Annual Aussie Author Challenge 2013

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Elaine wrote: "It was good, wasn't it Brenda? Look forward to reading your review. Must say I'll be interested to see what you say about The Vale Girl. I've heard only good things about it so far."

I absolutely loved it Elaine!! I have both reviews to do yet...soon;)

[Kathryn]

Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I don't think I originally listed a November read, since it's a TBR, so I decided on The Inheritance by Jo-Anne Berthelsen and I really enjoyed it. ..."

No, no, sorry - new release is what I meant - I'm trying to multi-task and obviously not doing either task very well! And I'm also getting sleepy which is not helping matters! And The Inheritance was a new release! So all is good! Thanks, Brenda! Think I might get off the computer now and focus on one task!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I don't think I originally listed a November read, since it's a TBR, so I decided on The Inheritance by Jo-Anne Berthelsen and I real..."

Haha!! Well done:) With the Spring Challenge having November as the TBR I thought that was the one you had meant to put it into....all's well....

[Sally906]

Whoo hoo - down to the last two - I am currently reading November's - the newly released Shame and the Captives by Tom Keneally

Then for December I have earmarked a romance with a Christmas theme (well it IS December - ho! ho! ho! and all that!!) A Bush Christmas by Margareta Osborn

then it will be time to sit back with my feet up and a glass of wine until the 2014 challenge is revealed :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Sally! I'm sure you will enjoy A Bush Christmas ...I loved it:)

[Elaine]

Brenda, does November's book...new release, actually have to be a book released in the month of November or can it be a recent release? Sorry if that sounds confusing but you get what I mean, don't you? :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Elaine wrote: "Brenda, does November's book...new release, actually have to be a book released in the month of November or can it be a recent release? Sorry if that sounds confusing but you get what I mean, don't..."

No a 2013 release Elaine:)

[Elaine]

Oh, that makes it much easier. Thanks Brenda.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Elaine wrote: "Oh, that makes it much easier. Thanks Brenda."

No problems:)

[Zoey]

November read done

2013 New Release - The Farmer's Wife Rachael Treasure3★

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Starting my November read today Blood Secret. Looking forward to this one!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "Starting my November read today Blood Secret. Looking forward to this one!"

That one is amazing, IMO Phrynne:) Enjoy!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Zoey wrote: "November read done

2013 New Release - The Farmer's WifeRachael Treasure3★"

Well done Zoey!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Brenda wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "Starting my November read today Blood Secret. Looking forward to this one!"

That one is amazing, IMO Phrynne:) Enjoy!"

It is SO good. Iam more than half way already. May even sit up late tonight and finish it!!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "Starting my November read today Blood Secret. Looking forward to this one!"

That one is amazing, IMO Phrynne:) Enjoy!"

It is SO good. Iam more than ..."

Haha! Glad you're enjoying it Phrynne! I thought it was amazing!

[Elaine]

Can I ask whether Fiona McIntosh can be considered an Aussie author? She wasn't born here but has lived here since she was 19.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Elaine wrote: "Can I ask whether Fiona McIntosh can be considered an Aussie author? She wasn't born here but has lived here since she was 19."

Yes she's Aussie Elaine:)

[Elaine]

Great!!! Thanks Brenda.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

You're welcome:)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Now that's what I call a good book. Stayed up till midnight to finish Blood Secret. Totally worth it.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "Now that's what I call a good book. Stayed up till midnight to finish Blood Secret. Totally worth it."

That's great Phrynne! So glad you enjoyed it:)

[Elaine]

I've been a bit remiss with this challenge but I'm hoping to combine Oct/Nov...if that's not cheating... and read The Tailor's Girl by Fiona McIntosh.
Probably won't read it till December!!!! Which might be ok as December's read is favourite genre and one of mine is historical fiction and guess what? This is historical fiction. Is that really pushing the boundaries Brenda? I'm feeling pretty clever right about now!! Ha,ha.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I'm sure there are others you've read which cover your Oct/Nov anyway Elaine:)

[Nicola]

Just finished
The Tournament/ Matthew Reilly
Enjoyed it lots - and meeting the author tonight to top it all off!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Oooh lucky you! Enjoy - make sure he signs your copy too:)

[Nicola]

Have the audible copy, so no signature! but thought it would be interesting to meet him anyway!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Have fun!!

[Nicola]

Just thought I let you know that Mathew Reilly's talk was great - he went through where some of his ideas come from , how he works, some of the fun things he's got to do in the way of research and also talked about his readers and what their expectations can be!
Nice articulate presenter...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

That's great Nicola! Wonderful memories:)

[Dale]

Nicola wrote: "Just thought I let you know that Mathew Reilly's talk was great - he went through where some of his ideas come from , how he works, some of the fun things he's got to do in the way of research and ..."

sounds like it was fun Nicola

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I've finished my first December read: Cold Fear by Suzanne Brandyn

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I just finished Beyond Fear which was my last book for this challenge. (Challenge finished! Yay!)
I went back to my original post and there was a comment from me about rehearsing our Xmas play at preschool. I cannot believe that was a whole year ago! Right now we are rehearsing a whole new play. Time goes by so fast it is incredible.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Phrynne! And wow! I know it does, but when you look back at something like that, it brings it home more!

What did you think of the book?

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Loved it. As an author she can do no wrong. I still have to read Scared Yet?. Can't wait.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Glad you loved it! She's amazing isn't she...and a lovely person to go with it!

[Dale]

Dale wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Just thought I let you know that Mathew Reilly's talk was great - he went through where some of his ideas come from , how he works, some of the fun things he's got to do in the way o..."

See Matthew Reilly's new book is $16 this week at K Mart

[Zoey]

Finished my December read The Innocent Posie Graeme-Evans4★

So... Challenge Complete

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 3 ★
August - Favourite Genre (crime) - Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing by Gabrielle Lord 4 ★
September - Male Author - Final Custody by George Eliot 3 ★
October - Female Author - There's a Bear in There by Merridy Eastman4 ★
November - New Release - The Farmers Wife by Rachael Treasure3 ★
December - Favourite Genre (Historical Fict.)The Innocent by Posie Graeme-Evans 4 ★

Cannot believe the year is almost finished!!

[Janine]

Finished my December read
Ember Island by Kimberley Freeman 4*

This challenge is now finished and enjoyed.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Janine!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Zoey wrote: "Finished my December read The InnocentPosie Graeme-Evans4★

So... Challenge Complete

January - Male Author - Gone by [au..."

Congratulations Zoey! I know, it's scary that it's almost 2014!

[Neil]

Well Brenda and everyone in the challenge, I finally finished my downgraded 6 book Aussie author challenge tonight. Go get em' to all you 12 book plus readers!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Neil! Well done:)

[Sharon]

Finished my December challenge by M.K. Hume. 4 stars

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Sharon!

[Nicola]

Finally finished my August Aussie read! A wonderful mystery from 1895 by Guy Boothby called A bid for fortune. Apologies for no links, my phone doesn't have those options!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

A Bid for Fortune or Dr Nikola's Vendetta by Guy Boothby

There you go Nicola! And well done:) Did you read the other months as well - are you finished?

[Sharon]

Brenda wrote: "Well done Sharon!"

Thanks Brenda, I was a bit worried at the start of the challenge because 6 of the books I picked were by an author that I had never read before but I'm so glad I did. I loved all of her books (M. K. Hume). Just looked back at my ratings and I rated them all 4 stars.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sharon wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Well done Sharon!"

Thanks Brenda, I was a bit worried at the start of the challenge because 6 of the books I picked were by an author that I had never read before but I'm so glad I ..."

That's great! You've had an enjoyable year of reading, AND you've found a new author to love:)

[Nicola]

Brenda wrote: "A Bid for Fortune or Dr Nikola's Vendetta by Guy Boothby

There you go Nicola! And well done:) Did you read the other months as well - are you finished?"

Am up to date now - Only got my December read to do!

[Dale]

Brenda wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Well done Sharon!"

Thanks Brenda, I was a bit worried at the start of the challenge because 6 of the books I picked were by an author that I had never read before but..."

Don't you love finding a new author to delve into their books?