The three titles - Luke Beesley's Lemon Shark, B.R. Dionysius' Universal Andalusia, and Billy Jones' Wren Lines: Selected Poems and Drawings Volume 1 - were launched together on Friday 28 April 2006 at Avid Reader bookstore in Brisbane's West End.
More than 150 poetry-starved Brisbanites filled Avid Reader to overflowing, and what was billed as the premiere poetry party of 2006 certainly lived up to the buzz!
The night kicked off with a welcome by Queensland Writers Centre CEO, Kate Eltham, who introduced former Minister for the Arts and current QWC Chair, Matt Foley, who donated his time as launch MC.
After a 'thank you' speech worthy of an Oscar-recipient by papertiger media Managing Editor, Paul Hardacre, Tom Shapcott spoke eloquently and touchingly about what he saw as the largely unrecognised brilliance of Billy Jones, along with anecdotes from their 30+ year friendship. Billy took the stage and blew the audience away with a powerful reading of his seminal poem, 'The Origin and Evolution of the Solar System', among other works. For a guy who once lived on a riverbank as a hermit, and who still spends a lot of time (blissfully) alone, it was an awesome performance.
It should be noted that Tom flew up from Adelaide - gratis - to launch Wren Lines. Both Billy Jones and papertiger media would like to gratefully acknowledge Tom's generosity and support.
Award-winning Queensland poet and Star Wars fanatic Sam Wagan Watson then introduced fellow Wookiee-lover B.R. Dionysius' five-years-in-the-making verse novel, Universal Andalusia. Dionysius delivered in his trademark muscular style, offering the audience one well-oiled poem from each section of his 'picaresque travelogue' (that's one poem each from 'Turkei', 'Achaea', 'Espana', and 'Samsara').
University of Queensland Press editor Bronwyn Lea launched the much-anticipated first collection of homegrown poetry sensation, Luke Beesley. First book in hand, Luke blessed all present with a stellar reading from Lemon Shark. Replete with pseudo-swoons and eyelid-flickering, the reading more closely resembled a 'channeling' of the Muses, than a poetry 'reading' … lamplight, sunlight, vanilla, tennis skirts - it had it all.
The night wrapped up with post-launch sales frenzy. Billy and B.R. Dionysius sold strongly, while Luke Beesley completely sold out all stock of his premiere collection. Close to 100 books were sold which, according to Avid Reader's Fiona Stager, was a sales record for any launch in Avid's ten years of operations! Big thanks to Fiona and everyone at Avid Reader.
Much love and kisses to Brenda, Sonja and Dominique of Mondo Organics for their incredible organic fingerfoods and drinks, and kind support.
Thanks also to The Courier Mail for giving us some press! Read articles about Billy Jones and papertiger media and its soi 3 modern poets imprint, as they appeared in The Courier Mail, here.
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