, such as Narrative Voice, Dialogue, Setting, and so on.
In Memory of Australian writers: Barcroft Boake, Christopher Brennan & Dorothy Hewett.

Published by University of Queensland Press, St Lucia, Qld, Australia.

[Valerie]

Great work Ayana. Glad you enjoy the newsletter.

[Ayana]

Hi Val,

I am delighted and humbled to have received such an insightful review from Editor, Writer and Reviewer, Paolina Oppes [in Writing Qld, November 2008]:

This Barren Land: My Bed of Roses
reviewed by paolina oppes

This Barren Land: My Bed of Roses by Ayana Noble is an autobiographical
book of poems that offers a poignant insight into the author’s life. The
book is full of inspirational moments and vivid imagery, moving from
scene to scene like a photographic slide show.
The poetry travels from the depths of sadness depicted in Villanelle
– Memory of Edith Knight Tonkin and Sorrow Grief Separation to the
enormous power of the mind and inner human strength of rebuilding
oneself despite adversity in Reflective Foundations. These poems are
written with real, raw emotion, simplistically styled, each delivering a
clear and powerful meaning that hits the reader with a forceful blow.
Ayana Noble’s poems enable you to travel into other worlds where
a feeling of escapism envelops you like a blanket and then leaves you
‘bursting like a child’s red balloon’ in Violet Sky.
A different side to the author’s poetic style begins to reveal itself in
From the Remand Cell 1973, which is when her spirituality and beliefs
on what is right and wrong begin to reign. The angst at humanity’s
injustice in Right to Exist leaves the reader questioning and rebelling
against authority.
Death Row Alabama evokes a time when colour, race and creed have
no relevance and people are considered equal. It is about a time when
true friendships are nurtured in a world where money, lust and greed
corrupt all men.
U Turn takes the poetry on a different path, with twists and turns
aplenty. This poem will resonate with people who have experienced
unexpected obstacles in their lives.
Finally the author’s poetic journey ends with Bee Sting and Not Life;
poems about the ending of one life and the beginning of a new one.
These poems are symbolic of life continuously evolving, developing
and changing.
There were drawbacks for me in the book’s production. There are no
page numbers and there are spelling mistakes. Sometimes the author’s
beliefs on strong emotive issues such as gay and lesbian rights begin
very strongly but fail to continue throughout the poem.
I expect many readers will relate to This Barren Land: My Bed of
Roses as they will empathise with Noble’s experience of life, death and
spirituality.

Paolina Oppes revived her interest in creative writing a few years ago.
Since then she has attended many TAFE courses ranging from creative
and short story writing through to editing and proofreading. In her
spare time she writes poetry and short fiction.

---
I expected critical comment on the 'spelling mistakes' which in fact are actual 'typos' that ocurred in the process of publication when it was too late to retrieve the book from Printery.
Although they don't actually detract from the quality of actual writing content it would have been better if they had not been present.
Page numbers were intended to be absent. I may rethink pagination in future.
Hope you enjoy the Review writers style as much as I did although I must admit I have had to bite back my own tears in reading her review. What a Review! Let it encourage other writers...

Cheers
Ayana:)