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Wendy Orr’s latest book, Honey and the Valley of the Horses, launches in Australia. The American and Canadian launch will be around Easter 2024 although the book might have a different title there. Just watch for a new Wendy Orr book!
Antipodes Bookshop and Gallery hosted the launch with Andrea Rowe, another award-winning writer, as MC.
Acknowledgement of Country
Andrea acknowledges Country when opening the launch of Honey and the Valley of the Horses. Even though we’re far from home, she recognizes the same Peoples.
Dark Matter Zine Acknowledges this recording is taking place on the unceded Country of the Bunurong Peoples’ of the Kulin Nation as Traditional Owners and Custodians of this Country. I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
If you love Wendy Orr…
Wendy visits Dark Matter Zine as a guest periodically because I love her work. Her books are full of hope (Peeling the Onion is, I think, an exception, FOR REASONS), and her representations of disability are always excellent. If you enjoy this book launch, you might like to listen to her other podcasts.
Please note: although Wendy is always gentle and very “G” rated in her language, often the podcasts are aimed more at adults involved with children. Like this Face your fears so the truth can set you free podcast. We talk about how the pandemic and fears affect Wendy’s characters. And Kimberley Kenna’s protagonist, a child, faces the reality of molestation as a child to find love, support and healing. Kimberley’s book is sensitive and appropriate for children. But we call a spade a spade, and name abuse outright in our discussion.
Likewise in this celebration of healing in Good Grief, an international women’s day podcast, a panel of authors talks to adults not to children. This panel consists of Wendy Orr, Tabitha Bird and NZ national treasure Elizabeth Knox.
In this podcast from 2016, Wendy talks about her book Dragonfly Song.
Find Wendy and Honey and the Valley of the Horses
Allen and Unwin is the Australian publisher.
Wendy can be found on
Apologies
Usually I record an introduction and farewell outside a book launch. However, this time I forgot. Silkie’s eyes were very mucky so, instead of heading to the launch one and a half hours’ drive away with plenty of time to spare, I left home about 7:45 am and hung around in Hampton in an effort to get Silkie in to see a vet at the last minute. The good news is she is fine, it’s just super-bad hay fever. But there’s bad news too. I was so stressed and overwhelmed by the time we actually reached Antipodes Bookshop and Gallery with only about 10 minutes to spare that nice details eluded me. And, after the launch, I was tired. Wendy and I were going to take a photo of ourselves together – something we haven’t done yet – and we forgot that too!
Acknowledgement of Country
Dark Matter Zine Acknowledges this recording is taking place on the unceded Country of the Bunurong Peoples’ of the Kulin Nation as Traditional Owners and Custodians of this Country. I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
(I have occasionally acknowledged Country in podcasts. This year I aim to lift my game in many areas, so I plan to Acknowledge Country in every podcast. An Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners can be done by anyone. It’s a way of showing awareness of, and respect for, the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the land where a meeting or event is held. For more information about Country and respect for Australia’s First Nations, read this post that also has links to useful websites.)
I was going through the photos when I realised that too – but luckily we don’t have to wait for another book launch, we can do photos with coffee next time we head your way!
True, or when we head back your way. I recently learnt about a great fun park down that way, plus there are the hot springs and caves I’ve never visited. It’d be great to do some trips down that way to explore before we move an hour further away.