Graeme Kinross-Smith, 1936–2021

Posted by whitmorepress

We seem to be on repeat with this kind of message, but we’re very sad to hear news of the death of Graeme Kinross-Smith last Friday evening.

Graeme was a wonderful poet, as well a fine writer of fiction and non-fiction, and a marvellous photographer. He was a friend to, and generous supporter of, many other writers, especially young writers, and Whitmore Press was fortunate enough to publish one of his many collections of poetry, Available Light, as well as a selection of his photography in an annual issue of Space: New Writing.

A former college and university teacher, jazz aficionado, lover of tennis and diving, Graeme was a warm and enthusiastic man, full of vitality. He’ll be dearly missed. Our love and thoughts are with Judith and family. Vale GK-S.

Vale Retta Hemensley

Posted by whitmorepress

Breaking the drought for the first post in a very long time … at Whitmore Press we were saddened to hear news of the passing of the warm, kind, hugely generous Retta Hemensley from the former Collected Works Bookshop, Melbourne.

Retta was at the heart of virtually every CW event – including Whitmore Press launches, among many others over many years. She was as interested in people as she was in poetry. Along with Kris H, she invited everyone in, metaphorically and literally. She will be much missed, and mourned, by devotees of poetry from Melbourne and beyond.

Our love and condolences to Kris.

Vale Retta.

Retta at the final Collected Works book launch. Photo by kind permission of Jennifer Mackenzie.

Launch of debut collection by Carmen Leigh Keates

Posted by whitmorepress

Whitmore Press is delighted to announce the launch in November of Meteorites, the debut poetry collection by Carmen Leigh Keates. The details:

Collected Works bookshop
First Floor, Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Friday 18 November, 6pm for 6.30 start
Launch by award-winning poet and performer Nathan Curnow

Carmen was the winner of the 2015 Whitmore Press Manuscript Prize. Her collection draws on her experiences of cinema and of travelling to regions in Scandinavia associated with iconic films – think Bergman, Tarkovsky.

If you’re in or near Melbourne, we hope you can come and help celebrate Carmen’s superb first book. All welcome.

Can’t make the launch? Order an advance copy now!