Little women

Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel is much in the news because of Geraldine Brooks’s reimagining of the life of one of its fleeting characters (Brenda Niall reviews Brooks’s novel March on page 44). But the timing is apt as ‘Advances’ ponders the sorry dearth of female correspondents in ABR. For some time now, approximately eighty per cent of letters to the editor have come from men: learned, forthright, opinionated, confident types, but men nonetheless. Lest our readers think we censor the letters, ‘Advances’ hastens to assure them that we pounce on letters from women. At the risk of infringing anti-sexist legislation, we can’t get enough of them. Our hearts lit up this month when we received a letter from Val Wake, but this turned out to be from another bloke with a bee in his bonnet. Women, as you would expect, constitute a clear majority of our subscribers and readers, so it’s all a bit of a mystery. Perhaps a few women could simply write and tell us why it is so.

Reading does matter

And if the women are enigmatic, where have the past two years gone? Reading Matters, the Centre for Youth Literature’s biennial conference, comes around again this May. A splendid array of Australian and international writers, commentators and performers will gather to explore current issues and ideas in youth literature. They include Adeline Yen Mah, Li Cunxin, Malorie Blackman and Carole Wilkinson. A Youth Day will be held on May 12, while the conference will take place from May 13 to 14, at RMIT’s Storey Hall. For information, phone the Centre on (03) 8664 7014 or consult its website: www.slv.vic.gov.au/youthlit/

The Dromkeen Medal

Staying with this theme, Margaret Hamilton has won the 2004 Dromkeen Medal. Hamilton has been a key player in the children’s literary community for more than forty years and has served as the national president of the Children’s Book Council of Australia. She has undertaken major fund-raising for the Council. She is now part of an exclusive club: past winners include Mem Fox, Robin Klein, Paul Jennings and Graeme Base. Turn to page 58 to read a review of Hamilton’s latest book, H₂0.

An open book

ABR is pleased to be taking part in An Open Book: Research, Imagination and the Pursuit of Knowledge, a major conference at the National Library of Australia, to be held from April 29 to May 1. The conference will celebrate the twenty-first anniversary of the Harold White Fellowship. Themes will include the environment, history, politics, the role of the imagination, cultural diversity, and biography. Speakers will include Geoffrey Bolton, Sara Dowse, Henry Reynolds, Frank Moorhouse and Bridget Griffen-Foley, a former Harold White Fellow and our regular media columnist. More details appear on page 42 of this issue.

Telling all at the VWC

Annette Barlow (Allen & Unwin) and Clare Forster (Penguin) are two of Australia’s more influential publishers. On April 12, from 6.30 to 8 p.m., they will ‘tell all’ about their fiction lists ‘and how to get on them’. The venue is the Victorian Writers’ Centre. Tickets cost $7; members get in gratis. To book, phone (03) 9654 9068 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..