In 2019 I challenged myself to read a book a week – and hit 52. In 2020, I managed more than 70. I'm looking forward to trying to match that in 2021! Wow, February flew by, but I managed a book a week at least – and one of them (The Invisible Life of Addie
In 2019 I challenged myself to read a book a week – and hit 52. In 2020, I managed more than 70. I'm looking forward to trying to match that in 2021! My first read for the year was Who Am I? by Anita Heiss, which is heartbreakingly sad, incredibly moving, yet ultimately filled with
Kirli Saunders is a proud Gunai woman, and an author of poetry, plays and books, including Bindi, Kindred and The Incredible Freedom Machines. She is a teacher, cultural consultant and artist, and developed the Poetry in First Languages program, delivered by Red Room Poetry. Kirli has won several writing awards, and was named the 2020 NSW
Hooray! I hit my 52-Books-A-Year, Book-A-Week goal at the end of September, and ended up reading more than 70 books by December 31. So many amazing reads this month, including Tiddas by Anita Heiss, Pages and Co: Tilly and the Book Wanderers by Anna James, and A Song Below Water by Bethany C Morrow. I
November was NaNoWriMo month, so I didn’t get a chance to read as much as I’d like to, but it was for a good cause (I hope!)... Took the Children Away (60 of 52) by Archie Roach is a gorgeous book, which combines the lyrics of his iconic song with beautiful illustrations by Archie’s late wife
October started and ended with two awesome magical reads, Darkness Unknown, the first book in Selina Fenech’s new paranormal trilogy Beshadowed, and Last Born Daughter, the third book in Kastie Pavlik’s series Children of the Morningstar. Inbetween were many versions of Little Red Riding Hood, as well as some scholarly musings on this popular faery
In September I had two big deadlines, so I didn’t get to read as much as I would have liked, and three of the four were related to our research/discussion for the Australian Fairy Tale Society’s stories – this month we were investigating Belle-Belle ou Le Chevalier Fortune and The Girl Who Pretended To Be
August was a wonderful mix of important stories, gorgeous fantasy, a nostalgic hit, and faery tales and faery tale reimaginings. An Enchantment of Ravens (47 of 52) by Margaret Rogerson is a lovely, magical tale of faeries and humans, forbidden love, sweet romance, a desperate quest, and an enchanting, gorgeously described world with flawed characters and
Jasmine Seymour is a Darug woman from the Hawkesbury area of NSW. A writer, artist and primary school teacher, she is the author of Cooee Mittigar, which introduces us to the plants, animals and seasons of Darug Country and language; author and artist of Baby Business, about a ceremony to welcome a baby to Country;
July was a fascinating month for books, and online book launches. Living On Stolen Land (40 of 52) by Ambelin Kwaymullina is a short, powerful book that *everyone* should read (although sadly those who most need to hear these words of wisdom – including politicians, police and policy makers – will turn away again). It’s
June has been a strange, unsettling month, of high tension, of long overdue attention on black lives mattering, and of educating ourselves to learn more, do more and be better. Award-winning journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge’s book Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race (34 of 52) is a searing, illuminating, absolutely necessary examination
Book-A-Week – May books read May was a month for extraordinary books. Blackbirds Sing by Aiki Flinthart and Phosphorescence by Julia Baird are two of my favourites this year, but the rest were awesome too! I loved the novelisation of The Rise of Skywalker by Rae Carson (26 of 52). I listened to the audiobook (narrated by
Book-A-Week – April books read April was a strange month for everyone. Like many I’ve been struggling a little to write, and for a while I was having trouble focusing on books too. But when social media got too much, I retreated to my book shelves, and devoured a bunch of books – so many
Book-A-Week – March books read As I get ready for the online launch of The Swan Maiden on April 1, it’s no surprise that my March was filled with faery tales, and faery tale-inspired books. Although first I had to read and re-read my book a few times (11 of 52), ha ha! Then I
Book-A-Week – February books read My first book I read this month was Angela Slatter’s A Feast Of Sorrows (7 of 52), because our Australian Fairy Tale Society story was The Jacaranda Wife, one of the short stories within. This book is a slightly creepy collection of dark faery tales, peopled by women and girls
Book-A-Week – January books read 💕📚🌟 Last year I challenged myself to read a book a week, and I did! 52 books in 52 weeks. And it was awesome. It’s so easy to not make time for reading, with work and deadlines and everything, but I’m so glad I did. And this year I’m doing
I can’t believe I reached my goal and read 52 books this year. I was always feast or famine in my reading – banning myself on deadline, then bingeing and getting no work done – so I hoped the #bookaweek challenge would help, and it kinda did! My first December book was House of Wishes by Jenn
November is NaNoWriMo month, where I write feverishly to try to hit 50,000 words in 30 days. I made it, but it did unfortunately limit my reading. I did skim-read Public Speaking for Authors, Creatives and Other Introverts by Joanna Penn(45/52), in preparation for my first public speaking event (I was terrified!), and it was
In October I attended three mini workshops (and some great panels) as part of the HNSA (Historical Novel Society Australasia) Conference – by Kate Forsyth, Meg Keneally and Alison Goodman, so I read the latter’s Lady Helen novella in preparation (41/52). And I really enjoyed it, so I bought the first book in the series, The Dark
My favourite book this year is Harp of Kings (39/52) by my favourite author Juliet Marillier (with her Beautiful novel and Madeline Miller’s Circe very close second). It’s the first in her new Warrior Bards Trilogy, so now I’m impatiently waiting for book two! It’s such a beautiful, magical, mysterious, action-packed, adventurous, enchanting and hope-filled
