Narrator Magazine Blue Mountains Autumn 2011

By Narrator Magazine

Narrator Magazine Blue Mountains Autumn 2011 edition features contributions from the following:
Alan Lucas, Aristidis Metaxas, Arthur Gray, Christina Frost Clayton, Denise Newton, Dinah , urner, Felicity Lynch, Gregory North, James Craib, Jean Bundesen, Joan Vaughan-Taylor, Joan Vaughan-Taylor, John Egan, Jordan Russo, Josephine Adam, Kate Santelben, Linda , ates, M Grace, Mary Krone, Michael Burge, Nana J, Paris Portingale, Rebecca Langham, Robyn Chaffey, Rosemary Baldry, Samantha Miller, Sonia Ursus Satori, Sue Artup

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Jun 15, 2011

Narrator Magazine

Narrator began in the Blue Mountains in 2010 as an opportunity for local writers - amateurs and professionals alike - to exhibit their works.As of December 2011 it is now a nation-wide magazine, being rolled out on a state-by-state basis.It's free to submit to, affordable to advertise in, and encourages friendly competition with a secret judge and a People's Choice prize.For more information, please visit the Narrator Magazine website.

Book preview

Narrator Magazine

Blue Mountains

Autumn 2011

Smashwords Edition

narrator MAGAZINE is published by MoshPit Publishing

Shop 1, 197 Great Western Highway, Hazelbrook NSW 2779

MoshPit Publishing is an imprint of Mosher’s Business Support Pty Ltd

P: 1300 644 680 ABN 48 126 885 309

http://www.moshpitpublishing.com.au/

http://www.narratormagazine.com.au/

The copyright for each item in this publication rests with the author of that piece. Please contact us at Narrator Magazine if you wish to contact any contributor featured herein.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This ebook may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to discover other books by this publisher. Thank you for your support.

Cover: ‘The Board Meeting, Circular Quay’—Donald Martin McLean, watercolour on paper.

‘The characters of the City of Sydney are favourite subjects of mine; not just those who perform to catch the eye, but the quiet, out-of-the-way folk as well, like these three old gentlemen sitting in the winter sun at the Quay, solving the world’s problems’.

To contact Donald, call 02 4758 8191.

A few words from the publisher ...

Happy New Year everybody—we do hope you’re over the summer heat (we certainly are!) and ready for the turning of the leaves.

Congratulations to all our ‘judged’ winners of the summer issue—as per the inside cover, opposite. And congratulations also to our People’s Choice winner, Rebecca Langham for her short story Three Dollars and Thirty Cents.

It was very exciting for us to have Greg Bastian as our first judge—and all very top-secret in an undercover sort of way! All contributions were delivered to Greg in plain text format, with headings but no author names, and no graphics—he was working merely on content. He made his choices, and then we wrote them down on paper and locked them away for the summer. Only once Greg had made his choices did we start distributing the summer issues across the Mountains—we certainly weren’t going to let him have any clues as to who had written what!

As publishers, it always fascinates us to see what sort of items are going to land in our virtual ‘collection box’. This issue attracted a high proportion of very brave and honest items dealing with loss in more ways than one, as well as several fantasy-type items. The mix is always interesting—and always challenging for us to lay out. Do you put two sad poems together, or do you pair each one with something serious, happy or whimsical instead? Are you watering down the mood of two disparate items when you pair them together, or is it too much to have two of the same type together? And is there a correct answer? Who knows?!

As always, deepest thanks go to our page sponsors, because without them none of us would have this magazine. If you know anyone with a business which services the Mountains, please feel free to show them the latest copy of Narrator and ask if they would be interested in sponsoring a page. Rates are $55 per quarterly issue, full-colour, or $176 for four issues (a full year) which is a discount of 20% per issue.

And now, it’s time for you to start turning the leaves of this, the first autumn issue of Narrator Magazine Blue Mountains. We hope you enjoy it!

Jenny Mosher

March 2011

Winning Entries for Summer 2010

Our second issue, Summer 2010, was judged by published author, manuscript assessor, editor and creative writing teacher Greg Bastian. Greg‘s final decision was:

First prize—$200 to Samantha Miller, Faulconbridge, for her poignant story, Paris Match

Second prize—$100 to Joan Vaughan-Taylor, Faulconbridge, for her moving poem, Fly A Kite

Third prize—$50 to Linda Yates, Katoomba, for her insightful story, The Loaf of Bread

In fact, Greg couldn‘t stop there, offering two Highly Commended mentions to:

Sue Artup, Lapstone, for her story, Daniel and

David Bowden, Medlow Bath, for his poem, Opinions Vary

A few words from our Guest Judge ...

So many fabulous pieces of writing in the Summer issue – choosing the best and brightest was like choosing a new hairstyle – not everyone is going to like the result! Of course, as guest judge, you hope that the winning entries will be so far ahead of the pack as to be obvious to everyone. Not so in this case. Of the thirty-six pieces submitted, all were impressive. Another judge could easily justify a different order of merit.

All the stories were sent to me before publication and all were anonymous. I narrowed down the choices to what I considered the best ten. In the end it was the perfect pitch and delicate tone of Samantha Miller‘s story, Paris Match, that got her across the line first. A close second was Joan Vaughan-Taylor‘s resonant poem about a boy learning to construct and fly a kite, which captures so effectively that marvellous sense of achievement through perseverance. And finally, in third spot, Linda Yates‘s beautifully constructed character portrayal of a woman embittered by the prejudice of those close to her. The two highly commended authors, Sue Artup and David Bowden, came very close, both pieces having a raw, heartfelt appeal.

Congratulations to all the authors in the Summer Edition.

Greg Bastian

Blue Mountains

Writing Services

visit http://www.gregbastian.com.au/

manuscript assessment ~ book reviews ~ general editing line editing ~ proof-reading ~ literary project planning ~ technical writing ~ composition ~ advertising copy for brochures and flyers

Greg Bastian's latest novel is The Goldseekers, published by Harper Collins and short-listed for the PFP Children’s Literature Peace Prize. Greg is a popular mentor at the NSW Writers’ Centre and teaches at UTS and writers’ centres around the country.

Poetry

A Minute’s Silence – Jean Bundensen

A Personal Poem About Procrastination – James Craib

And the Crowd Went – James Craib

Comfort Zone – Albany Dighton

For My Father – Joan Vaughan Taylor

I’ve Always Wondered – Sonia Ursus Satori

Lorraine – Felicity Lynch

Moloch – Alan Lucas

Mourning (Cancer’s Aftermath) – Denise Newton

Scarred – Mary Krone

Sensational – M Grace

Somewhere to Play Cricket – Rosemary Baldry

Sophie Rose Yates – Linda Yates

Soulful Longings – Jean Bundensen

Stick it! – Greg North

The Bottom Line – Sonia Ursus Satori

The Music Room – Josephine Adam

The Wind at My Door – Robyn Chaffey

Two Tight Tales in a Sonnet – Joan Vaughan Taylor

Short Stories

A Comic in Therapy – Paris Portingale

All the Worst Jobs – Michael Burge

Empress and Vanity – Jordan Russo

Fertility Goddess – Samantha Miller

Knock n’ Roll – Christina Frost Clayton

Once a Pretty Maiden – John Egan

Quick Brown Fox and Lazy Dog – Paris Portingale

Tahnee’s Tales: The Mouse and the Showbag – Nana J

The Art of Love – Kate Santleben

The Clique – Dinah Turner

The Hairdresser – Sue Artup

The Memory of Old Blackfish – Rebecca Langham

Ticket – Aristidis Metaxas

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And the Crowd Went – James Craib

I blundered lonely, as a crowd went cheerlessly to their appointed tasks.

I wondered forlornly, ‘Why do they bother’? They wear no smiles, just their corporate masks.

They speak on mobile phones and devices, eyes devoid of signs of life.

An unruly high school brat entices all others about to cower in strife.

I once was of that generation; we haunted trains and caused dismay.

Foul language bounces off the windows; in vain, you wish they’d just go away.

I conjured up phoney images of loud shirts and neckties wider than tablecloths.

They’ve plundered, knowingly, market stalls and op-shops – old clothing I see now worn by Goths.

Others flaunt ghastly tattoos and piercings – metal in eyebrows, noses, ears and lips.

Inked designs on arms, legs and faces: daggers, skulls, roses, butterflies and sailing ships.

Now there is no veneration; feet are on seats and vandalism prevails.

Graffiti assails you in every direction; succumbing to the clatter of the rails ...

I pondered coldly as a cloud went greyly over the valley outside.

I’ve squandered boldly on all things frivolous; no time to waste on foolish pride.

Perusing now old photographs and images, I barely recognise the person I was.

Remembering too old lovers and scrimmages, I’d descend the mountains because ...

I was in need of vindication, though friends were daunted by the things I’d try.

Fatuous remarks are all I have left, to make amends; it makes me cry.

He saunters, mouldy as a shroud, the ghost that was my former self.

I laundered adroitly all things embarrassing, including, loss of better health.

My breath is diminished but I’m not finished, it just takes longer to get around.

World events have lost their meaning; little things have gained in ground.

I don’t need further interpretation; it now just passes over my head.

Leave politics to poltergeists, let’s try magic tricks instead!

So yonder slowly went the crowd to find their way back home again.

Not under wholly the blackness of despair, we managed to escape the train.

The rain lashed at the platform station, we climbed the stairs at Wentworth Falls.

‘How are ya’? Rasped some crass antagonist, and remember as Wordsworth recalls ...

(If in need of verification), ‘The child is father of the man’.

This is the last gasp of humanity into the fire from the frying pan

Comfort Zone – Albany Dighton

Saddled in a comfort zone

Of money laundering, billowing leather

Slack seconds, loose minutes,

Intoxicating Jack Daniel hours

Assuage the non

La vie est bonne

Sensational – M Grace

Claw of hands surrounding the item with enthusiasm, entice to surprise. To relish into relinquish seem natural. Sublime state to find origins to one’s feelings over an item. It may sound dramatic, inner sensation equal to height of an orgasm.

Following strange feelings is ludicrous. It has sense of adventure more poignant. Joy of such journey and it’s endless wonders continue to amaze one’s senses; crossing the line to be incisive. It is an indication a valuable lesson to give yourself permission to maintain the sensation.

Endure success; don’t astray and be absolutely sure to enjoy the item. Efforts to obtain the sensation not to escape it. Talking about it don’t do justice. It requires strict instructions to oneself to always delight your senses to consume this item. Claw of hands reaching for another to consume and in amazement as equal to the first attempt.

The original sensation is bit as good as the first round and flat out to sustain the sensation. Conscience of this delight capture in a room of your brain is fitting. Be kind enough to admit consuming with height of excitement relevant to familiarity of good taste. Don’t resist for a moment to have other one.

Self indulgence is acceptable in consuming not with anything else. Be liberal with food, not just with drink.

Guest to test to consume the third time around; three is a loose number. By this time settlement of the senses demands to click on board and photograph in your brain of the sensational taste for further references.

After all it’s only chocolate truffles.

The Art of Love –