Les Wicks (born 15 June 1955) is an
Australian
Australian(s) may refer to:
Australia
* Australia, a country
* Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia
** European Australians
** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists
** Aboriginal A ...
poet
A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems ( oral or wri ...
,
publisher
Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed works, such as books, newsp ...
and
editor. He has a long list of achievements in writing, publishing and broadcasting. This includes the publication of fifteen books of poetry.
Early life and education
Wicks grew up in western suburbs Sydney. He studied for a Bachelor of Arts in History at
Macquarie University and worked at a variety of unskilled and semi-skilled jobs while living in Sydney and London.
In the late 1970s, he established Meuse publications (with Bill Farrow) which mixed text and graphics. He helped set up the
Poets Union in NSW. From the 1980s, he worked as a union industrial advocate for several unions after obtaining a Graduate Diploma in Industrial Law from the
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's ...
.
Literary career
Les Wicks has been widely published... appearances in over 400 different magazines, anthologies & newspapers etc across 33 countries in 15 languages.
Readings/presentations/performance of works go into the many hundreds but include: several Sydney Festivals, several Sydney Writers’ Festivals including 2013, 2011 to date member Harbour City Poets. Tasmanian Poetry Festival, Qld Poetry Festival, Overload, Art Gallery NSW, Harold Park Hotel, Kinselas, Sydney/Macquarie/Charles Sturt Unis, Martin Place, Long Bay Gaol, Montsalvat, Parliament House (NSW), National Poetry Centre (London), NSW Writers’ Centre, Byron Writers Festival, State Library NSW Literary Weekend, CBC (Can), Colombia Television, Fiptr.com (Can), Radio National, 2BL, 2NC, 2UE, 2GB, 2JJJ, 2RES, 2SER, Writers' Radio, Dan O’Connell, Australian Made Poetry, Regional ABC (Riverina, Nth Coast & Broken Hill), Australian Poetry Festival, Castlemaine State Festival, Newcastle Writers Festival, Noosa Long Weekend, Shoalhaven Poetry Festival, Contemporary Australian Fiction Festival, Broken Hill Poetry Festival.
Tours:- 2021 International Festival of Poetry and Liquor (e), Vessels of Love, Chengdu International Poetry Week (e), International Festival of Poetry & Liquor (e), Kerala Literature Festival (e) - 2020 14 Festival Mundial de Poesia de Venezuela (e),Festival International de Poesia de Medellin (e), GeneSiir festival (e), La Voce dei Poeti (e), Pinecone BigO (e) - 2019 Newcastle Canberra Melbourne Perth & Chengdu Int Poetry Week - 2018 Kerala Literature Festival, Chair Poetry Evenings Kolkata - 2016 Vilenica Int Lit Fest, Kosovo Int. Poe. Fest., Bellingen R&W Fest. - 2015 Festival de Poesia de Nicaragua & Istanbul International Poetry Festival - 2014 World Poetry Festival Delhi, Austin International Poetry Festival, Beyond Baroque (LA) & Struga Poetry Evenings - 2013 International Poetry Festival Medellin - 2011 International Literary Festival, Lviv, Ukraine, Noosa Long Weekend - 2009 12000 km book programme Adelaïde, Perth, Newcastle, West NSW & Melbourne - Festival International de la Poesie 2006 Quebec - South Coast WC workshopping project 2005 - Book tour – Melb., Wagga, Tumbarumba, Broken Hill 2004 - Litlink Tour - SW & Central West NSW 2000.
Selected bibliography
*'' The Vanguard Sleeps In '' (Glandular,
1981
Events January
* January 1
** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union.
** Palau becomes a self-governing territory.
* January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...
)
*''Cannibals'' (Rochford Street Press,
1985
The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations.
Events January
* January 1
** The Internet's Domain Name System is created.
** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a ...
)
*''Tickle '' (
Island Press (Australia),
1993
File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peacefu ...
)
*''Nitty Gritty'' (Five Islands,
1997
File:1997 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The movie set of ''Titanic'', the highest-grossing movie in history at the time; '' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', is published; Comet Hale-Bopp passes by Earth and becomes one of ...
)
*''The Ways of Waves'' (Sidewalk,
2000
File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from S ...
)
*''Appetites of Light'' (Presspress,
2002)
*''Stories of the Feet'' (Five Islands,
2004)
*''The Ambrosiacs'' (
Island Press (Australia),
2009)
*''Shadows of the Read '' (Krok, 2011),
2011) English/Ukrainian
*''Barking Wings'' (PressPress, 2012),
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...
)
*'' Sea of Heartbeak (Unexpected Resilience)'' (
Puncher & Wattmann
David Musgrave (born 1965) is an Australian poet, novelist, publisher and critic. He is the founder of and publisher at Puncher & Wattmann, an independent press which publishes Australian poetry and literary fiction. He is also Deputy Chair o ...
,
2013
File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fa ...
)
*'' El Asombrado (On-line ebook)'' (
Rochford Street Press,
2015) English/Spanish
*''Getting By Not Fitting In '' (
Island Press (Australia),
2016
File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses duri ...
)
*''Belief'' (
Flying Islands,
2019
File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...
)
*''Time Taken - New and Selected'' (
Puncher & Wattmann
David Musgrave (born 1965) is an Australian poet, novelist, publisher and critic. He is the founder of and publisher at Puncher & Wattmann, an independent press which publishes Australian poetry and literary fiction. He is also Deputy Chair o ...
2022
File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretariat; The global monkeypo ...
)
As editor/co-editor or organised
*2022
Guide to Sydney Crime Meuse Press
*2018 * "To End All Wars" (
Puncher & Wattmann
David Musgrave (born 1965) is an Australian poet, novelist, publisher and critic. He is the founder of and publisher at Puncher & Wattmann, an independent press which publishes Australian poetry and literary fiction. He is also Deputy Chair o ...
,
2018
File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the Unit ...
)
*2015
Guide to Sydney Rivers Meuse Press
*2011 "AU/UA: Contemporary Poetry of Ukraine and Australia" (Krok, 2011)
Meuse Press
*2010 "from this Broken Hill"
Meuse Press
*2009
Guide to Sydney Beaches Meuse Press
*2000–2008 co-organiser Poets on Wheels.
*2002 Heritage Light including publishing a poem on the surface of a river.
*1998–2003 Written in Sand Project
Meuse Press.
*1999–2000 editor of Hobo.
*1993 to date director of Island Press.
*1992–1999 Artransit Project
Meuse Press.
*1985 Musicians Union Band Guide. 1978.
*1984–1997 to Senior Industrial Officer Musicians Union & Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance.
*1990–93 Sec. NSW ALP Communications & Leisure Policy Committee. –
*1977–1981
Meuse Press Magazine, supplements & anthologies.
*Part of
PUA Poets Union of Australia (NSW) original steering committee, Jnt Sec./Treas. (1979–80), Federal Secretary 1983.
Notes
References
Australian Artists & Writers Directory ''Les Wicks – Biographical Note''*''Directory of Australian Poets 1980'' Poets Union
AU/UA Contemporary Poetry of Ukraine and AustraliaFestival Internacional de Poesia de Medellin
Review of "Stories of the Feet"
review Belief
Puncher and Wattmann
External links
*
Review of "Stories of the Feet"
Review of "Barking Wings"
El Asombrado"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wicks, Les
1955 births
Australian poets
English-language poets
Living people
Australian magazine publishers (people)
Macquarie University alumni
University of Sydney alumni