Venero (Veny) Armanno was born in Brisbane to Sicilian migrant parents. He is the author of two books of short stories and nine critically acclaimed novels.
In the 1993 Jumping at the Moon was equal runner-up, Steele Rudd Award for Best Short Story collection. My Beautiful Friend was runner-up Aurealis Best Horror Novel, 1996. Firehead was shortlisted for the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award for Best Novel in 1999 and The Volcano won that award in 2002. The Volcano was also shortlisted for the Courier Mail Best Book of the Year. Veny’s last novel Black Mountain (2012) received wide critical acclaim.
In 2016 he published his second collection of short stories, Travel Under Any Star, and in September this year his latest book Burning Down will be released.
His novels have been published in USA, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Israel and South Korea.
Veny is also a trained screenwriter and teaches creative writing at University of Queensland.
1. Have you been to the Sandcliffe Festival Before?
No, this is my first time.
2. What are you looking forward to and how did you become involved in it this year?
I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s all about and meeting readers and book lovers. It’s always good to (eventually) get away from the desk and actually see and hear what people think about literature in the real world.
3. What is the main focus of what you will be speaking about at the festival (a short sneak peek)
We’re talking about issues of belonging and migration, I think – things I seem to have been writing about for decades. A lot of the discussion will depend on where the questions and conversations take us, but I’m sure Melissa will speak about indigineity, and I’ll be able to speak about European migration to Australia and the establishment of new homes and lives. We’re looking at this through the idea of being (or not being) an outsider.
4. If you could choose to be a favourite literary character, who would you be and why?
Is Batman a literary character? I’d love to be a do-gooder, but not in tights etc. Maybe James Bond, that’d be cool. Except I’m Italian so it doesn’t seem quite right. If I really had to pick, it would be someone like Cesar Castilo from The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love – a Cuban-American migrant who comes to America with big dreams. He is/was a great (fictional) musician, lover, drinker…
To find out more about Veny Armanno
First Sandcliffe event. ‘Insights of an Outsider’
Sunday 23rd April,
11am – 12pm
Brisbane Square Library, 266 George St. Brisbane
Panel Session: Featuring Melissa Lucashenko, Veny Armanno and Lauren Daniels
Organised by Society of Women Writers QLD and funded by Lord Mayor’s Writers in Residence program.
Free entry, but library would appreciate bookings so they have some idea of numbers. Please ph: library on 3403 4166.
Dymocks Books will be there selling author’s works
For more information on the festival visit FACEBOOK
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