Tara Moss's Blog, page 4

Putting An End To The Violence, Full Stop

Today I am honoured to be announced as the Patron of the Full Stop Foundation for ending domestic and sexual violence, Full Stop. I’dlike to thank Dame Professor Marie Bashir, members of parliament including our host Pru Goward MP, Minister for Women, as well as members of the NSWPolice, NRL, Our Watch and key supporters of Rape & Domestic Services Australia for attending the launch atParliamentHouse today.

Below is a full transcript of my speech:

I am honoured to be here today representing the...

Where is Pandora?

Dear Pandora English fans, thank you for your patience.

Every week, sometimes even several times in a day, I am asked, ‘Where is Pandora?’ Now it’s time to let you know that we are having to find a new publisher for the Pandora English series in order to continue her story over several future books (Her story is just getting started!).I’m sorry there has not been any news yet, but we hope to have news this year. I am sorry for the delay in the release of the fourth book,The Cobra Queen,while...

2014 Wrap Up

Between parenthood,study at the University of Sydney, talks around the country and launching my tenth book, I was pretty remiss on blog updates this year. Here’s some of what I was up to:

- My most read blog this year was Manus Island – An Insider’s Report, which helped to break information to the public about the murder of Reza Barati. I owe a debt of gratitude to the brave contacts on Manus Island who risked a great deal to provide me with information for the blog and assist with other repor...

How do you talk about death with your 3-year-old?

When my daughter was one, we visited the resting place in Canada of her grandmother – my mother Janni Moss (above). She was too young to remember it or to fully understand what was happening, but it was an important day for me. My mother’s passing was the most significant turning point in my life. I was fifteen when she was sick, and sixteen when she passed away from complications from a bone marrow transplant to treat her cancer. The experience of that loss, and being witness to her fight fo...

How Do You Talk About Death With Your Child?

When my daughter was one, we visited the resting place in Canada of her grandmother – my mother Janni Moss. She was too young to remember it or to fully understand what was happening, but it was an important day for me. My mother’s passing was the most significant turning point in my life. I was fifteen when she was sick, and sixteen when she passed away from complications from a bone marrow transplant to treat her cancer. The experience of that loss, and being witness to her fight for life w...

A few words about the incident this afternoon

As some of you would now know, my afternoon took an unusual turn.

I was punched by a stranger while crossing the road alone on Market Street and Pitt Street in Sydney CBD around lunchtime, near Hyde Park. The man who attacked me appeared to be highly agitated and drug affected or mentally unwell, and the attack was brief, random and completely unexpected. I do not believe I was specifically targeted for any reason. The incident took place on a busy street in broad daylight, and was witnessed b...

The Fictional Woman launches at SWF

My first non-fiction book, The Fictional Woman, was launched last month at the Sydney Writers’ Festival. It is a book that explores dominant female archetypes, women’s representation, gender equality, and issues concerning the contemporary experiences of women and girls today, as well as the experiences of boys and men. The cover features my face, my fictions(see how we achieved the cover step by step without digital alterationhere)and as part of the book launch, guests were invited to share...

Under The Skin

My tenth book and first non-fiction,The Fictional Woman,is part memoir, part social commentary, exploring some of the issues facing women and girls within the culture I know best. In the book I analyse the stereotypes, or ‘fictions’ that define and in some cases limit women’s roles in society – The Body, The Femme Fatale, The Mother,The Crone, etc. This is not a confessional autobiography, far from it, but in order for me to authentically discuss the issues women face, I had to also write abo...

Picnic at Cathedral Rock

Cathedral Rock National Parkboasts some of the more spectacular bushwalks in NSW, and perhaps Australia. Dominated by tall, striking granite tors – many of which I found to be somewhat reminiscent of the mysterious moai of Easter Island- rising out of a scenic forest of eucalypts, Cathedral Rock Track is something every avid hiker should experience.

Getting there: Follow road signs to Cathedral Rock National Park, roughly 8kmswest of Waterfall Way in New South Wales, Australia, 70 kms east of...

The Fictional Woman Cover Shoot – Wearing Labels

Not so long ago, in a studio in Sydney, we shot the cover of my first ever non-fiction book. The experience was unexpectedly cathartic, and for the photographer, makeup artist and crew, a touch confronting, I was told.

The Fictional Woman is part memoir, part social commentary and very in keeping with my non-fiction writing of recent years. It draws on my lived experiences to enter a broader debate about the experiences of women and girls today, in the culture I know best, backed up (as always...