sleeper / noun 2. a timber, concrete or steel beam forming part of a railway track, serving as a foundation or support for the rails. 7. Colloquial a. someone or something that unexpectedly achieves success or fame. b. a book... which has slow but constant sales. 8. A spy who is allowed to carry on a normal life sometimes for years before being requested to undertake any espionage.
Macquarie dictionary, 3rd edition
Sleepers Salons Coming Up
The first Sleepers Crybaby Salon
Featuring Rachel Power, author of The Divided Heart: Art and Motherhood, in conversation with Laurie Steed. Talking art, motherhood, and a balanced life. Parents with babies and kids are not just welcome but embraced! With storytime taking place in the adjacent room.
When: Tuesday 23rd February at 10.30am for an hour
Where: Northcote Town Hall: 189 High St, Northcote
Free but bookings essential here.
About the Salons
The Salons, inspired by the French salons that were "an assembly of guests... especially such an assembly consisting of leaders in fashion, art, politics, etc.", are an opportunity for Australia's literary community to come together. Writers, editors, readers, printers, publishers, copywriters, proofreaders, authors, booksellers, academics, students, educators, journalists, reviewers, agents, designers, web publishers and festival coordinators are all invited to share their experiences of today's literary journey in Australia.
The entertainment takes shape in the form of readings from novels-in-progress, talks and discussions, music, comedy, poetry readings and on-the-spot poetry writing, spoken word and song, balloonology, haircuts and the odd massage, and live onstage interviews.
Some of the highlights of the Salons so far: Curtis Sittenfeld on her latest book; Charles Firth on America; all the way from the UK, Jon Ronson; Jane Clifton and Angela Pippos; Linda Jaivin and Alice Garner; Upon the release of The Secret of Success Is A Secret, Sean Condon in conversation with Adam Ford; US author and filmmaker Dana Adam Shapiro in conversation with Eleanor Elliott Thomas; Ivor Indyk on the trials and tribulations of independent publishing; Tony Wilson; a discussion with the team from Cardigan Press; Gideon Haigh discussing the state of non-fiction in Australia; Jeff and Jill Sparrow, authors of Radical Melbourne, interviewed by Ralph Mclean; Andrea Goldsmith and Dorothy Porter discussed prose v. poetry; Antoni Jach and student-turned-author Sonia Orchard; Kevin Brophy and Cate Kennedy debating for the short story; Rob Drewe at the Sydney Writers' Festival; MJ Hyland; Kate Holden, and more.
If you have somebody or something you would like to see appear or be interviewed at a Salon please contact us.
For photos of past Salons, visit our Gallery.