As I mentioned in a recent Blog (2025-11: Writing Tips from a Hairy Man) over the years I’ve recorded quite a few videos for schools, organisations, festivals, conferences and individuals.

In these videos I’ve covered topics such as: my writing career, the writing process and various aspects of particular books of mine. I’ve also responded to specific questions sent by teachers and students.

Rather than have all these videos just sit around on my computer, I decided to share some of the ‘better ones’ (very subjective description). The first couple were posted on that previous Blog.

But wait, there’s MORE!

Below is a video that I recorded for a conference. It contains a reading from the second Ishmael book Ishmael and the Return of the Dugongs.

(And just a TIMELY REMINDER – All the three Ishmael books have been recently reprinted so why not update all your old editions or grab the sequels while stocks last – if you’ve been foolish enough not to have read them yet. They’re AUSTRALIAN CLASSICS and they have STICKERS!)

In the scene I read the character of Orazio (Razz) Zorzotto has written a love sonnet that he wants Ishmael to use to win over the girl-of-Ishmael’s-dreams, Kelly Faulkner.

Sadly, when Razz reads his ‘wicked’ poem to Ishmael and the rest of the debating team – James Scobie, Ignatius Prindabel and Bill Kingsley – he doesn’t quite get the reaction that he expects, especially from Ignatius Prindabel.

I feel Razz’s pain! But as any author will attest, you can’t please all the people all the time.

Razz would probably do well to take on board the advice in the following quote. It’s attributed to John Steinbeck.

Unless a reviewer has the courage to give you unqualified praise, I say ignore the bastard.

Cheers
Michael