S3E2: Annabel Smith
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In this episode of Bad Diaries Podcast, Tracy talks with writer Annabel Smith about throwing her diary across the room, hearting Michael J. Fox, and singing SexyBack at karaoke.
Annabel has taken part in three Bad Diaries Salons, including our third ever salon back in 2017, in Perth. Annabel is also the creative force behind the live spoken word series To Whom It May Concern: Complaint Letters Live, and Tracy and Annabel talk about some of the similarities and differences with Bad Diaries Salon, and the pros and cons of reading live vs writing it all down.
Just a heads-up – we talk about verbal sexual harassment in this episode. Take care.
Annabel Smith is a writer based in Perth, Western Australia. Her debut novel, A New Map of the Universe, was shortlisted for the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards. She’s also the author of experimental speculative novel The Ark, and US bestseller Whisky Charlie Foxtrot. She was one of five inaugural recipients of an Australia Council Creative Australia Fellowship for Emerging Artists, for her interactive digital novel/app The Ark.
Annabel has published essays, short stories and articles in many of Australia’s prestigious literary journals, and is in demand as a teacher, reviewer, speaker and interviewer. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Edith Cowan University. Find Annabel on her Substack, Thinks I'm Thinkin'.
In this episode:
Annabel is the creative force behind Complaint Letters Live: To Whom It May Concern – follow on Insta
Brené Brown's ‘rumble questions’
Morning pages from Julia Cameron’s The Artist's Way – Cameron’s book was first published in 1992, but looks like it’s ba-a-ack
Annabel has been a reader at three Bad Diaries Salons, including REGRETS (Perth 2017), CLUELESS (Melbourne 2018) and BURN (Perth 2019)
We mention writers Laurie Steed, Brooke Davis, AJ Betts, Holden Sheppard, Kate Mildenhall – all of whom have read at Bad Diaries Salons
Film Caro Diario (1993, dir. Nanni Moretti)
Tracy never misses an opportunity to mention Stationery Village
The Fremantle Doctor
Annabel’s personal essay ‘Defective’ – an essay about depression, divorce and disordered eating that she wrote for WA’s iconic Westerly journal, as part of her mid-career fellowship in 2022 – read the essay
Annabel and Tracy are both fans of Scrivener software
Annabel’s debut novel, A New Map of the Universe [link is to The Bad Place, sorry]
Annabel’s experimental speculative novel The Ark
Film: Blade Runner (1982, dir. Ridley Scott)
Film: Blade Runner 2049 (2017, dir. Denis Villeneuve)
Film: The Sound of Music (1965, dir. Robert Wise)
Extras:
Find Annabel on her Substack, Thinks I'm Thinkin'
Here is a review of The Ark in KYD
Annabel wrote a reflection, ‘Reflective | Defective’, for Westerly about writing her intensely personal essay, ‘Defective’
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Bad Diaries Podcast is recorded and produced in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, on the iwi lands of Taranaki Whānui, and Ngāti Toa Rangatira. Seasons 1 & 2 were also recorded in Naarm Melbourne, Australia, on the lands of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Mana Whenua, and to Elders past, present and emerging, of these lands.
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