Perverse pleasures
Mardi Gras event Perverse Verse has undergone major changes since it started as a small-scale poetry reading in the 1990s.
This year the event -“ renamed Perverse -“ will run for a full day for the first time. It will also include a forum on gay and lesbian bloggers among more traditional offerings.
But co-organiser Gary Dunne from online publisher gay-ebooks says Perverse is in no danger of outgrowing its community origins.
It’s a pretty friendly gathering and, unlike some of the other events, where some big name turns up from overseas and performs and leaves, it’s much more laidback and personal, Dunne says.
Dunne and gay-ebooks colleague Laurin McKinnon have teamed up with The Feminist Bookshop again this year for Perverse, held at the NSW Writers’ Centre in Rozelle this Saturday.
The morning session includes a forum on blogging, with panellists including poets (and bloggers) Jill Jones and Michael Farrell and Pinkboard founder Panther sharing their wisdom.
In a concurrent session, mainstream publishers, editors and writers will discuss how aspiring authors can get their work in print.
That came from a number of people asking The Feminist Bookshop how you get started if you want to take your writing more seriously, Dunne says.
Sessions after lunch include readings from the gay-ebooks Boys’ Summer Collection and a screening of an interview with acclaimed British author Jeanette Winterson.
The popular Perverse Verse poetry reading featuring the likes of Bronwyn Winter, Gabe Jones and Michael West starts at 3pm. The official closing time is 5pm but chances are Perverse Verse fans could linger much later.
People stick around afterwards and have a drink and a chat, Dunne says.
Perverse is on Saturday 3 February, 10:30am-5pm, at the NSW Writers’ Centre, Rozelle Hospital grounds. Single session tickets cost $10 and a day pass costs $20 or $15 concession. Book on 9810 2666.
