Collected Online Works

Thought I would go through and list my collected online works for your enjoyment.

I will start with my books.  Diary of a Schizophrenic was my first book, and was launched at the 2010 Melbourne Writers Festival.  It was a diary I kept in 1998 during my first psychotic episode.  You can buy the book here on Amazon.

My second book, A Schizophrenic on Artaud, was launched at Readings in Carlton.  It is a poetic exploration of the life and work of the French author Antonin Artaud.  You can buy the work here on Amazon.

Next to my poems.  I have had quite a few poems published in online journals.  The first, a few poems I had published in Mascara Literary Review.  Then Stylus, Divan, and verb-ate-him. My poem in Westerly will be out online in the next year or so, but you can view the details here.

I was at the Emerging Writers Festival this year, and the ABC were filming.  You can view the panel I was on here at the Big Ideas website. I was also on channel 31 reading from my second book on a show called Red Lobster.  You can watch here.

After the launch of my first book at the Melbourne Writers Festival, I was on Radio National's program All in the Mind.  You can listen here.

I also host a radio show on 3CR called Poet's Corner, as part of the Brainwaves show.  You can download podcasts here.

I had an article published in an online academic journal in the UK called Consciousness Literature and the Arts on the ballet dancer Nijinsky. You can read the article here.  I also had a paper on Foucault published in an academic journal called Cogito.  You can view the details here.

I gave a paper on Wittgenstein and Schizophrenia at the University of Sydney.  You can view the abstract here.

There is footage of me reading from my Artaud book on youtube which you can watch here.

The details of my Masters degree and PhD can be found on Trove here.

Hope this is to your enjoyment! Stay tuned for more publications!

Poem in Divan Poetry Journal

I have had the good fortune to have a poem out in the new Divan Poetry Journal.  It's called 'Where Memories Form'. It's a poem I like to think of as being one of my oneiric poems (meaning dream-like). You can read the poem here. Hope you enjoy!

A Schizophrenic on Artaud on Youtube

I have posted a video on youtube of me reading from my new book, A Schizophrenic on Artaud.  I thought the surrounds of my study worked quite well, with some antiquarian books sitting on my mahogany writing desk (with a globe of the world on the corner).  I read from the last part of the book, which has a very dramatic last line - "Silence". Thanks to my brother who produced the video, he did a great job.  You can see the video here on youtube. Hope you enjoy!

ABC TV

I had the great pleasure of being on ABC TV two weeks ago.  The ABC were filming at the Emerging Writers Festival, where I was on a panel called Tough Topics.  I spoke about my academic work, my life with schizophrenia, my books, and some of the work I am doing on the Brainwaves radio show on 3CR. Highlights of me were broadcast on ABC News 24.  I had a great evening at home with a friend watching the telecast. I asked the question, 'Why is schizophrenia still a tough topic?', and generated some discussion. You can watch the full panel on the Big Ideas website here. Hope you enjoy!

John Milton and the Imagination

John Milton, living in England during the 17th century, is regarded by many as the greatest of English poets.  His monumental work, Paradise Lost, has a remarkable history. Detailing the story of the fall of Adam and Eve from paradise, and the plots of Satan, the work has a remarkable poetic resonance.  What is most interesting about the work, is that it was written when Milton was blind.  Much like Beethoven, who went deaf, it is interesting to muse upon the abilities of those who lose their principle sense, and still manage to create.  I would argue that in losing this sensibility, the imaginative powers are heightened.  Just as when one sense diminishes in an individual, the other senses increase - so to it seems the imaginative faculties of the afflicted can rise dramatically.  This can happen with more striking affect for those who create through that particular sense.  This argument can also be ascribed to Jorge Louis Borges, who also went blind.  Milton dictated his work to his daughters, who acted as a conduit for the then blind Milton, and helped create a work that is considered one of the greats of world literature.

August Strindberg and Schizophrenia

Strindberg is fascinating for those wishing to understand creative intersections with schizophrenia.  Strindberg rose to prominence with plays such as Miss Julie and The Father.  His plays were performed around the world, in particular in Paris and Berlin (and towards the end of his life in America).  In his forties he experienced a psychotic episode, and detailed his illness in a book called Inferno, which he wrote from diaries entries he kept during the time.  The book is full of psychotic traces.  He believed that someone was trying to kill him using electrical currents from a machine in the room above his. He believed that lighting strikes in his area were specifically designed for him (a delusion known as a delusion of self-reference).  The world was full of heightened and special significance for him, and he felt directed by these meanings.  He believed that special 'Powers' were directing his life.  In one instance, on the eve of departure for an overseas trip, he said he couldn't go, because the Powers forbade it.

How could one of such outstanding creative talent believe in such things?  Because schizophrenia can bring with it great creative outpourings which Strindberg was able to harness to create his oeuvre.

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!