Michelle Scott Tucker, Author at Michelle Scott Tucker

Are diaries literature?

Having briefly gone down that particular Google rabbit hole, I can safely say – I don’t know. Plenty of others purport to know, however, if you need to fill a vacant hour or three. I think diaries are to a finished text the way preliminary sketches are to a finished oil painting. Beautiful, sure, and interesting, definitely, but a not necessarily a work of art in their own right. But all that probably doesn’t matter. The diaries that get published are polished, are shaped and – in a sense – [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2024-01-24T10:52:24+11:00January 24th, 2024|Writing|4 Comments

An acquisition, a shortlisting and a scholarship!

Writers Victoria has announced the shortlist for the 2024 Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship, and I'm beyond delighted to have made the cut; ‘for a biography of Louisa Lawson, newspaper proprietor, poet, suffragist and mother of Henry Lawson.’ What a strong list and what an honour to be included in it. Although those of you who've been playing along at home will know that I've been shortlisted for the Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship twice before. Here's hoping that this third time will be the charm! The Literary Fellowship, valued at $20,000, [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2024-01-19T15:04:01+11:00January 19th, 2024|Life, Work in Progress, Writing|0 Comments

Best Reads 2023

Don't for a minute assume that this is a list of the best books of 2023. I'm not nearly so well read as to attempt that, and this year I only read about 33 books anyway (plus lots of online longreads, as well as research for various projects). That's well down on previous years and I promise that I'm now trying to lift my reading game! In looking back at the books I've read this year, I realise what a tosser I've become. If I don't love a book right [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2023-12-31T12:53:34+11:00December 31st, 2023|Book Review|7 Comments

Louisa Lawson

Louisa Lawson. Source: State Library of NSW Louisa Lawson (1848-1920) was a farmer, poet, writer, and a successful newspaper owner. She established Dawn, Australia’s first journal for women readers and lobbied publicly and successfully for women’s rights – including the right to vote. Yet today she is best known, if at all, for being Henry Lawson’s mother. Outspoken, uncompromising, opinionated – Louisa Lawson was vilified in her day by contemporary journalists and politicians and maligned after death by historians who blamed her for Henry Lawson’s alcoholic dissolution. Louisa Lawson [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2023-10-20T10:37:49+11:00October 20th, 2023|Colonial History, Louisa Lawson, Work in Progress|11 Comments

Emerging Writers Festival

Writers! The Emerging Writers' Festival is always terrific (whether you’re an emerging writer or not). Most writers' festivals are actually readers' festivals - they focus on the content of the books under discussion. But the Emerging Writers' Festival focuses in the loveliest way on the act of writing, and on being a writer. And yes, all writers' festivals struggle with where to put the apostrophe! From Wednesday 14 - Saturday 24 June, EWF invites you to discover new stories, new voices, and new worlds. Over eleven days, dive into performances, [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2023-05-25T20:20:39+10:00May 25th, 2023|Aaron Fa'Aoso, Author Talk, Writing|3 Comments

‘Conversations’ on ABC Radio

Truly, one of the best podcasts in the world has to be ABC Radio's 'Conversations'. Such a simple concept - an hour long chat with one person, about their life, or an aspect of it. I must have listened to hundreds of episodes and each one is surprising in different ways. Often the most interesting episodes are with people I've never heard of, simply because their stories are so fascinating. Don't take my word for it though - the podcast has been downloaded over a million times, by listeners all [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2022-10-27T16:24:45+11:00October 27th, 2022|Aaron Fa'Aoso, Author Interviews|0 Comments

Unusual publication deal includes $20,000 in donations

Our publishing deal for So Far, So Good was a bit unusual - it included substantial donations to Indigenous-led charities. Pantera Press have issued a media release about it, which I've included in full below. Do you have thoughts? I'd love to hear them. Leave a comment, below, and let me know. Pantera Foundation donates $10,000 each to Seed Mob and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation on release of So Far, So Good by Aaron Fa’Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker In February 2021 Pantera Press acquired world rights for So Far, So [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2022-09-08T18:30:41+10:00September 8th, 2022|Aaron Fa'Aoso, Writing|4 Comments

So Far, So Good – Publication Day!

Today our book is officially out in the world. Three years ago today (yes, exactly today - I checked!) Aaron and I started talking about working together on this project. I can’t tell you if this book is any good – that’s for others to say – but I can tell you that I gave it everything I had. We were introduced by the literary agents who represent us both – Jacinta Di Mase and Danielle Binks, from JDM Management. Aaron had some really powerful things he wanted to say; [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2022-08-30T14:46:33+10:00August 30th, 2022|Aaron Fa'Aoso, Writing|10 Comments

Patricia Wrightson – all about erasure

As a young reader, Patricia Wrightson was one of my favourite authors. But in this short piece I wrote for the Australian Women Writers Challenge, I reevaluate Wrightson's use of Indigenous culture. Drawing on Aboriginal stories and culture, Wrightson’s fictional spirit characters held all the power and mystery of 60,000 years of Dreaming – power distinctly lacking in invented colonial fantasies like May Gibb’s saccharine Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. A gifted and evocative writer, Wrightson opened my eyes (and my mind) to the possibility of magic and mystery that belonged to this place, this continent. [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2022-08-10T16:38:28+10:00August 10th, 2022|Interesting Articles, Writing|3 Comments

Cover Reveal!

So here it is, our beautiful cover. Aaron and I are very moved by the support we've received for the book already. ‘Honest and deeply affecting … a love letter to family, community and culture full of laugh-out-loud moments, heartbreaking lessons and the importance of what really matters in this life.’ DEBORAH MAILMAN ‘A compelling read. Of a man who’s endured so much so early. Of a man connected to his people … a pure storyteller who, because of his trials, has found a compassionate voice full of dignity.’ MATT [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2022-07-01T13:46:07+10:00July 1st, 2022|Aaron Fa'Aoso|3 Comments

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