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Maureen McCarthy launched Isobelle Carmody’s Greylands at Readings Carlton (309 Lygon Street) Mon. Oct 22 at 4 pm, while Isobelle launched Maureen’s novel, The Convent. The launch presentation is embedded above. This launch was conducted as a conversation between Maureen and Isobelle with readings from their novels.  Due to technical difficulties there are a couple of interruptions, but most of Isobelle’s conversation with Maureen McCarthy is here. via Dark Matter Fanzine.

Tomorrow, this Greylands Launch site in all its depth and complexity, will self-destruct. I know it is wonderful – so much more than I imagined when Min and I devised it in theory- and I am touched how many emails and posts asked that it be left up, but in general, beautiful things do not last forever- indeed it may be part of their beauty that they are destined to...

Today has been a HUGE day on the site! Aside from a guest post on our eVolution debate by the fabulous Judith Ridge, this evening you will learn the identity of our illustrious guest launcher and get the chance to read her launch speech. Today is also the day the eBook of Greylands goes live on Amazon, Booki.sh and Smashwords. You can read more about the dramatic midnight efforts last...

Spring 1997 Jack’s mother has recently died in circumstances which has left the whole family traumatised, particularly her husband. Ellen, Jack’s younger sister, is in the best condition: she is able to talk about her mother’s death, she recognises her father’s pain, and she knows how to help Jack. Every character in the book pays a price for Jack’s mother’s death, even Jack’s friend Mario, who does not know how...

November 1997 Using symbol and fantasy to explore the inner world of young characters is always a risky business. lf the symbols are too obvious, their potential richness can be overcome by the aridity of allegory in which each symbol has one and only one reference. lsobelle Carmody lessens the risks and allows the symbolism its full richness by using a double narrative: one set in the ‘real’ world, and...

November 1997 This is a fascinating, unusual and complex book that takes readers on an extraordinary psychological joumey as two children struggle to make sense oftheirmother’s death andtheir father’s despair. It is quite beautifully written, with the intricate weaving of many threads using symbols and motifs from traditional literature, old world beliefs, some post modem explorations of reality and literature and metafictive qualities of stories within stories, which enables it...

October 1997 SOME YEARS AGO I was asked in an interview if I had any particular ambition, and I remember answering that I would like to write a classic fantasy for ten to twelve year olds: the sort of book I loved reading as a child, but somehow brought forward to a contemporary Australian setting. ‘Well, why don’t you?’ said the interviewer. If only it were that easy! There’s no...