First Nations Voices
Someone asked for some recommendations of books to read by First Nations authors, so I thought I’d update my list from a year ago... I’ve read 45 books by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander authors
A Book A Week – November Reads…
Audiobooks for the win! Plus some wonderful books I reviewed for Explorers magazine or read to interview the authors... I love Mel Robbins, she’s so real and inspiring and down to earth and hilarious, and
A Book A Week – October Reads…
Funny to think how recently I became an audiobook lover, since three of my four “reads” this month were actually listens, and the fourth was one I had to review for the magazine. My deadline
A Book A Week – September Reads…
September was a wonderful month for reading - and I was grateful again for audiobooks, which helped me get through a few extra titles in a busy work month... I would never have read Jacqueline
A Book A Week – August Reads…
It’s been a crazy month with work, and not much time to read, but audiobooks have been a joy, helping me add two more to my monthly tally, since I can listen as a I
A Book A Week – July Reads…
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! No wonder I
A Book A Week – June Reads…
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 June
A Book A Week – May Reads…
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! The beautiful, heartbreaking,
A Book A Week – April Reads…
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! I’m so behind
A Book A Week – March Reads…
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! The Australian Fairy
A Book A Week – February Reads…
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
A Book A Week – January Reads…
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
First Nations Voices
Someone asked for some recommendations of books to read by First Nations authors, so here are some that I read in 2020 and early 2021. There are many many more – let me know if
A Book A Week – December 2020
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
A Book A Week – November 2020
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
A Book A Week – October 2020
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
A Book A Week – September 2020
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
A Book A Week – August 2020
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
A Book A Week – July 2020
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
A Book A Week – June 2020
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
A Book A Week – May 2020
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
A Book A Week – April 2020
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
A Book A Week – March 2020
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.
Special Guest Selina Fenech
Countdown to The Swan Maiden Launch... Selina Fenech is an amazing artist – her stunning paintings grace the covers of the Into the Mists and Into the Storm Trilogies – and also an incredible writer.
A Book A Week – February 2020
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
A Book A Week – January 2020
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
A Book A Week – December 2019
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 –
A Book A Week – November 2019
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
A Book A Week – October 2019
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
A Book A Week – September 2019
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
A Book A Week – August 2019
Circe is one of my absolute favourite books I’ve read this year, and author Madeline Miller’s previous book The Song of Achilles (32/52) is as beautifully written and almost as wonderful (it’s just obvious that
A Book A Week – July 2019
July was all about high tea book launches (thanks Kate Forsyth!), and falling for audiobooks, thanks to Juliet Marillier’s audiobook exclusive last month (well played Audible!). I’ve been listening to Michelle Obama’s Becoming when I
A Book A Week – June 2019
I read some wonderful books in June as part of my Book A Week Challenge – although two have to be kept secret for now (yes, it is killing me – one is by one
A Book A Week – May 2019
May was a little tricky for reading, because I was in England for the month with my beloved, and we spent all our time searching for stone circles, wandering across the moors, climbing tors, and
A Book A Week – April 2019
I’m still doing well with my Book A Week Challenge, and managed five this month too (although I can’t talk about or show you the cover of one just yet – but it shouldn’t be
A Book A Week – March 2019
One of my plans for 2019 is to make time to read more books. My post-NaNoWriMo December book binge* got me off to a great start – I devoured five books, which was bliss 💕📚🌟
A Book A Week – February 2019
One of my plans for 2019 is to make time to read more books. My post-NaNoWriMo December book binge* got me off to a great start – I devoured five books, which was bliss 💕📚🌟
Seven Books I Love
I was nominated by a friend to post seven books (one a day), that I really loved reading, so I thought I would share them here too as I go. 1. Juliet Marillier is my
Catch Up – September 2017
Oh my god! How is it almost the spring equinox? Where is this year going? Here’s a little update of what’s going on in my world, and what is coming up... I spent the beginning
The Joy of Books
Let’s Talk Reading: The Joy of Books This blog first appeared on the Story Queens website. My idea of bliss is to curl up on the couch with a mug of tea and a good
I, Morgana – A Magical Book
I, Morgana by Felicity Pulman I, Morgana is a new interpretation of the King Arthur story, and a rich new addition to the much-loved (and hotly debated) canon. Morgana, the daughter of a king, half
Australian Women Writers Challenge Update
Can’t believe it’s already July. I guess I couldn’t really update my Australian Women Writers Challenge because for the first several months of the year I was on a reading-for-pleasure ban while I finished writing Into
Special Guest Menna van Praag
I can’t even remember how I stumbled across English author Menna van Praag’s first novel, The House At the End of Hope Street, but I bought it in hardback not long after its release in
Special Guest Lucy Cavendish
Lucy Cavendish is a writer and a witch and an oracle reader and creator, and a surfer and a nature lover. We first met in the nineties in magazine circles, as we’ve both been journalists
Special Guest Selina Fenech
Countdown to The Swan Maiden Launch... Selina Fenech is an amazing artist – her stunning paintings grace the covers of the Into the Mists and Into the Storm Trilogies – and also an incredible writer.
Selina Fenech’s Beautiful Stories
As we count down to the launch of Into the Fire, I wanted to introduce you to my two awesome guest hosts. Selina Fenech is an amazing artist – her stunning paintings grace the covers
K. A. Last’s Cool New Series
As we count down to the launch of Into the Fire, I wanted to introduce you to my two awesome guest hosts. Australian author K. A. Last is in the middle of releasing her three-part
Seven Books I Love
I was nominated by a friend to post seven books (one a day), that I really loved reading, so I thought I would share them here too as I go. 1. Juliet Marillier is my
Carlie’s Favourite Songs
Here are a few of Carlie's favourite songs... Visit Platinum Brunette here... Visit Mick Thomas here... Visit Platinum Brunette here... Visit Green Day here... Visit Platinum Brunette here... Visit POD here... Visit Platinum Brunette here...
Story Queen Selina Fenech
Story Queen Selina Fenech is an amazing artist, and also an incredible writer – she’s the author of the beautiful fantasy series Memory’s Wake, and the intriguing Empath Chronicles. When did you start writing? I
Story Queen L. L. Hunter
Story Queen L. L. Hunter is the author of The Legend of the Archangel series, The Eden Chronicles and many more. When did you start writing? I started writing in my teens, primarily song lyrics
Story Queen K. A. Last
Story Queen K. A. Last is the author of the paranormal romance series The Tate Chronicles, and the beautiful Immagica, which has been described as “a little bit Alice in Wonderland, a little bit The
Story Queen Selina Fenech
As the countdown to the Story Queens online launch kicks off, I wanted to introduce my fellow Story Queens. Selina Fenech is an amazing artist, and also an incredible writer – she’s the author of
Story Queen Lauren K. McKellar
As the countdown to the Story Queens online launch kicks off (two more sleeps!), I wanted to introduce my fellow Story Queens. Lauren K. McKellar is the author of romance reads that make you feel.
Story Queen L. L. Hunter
As the countdown to the Story Queens online launch progresses, I wanted to introduce my fellow Story Queens. L. L. Hunter is the author of The Legend of the Archangel series, The Eden Chronicles and
Story Queen K. A. Last
As the countdown to the Story Queens online launch kicks off, I wanted to introduce my fellow Story Queens. K. A. Last is author of the paranormal romance series The Tate Chronicles, and the beautiful
Story Queen Heather Bryant
As the countdown to the Story Queens online launch kicks off, I wanted to introduce my fellow Story Queens. Heather M. Bryant s an escapist reader and writer who is currently shopping her YA fantasy
Story Queen Serene Conneeley
As the countdown to the Story Queens online launch kicks off, I wanted to introduce my fellow Story Queens, which I guess includes me 🙂 How do you describe your books: The Into the Mists
Story Queen Rebecca Bosevski
As the countdown to the Story Queens online launch kicks off, I wanted to introduce my fellow Story Queens. Rebecca Bosevski is a Central Coast adult fantasy writer. Her first book, Enchanting the Fey, will
Story Queen Stacey Nash
Stacey Nash has a passion for writing stories set in speculative, science fiction and fantasy worlds, with an element of romance and a lot of adventure. How do you describe your books: Action, adventure, danger