Posted by Matthew Lang, on January 8th, 2012% 
It’s hard to believe, but it’s that time of the year again–the weather is starting to get hot and sweltering, and it’s looking like the heavens will bucket down on us for another wet year, but you have to make gay while the sun shines, and Midsumma is back for another season of art, culture, and just plain partying fun–and while you might find Matthew at any of the other events (except the naked camping one, as he doesn’t do that sort of camping to well), you’ll definitely find him at the following events, so grab a ticket, come on down to Hares and Hyenas and say hi.
Novel Conversations - Midsumma Premiere Event
A Word is Out favourite makes a welcome return, as we present five authors of recent Australian fiction reading a section of their choice, with an open Q&A to follow.
Authors include Andrea Goldsmith, award-winning writer of Reunion, The Prosperous Thief and Under the Knife, among others; Geoffrey Knight, author of erotic adventure novels including The Curse of the Dragon King, The Cross of Sins and Riddle of the Sands; Matthew Lang, author of modern gay gothic novel, The Secret of Talmor Manor; and Steve Dow, ex-Melbourne, now Sydney-based journalist and author, who will read from his satirical e-novel paean to Sydney, All Sorts (available from Amazonand iTunes); and speculative, genre-defying writer Kim Westwood, author of The Daughters of Moab and The Courier’s New Bicycle.
Hosted by Crusader Hillis and including a public Q&A at the end of the session.
Where: Hares & Hyenas Date: Wednesday 25 January Time: 7:30pm Price: Full $15; Conc $10; Group 6+ $12 +BF Season pass: Full $150; Concession $100 Click book for the entire Hares & Hyenas season to purchase a season ticket to attend all H&H events. Duration: 60 mins approx. Info: www.hares-hyenas.com.au
banQuet 2012 Book Launches
banQuetpress is thrilled to launch two new collections of stories, poetry and art which showcase sensual, edgy and sweat-inducing tales of GLBTIQ desire, romance and erotica. These contemporary collections are brimming with provocative queer protagonists who push all the hot buttons and shove all the boundaries of sex and sexuality!
Enjoy an evening of spoken word performances from contributors and pick up your signed copies. Bookings essential – limited capacity.
Where: Hares & Hyenas Date: Friday 3 February Time: 7pm Price: Full $15;Concession; $10 +BF Season pass: Full $150; Concession $100 Click book for the entire Hares & Hyenas season to purchase a season ticket to attend all H&H events. Duration: 90 mins approx. Info: www.banquetpress.com
Posted by Matthew Lang, on October 7th, 2011% 
The first thing I have to say is the NYWF was awesome, and everyone should go next year. The second thing I have to say is that respiratory illnesses are much less awesome, especially when they hit two days after returning. I seem to have come down with a probably-not-flu-flu-like viral infection, and although I’m no longer aching everywhere, I am still feeling massively fatigued all the time, which sucks. I suppose I can only be thankful it happened *after* the festival. I thought I was being careful and taking care of myself so this wouldn’t happen, but well, that’s a story for another day.
The NYWF happens every year in Newcastle-Newy, as it is affectionately known-and This is Not Art (TiNA), the umbrella festival of which NYWF is a part, has become Newcastle’s biggest tourism weekend. In the words of one person I spoke to on Grindr, the ‘influx of hot gay men’ over the festival weekend is something to look forward to.
It was a rainy Wednesday afternoon, and I was a NYWF virgin. My flight was delayed and when I finally rocked into Newcastle airport, the first thing I noticed was how…regional it was. I guess the first thing that struck me was the feeling that I was about as far away from a major city in Australia as I’ve ever been, and this was the very first time I’d been out somewhere like there as an openly gay man, and visions of homophobic, possibly racist, rednecks swarming along on utes filled my brain. And then I put those thoughts aside, collected my luggage and went in search of the bus to town.
Eventually, I found myself outside my hotel, the Newcastle Ibis, which was a little further from the festival locations than I really would have liked, but on the upside, it was a room for myself, which I wasn’t sharing with another four artists. Not that I have anything against other artists, mind you, but there are considerations–like snoring, smelly feet, and enough space for me to pull out my laptop and get some work and social networking done. Yes, I’m a bit paranoid about my computers at times. Go figure.
In any case, I spent the first afternoon wandering around Newy and trying to find out where all the festival venues were. In doing so I also discovered something I’d forgotten about smaller town Australia-everything shuts early. And when I mean early I mean by 5 PM. And when I mean everything, I mean everything. It then mostly doesn’t open on the weekends…or public holidays, as Monday was in New South Wales. At times I feel like I spent the entire weekend trying to find somewhere to eat that was open.
Thursday was a nice, slow easing into the whole Festival scene, with an Artist Meet & Greet, and then the TiNA launch party. I started Friday . . . → Read More: National Young Writers Festival–Or What I did last Weekend
Posted by Matthew Lang, on September 29th, 2011%
So I’ve arrived in Newcastle, avoiding the weather chaos in Melbourne, which I understand has stranded a number of NYWF artists there. Sadly, the crazy weather has also reached us in Newcastle, and it almost feels like Melbourne up here–four seasons in one day. Seriously looking forward to meeting even more awesome people, and getting into the swing of things up in Newy (as Newcastle is affectionately known).
I’ve also been roped into a few other events. The first is the Small Press Status Update:
Monday 3rd October: Small Press Status Update
Panel: 12:00-13:00 Location: Festival Club, The Great Northern Hotel, 89 Scott Street, Newcastle East
Printing options? Funding structure? Every small press is different and we want to know how. If you don’t work for a small press, here’s your chance to find out what the deal is. And if you do, NYWF is here to give you a cuddle and a big cup of milo.
Facilitator: Greg Gould (Blemish Books) Artists: Voiceworks; Simon Gray; Matthew Lang…and everyone else
I’m possibly also appearing on Writer Wants a Wife, assuming enough other men who like men sign up as prospective dates. So if you know anyone who wants a chance to go on date with Mr Fantastic Me, get them in touch with the NYWF team and who knows, you could watch it all get video taped and put on youtube. Which would certainly be interesting.
Of course, it’s rather late notice, so nothing may come of this at all, but who knows. Life is all about surpises after all! Cheers to everyone I’ve met so far and here’s to a fantastic festival!
Posted by Matthew Lang, on September 14th, 2011%
The program is up and the verdict is in: Yes Matthew will be appearing in Newcastle at the National Young Writers’ Festival, doing two panels and one reading. All events are free, so there’s no excuse not to attend!
Fri 30th September: Super Sad Pomo Love Story: Writing Earnest Fiction in the Ironic Age
Panel: 16:00-17:30 Location: Customs House, 1 Bond Street, Newcastle East
Let’s Talk About Sex. Or not. Who’s writing the Love Stories of our generation? And why are they bothering? Sentimental enthusiasts and cynical deniers take on the biggest theme of all.
Facilitator: Alice Gage Artists: Naomi Stekelenberg & Matthew Lang & Chad Parkhill
Sat 1st October: Boy Meets Boy, Girl Meets Girl and then meet Boi: Queer Young Adult Fiction
Panel: 12:00-13:30 Location: The Royal Exchange, 32-34 Bolton Street, Newcastle East
Writers of LGBTQ YA fiction and queer theory buffs talk about hitting the double whammy of coming-of-age and coming out, school censorship and the dangers of getting pigeonholed
Facilitator: Matthew Lowe (BURN Writers’ Collective) Artists: Alasdair Duncan & Chad Parkhill & Matthew Lang & Brendan Lindsay (BURN Writers’ Collective)
Sun 2nd October: Here’s Where I Think I Went Wrong
Panel: 21:30-23:00 Location: The Royal Exchange, 32-34 Bolton Street, Newcastle East
Our own NYWF artists read stories about that fatal turning point where things went from bad to really really bad.
Artists: Matthew Lang & Patrick O’Neil & Simon McInerney
Posted by Matthew Lang, on June 14th, 2011%
Big shout out to the crew of the Emerging Writers’ Festival, which saw little me take to the stage for my first ever festival appearance and panel chat. Also, I’d really like to say thank you to Carmel F, who was my pen pal artist sponsor, and in no small part responsible for the wide range of artists present at the EWF.
I’m taking a break from public appearances, and will be getting back to what I’m meant to be doing, which is putting on a cabaret writing my next novel. However, there have been some rumours floating around that I may be heading up to Newcastle for the National Young Writers’ Festival. Exactly what I’m doing up there well… predictions are welcome.
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