Peril’s launch was at the Sydney Writers Festival. Annette Shun Wah said some very kind things about Peril, how it was coherent and intelligent and easily accessible to all. Tiffany Loh and Komi Sellathurai read their respeective p[ieces from Peril Issue 7 and were warmly received.

The “Love, Pity, Honour, Compassion and Sacrifice” panel was very interesting. Chi Vu opened with her thoughts about the 1.5 generation of Vietnamese-Australians as translators or traitors. She talked about how they could draw from both Vietnamese and Australian worlds and audiences. Nathalie Nguyen had the most interesting talk she talked about the 2nd generation (of which I am one) having post memories- that are passed down by parents of Vietnam. Having been back to Vietnam I now have my own memories, but certainly until 1997 I only had the post memories of my parents to draw on.  Khoa Do talked about Missing Water his new film.

I met up with Stephen Conte who won the Prime Ministers Prize last year and $100,000. He is very modest and down to earth- after having experiences such as only having two people come to his book signing. We talked abouit our techniques for writing novels- writing very fast and then having to revisit and put stuffing and lyricism into our respective works. As I go along I’m realising that maybe although this does not resemble any technique or process I’ve been taught- it is still my process and a valid one.