Elizabeth Flann Triumphs Over the Barks of Nay-Sayers: Zooming in on a Prize-Winning Survivalist's Self-Belief - 11am, Saturday, 16 October 2021
Zoom Review
Zooming
with
in a Cave of Can-Doers
REVIEW PART ONE
by
 |
| https://www.facebook.com/daviesnathanielj |
Julia welcomed participants in a dramatic voice with
“Survivalists and festive friends…
you have found shelter and safety in the
Mentone Public Library Zoom Cave…”
Julia gave instructions for the Zoom Cave,
gasping for breath and engaging the audience
in a virtual caving experience within the world’s
largest cave:
Son Doong in Vietnam from the
National Geographic website.
It was great to see respect paid
to our Indigenous peoples
by both our Zoom host and
It sparked curiosity further to hear
say Elizabeth Flann’s
“Beware of Dogs”
won the Banjo Prize for Fiction in 2019.
Mayor Cr Steve Staikos said the aspect
that captured him about Elizabeth’s book most
was how real it was,
being set in the remote parts of
Victoria and Melbourne.
He said it was a page turner
which he could not put down.
By now the audience were hooked
and waiting to hear
what Elizabeth had to say.
As a writer, Elizabeth Flann’s challenges
in her introduction were relatable:
not being able to speak from memory,
having difficulty fitting fiction writing
into her heavy workload and family life
during her working years.
On retirement, Elizabeth's goal
was to recommence writing fiction.
“Naysayers said it’s too late, you’re too old.
You’ll never get there… But don’t listen to the naysayers.
If you have a dream for retirement - to write, paint,
to create the perfect rose, to build a fabulous pergola
or simply to wind down and smell the roses, do it.
Don’t listen to everybody who says not to.
That is what retirement is for.
So I recommend go for it! You won’t regret it.”
During the COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne,
Elizabeth struggled with not being able
to meet her readers in person,
but we could sense from her tone of voice
that she was grateful to be able to use Zoom.
She was keen for the audience
to hear a slightly altered version of
the first chapter of her book -
cheekily admitting not wanting
to reveal too much before
we got a chance to read it ourselves.
Elizabeth’s lovely daughter, Christina,
narrated chapter one, effortlessly projecting
the emotions of the main character, Alix Verhoeven.
We could really feel Alix’s every feeling.
The suspense woven into her narrative delivery
made the audience want to know what was coming next.
So we could get more depth
into the background of her book,
Elizabeth read out a few
Frequently Asked Questions.
Where did the idea for the story come from?
It was interesting to learn the idea emerged
from a recurring dream of Elizabeth’s
transporting her inside a cave and quest for survival.
She would record details upon waking up each time.
The dream went on for two weeks.
What research did she undertake?
Elizabeth was thorough;
intricately researching the flora and fauna
of the cave concealing her lead character,
and what would be required to survive
such harsh terrain with minimal supplies.
She was surprised to learn
that people who were experienced adventurers
didn’t necessarily survive very long,
while others less experienced
did manage to survive.
I was stumped when Elizabeth revealed
that several publishers told her
there was no market for
the female adventure genre.
Elizabeth didn’t give up despite this.
Six months later,
she completed what would become
her award-winning debut novel.
The key element and through-line being
this author’s determination;
which Elizabeth proved she had in spades
when it came to writing and realising her story.
We couldn't help but applaud.
REVIEW PART THREE
by
Sharni Brazier
 |
| (c) Mrs Book Reviews January 2021 |
I think we can all agree
that Elizabeth’s story wonderfully exemplifies
curiosity and creativity in a reader...
metamorphosing them into a writer.
A great story doesn’t end at the last page...
It carries on in the reader’s mind long after,
forming a new narrative and desire
for more exploration and discovery...
especially when an epilogue is as gripping as
Beware of Dogs' .
In the case of our author,
Elizabeth interviewed several geologists
as part of her meticulous research.
 |
| (c) Elizabeth Flann 1983 |
One thing that geologists and authors
seem to have in common
is their commitment to writing
all their acute observations
and field work (or dreams!)
down in detail,
as observations of the world
to reflect and expand upon later.
Both the author and City of Kingston’s
Acting Community Facilities
& Partnerships Officer
Shauna Rochford recommended
Melbourne's Carrum Indigenous Nursery
as a native flora and fauna
point of discovery and inspiration.
To paraphrase
Mayor Cr Steve Staikos
of Bunjil Ward:
“It’s wonderful to see the genre of
‘female adventure’
proving so popular and engaging.
However,
the gender of our protagonist
really shouldn’t matter
– adventure is adventure!”
So, continue having inquiring
and intrepid minds, dear readers.
Seek your own adventures.
Traverse our terrifying yet
simultaneously nurturing
Mother Earth –
in landscape, literary form...
and otherwise!
Take a leaf from the book of our Zoom heroine,
Elizabeth Flann, and realise your dreams.
The Adventure Continues!
Explore:
The Websites of Elizabeth Flann
Including:
Beaumaris Books & Harper Collins Australia
The World of Elizabeth's Works
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