Literal Bliss: Graeme & Elsie Johnstone Reflect on their Recent Appearance at Mentone Public Library - 11am, Saturday, 26 August 2017
Literal Bliss:
Graeme & Elsie Johnstone Reflect
on their Recent Appearance at
Mentone Public Library
- 11am, Saturday, 26 August 2017
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| Elsie (seated) and Graeme Johnstone unrolled their red carpet of literary accomplishments at the end of August 2017 at Mentone Public Library |
Though husband and wife writing duo
Graeme and Elsie Johnstone penned a haunting, psychological, bleak portrait of a marriage turned sour and lethal in Lover, Husband, Father, Monster, their real-life marriage, could not be any more opposite: supportive, expressive, loving and successful. They are friends, literary partners, supporters and champions of one another and supporters and champions of all local writers. We are huge fans of this dynamic duo here at Mentone Public Library and were delighted to have them back with us after a very long absence.
Here's a little of their experience of their reunion with us in their own words...
Over the years we have been at the library on both sides of
the room – either up the front talking about our works, or in the audience
listening to an author talking about the brilliant highs and the occasional
dramatic lows of writing. Either way, it’s a most enjoyable experience.
The Mentone Public Library is one of the great stories of
the community that needs to be heard. Because it is independent and
self-sufficient, it goes about its business in its own way – and that way is
warm, welcoming, encouraging and an atmosphere far removed from the general
notion of a library.
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| Up to their necks in celebration: Mentone Public Library president Tony with Media & Events Officer Julia just before the library's Open Day to mark its 90th Anniversary & Memorial Tribute to Former President Jean Critchley in 2015. |
President Tony and Julia as Media & Events Officer do a
fantastic job organising a range of events at Mentone – events that provide a
great opportunity for local writers to display their talent and engage with an
audience.
Appearing at Mentone gives writers a chance to read
selections from their works. Sometimes this is a revelation for the writer as
well – mid-way through a reading you might find something in there that had you
had not appreciated when you first put it down in print. Most times that’s a
good thing, and you think, ‘Wow, that’s not bad.’ Then there are other times …
We were asked about how we go writing a novel together, such
as “Lover, Husband, Father, Monster,” which runs across three books and hinges
on the voices of the wife Jennifer (written by Elsie) and the husband Stuart
(written by Graeme.) A key requirement is trusting each other’s skills and yet
at the same time being able to raise questions about the shape of the book, open
up discussion about where the narrative is going, and examine how the
characters are being portrayed. For example, ‘Would Stuart really say that, in
that way?’ Or, ‘Do you think that would be Jenny’s response?’ That sort of
thing.
Reflective Entry from the Eyes of Audience Member,
Paul Karp
Visit Paul Karp's Poetry Website at:
Graeme and Elsie Johnstone have written a considerable number of books between them. Their joint presentation offered the audience a tantalising glimpse into the inspiration and background behind some of their many works.
Graeme began with his satirical advertising jingle/ode to 'Efudex', a skin cream for treating highly sun-sensitive skin with initially painful and abrasive results. Graeme's humorous thespian-like delivery truly brought his words to life.
During his career as a journalist with the Herald Sun, Graeme interviewed well known authors such as Jackie Collins and Roald Dahl, and found that strict adherence to self-established writing routines greatly helped their success.
For ten years, Graeme and Elsie ran the business 'The Wordsmith Shop' on the corner of Balcombe and Charman Road. 'We'll write anything' was their credo (but when quizzed by a former teacher from Mentone Girls High School across the road Elsie responded that any requests to ghost-write homework assignments would never have been entertained).
In addition to corporate and commercial work, people came in off the street to ask them to write a book.
Graeme recalled the time a salmon fish-seller came in and boasted "I've got an idea for the best story ever told!" But when asked, he wouldn't divulge his idea until after another two visits. Kevin Heaney then outlined the plot to Graeme chapter by chapter, and the final result was the Adelaide Arts Festival Award winning book 'The Playmakers', based on the premise that William Shakespeare was a fraud.
Joan Child, Australia's first female Federal Member of Parliament and first female Speaker of the House, was another unexpected visitor to The Wordsmith Shop. Elsie and Joan's deep friendship culminated in Graeme publishing Joan's biography 'Child of Labor'.
Tony Larkin visited The Wordsmith Shop with his insider's view of tycoon Christopher Skase's life in self-exile that became the book 'Skase, Spain and Me'.
Hinkler Books commissioned Graeme and Elsie to write joke books, beginning with 'Fishing Jokes', followed by 'Adults Only Joke Book' that topped best seller lists. A suite of 'niche' joke books followed.
Graeme's understanding of the publishing game led him to decide to set a price payable upon manuscript presentation was preferable to claiming copyright.
Graeme's 'The Limerick Book' traced limericks from their Edward Lear origins through risqué Victorian times and World War Two, to modern limericks about Shane Warne, Serena and Venus Williams, and the 2003-4 invasion of Iraq.
Elsie's first book captured five generations of her family’s stories about living in Lakes Entrance in 'Our Little Town'. For her book 'Ma's Garden' she researched Graeme's grandmother's settlement in Trafalgar, Gippsland in 1902, where Graeme's grandfather also started a newspaper.
In response to an audience question, Elsie recommended tape-recording the reminiscences of family seniors before their stories are lost forever.
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| Presenting "Lover, Husband, Father, Monster" to Mentone Public Library Christmas time 2011 |
As co-authors, Graeme and Elsie wrote the novel 'Lover Husband Father Monster'.
After many reader's requests for a sequel they produced the follow-up novel 'The Aftermath'.
Graeme finished the show with his humorous poetic diatribe on 'helicopter parenting'.
For further information about Graeme and Elsie Johnstone and their literary treasure trove,
visit:
OR
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