Who's your favourite Aussie author?

[Shanna]

Without doubt Lian Hearn but I also enjoy Matthew Reilly.

[Shanna]

Ohh I forgotten Kate Grenville and Ruth Park especially Playing Beattie Bow.

[Shanna]

May Gibbs Childhood fave and Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Matthew Reilly
Kate Grenville
Ruth Park

Wonderful choices there Shanna:)

[Shanna]

Oh and read David Malouf's and I loved it, I want to read next from him

[Andrew]

I haven't read all the messages here but I don't think Hal Porter has received a mention. Maybe cause he died in 1984? :-( A very elegant and insightful writer of such works as The Watcher on the Cast-Iron Balcony and The Tilted Cross. I think he lived around Bairnsdale in Victoria.

[Mish]

Hal Porter, Watcher on the Cast-Iron Balcony,The Tilted Cross

Thanks Andrew, I've linked the authors page so people can see his books :)

[Neil]

Sad to hear that Bryce Courtenay has left us today, grateful that we have his words for eternity. R.I.P.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Very sad Neil, a tragic loss.

[James]

Indeed!

[Leeza]

Emily Rodda is one of my favourite writers. I loved her work Deltora Quest and the Rondo series!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Hi Leeza, I notice you are a new member...welcome:) Please feel free to introduce yourself in this thread http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3... so the other members can say 'hi'!!

She is definitely a good author, very popular:)

[James]

Nevell Shute. A great but largely forgotten voice.

[Michael]

I've had this discussion before but wouldn't Nevil Shute be considered an English writer? I know Australians like to claim everyone famous as an Aussie but Nevil only spent the last 6 or 8 years living in Australia. But he did mention Australia a lot in his novels.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I'm interested in how we define an Australian author. Is it someone who was born here? Or someone who lives here? And how long do they live here before we claim them? Only because I am choosing books for the 2013 challenge and it made me wonder.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I'll leave that one to Michael, Phrynne. There are so many variences, but one way to check is look at our list of Aussie Authors first:)

[A.C.]

George Turner

[Mish]

A.C. wrote: "George Turner"

George Turner :)

[B the BookAddict]

Alex Miller

[Mike]

Phrynne wrote: "I'm interested in how we define an Australian author. Is it someone who was born here? Or someone who lives here? And how long do they live here before we claim them? Only because I am choosing boo..."

For me the great Australian authors manage all the tools of the trade to invoke a feeing of belonging to a special tribe. Mostly through character and setting manipulation and with resonating words unique to Australians like (illywhacker.)

[Belinda]

Big fan of Matthew Reilly - I've met him. Really down to earth and incredibly interesting (not so bad looking too!). Temple is one of my all time favourites. I really like Tim Winton too. Breath is one of my favourite books

[Nikki]

My all-time favourite author just so happens to be an Aussie! Matthew Reilly, just can't help re-reading his books! i love them all!!! I had the absolute honour of meeting him just recently!!! He was seriously the nicest guy ever, as a book collector, i took 14 of my 28 books, he signed them all, and he asked questions and was really engaging! Makes me smile thinking about it!!! :)

Some Aussie authors i have great respect for are Andy Griffiths & Emily Rodda, these 2 authors i have no doubt, were part of the reason my 2 children have the love of reading!!!

One last notable mention is Nathan Farrugia! Discovered his books early this year! as Matthew Reilly's biggest fan i recommend Nathan's book, fast paced, sophisticated and witty writing!

[Angela]

My current fave is Shane Maloney :-) funny guy in person too.

[Clare]

Neville Shute and Sonya Hartnett. No contest.

[[deleted user]]

Emily Rodda, Cath Crowley (I still haven't read Graffiti Moon, ack), and Ruth Park on the strength of three of her books. @Phryne: If they've lived here for more than three years they're Aussie to me. :)

[Zara's Corner]

My newest favourite Aussie author is Caroline Overington.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Clare wrote: "Neville Shute and Sonya Hartnett. No contest."

Neville Shute
Sonya Hartnett

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Tanvi wrote: "Emily Rodda, Cath Crowley (I still haven't read Graffiti Moon, ack), and Ruth Park on the strength of three of her books. @Phryne: If they've lived here for more than three years they're Aussie to ..."

Emily Rodda
Cath Crowley
Ruth Park

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Zara wrote: "My newest favourite Aussie author is Caroline Overington."

Caroline Overington

[[deleted user]]

It's a toss up between Eric Yoshiaki Dando and Molly Guy.

[Sally906]

Phrynne wrote: "I'm interested in how we define an Australian author. Is it someone who was born here? Or someone who lives here? And how long do they live here before we claim them? Only because I am choosing boo..."

I count an Aussie author as someone who was born here and still lives here, or was born here but now lives elsewhere in the world, and finally someone who was born overseas but now lives here permanently.

This is just my personal opinion though.

[[deleted user]]

Sally906 wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "I'm interested in how we define an Australian author. Is it someone who was born here? Or someone who lives here? And how long do they live here before we claim them? Only because I..."

Any person who calls themselves an Australian is good enough for me.

[A.J.]

Another vote for Bryce Courtenay and Tim Winton. Another Aussie who's work I enjoyed is June Collins. Her book Goodbye Junie Moon is well worth a read as is The Khaki Mafia, which she co-wrote with Robin Moore.

[[deleted user]]

Ruth Parkes. She wrote every day life during the Depression days, in and around Sydney. Absolute classic books.

[K]

I really love May Gibbs. :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Ruth Parkes and May Gibbs - definitely in a class of their own!

[K]

I also love Elayne Mitchell. The Silver Brumby series was one of the best series I grew up with. Wild horses and the Aussie bush- what more could a country girl dream of? :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kiera wrote: "I also love Elayne Mitchell. The Silver Brumby series was one of the best series I grew up with. Wild horses and the Aussie bush- what more could a country girl dream of? :)"

The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell

I think I read some of these when I was much younger Kiera...

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Kiera wrote: "I also love Elayne Mitchell. The Silver Brumby series was one of the best series I grew up with. Wild horses and the Aussie bush- what more could a country girl dream of? :)"

I read those when I was young too. I loved horses and read everything about them for a while!

[Cassandra]

I can't choose just one, but I reckon I can choose one per genre!

Picture book: Nick Bland
Fantasy: Kate Forsyth
Urban fantasy: Paula Weston
Scifi: Stacey Nash
Contemporary: Lauren K. McKellar
Steampunk: Jay Kristoff

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good list Cass!

[Sapphire]

Andy Griffiths. His books are so childish but I can't help but love the humour. They're not what you'd call classy books but I laugh every time I pick one up.

[Diana]

For fantasy I have read a few Jennifer Fallon books and a few Cecilia Dart Thornton books, I enjoyed both authors, there are a few others but I can't think of them at the moment...

[Tanya]

Courtney Collins
Paul Jennings
Ruth Park
Miles Franklin
Colin Thompson

And so many, many others...

[Cassandra]

My absolute favourite would be Kate Forsyth, although there are a number that come close. :)

[Faye]

At the moment Honey Brown, was not sure at first but seen that I keep going back to read another novel of hers I think she might be favorite at the moment.

[Peter]

My fav Australian author is Sean Williams. I simply adore his earlier books, with the The Prodigal Sun Evergence Trilogy being my favourite. Read all three books three or four times each within two years of their coming out.

[Suz]

Faye wrote: "At the moment Honey Brown, was not sure at first but seen that I keep going back to read another novel of hers I think she might be favorite at the moment."

This is one I loved but need to read more of.

[Marina]

Tough choice. I'd probably have to say either Liane Moriarty or Glenda Larke. But there are so many good ones!

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

For lovers of Historical Fiction Posie Graeme-Evans is a great contender see: The Anne Trilogy: The Innocent, The Exiled, and The Uncrowned Queen for example.

She also has a new book coming out in March 2015
Wild Wood: A Novel by Posie Graeme-Evans