T is for Thea Astley: Our Literary Grannies from A to Z

Thea Astley: Trailblazing Literary Granny

I arrived back in Bakersfield from my trip to New England less than eight hours ago. The first thing I did upon getting to the keyboard was look to see who was scheduled to be featured today for Literary Grannies.

 

I giggled when I discovered Thea Astley is included is on the Albert Street literary trail in Brisbane. Yesterday, before I left the Western Massachusetts Pioneer Valley I insisted – to myself alone – that I not leave without visiting the Robert Frost trail, a goal I have had for at least three years. It is fitting the first writer I “assigned” myself before I left was a trailblazing woman from Australia.

Thea broke barriers for women writers in Australia. She was told she was “too old” to start a career in journalism by the Brisbane Telegraph after graduating from college in the mid-1950’s. Soon after, she sold her first poem for $3 when the going rate was $5 for male poets.

She quickly devoted herself to writing fiction. She became one of Australia’s most award winning writers, inspiring other women to follow the path she created. She wrote sixteen novels and many short stories. In 1994 she declared herself “done” with writing in a most colorful – and fitting – way when she said “My writing hairs have worn off with age, like the hairs on your legs.”

I love Thea's smouldering look and her fashion choice - paisley love!

Thea was a teacher and a mother as well as a writer, and unfortunately many of her novels did not sell very well, perhaps because of her biting writing tone and her harsh opinions about life in the small towns which were the settings for most of her novels.

 

Smart, colorful, funny, eccentric and most of all courageous – Thea Astley fits the Literary Granny mold well, complete with her weaknesses and shortcomings.

I can’t even tell you how great it is to be back here at the page.

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Tomorrow’s Literary Granny: Ursula Leguin

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This post is a part of my series Our Literary Grannies from A t0 Z which was inspired by the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Find out more about the Challenge by clicking here.

 

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Julie Jordan Scott is available to speak to your group (or in your teleconference) about the creative process, writing and will create a session individually according to your wants and needs. Contact her at 661.444.2735 for more information.