Aussie Readers discussion
Festivals, Blogs, Podcasts etc
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Australia's Best Book Blog Sites!
Hi Aussie Readers!
I am an Aussie and host the blog Booklover Book Reviews and the Aussie Author Reading Challenge 2010.
We currently have 50 participants signed up to this challenge and those participants have provided links to more than 100 reviews of books they have read by Aussie Authors so far this year ( Aussie Author Challenge 2010 Book Review List).
The challenge has 2 levels: TOURIST and FAIR DINKUM. TOURIST level is a commitment to reading 3 books by 3 different Aussie Authors by 31 December 2010, while FAIR DINKUM is a commitment to reading 8 books (min 5 different Aussie Authors). It's not too late to join in the fun!
If however you already have your plate full with other reading commitments for 2010, I will be hosting the Aussie Author Challenge again next year also.
I am an Aussie and host the blog Booklover Book Reviews and the Aussie Author Reading Challenge 2010.
We currently have 50 participants signed up to this challenge and those participants have provided links to more than 100 reviews of books they have read by Aussie Authors so far this year ( Aussie Author Challenge 2010 Book Review List).
The challenge has 2 levels: TOURIST and FAIR DINKUM. TOURIST level is a commitment to reading 3 books by 3 different Aussie Authors by 31 December 2010, while FAIR DINKUM is a commitment to reading 8 books (min 5 different Aussie Authors). It's not too late to join in the fun!
If however you already have your plate full with other reading commitments for 2010, I will be hosting the Aussie Author Challenge again next year also.
Hi Joanne, I love your blog! I've signed up for the Tourist Level challenge. Should have plenty of time for three books by the end of the year. My books are:Tomorrow, When the War Began, Wicked Little Game and True Spirit: The Aussie Girl Who Took on the World. I'd love to make your Aussie Author Challenge one of the events for Aussie Readers next year.
I have finished Joanne's Aussie Authors challenge for this year but am still reading Aussie authors...maybe there'll be a higher level next year - bonza - 12 books?
At my blog I talk about crime fiction and try hard to focus on Aussie authors as much as possible (would do more if it weren't so expensive to buy books locally)
http://reactionstoreading.com/
At my blog I talk about crime fiction and try hard to focus on Aussie authors as much as possible (would do more if it weren't so expensive to buy books locally)
http://reactionstoreading.com/
It's a great blog Bernadette and the graphics are really eye catching. I'm glad to hear you liked Peter Temple's book Truth and it's really interesting what you said about being out of step with recent award winners. I often think it's a case of award presenters being out of step with what makes good reading. I'm going to read Peter's book next I think. Maybe I should have gone for Joanne's Fair Dinkum level after all. :)
Yes, I am definitely considering beefing up the levels for the Aussie Author Reading Challenge 2011. I will still keep one low level to ensure it remains accessible given the aim is to encourage those who haven't read Aussie Authors yet to give them a try, but I have been so impressed by the many prolific readers out there I was also thinking around a dozen books might be a better target (one per month). If you have any other suggestions, just let me know! :)
Thanks for the nice comments about my blog Mandy
Joanne I think a nice round dozen would be a good target. I will certainly sign up for that as it'll give me a real push.
Joanne I think a nice round dozen would be a good target. I will certainly sign up for that as it'll give me a real push.
Hi Mandy,Thanks for sending me a message and an invite. I'd like to encourage other Australian book bloggers to join Marg's Australian Book Blogger directory if they haven't already AND....
...to give serious thought to having our OWN book blogger convention next year in conjunction with one of the writers' festivals.
I would love to start organising such an event (although I've never organised a convention before!).
What a great idea! You really go for the big picture! I'm not a blogger but I would certainly do everything I could to advertise and get the news out on this site. Plus I'm hoping to attend the Melbourne Writer's festival and the Australian Romance Writer's conference next year. Are there other festivals around? I contacted the Australian Book Blogger directory after I started this thread but haven't heard back from them yet. I'd love to hear what they think. :)
It's great that you're supporting Aussie authors in this way. I'm both a reader (manage 150 books a year usually) and an Aussie author with 50 novels published, so I love to see what you're doing from both angles. I couldn't restrict myself to only reading 8 Aussie author books a year, though. I love reading too much, and there are some great Aussie authors.
It'd be nice to see more popular fiction books mentioned, though. I don't read literary fiction often, as it's usually too miserable for my taste. I do require a happy ending.
Two of my best reads this year (and my husband loved them too) were 'Dark Country' and 'As Darkness Falls' by new Aussie author Bronwyn Parry.
Happy reading, everyone!
Anna Jacobs
Sorry about not getting back to you through Australian Book Blogger Directory. I am a bit behind there. Might try and do some tonight, or tomorrow, if I get time!Marg *feeling guilty now*
Hi, Mandy, sorry for coming late to this party! I finished Joanne's challenge a few months ago and I'm looking to read yet more books by Australian authors. As Anna said, there are a lot of them who write popular fiction (my favourite being romance). I do love Bronwyn Parry's books and I just got a book by Helene Young, who I've been wanting to try for ages.And finally, some quick blog pimping. :-) I blog at Book Thingo, a romance-biased blog with a focus on Australian authors and local book events.
Thanks Kat, I've visited your blog. It's really amazing, full of reviews, info and links and worth checking out!
I think it's fabulous so many avid readers are getting out there and blogging about it.My blog is: http://mandythebookworm.wordpress.com/ and it's mainly book reviews, interviews with authors, what I am reading now, etc. I'm enjoying it so far.
Look forward to visiting the blogs already mentioned in this thread.
I came across this great little blog site relating to childrens books.http://kids-book-review.blogspot.com/
That's a great blog site. Well spotted Dee-Ann. Makes me wish my kids were younger. :)
Just wanted to let you know about ANZ Litlovers LitBlog. It's for lovers of Australian and New Zealand literary fiction. I stumbled across it researching some Aussie books and can thoroughly recommend it. Plus I'm sure the author is on Goodreads, I've seen her cute photo about.:)
I signed up at the Australian Book Blogger Directory.I think Iv'e visited most of the blogs mentioned here already.
You can find mine at http://www.bookdout.wordpress.com
I belong to the Australian Book Blogger Directory. My blog is totally lame compared to many others - definitely something anyone who loves books should check out!~S.
My blog certainly wouldn't come under the title of 'best', but I just write what I think about what I read: http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Just wanted to let you all know that the Australian Book Blogger Directory is up to date (or at least it was a couple of days ago!) and we now have just under 100 blogs listed, so if you are looking for something new to read, maybe check some of these out.
Excellent- thanks Marg! Lots to read today!
Oooops I got distracted reading blogs rather than contributing to the discussions. :P
Ditto Gail :) My blog: http://jesstheworldinside.blogspot.com/
Ive only started recently...Its got a focus on YA fiction, though there is the occasional 'grown-up' book thrown in.
Maxine, I love that blogs name, and I enjoyed reading your posts. I am now a follower. And thank you so much Carmel! I certainly wouldn't call the blog wonderful, but I appreciate it. A lot :)
Check out this great blog:
Literally jam-packed with writing, reviews and much much more.
Mandy wrote: "Just wanted to let you know about ANZ Litlovers LitBlog. It's for lovers of Australian and New Zealand literary fiction. I stumbled across it researching some Aussie books and can thoroughly recomm..."Thank you, Mandy, for your kind comments about my blog! I shall tell my mum you like my photo too LOL.
Mandy wrote: "Check out this great blog: Literally jam-packed with writing, reviews and much much more."
Mandy .... I've been following this blog for a small while now and it's really really good !!!
I've got my own little blog if someone would like to have a look; it's more or less the books I introduce during my radio programme and a few other thoughts that come to mind!
My Blog: iris-b.blogspot.com
Happy new year everyone ..... :-)
Carmel - i've changed the background so often and I cannot find it in my photos so I assume it's a blogger template and most definately from Ireland :-) cos that's my favourite topic !!!Thanks for following -
Are you in Melb ?
Thanks!Bendigo ?? might have to ask you to give me a visit next time i'm scheduled for an "english" radio program so we can chat "books" :-)
This thread has been a great idea, there are some wonderful blogs out there and each so different from the other. Good work every one :)
★ Jessica ★ wrote: "Maxine, I love that blogs name, and I enjoyed reading your posts. I am now a follower. And thank you so much Carmel! I certainly wouldn't call the blog wonderful, but I appreciate it. A lot :)"
Thank you for the follow Jessica :), I've had a sneaky peak at your blog and you've done a lovely job.
I subscribe to the Alien Onion blog which is written by the editors of Aussie Publishing company Allen & Unwin. One of the quirkier things they write are 'open letters' to various inanimate objects (tools of their trade or book paraphenalia etc).They've just written some letters to the "Find and Replace" function you find in any word processing documents. I think the letters are funny and poetic and thought you might enjoy reading them:
Open letters: a tale of love, found and replaced
Dear Find and Replace, mi amore,
I love you, I love you, I love you almighty, I wish your pyjamas were next to my nightie.*
I love it when you strip the double spaces and the strange multiple tabs from my sentences and paragraphs.
It makes me weak at the knees when you take a word I don't want and turn in into something else entirely. Something better and stronger and bolder.
It's magical between us.
I hope you won't think me too forward if I say I want to REPLACE ALL.
Love unto infinity,
Your editor xxx
---------------------------------------
Dear Find and Replace,
YOU ARE DROPPED. You are unfollowed and unfriended.
You have behaved ABOMINABLY.
You ought to have known that those words you substituted were not what I wanted. You have made a mess of everything.
Your wilful misunderstanding of my wishes has hurt me deeply.
I think it's best that we have no further contact.
Editor
---------------------------------------
Dear Find and Replace,
I am now willing to concede that I played some part in the recent ... unpleasantness that occurred between us.
I can see that some things I said were a little ambiguous. I ought to have been clearer.
I would like to resume our friendship - but I hope you understand when I say it has to be on a strictly professional basis. We can't let ourselves get carried away.
Kind regards,
Editor
P.S. *Now don't be mistaken, now don't be misled. I mean on the clothes line and not in the bed.
Amanda wrote: "Hi Mandy,Thanks for sending me a message and an invite. I'd like to encourage other Australian book bloggers to join Marg's Australian Book Blogger directory if they haven't already AND....
...t..."
Sounds interesting - I'm going to check it out. Impressed with the site Carmel recommended - Alien onion blog - I liked the tips on the short cut to blurb writing.
http://annmasseyauthor.net/
Hi all, I've just started my blog http://tempestthoughts.blogspot.com where you will (SOON) find some book reviews, some news about my writing endeavours, events, etc. I love discovering great Aussie authors and even more great local (in this case,Western Australian) authors. The choice of genre - speculative fiction. It is just so much fun reading about kraaken and sirens in Hobart or werevolves in Melbourne.
I'll certainly be joining some of the blogs and challenges listed here.
Cheers
Maja
Good luck with your blog Maja! I love Specfic and it's difficult to get news on new aussie releases in that genre. You're right... reading about krakens in Hobart and werewolves in Melbourne is fantastic. I will certainly be checking out your blog to look for any Aussie recommendations you have!:)
Mandy wrote: "Good luck with your blog Maja! I love Specfic and it's difficult to get news on new aussie releases in that genre. You're right... reading about krakens in Hobart and werewolves in Melbourne is fan..."Congratulations on your blog ... I've bookmarked it.
February's Calamity's Corner is now available for free download. Contact calam@live.com.au to read about feature writer, Christine London and her first romantic suspense novel, Shadows Steal the Light.Columnist LJ Robeerts, Rosalie Skinner, Wendy & Jacquie Rogers write about books & movies. Edith Parzefall, crime writer & Book Doctor visits historic Olinda in Brazil and hints how to avoid the Tourist Police & Guides. And much more.
I have my own rambling book blog site but with a friend & fellow book blogger have started a new one that is focused solely on crime fiction written by Australian authors or set in Australia. It's called Fair Dinkum Crime and has reviews, news, author spotlights, links to sites of interest, interviews with authors etc. Feel free to check us out for recommendations of Australian crime fiction to read and if you review Australian crime fiction let us know via the contact link
Hi, Mandy. I started my blog, Take It As Read, last October, random thoughts on books, the entertainment 'biz, writing, publishing, my mystery fiction, and a few things in between.One of my posts, 'The caring, sharing, entrepreneurial writing community,' was picked up and featured on the Publetariat website, at
http://www.publetariat.com/think/cari...
My most recent post takes a lighthearted look at the question: Where are all the great rock'n'roll novels? and for those who remember this - it has a link to a classic Aussie hit song, Kevin Johnson's 'Rock and Roll (I gave you all the best years of my life.' Love it.
You can find it at my blog-
http://ian-edward.blogspot.com
Ian wrote: "Hi, Mandy. I started my blog, Take It As Read, last October, random thoughts on books, the entertainment 'biz, writing, publishing, my mystery fiction, and a few things in between. One of my posts..."Thanks for the links Ian!
I enjoyed your post about great Rock and Roll books but I think your sentence, "Where are the literary world's answers to the "Almost Famous" and "A Star Is Born" movies?" could have included the movie, "The Rose" based on Janis Joplin and starring Bette Midler. I loved that movie!
I laughed at your post, 'Would you like fries with that'! I never thought of that before but it's so true. I also enjoyed your discussion about where do we go after Gen Z. I too have puzzled over this and your suggestions are very funny.
Your post on 'The caring, sharing entrepreneurial writing community' was very informative and the Publetariat website is a great find. I hadn't heard of it before but I'm going to post a link to it in our Aussie Readers discussion, 'How to get published in Australia'. Thanks for taking the time to write down your thoughts.:)
Thanks very much, Carmel. Great to hear from you.
You're quite right, Mandy, 'The Rose ' is a great rock film, how could I neglect it! Many years since I saw that one, I think it's way past time to watch that one again.Thanks very much for your comments on my blog.
cheers
At Mandy's request, I'm putting a link to my blog One People, Many Cultures here. It's a blog about culture, not books, but I do post updates on the writing and publishing process for my book Dragon Bones: Two Years Beneath the Skin of a Himalayan Kingdom.I've been busy setting it up for social networking so now you can 'share' my posts through more than 300 websites. Sadly, and strangely, Goodreads isn't one of them.
nice blog Murray, enjoyed the boy & his mate croc.
Found this great list of The Top 50 Australian Blogs for Writers. Contains links to all the blogs too.http://www.jonathancrossfield.com/blo...
Aussie Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
Tomorrow, When the War Began (other topics)Truth (other topics)
Wicked Little Game (other topics)
True Spirit: The Aussie Girl Who Took On The World (other topics)
Dragon Bones: Two Years Beneath the Skin of a Himalayan Kingdom (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Peter Temple (other topics)Jackie Hatton (other topics)
"This directory has been started with the intention of creating a place on the internet where you can find other Australian book bloggers who either share a similar taste in books to you, or to find other book bloggers who live near you with a view to starting some book blogger meet ups.
The aims are three-fold.
The first is to have a comprehensive list of Australian book bloggers.
The second will be to try to set up some book blogger meet ups, possibly timed to coincide with other literary events. Who knows, one day we could even aim for a national book blogger event!
The third will be to eventually try to raise profiles of book blogging with Australian publishers.
Looks like fun. If you write a book blog that you'd like to talk about, post on this thread. If you love someone else's blog and want to talk it up here's the place to do it.