I’ve got two fantastic events coming up with Lake Macquarie’s wonderful Write Here festival. The first is a literary cruise. I’ll be leading attendees in a series of writing exercises focusing on the beautiful Lake Macquarie while we enjoy a delicious Devonshire tea. The cruise leaves from Booragul Public Wharf on Friday the 16th of May at 10am and has already begun booking so get in quick if you’d like to join us: https://library.lakemac.com.au/Events/Relax-and-Write-Cruise-with-Magdalena-Ball
The second is a free session with the stunning performance poets Rob Walker and Sara Crane on Saturday, 17 May, from 2-3pm at the Windale Hub, bilyabayi. Rob and Sara are both seasoned and powerful poetry performers (bring tissues!), and I can’t wait to tease out their secrets for you! Details here: https://library.lakemac.com.au/Events/Poetry-and-Performance
Science Write Now is a beautiful publication – presented free online, with a wide range of works – poetry, nonfiction, fiction and art, and I’m very pleased to have two poems in the latest edition: “Interdependence Intricacies” and “Metanoia”. Each of the poems has an audio recording with it as well. You can check out the whole issue at the website here: 
The Newcastle Writers Festival is a highlight of my year. Held the first weekend of April, I’ve been involved in every festival since it started in 2013. It’s now one of the largest regional literary festivals in Australia, and I know I’m biased but I feel like the vibe is just perfect – down-to-earth and very accessible while still being grand enough to attract some of the biggest names locally and internationally. I also love how the NWF gives plenty of airtime to local writers, and has worked very hard to make the festival 
April 5th, 1pm: Ailsa Piper talking about her gorgeous new book For Life. 
I’ve got 3 poems in the invitation-only Live Encounters Feb edition. Live Encounters is always a delight to read and this issue is particularly stunning with a rich variety of poetry from some of Australia’s most illustrious poets. I’m proud to be included. You can check out the whole issue here and once there, you can either flip through like a magazine, or click on a name to go straight to the poet’s work.
On Wednesday the 12th of March I will have the great pleasure of being the guest speaker. The date is the SWW Centenary – that’s 100 years – no small achievement, and I’ll be following on from a poetry workshop by Judith Beveridge and Sophie Masson member spotlight. For more details visit: https://womenwritersnsw.org/literary-luncheons/workshop-literary-event-wednesday-12-march-2025
I’ve been invited to participate in a collaborative project based on the Telephone game, and if you’re an artist/writer of any kind you can also join. This is the third round and the way it works is a secret message is ‘whispered’ from art form to art form. You sign up, and if you’re accepted, you receive a prompt which might be an artwork, a video, a piece of writing or even dance. You have to create your work in response within a limited timeframe. The results will be published as a digital exhibition in September 2025, open to the public. Curious? Sign up at this link: 
Three of my poems “
My poem “Tumbling into the Ocean” has been published in the inaugural issue of Splinter Journal along with work from Anthony Nocera, Brooke Dunnell, Dominic Symes, Finbar James, Frank Marrazza, George Titheridge, Hossein Asgari, Jane Rawson, Jayda Wilson, Jill Jones, Karen Wyld, KT Major, Lauren Poole, Muiz Ọpẹ́yẹmí Àjàyí, Paris Rosemont, Patrick Marlborough, Ryan J Morrison, Sam Elkin, Sam Twyford-Moore, Sara M Saleh, Seamus Lonergan, Susie Anderson, Thom Sullivan, and Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes. Splinter is published twice a year, and is edited by Farrin Foster. Find out more about the journal, how to submit, read and subscribe here: 