ESAW news and reviews

Fences Fall – Songs from the Lyrics of Michael O’Leary

‘Fences Fall – Songs from the Lyrics of Michael O’Leary’ which was released last month and has had two launches in Auckland and Paekakariki, with one planned for Dunedin early in 2012. Below are some initial responses to the album.

After four decades of friendship, I thought Michael O’Leary had exhausted his capacity to surprise me. But Fences Fall is wonderful in ways I didn’t expect. It’s not just that the poignancy of Michael’s lyrics words strikes me afresh when heard from a range of fine voices, the album really works in musical as well as literary terms. O'Leary backed with cello and sousaphone. Who would have thought that would work? But it’s magic! – Iain Sharp

masterful, brilliant! – Peter Olds

Stunning tracks energised by O’Leary’s great lines. Take it neat or take it on the road – Michael Gifkins

If this is of interest you can also look at my blog http://pukapukabooks.blogspot.com or my website http://michaeloleary.wordpress.com It is available from www.amphlifier.co.nz or direct from me for $30 (incl postage) at

Michael O’Leary
PO Box 42
Paekakariki 5034

Portals has a successful launch

Portals by Robin Fry was launched at the Lower Hutt Memorial Library on Sunday October 30th 2011. See the Portals Web Page for details of the book and Jo Thorpe's introduction.

The Author reports: 'The launch yesterday afternoon was a great success. Jo Thorpe gave such a wonderful launch speech that I hardly recognised myself! Philip Casey, the librarian, was a great help as was my daughter Susan and her boys Thomas & Sam. I think Michael thoroughly enjoyed it as I did and I think most other people. Not everyone I invited was able to come but there must have been about 50 of us there including three girls from St Brendan's School in Heretaunga who charmingly passed plates of food around among the guests. There was plenty of food, wine and orange juice and we had very encouraging book sales. It was nice to see Michael and Mark Pirie at the launch, who took the money for the sales and also Lewis Scott, Rachel McAlpine and Stephanie de Montalk, who was well enough to come with her husband John Miller. Really I couldn't have asked for a better launch for "Portals" and feel very lucky for the way this book has gone right from the start.'

Michael O'Leary is now to be known as Doctor O'Leary having had a a doctorate conferred on him. His thesis entitled THE STATUS OF WOMEN WRITERS IN NEW ZEALAND 1945-1970 is likely to be published.