To Animated Gif of Scintillae 2012 launch at the Bendigo Writers Festival.  

*Scintillae 2012  was launched at the Bendigo Writers Festival (10th - 12th August) on the Saturday afternoon (4.30-6pm) in the Banquet Room/main festival hub to a large and good-humoured crowd. Australian novelist John Charalambous, launched the book following a brief introductory speech by Ian Irvine (of the editing team). John argued that the anthology was 'outward looking', 'international in scope' and full of quality pieces by dozens of writers, poets and creative thinkers who are 'at the height of their powers'. 

Six contributors then performed poems and a story from the anthology - including Tru Dowling (who performed a poem by Lorraine Marwood), David L. Major, Miranda Aitken, Cassy Nunan, Sandra Pashkow and John Holton. Many pieces in the anthology have featured in prestigious Australian and international literary journals and newspapers (including Best Australian Poems and Best Australian Short Stories), others have won major competitions including the Bruce Dawe Prize for poetry and the Melbourne Poets Union annual poetry prize.   

FULL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS:

Miranda Aitken, Jess Anastasi, Jan Bayliss, Julia Birch, Rod Blackhirst, Graham Borrell, Neil Boyack, G.N. Braun, Leslie Burston, Warren Burt, Shelly Carter, John Charalambous, Brian Coman, Madeline Cooke, Justin D'Ath, Dianne Dempsey, Ross Donlon, Tru Dowling, Christopher Elston, Clayton Eshleman, Tegan Gigante, Sue Gillett, Pam Harvey, John Holton, Simmone Howell, Ian Irvine (Hobson), Ben Iser, Lisa A. Jacobson, Melinda Kallasmae, Sue King-Smith, Chris Lambie, Natalie Loves, Joan Macneil, Judith McNay, David L. Major, Lorraine Marwood, Jennifer Mellberg, Lauren Mitchell, Graeme Murray, Cassy Nunan, B.N. Oakman, Harry Oldmeadow, Sandra Pashkow, Mary Pomfret, Penelope Sell, Brenda Skinner, Mark Smith-Briggs, John Snowdon, R.I. Sutton, Roger Sworder, Carmel Williams, Rosemary Sorensen, Tom McWilliam and Peter Wiseman.

MEDIA COVERAGE - Reviews, launch coverage, cover posters, etc.

See Bendigo Weekly Bookclub review (Friday Aug. 24th 2012, copyright Bendigo Weekly - also online version).  That review stated 'This lovely smorgasbord of creative writing is of a high quality, confident and engaging' similarly: 'A fine collection, a worthy celebration of what has been, and continues to be, achieved by central Victorian writers.' The anthology also featured in The Bendigo Advertiser (Saturday Aug. 4th) in an article by Lauren Mitchell entitled 'Strength in Writers' (p.10 of the Weekender section, copyright Lauren Mitchell/ Bendigo Advertiser, 2012). On Tuesday, August 14th The Bendigo Advertiser again discussed the anthology in John Holton's festival wrap up where he wrote: 'Scintillae 2012 is a milestone for the arts in Bendigo. ... A world class publication.'  Earlier the Bendigo Weekly featured an article on the anthology entitled 'Anthology for Bendigo' by Rosemary Sorensen [Or go to pg 2 of the full online edition, Friday 20/7/2012: 'online: 'Anthology for Bendigo']. See also images of the cover - designed by Peter Wiseman: Scintillae 2012 front cover, 'Scintillae 2012 book display' and 'Wall to Wall Scintillae 2012'. See also Collins Booksellers streetside display and Peter Wiseman's image of Scintillae 2012 as well as a slightly reworked cover for an advertising poster displayed by Collins Booksellers and other bookshops selling the book.  
Other media re: Scintillae: Mark Smith.

THE PUBLISHING TEAM

There were close to 200 submissions to consider  - many of  a very high standard indeed - and Scintillae 2012 was co-edited by Ian irvine, Tru Dowling ('The Purple Poet'), Tom McWilliam and Peter Wiseman (also the designer).  A dozen 'Advanced Editing' students in the Diploma of Professional Writing at Bendigo TAFE also worked on the publication.  [NB: Scintillae 2012 (anthology and launch) was sponsored by Bendigo TAFE and its Professional Writing and Editing team]. 

The base image used in the cover is a digital collage entitled 'Visions of the Multiverse' designed by Peter Wiseman. Peter, in discussing this complex multilayered image, writes: "The cover is a complicated series of graphics overlayed with alchemy symbols from Isaac Newton's time combined with the 21st century 'alchemy' of string and particle theory physics."

In short a marvelous meditation on the many historic meaning layers associated with the term 'scintillae'.