The Writer’s Banquet: The Writer’s Kitchen
Hosted by Radio National’s Ramona Koval and the first in The Book Show’s series of The Writer’s Banquet sessions, The Writer’s Kitchen traces the links between writers, writing and food.
Toni Jordan, Morris Gleitzman and Andrea Goldsmith, three writers not self-evidently of a culinary persuasion, explore their own connection with food and cooking, reflecting on what tickles their tastebuds and uncovering the key ingredients that make it easy to eat their words.
Gleitzman comes dangerously (and hilariously) close to admitting that his key ingredients are cats and dogs, though he insists his resistance to following recipes clears him of that particular suggestion. Meanwhile, it’s the lure of a secret lover which makes Goldsmith’s mother late for dinner, while Jordan’s father is similarly late to dine — for reasons not dissimilar.
Elsewhere, the writers share the books and hand-me-down recipes that have guided them in the kitchen as well as the snacks that refresh them at (or away from) the writing desk. And they ponder the relationships between food, eating, reading and writing.
Who?
Andrea Goldsmith
Andrea Goldsmith originally trained as a speech pathologist and was a pioneer in the development of communication aids for people unable to speak. Her first novel, Gracious Living, was published in 1989. This was followed by Modern Interiors, Facing the Music, Under the Knife, and The Prosperous Thief, which was short-listed for the 2003 Miles Franklin Literary Award. Reunion was published in 2009, and The Memory Trap was awarded the 2015 Melbourne Prize.
Ramona Koval
Ramona Koval is a writer, journalist, broadcaster and editor. She is an Honorary Fellow at the centre for Advancing Journalism, University of Melbourne.
Toni Jordan
Toni Jordan is the author of five novels. The international bestseller Addition was a Richard and Judy Bookclub pick and was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award. Fall Girl was published internationally and has been optioned for film, and Nine Days was awarded Best Fiction at the Indie Awards, was shortlisted for the ABIA Best General Fiction award, and was named in Kirkus Review’s top 10 Historical Novels of 2013. Our Tiny, Useless Hearts was shortlisted for the Voss Literary Prize 2017 and longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award 2018. Toni’s latest book is the literary mystery The Fragments. She lives in Melbourne.
Morris Gleitzman
Morris Gleitzman is a bestselling Australian children’s author. His books explore serious and sometimes confronting subjects in humorous and unexpected ways. His titles include Two Weeks With The Queen, Grace, Doubting Thomas, Bumface, Give Peas A Chance, Extra Time, Loyal Creatures and the series Once, Then, Now, After and Soon.
