Join us at @madpoetnewcastle Thurs 26 March for a night of new poetry at the very first pre-launch reading of Elizabeth Walton’s @elizabethwalton.au debut short collection, How To Read A City, Your Place of Last Resort, which will be published by 5 Islands Press @5islandspress in 2026. Elizabeth Walton is a writer and musician who has been shortlisted in many literary prizes. This new work asks where to find hope while living through the challenges of climate change. It is a collaboration with Richard Lawson @richardlawsonmusic – a triple ARIA-nominated punk rock drummer who was the first drummer to appear on ABC’s Rage, performing with the Lime Spiders. His song cycle for string quartet, How To Read A City, Your Place of Last Resort, performed by Acacia Quartet, was included in the ABC Limelight Australian Art Music playlist in 2025. Elizabeth’s poetry reading with Acacia at the world premiere is featured on the cover of her new book. Elizabeth will be appearing at Newcastle Writers Festival with the Macquarie/Westwords project, Nurejev’s Foot. @westwords_books
Joining us at Mad Poet, Newcastle will be two very special guests, Susan Francis and Jodi Vial. @susanfranciswriter@jodi_vial_writer
Susan Francis is a writer of short fiction, long fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Her most recent work is the novel, Revelation Beach, which at its centre tells the story of the Balibo Five, and will be featured at Newcastle Writers Festival. Susan lives and works on the land of the Awabakal people.
Dr Jodi Vial writes across the forms of poetry, short fiction and creative non-fiction, with a focus on the intersection of literature, landscape and history. She has been published by Spineless Wonders, Recent Work Press and Papatuanuku Press and her short story cycle, Lives of Girls and Women, resides in the University of Newcastle’s permanent art collection. Jodi lives and writes on the unceded lands of the Awabakal and Worimi.
More info and link to book a booth @madpoetnewcastle
Or search Elizabeth Walton .com.au Mad Poet. https://www.elizabethwalton.com.au/i/185498326/mad-poet-newcastle
Richard Lawson Music 