The inaugural Ray Mathew Lecture, which is being presented by Geraldine Brooks on Thursday, 22 October, is booked out.
But if you would really, really, really like to see Geraldine, come to our conference, Flight of the Mind: Writing and the Creative Imagination. Geraldine will be giving the opening address on Saturday, 24 October.
More information:

Dear Geraldine,
I came away with only one word in my feeling – hypnotic!
Such a rare experience, very rare. That exquisite hush that pervades the audience after a hearing a mesmerizing speaker. I’m still savoring the experience. Thank you so much for accepting the NLA’s offer to be their ignaural speaker for the Ray Matthew Lecture series. I felt like I was witnessing the writer’s equivalent of the grace of a prima ballerina. Every word woven into a thought was like a dance. Difficult subjects, for an Australian audience, were delivered with exquisite finesse. Gentle and incisive are my operative words.
Your insights into the experience of being a ‘transplant’ significantly helped bring many of my own undefined feelings of the transplant experience into perspective. I am a native New Yorker and making sense of this complicated process is anything but easy. I am impressed at your sensitive and clear insights of the complicated process of ’settling in’ to a new society. The fit is accurate and snug; even to the feelings while the plane is landing. Suddenly the lungs open and breathing is easier. This can be a surprise. We like to think we’re ‘in control’. Maybe that’s too American. Never reveal how you really feel. Anyway, you nailed it and I am grateful to hear my analyses of what I have experienced are largely the universal feelings of transplants.
Thank you again for such a wonderful lecture. There is simply no other way to put it. Much success to you. Please come back soon.
Sincerely,
Danella Mauguin
Dear Danella,
Thank you for this heartfelt response to Geraldine’s Ray Mathew Lecture, ‘The Opportunities of Distance’. It was a magical evening and I’m very glad you took the time to tell us how much you enjoyed it. I hope to have the podcast and the text of the essay available online shortly.
Kathryn