Tax – more interesting than you think
When it comes to Australian literary prizes – did you know that the prize money is taxable? Yes, you read that right. Next time you win the Miles Franklin, after you’ve sobered up from the after party and cashed your cheque for $60,000, the taxman will insist that you include your literary windfall as ‘income’…
Shortlisted!
Surprised – and ludicrously happy – to find that Elizabeth Macarthur has been shortlisted for the Ashurst Business Literature Prize. Some info about the prize, according to the website: Launched in 2004 by Blake Dawson and the State Library of NSW, the $30,000 Ashurst Business Literature Prize is acknowledged as Australia’s most important award for…
Joining the Stella team
In a move that surprised me as much as anyone else, I’ve been selected as the new Executive Director of the Stella Prize. My new role was announced today, and I’ll be starting in early August. In a very short time, Stella has made an important impact on the Australian literary landscape. I feel excited…
Random Thoughts About Author Talks
People are generous. My author talk at ‘Clunes on Sunday’ was chaired by a woman who had inherited her farm from her mother, who had inherited it from her own mother. She told me that mine was the first book she’d read in twenty years and that she’d enjoyed it very much. She also said…