In-conversation with Simon Rowe, Sunday, April 14, 2024 — 3pm – 5pm
(Room for up to 10 people in David Duff’s house/library)
Simon Rowe grew up in small town New Zealand and big city Australia when orange Fanta came in glass bottles and AM radio was king. Based in Himeji city, Hyogo, he has been penning travel stories, screenplays, blog posts, short and long fiction for well over two decades. His writing has appeared in TIME (Asia), the New York Times, The Paris Review, CNN Traveller, South China Morning Post, and The Australian. His short fiction includes Good Night Papa: Short Stories from Japan and Elsewhere, as well as the 2021 Best Indie Book Award winner, Pearl City: Stories from Japan and Elsewhere. His newest work, Mami Suzuki: Private Eye (Penguin, 2023), follows the adventures of a Kobe single mother private detective across western Japan.
Simon will cover:
- Travel writing: the early days
- Self-publishing short fiction: writing processes, crowdfunding and marketing
- Pitching a proposal to Penguin Random House
- Signing with a literary agent
- Working with PRH: publisher vs author roles (blurb hunting, social media etc.)
- Surviving four literary festivals and a book tour of India
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Participants: 8 persons, WiK members only (plus Simon Rowe, David Duff and John D)
Registration: A link to the registration form will be provided to WiK members by email.
Place: David’s house is located north of Shimogamo Shrine just off Shimogamo Hondori, near the Ippon Matsu bus stop. See directions below.
From Demachiyanagi walk across Shimogamo Shrine and proceed north along Shimogamo Hondori to the last traffic signal before Kita-oji. Turn right and walk less than five minutes to a bridge over a small stream running towards the shrine. The house is first on the left. (Any problems on the day, ring 080 4028 3158.)
