poetry slam – samanthaturnbull.com.au

The non-hipster-mum-on-a-budget guide to Byron Bay

I’ve lived in ‘the Bay’ for about 15 years. That means I’m nowhere close to being a local… never really will be, but my kids are born and bred (they’ll just have to cop their mum being called a ‘blow-in’ – yawn).

I love it here, but have to deal with almost daily slandering of the place from colleagues and family who live in surrounding towns.

One relo called it ‘Nimbin by the sea’ at Christmas lunch… but I wasn’t sure if he meant it as a criticism or compliment, because the dude was actually from Nimbin himself.

I get why some people loathe it – it’s expensive, it’s busy, it’s a bit of a scene… but it’s not all of those things all of the time.Read More

Slam update

‘Real men don’t hit women… unless…’

So, those were my first words at this year’s NSW finals of the Australian Poetry Slam.Read More

Poetry slam NSW finals – take two

This will be my last blog for a fortnight or so as I knuckle down to write a new poem.

I travelled four hours south to Kempsey last week for the local heat of the Australian Poetry Slam. I couldn’t go in the heat at Byron Bay because I was the feature act after winning last year… and I wasn’t entirely sure I was up for making the effort to head to the mid north coast… but now I’m glad I did.Read More