Marieke Hardy

Michaela McGuire

cathartic confessions, passionate declarations and vivid recollections from women of letters

Yours truly

Reviving the Lost Art of Correspondence

Women of Letters

Women of Letters have conquered the world with their passion for correspondence. Taking their literary salons on a global tour, they've collected an astounding and sweeping array of contributions from some of the world's brightest talents. From Ubud, award-winning author Lionel Shriver writes with unexpected nostalgia about her days as an unknown novelist. Musician Moby pays tribute from Los Angeles to his favourite David Bowie song, even while acknowledging the frustration of feeling like he'll never live up to it. Writer, actor and Rookie Magazine founder Tavi Gevinson sends a dispatch from Chicago about the importance of getting stuff done instead of waiting for inspiration to hit. And much-loved and bestselling novelist Monica McInerney posts a note from Dublin about how sometimes the things that don't happen to us can affect us as strongly as the things that do. Containing two years of missives from live events held in Indonesia, the USA, the UK and Ireland, Airmail is the first international anthology in the Women of Letters series. All royalties for this book will go to Edgar's Mission animal rescue shelter. 'There is so much wisdom, knowledge and history contained within the pages of this book . . . Possibly the most significant lesson to be learnt from Airmail is that each passer-by has a life as vivid and as complex as our own.' Canberra Times

Airmail: Women of Letters

When Michaela McGuire was hired by a federal MP eight months before the 2007 election, she didn't know exactly what to expect. She probably should have, because before that she had worked in the highrollers' room of a casino and had overseen lap dances in a strip club. It would become another novelty job to add to her brief but colourful r�sum�. Michaela has advised a Liberal MP to campaign for his seat rather than get a haircut, cleaned ashtrays and helped organise a senior partner's stamp collection at a prestigious law firm. Whatever the contributing factors to her brilliant career, foresight was not one of them.

Stories of career sabotage

Apply Within

Writing a letter can be an act of confession or celebration, while receiving one can bring joy, insight and vivid memories. Ambassadors for correspondence Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire have lured some of our best and brightest to the literary afternoons of Women of Letters to write and read missives of all kinds.

Words of Wit and Wisdom from Women of Letters

Between Us

Dear Madonna, Thank you for showing me that it is okay to be both a devoted mother and on a podium drenched in glitter. Love, Em Rusciano Dear Mum, My life is so much more fortunate than yours was and I'm sorry if my unplanned arrival was a part of that. Love, Anthony Albanese Dear Leigh Sales, What kind of psychopath is unmoved by fairy wrens? Love, Annabel Crabb The beautiful art of letter writing is still the best way to connect, to express a thought or a feeling. In this all-new anthology, Australia's queens of correspondence Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire have engaged our finest, sharpest minds to pen missives of courage and humour and wisdom. Collected from the hugely popular live Women of Letters salons, Signed, Sealed, Delivered gives an entertaining and heartfelt insight into some of our brightest Australian stars. All royalties for this book will go to Edgar's Mission animal rescue shelter.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Women of Letters

With sold-out live events around the country and a bestselling book, Women of Letters have revived the gentle art of letter writing. In this all-new collection of missives, a dazzling array of noteworthy Australians share their wisdom, wit and wildest dreams. Here Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire have preserved a year of captivating correspondence. The irresistible line-up features Kate Miller-Heidke writing 'A love letter' to her twelve-year-old self; Di Morrissey recounting a dramatic encounter with a brood of chooks and a wily fox in a letter 'To a little white lie'; and Ita Buttrose imagining an alternative life as an opera singer as she writes 'To the life I could have lived'. A wide range of gentlemen friends have been welcomed into the fold as well, with correspondents including Shaun Micallef, Julian Burnside, Hamish Blake and David Williamson all penning letters 'To the woman who changed my life'. This funny, touching and charming collection is a delightful presentation of Australian talent from all walks of life. All royalties for this book will go to Edgar's Mission animal rescue shelter. 'The individual voices of the authors shine through, sometimes lighthearted and whimsical, sometimes poignant and nostalgic. Sincerely is a potent tribute to an art that is shown to be not only a lot of fun but also very much alive.' Courier Mail 'It's rare to read a book in which barely a page feels wasted, but Sincerely is such a book.' Big Issue

Sincerely: Women of Letters

What dark gastronomic slip does Annabel Crabb have to confess to an unsuspecting guest? How did Mary Anderson change the life of Frank Woodley – despite the fact the two of them have never met? How did a plate of steak teach Missy Higgins a firm lesson about not being too hard on herself? The act of letter writing allows us to slow down and truly connect, with a person, a subject, an idea. At their hugely popular Women of Letters events, Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire encourage and allow our best and brightest to lay bare their sins and secrets, loves and loathings, memories and plans. Collected here for the first time, these dispatches from Australia's favourite people are warm, wonderful and astoundingly honest. Praise for the Women of Letters series: 'Women of Letters offers a joyous bounty of many voices, writing styles, laughs and regrets. Having read this book, I feel as though I know humans and their various conditions much better.' Weekend Australian 'Gives readers an intimate look into the hearts of some of Australia's finest literary, political and theatrical figures.' Daily Telegraph 'Readers of all ages will get a glimpse of themselves in this surprising, thoughtful, funny and inspiring book, which deserves to find a place in everyone's home.' Bookseller + Publisher All royalties for the book will go to Edgar's Mission animal rescue shelter.

Yours Truly: Women of Letters

On a Sunday evening in July 2011, 40-year-old Anthony Dunning was pinned to the floor of Melbourne's Crown casino by security staff. Four days later, he died in the intensive care unit of the Alfred Hospital. The incident was reported to the police by two friends who were with Dunning on the night--not by Crown casino. Later that week, a spokesperson for the police said that even though Crown had no legal requirement to report such incidents, 'they probably had a moral obligation' to do so. Crown casino said that its employees were just doing their job. Three months later, a young security guard was charged with manslaughter. Michaela McGuire follows the trial, trying to make sense of the gap between ethics and the law. She speaks to problem gamblers and psychologists, a casino priest and David Walsh, Australia's most notorious gambler. Last Bets is true crime writing at its best--disturbing, gripping, and unnerving. A must-read for gamblers, the gambling industry, law makers and everyone who cares.

A True Story of Gambling, Morality and the Law

Last Bets

Hardy Marieke and McGuire Michaela

Women of Letters have conquered the world with their passion for correspondence. Taking their literary salons on a global tour, they've collected an astounding and sweeping array of contributions from some of the world's brightest talents. From Ubud, award-winning author Lionel Shriver writes with unexpected nostalgia about her days as an unknown novelist. Musician Moby pays tribute from Los Angeles to his favourite David Bowie song, even while acknowledging the frustration of feeling like he'll never live up to it. Writer, actor and Rookie Magazine founder Tavi Gevinson sends a dispatch from Chicago about the importance of getting stuff done instead of waiting for inspiration to hit. And much-loved and bestselling novelist Monica McInerney posts a note from Dublin about how sometimes the things that don't happen to us can affect us as strongly as the things that do. Containing two years of missives from live events held in Indonesia, the USA, the UK and Ireland, Airmail is the first international anthology in the Women of Letters series. All royalties for this book will go to Edgar's Mission animal rescue shelter.

Taking 'Women of Letters' to the World

Airmail

In a world of the short and swift, of texts and Twitter, there's something of special value about a carefully composed letter. In homage to this most civilised of activities, Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire created the literary afternoons of Women of Letters. Some of Australia's finest dames of stage, screen and page have delivered missives on a series of themes, collected here for the first time. Claudia Karvan sends 'A love letter' to love itself, Helen Garner contacts ghosts of her past in 'The letter I wish I'd written', Noni Hazlehurst dispatches a stinging rebuke 'To my first boss', and Megan Washington pays tribute to her city and community as she writes 'To the best present I ever received'. And some gentlemen correspondents - including Paul Kelly, Eddie Perfect and Bob Ellis - have been invited to put pen to paper in a letter 'To the woman who changed my life'. By turns hilarious, moving and outrageous, this is a diverse and captivating tribute to the art of letter writing. All royalties for this book will go to Edgar's Mission animal rescue shelter.

Michaela McGuire

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