All the Essentials are packed Clunes, here we come!
The Clunes Booktown Festival, one of Australia’s largest and most-loved literary gatherings, celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year. I’ll be there this weekend, March 21st and 22nd, set up in one of the bustling Book Trader Marquees (Fraser St, Marquee “T”) with Frankie beside me, proudly taking on his role as assistant salesman and crowd‑greeter. With the days full of books, conversations, and festival buzz, I won’t be blogging much over the weekend — but once we’re back home and the dust has settled, I’ll share a few stories and photos from our time in Booktown.
As always, it should be a wonderful weekend in Booktown, and I’m looking forward to sharing a few highlights once Frankie and I return.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend — and if you’re heading to Clunes, do stop by and say hello.
Featured Image Above: Cover art by Kerri Costello — a guitar hidden in the island’s reflection, just as Barbara describes.
Featuring «Until Eyes Hear Sounds» by Ivor Steven
Over the weekend, I received a lovely surprise: LatinosUSA’s Poetry Bookshelf, curated by editor Meelosmom (Barbara), has featured my book Until Eyes Hear Sounds. I’m honoured by the care she took in presenting the poems, the themes, and the story behind the book. It’s always humbling to see my work through someone else’s eyes, and I’m grateful for the thoughtful attention this feature brings.
LatinosUSA’s Poetry Bookshelf, curated by editor Meelosmom (Barbara), has published a full feature on Until Eyes Hear Sounds. The article highlights the book’s imaginative structure, its thematic breadth, and the creative collaboration behind it.
The feature explores the symbolism of the cover design by Kerri Costello, noting how the island’s reflection forms the shape of a guitar with a little imagination. The book is presented as a journey through ten diverse chapters, each paired with one of Kerri’s drawings.
Barbara also reflects on the meaning of the title, suggesting it can be read as a metaphor, a poetic expression, or a state of deep inner focus. She writes that my poems do not claim to have the answers, but instead invite readers to think about the environment, existence, and our place in the universe.
The article includes three poems from the book — Bird on a Ladder, Time Strolls, and Flying Bricks of War — and closes with a short biography of my writing life and creative background.
To read the article at LatinosUSA, please click >> Here
My sincere thanks to Barbara for this beautifully presented feature. Your thoughtful reading of the poems and themes means a great deal to me, and I’m grateful for the care you’ve taken in sharing my work with your readers.
Tonight’s accompanying song is Enya’s “The Humming” — a gentle meditation on the rhythms beneath our everyday world.
We have our Last Chance Xmas Market this Saturday. Starting at 10am-3pm – loads of stalls with art, ceramics, prints, vintage, collectables, books and more! Plus open art studios, the May’d Shop, Untether Gallery, HBT Collectables, Yesterday Vintage, tarot readings at Hot House and more vintage at Pearl & Brawne. Grab a unique gift from local makers and creators.
All undercover at Centrepoint Arcade 132 Little Malop St, Geelong
I’ll be at the “Ivor’s Books”, (andFrankie), stall with my books “Tullawalla, Perceptions, and Until Eyes Hear Sound”, as well as various other Anthologies and Chapbooks. They could be that “Something Different” gift idea for Christmas.
The title “Until Eyes Hear Sound” can have different meanings depending on your interpretation. It could be a poetic expression, a metaphor for waiting for something to happen, or a state of deep concentration where one is so focused on one’s inner vision that one becomes oblivious to external sounds. Ivor’s poems do not suggest having the answers, but his words encourage you to think about our environment, as he ponders the purpose of our existence in the universe. If you love poetry that challenges, inspires, and moves you, this book is for you.
According to the author
The cover design, by Kerri Costello, reflects my perceptions of the world that surrounds me. When you look closely at the reflection of the Island in the water, with a bit of imagination, the image appears to be of a guitar.
The book is divided into 10 diverse and imaginative chapters, each accompanied by a creative drawing by Kerri. Themes range from nature and existence, to war and peace, to humour, fantasy, and short forms such as haiku and tanka.
Signed copies available. Order directly via email: ivorrs20@gmail.com (PayPal arrangements can be made)
Author bio
Ivor Steven was formerly an industrial chemist, then a plumber, and is now retired. He has numerous poems published in anthologies and online magazines. He has three self-published books: Tullawalla, Perceptions, and Until Eyes Hear Sound. He is an active member of Geelong Writers Inc. (Australia) and an appointed writer for Coffee House Writers magazine (USA).
“On April 30th, we had the opportunity to get together to talk to each other, some for the first time! I enjoyed seeing, meeting, and talking to the people of Natures Discovered! Go team! 😊 Enjoy the video, everyone!” … Susi Bocks, editor. Whoops, I joined a few minutes late! … it was 3.00 am Thursday in Geelong!
Here are the two pieces that I read …
Finality
after we have consumed the leftover wine and desecrated the sundial’s shadow the dark-side of the moon will finally recede from view
Co-existence
Beneath the trees and bushes Lives an underground network Prospering on giving and receiving
Treasuring Poetry – Meet prolific poet, Ivor Steven, and a review #poetry #poetrycommunity #TreasuringPoetry
Thank you, Robbie Cheadle, for sharing my thoughts on poetry and for reviewing my new book, “Until Eyes Hear Sound” for Treasuring Poetry on Writing to be Read! I invite you to read my interesting interview, and her fabulous review, which I have linked below.
Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is the word, Edge … you may visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here. … My only claim to following the prompt is that I have mentioned the word “Edge” in the first stanza of my two-piece poem
To See What is Unfound
four boxes of my new book “Until Eyes Hear Sound” have landed and set ashore on the edge of my loungeroom floor now begins the next chore become a poet’s traveling bookstore
To See What is Unfound (a Senryu)
“Until Eyes Hear Sound” Read my new book, so profound You will be spellbound
Yesterday, Judy, my editor/publisher, set me one last task before my manuscript could be sent to the printers, which was to design a Back Cover with an interesting ‘Blurb’ for my new book. By using my ‘Canva App’, and reworking Kerri’s Front Cover design, I was happy with the image that I created. Then the difficult part was writing an appropriate ‘Blurb’ for my book, which was to be my debut attempt at writing such a piece. After many torn-up drafts and lots of frustrating self-doubts, I eventually produced my ‘Blurb’.
“Until Eyes Hear Sound”, My ‘Blurb’
The title ‘Until Eyes Hear Sound’ could mean different things depending on your interpretation. It could be a poetic expression, a metaphor for waiting for something to happen, or a way of describing a state of deep concentration where one is so focused on one’s inner vision that one becomes oblivious to external sounds. Ivor’s poems do not suggest having the answers, but his words encourage you to think about the environment we live in, as he ponders the purpose of our existence in the Universe. “If you love poetry that challenges, inspires, and moves you, this book is for you.”
The Summer Book Fair will showcase Indie Authors from across Victoria and help you find new favourite Authors. FREE entry to all visitors. And I will be one of the “Indie Authors” at the Book Fair
Time & Location
14 Jan 2024, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Community Hall, Barwon Heads, 77 Hitchcock Ave, Barwon Heads VIC 3227, Australia
About the Event
The Book Reality Experience presents the Barwon Heads Indie Author Book Fair, which celebrates stories from children’s books through to horror, sci-fi, fantasy and every genre in between. We can’t wait to welcome you to this one-day event filled with Author Exhibits, readings and the opportunity to talk directly with independently published authors… some of whom will become your new favourites. FREE entry to all visitors.
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 