Talkings, readings, signings

The Out of Shape publicity train is still chugging away on its journey to MOAR SAELZ. Here are some upcoming events I'm involved in:

Next Wednesday, 3 July, I'll be roaming around the bookstores of Melbourne with Affirm Press's sales and marketing manager, signing copies of my book. Starting in the city at 9:30am, here are the stores we hope to visit:

Hill of Content Bookshop, 86 Bourke St Melbourne
Embiggen Books, 197-203 Lt Lonsdale St Melbourne
Reader’s Feast, 162 Collins St Melbourne
Dymocks, 234 Collins St Melbourne
Thesaurus Books, 29 Church St Brighton
Avenue Bookstore, 127 Dundas Place Albert Park
Readings, 112 Acland St, St Kilda
Coventry Bookstore, 265 Coventry St South Melbourne
Dymocks, The Well Shopping Centre, 793 Burke Rd Camberwell
Readings, 701 Glenferrie Rd Hawthorn
Readings, 309 Lygon St Carlton

These aren't public appearances as such, but feel free to pop past and pick up a signed copy, or if you catch me, say hello! I will be wearing the bright yellow skirt I write about buying from Savers in the book. I will probably also have a coffee in one hand and an ice pack wrapped around the other.

Next Thursday, 4 July, I'll be appearing at ACMI's "Life Is A Cabaret" event, associated with the Hollywood Costume exhibition. Hosted by Kip from Joy FM’s Cabaret Room, it'll also include the director of the Melbourne Cabaret Festival (which kicks off today) speaking on the history of cabaret in Melbourne, a performance of Liza Minnelli songs, and Clementine Ford doing a dramatic reading. I'll be talking about the costumes from the film Cabaret, and Weimar fashion more generally. It starts at 6pm and it's free!



Sunday 7 July is Wizard of Oz Day at ACMI and I'll be giving a talk about the costume designer, Adrian, who was one of Hollywood's most legendary designers. I will try to avoid shouting "ADRIAAAAAAN!" in a Sylvester Stallone voice but I'm not sure if I will succeed. I'll give you some background on his Wizard of Oz costumes in particular, and how they create character and drive the narrative in the film.

On Wednesday 17 July, I'll be doing a reading and book signing as part of the City of Melbourne's Look Stop Shop cultural program, themed 'Hot Stuff'. The fashion boutiques of Curtin House will be open late, and I'll be appearing at Metropolis Bookshop, the excellent art, design and pop culture specialist booksellers on level 3. I'll be reading from the book, so if you missed my Dog's Tales or Wheeler Centre readings, please come along. And if you'd like your copy inscribed, I'll be signing copies too.



And on Thursday 18 July, I'll be repeating my Elizabeth Taylor talk at ACMI. This is richly illustrated with pics of Liz's film costumes (especially Cleopatra), her wedding dresses, her groovy outfits from what I refer to as "the Yachting Years" and, most fabulously, her jewels! It went down quite well the first time and I surprised myself by how much information about Liz's life and style I had accumulated while researching.