Emerging Writers Festival

I had the great pleasure to be on two panels at the Emerging Writers Festival last week.  The first was a panel called 'Tough Topics'. Schizophrenia was my tough topic, and I spoke about my two books, my life with schizophrenia, and some of the volunteering I am doing for the Mental Illness Fellowship of Victoria.  I was joined by Romy Ash, Sydney Smith and Fregmonto Stokes.  The panel was chaired by Ruby J Murray.  We had a great discussion about how to best write about tough topics.  At one point, when asked what I wouldn't write about, I said "Britney Spears".  Many laughs from the audience. The panel was being filmed by ABC1 for their show 'Big Ideas'.  We'll see if we get on!

The second panel I was on was called Letters to the Editor, and was more of a free form Q & A with the audience.  We broached many topics, including digital media, publishing people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and Australian Literature. I spoke about the desire to write as being and important motivator, and the financial difficulties of being a writer.

Over all it was a great weekend, and I met many great people.  Even signed a few books!

A Schizophrenic on Artaud, Television and Radio

My new book, A Schizophrenic on Artaud is doing quite  well.  I have had a television appearance reading from the book on a show called Red Lobster on channel 31.  I read from the start of the book, just to give the audience a feel for the tenor of the work.  You can watch it here at the Red Lobster website.

I have also been on radio promoting the book on a show called Brainwaves on 3CR.  I was interviewed with poet Stu Hatton on the 11th of April, and did some co-hosting of the show on the 18th of April.  You can listen to these shows here.

Thanks for all the support from these shows.  You can buy the book on Amazon here.  Hope you enjoy it!

Launch of A Schizophrenic on Artaud at Readings

I am pleased to announce that my new book, 'A Schizophrenic on Artaud' will be launched at Readings in Carlton. Come along for free wine. The book will be launched by Dr Martin Plowman, and I will be giving a speech as well. Here are the details:

Location: Readings bookstore, 309 Lygon street Carlton.
Date: Monday the 16th of April
Time: 6:30pm.

Here is the link to the Readings website for further details of the launch:

http://www.readings.com.au/event/paul-fearne-book-launch-of-a-schizophrenic-on-artaud

Thank you, and see you there!

A Schizophrenic on Artaud (Paperback)

I am pleased to announce that the paperback of my new book A Schizophrenic on Artaud has now been released. Artaud, writing in the early to mid parts of the 20th century in France, had great impact on the cultural meileu of the time. He suffered from schizophrenia which was to make his life fraught with difficulties. He was in about 20 silent films, but truly made his mark through his writing. His work The Theatre and its Double was to gain him a substantial readership.

My work is a poetic reflection in Artaud's life and work. I used my own insight into my schizophrenia to shape the book. It reads in poetic prose, and also explores the literature of the French epoch of that time, as well as other points in history and other literatures of other countries.

The book is published by Chipmunkapublishing, and is available through Amazon.

You can buy a copy here at the Amazon site.

Hope you enjoy it!

A Schizophrenic on Artaud (Kindle Edition)

My new book, A Schizophrenic on Artaud, has now been released in the Kindle format. For me it was fascinating journey to write the book, exploring my own condition while delving into Artaud's work, and our shared interest in literature. Artaud lived at a time when to suffer from schizophrenia was much harder than it is today. His work shocks, and it also comforts. The amazing linguistic flexibility he had was a really credit to his genius. He stands as an example of what can be achieved despite very trying conditions.

You may buy my book through Amazon here, and download to your Kindle or iPad.

Hope you enjoy the book!

A Schizophrenic on Artaud

My new book has been released! It is a poetic exploration of the life and work of the French writer Antonin Artaud. Artaud suffered from schizophrenia, but was still able to produce a number of seminal books, including The Theatre and its Double. His work is now considered to have entered the cannon of French letters. His life was one of the highest degrees of suffering. His condition led him to situations that are almost unknown today. My book, A Schizophrenic on Artaud, is written by a fellow sufferer who wanted to bring a self reflexive insight to create a work that would be in the spirit of Artaud's writing. My publisher, Chipmunkapublishing, has released the book initially as an ebook, with the paperback to follow. My ebook is available here for purchase!

Reflections on Artaud

Artaud has always fascinated me. Writing in the first half of the twentieth century, Artaud was to captivate the literary milieu of his time. His schizophrenia was at its worst during the German occupation of France, when he was institutionalised. The appalling suffering of this time was alleviated to an extent when a doctor running a clinic in the free zone heard of Artaud's plight and had him transferred. Artaud's best known text, The Theatre and its Double, was a poetic and indeed great exploration of theatre practices, and has come to be seminal in the performance of theatre around the world. My book on Artaud, entitled A Schizophrenic on Artaud, interweaves aspects of his life and work in a poetic rendering that does justice to the spirit Artaud wrote in. My publisher, Chipmunkapublishing, has just released the ebook. Stayed tuned to this blog for further details.