Feathers and Flame: Poetry of Australian Landscapes and Personal Transformation

A heartfelt collection that intertwines the beauty of Australian wildlife, international locations and personal growth. It reveals emotional truths, inviting readers to explore the process of healing through nature.

Observing nature, especially how animals and birds interact and give unconditionally, provides moments of stillness, enabling deep gratitude and peace.

Learn more about Kathryn (Kate) Carlisle and her work at https://kcarlisleauthor.com/

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• About Feathers and Flame and the Inspiration Behind the Collection – Kate shares how nature walks, personal memories, and her experience in the Australian Defence Force inspired this deeply reflective and healing body of work.

• Writing as a Path to Healing – Through poetry and journaling, Kate explored grief, self-forgiveness, and emotional transformation, using stillness in nature to process past experiences and reconnect with herself.

• Themes, Style, and Visuals – The collection blends short poems, longer reflections, and full-color landscape photography to create a layered, sensory storytelling experience grounded in emotion and place.

• Author Readings: “Mirror Me” and “Storm” – Kate reads two poems aloud, one reflecting on self-acceptance (Mirror Me), and another capturing the destructive and renewing force of nature (Storm).

• What’s Next for Kate – She’s continuing to write, including poems from the perspective of animals, and is considering turning Feathers and Flame into an audiobook.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate Carlisle spent her early years in various regions of Australia, sometimes in a double-decker bus and a caravan, travelling across New South Wales, South Australia, north Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia. During the family's travels, Kate learned to write by listing all the creeks and rivers they crossed in a notebook. This unique background, filled with diverse landscapes and experiences, shaped her experiences and writing. It instilled a deep appreciation for nature and a sense of adaptability that would later help her heal.

Kate served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for almost 39 years. At 16, she joined the Royal Australian Navy as an apprentice Electronics Technician, her formative year. After 10 years, she transitioned to the Royal Australian Air Force, serving nationally and overseas, separating in March 2023. Throughout her career, Kate found solace in writing, using it to express herself. She wrote about her experiences in the ADF, the challenges she faced, and the moments of triumph. Her writing served as a form of self-expression and a way to connect with others who might be going through similar experiences.

As a veteran, Kate completed the ADF Arts for Recovery, Resilience, Teamwork and Skills program, which helps build confidence and resilience in people experiencing health and wellbeing challenges related to service in the ADF. Kate found joy and an unlimited opportunity for healing through creative writing, and combined this with her love for nature and the outdoors. When at home, Kate spends time in the Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve, a space that Kate loves and uses to connect and experience the profound healing power of nature.    

CONNECT WITH KATE CARLISLE

Website: https://kcarlisleauthor.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.carlisle.148 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kate-c-40702b9a Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kate1_carlisle?igsh=MThnZmVtbzR5M2llaw==

THE PHILLY PHENOMS

Ten-year-old Lee Lomax is trying to scratch a severe golf itch. Like many kids, Lee idolizes his dad, Sam, a talented golfer who has put his game on hold to focus on his family. But Lee is relentless and vows to spend his summer at Sam’s blue-collar country club in the Philly suburbs, hoping it will entice his dad to do the same. Enter the despicable Hal Rustin, who wants nothing more than to see the Lomax family booted from the club. Sam might have no choice but to step in. In The Philly Phenoms, we follow Lee Lomax as he searches for a fix for his golf obsession. He circles a special charity match, held on the first anniversary of 9/11, as both the potential cure and the opportunity of a lifetime for the Lomax family.

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• Golf as a Symbol and Passion – Central to the plot and rooted in the author’s personal experiences with his father and upbringing.
• Father-Son Relationship – A deep emotional core of the story, inspired by the author’s real bond with his own dad.
• Themes of Grit and Perseverance – Reflected in Lee’s character and motivated by the author’s observations as a teacher, especially post-COVID.
• Blending Humor with Real-World Trauma – Balancing lighthearted moments with heavier subjects like 9/11 and mental health, especially from a child’s point of view.
• Collaborative Creative Process – The book became a group effort, with contributions from friends and colleagues for the cover art, course map, and fictional club logo.
• What’s Next – Upcoming writing and publishing plans

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nate Oxman has been a golf writer in the Philadelphia area for nearly 20 years. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Penn State University in 2004, Oxman served as an unpaid intern and later sports editor at The Spirit Community Newspapers in Philadelphia, where he covered general news and local youth and high school sports. In 2007, he was hired as the associate sports editor for Montgomery Newspapers, which publishes a group of weekly papers in the Philadelphia suburbs of Montgomery County, and the staff writer for Philadelphia Golfer, a monthly golf magazine published by the newspaper group. While writing for Philadelphia Golfer, Oxman earned a Keystone Media Award from Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association as well as a first-place prize from the Philadelphia Press Association. In 2010, Oxman became the staff writer for Tri-State Golf Magazine, a quarterly publication covering golf news throughout the tri-state area of eastern Pennsylvania, south Jersey, and Delaware. He continues to serve as the staff writer for Tri-State Golf and has contributed freelance work to myriad publications including The Philadelphia Daily News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, South Jersey Magazine, Suburban Life Magazine, Golf Association of Philadelphia Magazine, and Golfer’s Tee Times.

Oxman has covered dozens of local and national events on every major professional golf tour as well as the USGA including the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion, the 2015 and 2024 U.S. Women’s Opens at Lancaster Country Club and the 2026 Truist Championship and Mizuho Americas Open. Oxman is a longtime member of the Golf Writers’ Association of America, the International Network of Golf, the Golf Travel Writers’ Association of America and the Delco Press Club.

Oxman shifted gears and earned his teacher certification from Cabrini University in 2010 and has served as a classroom teacher in the School District of Haverford Township since 2012. He received his Master’s degree in Teaching Secondary English from Slippery Rock University in 2023.

In addition to his work in education and journalism, Oxman began caddying at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. in 1995 and has served as one of the club’s assistant caddie managers since 2009. He has caddied in club, local, and national events including the 1998 U.S. Girls’ Junior, the 2005 U.S. Amateur, and the 2022 Curtis Cup matches. Oxman’s father and uncle both caddied on the PGA Tour.

He lives in Havertown, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia, with his wife, Laura, and three daughters: Anna, 12, Emilia, 9, and Eden, 5.

CONNECT WITH NATE OXMAN!

WEBSITE: https://thephillyphenoms.com/ INSTAGRAM: @NateOxman X: @NateOxman LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-oxman-b741a520/

THIS IS ME

Luke Corbett, a young man who spent most of his life in Canberra, has recently returned to his hometown of Gamarra, a small rural community in the heart of New South Wales. Struggling to find his footing in a place that feels both familiar and alien, Luke is confronted with long-buried emotions when a childhood friend reappears. His deep feelings for this man, however, clash with the conservative values of the town. As whispers and judgement threaten to overshadow his life, Luke must choose: will he suppress his true self to conform or confront the prejudice around him and embrace the life he was meant to live?

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• Inspiration and Writing Journey. Aspen’s personal experiences and how the isolation of COVID sparked the story.

• Identity and Belonging. Luke’s struggle to live authentically in a small rural town.

• Family Legacy. The pressure of living up to his grandfather’s achievements and values.

• Community Acceptance vs. Rejection. The tension between tradition and embracing change.

• What’s Next. Plans for the sequel and trilogy: This Is Us and This Is Where We Belong.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aspen Thomas grew up in the small western Riverina town of Goolgowi, where the vast landscapes and vibrant community life shaped his early imagination. After moving to Canberra for high school, Aspen continued to nurture his passion for storytelling, drawing inspiration from the world around him. As a child, he loved weaving tales about farm machinery that came to life, setting the stage for a lifetime of creative exploration. A passionate tennis player, Aspen has played since childhood and competes in his tennis club's championships every year. Inspired by tennis greats like Ashleigh Barty, his love for the sport parallels his dedication to education. Aspen has been teaching science and mathematics since 2016, bringing his curiosity and enthusiasm to the classroom. Aspen's debut novel, This Is Me!, was born during the isolating days of the Covid years, while he was locked down in his two-bedroom apartment. Deeply personal yet fictionalised, the story reflects his experiences growing up gay and autistic with ADHD in a small rural community. With an overactive imagination and a determination to share his unique perspective, Aspen creates heartfelt, relatable narratives that resonate with readers. When not writing or teaching, Aspen can be found on the tennis court, exploring new ideas, or championing authenticity and representation in storytelling.

CONNECT WITH ASPEN THOMAS!

Website: https://aspenthomas-writes.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aspenthomaswrites/