The Land of Bad Dreams

"But I was going to say that you cannot employ your time worse than in making verses. An Author, whether good or bad, or between both, is an Animal whom everyone is privileged to attack; For although All are not able to write books, all conceive themselves able to judge them."

– The Monk, Matthew Lewis, 1796.

I am delighted to announce that The Land of Bad Dreams, my forthcoming collection of poetry from P'rea Press, will be launched in Sydney on Tuesday, 27 September 2011. Festivities will commence at 7.00 pm in the Bordello, top floor of the World Bar, 24 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross.

Described as "... a rich, eccentric miscellany of dark music, skilfully crafted and strangely wrought" (Ann K. Schwader, Rhysling award-wining poet) and "A carnival of life's cruel and grotesque side, with much pageant and dark laughter" (K. J. Bishop, author of The Etched City), it represents three decades of work and many of my obsessions. Expect warriors, magicians and torturers, vampiric beauties and indescribable monsters – and that's just at the launch!

 
The launch forms part of an overall multimedia release, wherein some of Sydney's most original performance artists will interpret pieces from the collection, incorporating conjuring, burlesque, puppetry and even fencing. Films of the performances will subsequently be featured on my website.

This is your invitation.

Yes, I know some of you live in America, let alone the other side of Australia. But the thought is there.