Annual Aussie Author Challenge 2013

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

This year's Aussie Author challenge is a little different. Whether you are a dinky die Aussie or an international reader wanting to discover some talented new authors, the Annual Aussie Author Challenge 2013 is for you! It will run from 1st January until 31st December 2013!




Read a minimum of 12 books for the year by Australian Authors...

3 x Male Authors - Jan (1), May (1), Sept (1)
3 x Female Authors - Feb (1), June (1), Oct (1)
3 x 2013 New Release - Mar (1), July (1), Nov (1)
3 x Favourite genre (Mystery, Horror, Romance, YA, etc) - April (1), Aug (1), Dec (1)

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/40...

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/13...

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/19...




To add a little more bite, you can have your book starting with the letter of the month you're reading it in...for example, male author for January, either one of the words in the title OR the author's name starts with the letter J. (This is only your personal preference...not a requirement)

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/89...

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/10...




If you feel you'd like to set the bar higher for yourselves, multiply the challenge...instead of 12 for the year, make it 24, or even 36! It's up to you! (So January would have 1,2 or 3 male authors and so on!)

This is the link to the groups' bookshelf, which are all Aussie reads:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/booksh...
This is the link to our Aussie Author members who all have books published:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...





Enjoy your reading of our wonderful Aussie Authors for 2013...maybe you'll find some new ones you will love!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I can't wait to see everyone's lists on this one! I think it will be fun to find all the books:)

[Carol]

I'm going to do my best to do this. So much reading to do and also so much writing. There's just not enough hours in the day, but it's a great challenge.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good luck Carol:) It's the old...'too many books, too little time', isn't it!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Brenda wrote: "I can't wait to see everyone's lists on this one! I think it will be fun to find all the books:)"

Choosing the books is the best bit!

[Sally906]

OK - going for the challenge but first the excitement of picking - well not the new releases obviously!

Here is my list

3 x Male Authors - Jan (1), May (1), Sept (1)
3 x Female Authors - Feb (1), June (1), Oct (1)
3 x 2013 New Release - Mar (1), July (1), Nov (1)
3 x Favourite genre (Mystery, Horror, Romance, YA, etc) - April (1), Aug (1), Dec (1)

January - Male Author -
The Cook by Wayne Macauley


February - Female Author -
The Forgotten Pearl Belinda Murrell

March - New Release -
Web of Deceit by Katherine Howell

April - Favourite Genre (Chick Lit/Romance) -
Peace, Love and Khaki Socks by Kim Lock

May - Male Author -
The Asylum by John Harwood

June - Female Author -
A Curious Intimacy by Jessica White

July- New Release -
Trouble Brewing by Jane Tara

August - Favourite Genre - (Chick Lit/Romance) -
Greetings from Somewhere Else by Monica McInerney

September - Male Author -
How Hedley Hopkins Did a Dare... by Paul Jennings

October - Female Author -
Murder and Mendelssohn by Kerry Greenwood

November - New Release -
The Last Girl by Michael Adams


December - Favourite Genre - (Chick Lit/Romance) -
A Bush Christmas by Margareta Osborn

[Elaine]

The First Tuesday Book club has put up the list of the top 50 Aussie books that were voted on, on their website. Brenda I thought maybe this is a good list to use when choosing books for this challenge but I'm not computer savvy enough to somehow link them or know enough about it to know whether you're allowed to do that.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great idea Elaine, for now I'll put the link, but I'll put the whole lot up later:)

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/firsttuesday/

[Elaine]

Brenda wrote: "Great idea Elaine, for now I'll put the link, but I'll put the whole lot up later:)

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/firsttuesday/"

Thanks Brenda. I knew you'd know what to do.

[Elaine]

Quick question: Are we allowed to include Aussie books from our summer reading challenge in this challenge?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Yes, you can cross over challenges Elaine, that's definitely allowed:)

[Elaine]

Brenda wrote: "Yes, you can cross over challenges Elaine, that's definitely allowed:)"

Great. Lightens the load a bit...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

From the First Tuesday Book Club's website

The Top 50 Aussie Books as voted by you are:

#1... Cloudstreet by Tim Winton
#2... The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
#3... A Fortunate Life by A.B. Facey
#4... The Harp in the South Trilogy by Ruth Park
#5... The Power Of One by Bryce Courtenay
#6... Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
#7... The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay
#8... The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
#9... The Secret River by Kate Grenville
#10.. Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

#11.. Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner
#12.. My Brother Jack by George Johnston
#13.. My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin
#14.. True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey
#15.. Eucalyptus by Murray Bail
#16.. Power Without Glory by Frank J. Hardy
#17.. The Broken Shore by Peter Temple
#18.. Monkey Grip by Helen Garner
#19.. The Riders by Tim Winton
#20.. The Tree Of Man by Patrick White
#21.. The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes
#22.. Unreliable Memoirs by Clive James
#23.. Tall Man: The Death of Doomadgee by Chloe Hooper
#24.. The Man Who Loved Children by Christina Stead
#25.. The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham
#26.. The Fortunes of Richard Mahony by Henry Handel Richardson
#27.. The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith by Thomas Keneally
#28.. Capricornia by Xavier Herbert
#29.. Wake in Fright by Kenneth Cook
#30.. Ransom by David Malouf
#31.. The Year of Living Dangerously by Christopher J. Koch
#32.. The First Stone by Helen Garner
#33.. Gallipoli by Alan Moorehead
#34.. Maestro by Peter Goldsworthy
#35.. The Monkey's Mask by Dorothy Porter
#36.. Wanting by Richard Flanagan
#37.. Come in Spinner by Dymphna Cusack
#38.. Grand Days by Frank Moorhouse
#39.. 1788 by Watkin Tench
#40.. It's Raining In Mango by Thea Astley
#41.. Riders in the Chariot by Patrick White
#42.. Carpentaria by Alexis Wright
#43.. The Tyranny Of Distance: How Distance Shaped Australia's History by Geoffrey Blainey
#44.. That Deadman Dance by Kim Scott
#45.. For Love Alone by Christina Stead
#46.. An Intruder's Guide To East Arnhem Land by Andrew McMillan
#47.. The Life by Malcolm Knox
#48.. The Watcher on the Cast-Iron Balcony by Hal Porter
#49.. Here's Luck by Lennie Lower
#50.. Visitants by Randolph Stow

[Neil]

Yes, Brenda will give this a go as its my first challenge, it's going to be interesting. Will take it back to 6 books though, usually 2 months to read a book for me. I'm excited.

[Mish]

I'm determined to reduce my TBR list on bookshelf next year so I'm going to try and read 2 books per month

Here is my list so far

January Male Author – Rotten Gods & Mice
February Female Author - Finnikin of the Rock & Melbourne
March New Release - Bay of Fires Released in Feb 13
April Favourite Genre - The Rook (Fantasy) & A Beautiful Place To Die(Thriller)
May Male Author – Grand Days & Two Way Cut
June Female Author – Autumn Manor & Slave Girl
July New Release - TBA
August Favourite Genre –Affection(Erotica) & Beneath the Shadows(Thriller)
September Male Author – Out of Australia & I Am the Messenger
October Female Author – The Secret Keeper & Summer At Mount Hope
November New Release -The Red Queen release in Sept or Nov 13
December Favourite Genre – Cloudstreet(Historical/Literary Fiction) & The Dressmaker (Historical/Romance)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great list Mish...good to see you're able to cross over with the literary challenge too:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Neil wrote: "Yes, Brenda will give this a go as its my first challenge, it's going to be interesting. Will take it back to 6 books though, usually 2 months to read a book for me. I'm excited."

Great to see you having a go Neil:)

[Mish]

Neil wrote: "Yes, Brenda will give this a go as its my first challenge, it's going to be interesting. Will take it back to 6 books though, usually 2 months to read a book for me. I'm excited."

Yes good on you Neil. it will be fun :)

[S.W.]

Brenda.... it's wonderful to see such support for Aussie authors. Thanks for organising this.

[Mish]

Brenda wrote: "Great list Mish...good to see you're able to cross over with the literary challenge too:)"

Thanks Brenda & Yes I did that too :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I'm struggling with my list O_o!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

S.W. wrote: "Brenda.... it's wonderful to see such support for Aussie authors. Thanks for organising this."

It's a pleasure to support our wonderful authors Steve, we have such talent in Australia! But it's a joint effort with us 4 mods, so I can't take all the credit;)

[S.W.]

Brenda wrote: "S.W. wrote: "Brenda.... it's wonderful to see such support for Aussie authors. Thanks for organising this."

It's a pleasure to support our wonderful authors Steve, we have such talent in Australia..."

Well, let's give a big thanks and 3 cheers to the gang of 4.
Cheers

[Mish]

Thankyou Steve :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

S.W. wrote: "Brenda wrote: "S.W. wrote: "Brenda.... it's wonderful to see such support for Aussie authors. Thanks for organising this."

It's a pleasure to support our wonderful authors Steve, we have such tale..."

Thanks Steve:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I also had another idea to help with Aussie authors for everyone...the link to our list of authors is here ... http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...

Go to the list, click on the authors' link, and their books will come up. You might be able to choose something for this challenge out of there!

I'll also add it to the challenge post:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I did as many as I could with matching letters/months, but some I haven't! Still some missing, which I'll do my best to fill asap!! And of course....Subject to change:)

January Male author - Ave Judas by Cassian Brown ★★★
Pulling Down the Stars by James Laidler ★★

February Female author - Shallow Breath by Sara Foster ★★★★
Fan Mail by P.D. Martin ★★★★★

March New Release - Web of Deceit by Katherine Howell released Feb ★★★★★
Bay of Fires by Poppy Gee ★★★ (3.5 if I could)

April Favourite Genre - Dangerous Deception by Sandy Curtis ★★★★ (mystery/thriller)
The Delta Chain by Iain Edward Henn ★★★★★ (thriller)

May Male author - Capable of Murder by Brian Kavanagh ★★★★
The Embroidered Corpse by Brian Kavanagh★★★★

June Female author - Ryders Ridge by Charlotte Nash ★★★★★
The Goodbye Ride by Lily Malone ★★★★★

July New Release - Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith ★★★★★
Blood Witness by Alex Hammond ★★★★

August Favourite Genre - Deadly Tide by Sandy Curtis (mystery/thriller) ★★★★★
Heist by Robert Schofield (Thriller) ★★★★

September Male author - Rotten Gods by Greg Barron ★★★★
Pretending to Love: How to Cheat Your Way to Relationship Bliss! by Ashton Cartwright ★

October Female author - Darkening Skies by Bronwyn Parry ★★★★★
Elianne by Judy Nunn ★★★★★

November New Release - Watching You by Michael Robotham ★★★★★
The Vale Girl by Nelika McDonald ★★★★

December Favourite Genre - Cold Fear by Suzanne Brandyn ★★★★
Hades by Candice Fox ★★★★★

[Elaine]

My tentative list, although most probably my final list.


Thanks to Brenda and Zoey, I can now add

my March New release.

Jan Male author: A Fraction of the Whole

Feb Female author: The Secret River


March New release: Bay of Fires

April YA : I Am the Messenger

May Male author: Jasper Jones

June Female author: The Red Cardigan

July New release: TBA

August Historical Fiction: All That I Am

September Male author: Jessica

October Female author: Carpentaria

November New release: TBA

December Historical fiction: Wanting

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good job Elaine, some great books there:)

[Elaine]

Brenda your links to various authors and books were really helpful. All I need now is a list of 2013 New releases for Aussie authors!!!
Thanks Brenda.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Yes, I think we might have to wait a bit longer for them:) I'm doing my best to check them out, and I'll add them to the Aussie New Release thread when I find any:)

[Sally906]

With the first new release (March) does that have to be released in March - or can a February release do?

I ask because Web of Deceit by Katherine Howell is scheduled for release then and she is a must grab and read as soon as a book comes out author for me - and an all round nice person too :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sally906 wrote: "With the first new release (March) does that have to be released in March - or can a February release do?

I ask because Web of Deceit by Katherine Howell is scheduled for release then and she is ..."

No Sally, the new releases just need to be in 2013, not the month that read is listed for:)

Thanks heaps, I'd forgotten she had one out then:):) One for me too:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sally906 wrote: "With the first new release (March) does that have to be released in March - or can a February release do?

I ask because Web of Deceit by Katherine Howell is scheduled for release then and she is ..."

there you go Sally:)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I haven't got time right now to be as organised as you but I will get my list together asap. (too busy rehearsing Xmas plays with 60 littlies.)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "I haven't got time right now to be as organised as you but I will get my list together asap. (too busy rehearsing Xmas plays with 60 littlies.)"

That's ok Phrynne, plenty of time:) Have a wonderful time with your kids!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Oh we are having a ball!!! Our Xmas starts in November when we start making decorations for the walls and the tree. Then we practice for our play - this year we are doing my adaptation of The Magic Hat. Next week we perform it for the parents.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "Oh we are having a ball!!! Our Xmas starts in November when we start making decorations for the walls and the tree. Then we practice for our play - this year we are doing my adaptation of The Magic..."

Oh that will be brilliant! I wish I could see it...I always enjoyed those concerts, the kids have so much fun, and the parents are so proud! Well done with all your hard work:)

[Sabina]

Subject to change, but for the time being, my list:

January - Male Author - Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
February - Female Author - Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta if I read this beforehand I'll read the next in the series instead
March - New Release - MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza
April - Favourite Genre (Chick Lit) - Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella
May - Male Author - TBA
June - Female Author - Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman same with this one, if I read this beforehand I'll read the next in the series
July- New Release - TBA
August - Favourite Genre - TBA
September - Male Author - TBA
October - Female Author - TBA
November - New Release - TBA
December - Favourite Genre - TBA

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great start there Sabina:)

[Christy]

Working on my list - will post soon!!

[Zoey]

Not sure I will get all these read as well as all the other challenges, but I have too much fun just picking out the books, so will give it a go.

January - Male Author - Gone by Chris Nyst 4★
February - Female Author - The Opal Desert by Di Morrissey 3★
March - New Release - Dead Girl Sing by Tony Cavanaugh 3★
April - Favourite Genre (Crime)After the Darkness by Honey Brown 4 ★
May - Male Author - Bad: The True Story of Australia's Biggest Ever Murder Investigation by Michael Duffy 4 ★
June - Female Author - Farewell to Lancashire by Anna Jacobs 4 ★
July - New Release - Bay of Fires by Poppy Gee A book set in Tassie - cant wait :)
August - Favourite Genre (crime) - Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing by Gabrielle Lord
September - Male Author - Final Custody by George Eliot
October - Female Author - There's a Bear in There by Merridy Eastman
November - New Release - The Farmers Wife by Rachael Treasure
December - Favourite Genre (Historical Fict.)The Innocent by Posie Graeme-Evans or the next one if I read this before

[Elaine]

Zoey wrote: "Not sure I will get all these read as well as all the other challenges, but I have too much fun just picking out the books, so will give it a go.

January - Male Author - Gone by Chris Nyst
Februar..."

Some really good books there Zoey. Your July New release sounds really interesting. Might consider that myself.

[Zoey]

Thanks Elaine, yes Im really looking forward to it. The Bay of Fires is a beautiful spot down the East Coast.

[Elaine]

Zoey wrote: "Thanks Elaine, yes Im really looking forward to it. The Bay of Fires is a beautiful spot down the East Coast."

Oh I didn't realise it was an actual place. Tassy is one place I really want to visit. I know it's a beautiful place. Both my kids have been there on camp and have come back saying, " Mum you would love it". It's top on my list of places to visit in Australia.

[Zoey]

It sure is. Bay of Fires isnt a town as such, it is an area covering some beautiful beaches along the coast. One of my favourite little places there is Binalong Bay.
Hopefully you will get down here one day Elaine, Im sure you will love it :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I've had Bay of Fires on my TBR since I went to the Christmas release in Sydney at Hachette and saw it's due out in either February or March next year. It sounds great:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great list Zoey:)

[Catherine]

I'll start with these ones and see how I go. I might add more books if I have some spare time. I'll be studying next year so might not get heaps of spare time. Can anyone please recommend books/authors for 'new release' category? Pretty please. =)

January - Male Author: The Dead I Know by Scot Gardner

February - Female Author: Indelible Ink by Fiona McGregor

March - New Release: Bay of Fires by Poppy Gee

April - Favourite Genre: The Magician's Guild by Trudi Canavan

May - Male Author: Lovesong by Alex Miller

June - Female Author: Sixty Lights by Gail Jones

July - New Release: Fractured by Dawn Barker

August - Favourite Genre: The Novice by Trudi Canavan

September - Male Author: Praise by Andrew McGahan

October - Female Author: Gilgamesh by Joan London

November - New Release: TBA

December - Favourite Genre: The High Lord by Trudi Canavan

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Cath wrote: "I'll start with these ones and see how I go. I might add more books if I have some spare time. I'll be studying next year so might not get heaps of spare time. Can anyone please recommend books/aut..."

I've just posted heaps of new releases in new release thread Cath... http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

You might find some there:)