A little over three years ago I was in the final stages of researching and writing my last novel set in Shanghai in World War Two—The Jade Lily—when I stumbled across an extraordinary newspaper article that completely knocked me off track. It was a review of an exhibition of 500 priceless pieces of Elizabethan and … Continue reading Author Talks: Kirsty Manning on Discovering hidden jewels through research
Allen and Unwin
Behind the Pen with Tanya Heaslip
Today I warmly welcome Tanya Heaslip to Behind the Pen, sharing insight with us on her latest memoir, An Alice Girl. How are you feeling about releasing a book in this current climate? I’m feeling excited about the opportunities now available to promote “An Alice Girl” in a different way and grateful that we have … Continue reading Behind the Pen with Tanya Heaslip
Book Review: Almost Everything by Anne Lamott
Almost Everything - Notes on Hope... About the Book: This New York Times bestseller teaches us to rediscover hope in a world which seems dark and uncertain Despair and uncertainty surround us: in the news, in our families, and in ourselves. But even when life is at its bleakest, Anne Lamott shows how we can … Continue reading Book Review: Almost Everything by Anne Lamott
Author Talks: Karly Lane on the Importance of Women in Agriculture
One of my very first attempts at writing was a book titled the Cattleman’s Runaway Bride. When I began writing, I only had Mills and Boon in mind to submit to because they were the only ones I had writing guidelines for… This was in the very early days of the internet! It was eventually … Continue reading Author Talks: Karly Lane on the Importance of Women in Agriculture
Author Talks: B. M. Carroll on Who were you at school? The shy one? The silly one? The social butterfly?
1980s, Cork, Ireland: I was definitely the quiet one at school. I lived in Blarney, a village located five miles outside Cork city, and my parents decided to send me to the ‘city’ for secondary school. A distance of five miles means nothing in Australia, but in Ireland it was quite significant at the time. … Continue reading Author Talks: B. M. Carroll on Who were you at school? The shy one? The silly one? The social butterfly?
Vale Julian Leatherdale
The news that Julian Leatherdale has passed away has brought great sadness to the Australian historical fiction community. He was was well liked, generous with his time and expertise, and he wrote marvellous historical fiction. He will be missed and I thought I'd share this lovely tribute written by his publisher, in memory of a … Continue reading Vale Julian Leatherdale
Book Review: The Secrets of Strangers by Charity Norman
The Secrets of Strangers... About the Book: A gunshot rings out in a London cafe and the lives of five strangers will never be the same again. The only thing that's certain is that nothing is as it seems. Five strangers, one cafe - and the day that everything changed. A regular weekday morning veers … Continue reading Book Review: The Secrets of Strangers by Charity Norman
Author Talks: Suzanne Leal on Inspirations for The Deceptions
Although landlords are not always loved, mine not only gave me a roof over my head but also my career as a writer. For they told me the stories that inspired both my new novel, The Deceptions, and my first, Border Street. I was just out of university when I moved from inner city Sydney … Continue reading Author Talks: Suzanne Leal on Inspirations for The Deceptions
#BlogTour #BookReview: The Deceptions by Suzanne Leal
The Deceptions... About the Book: Long-buried family secrets surface in a compelling new novel from the author of The Teacher's Secret. Moving from wartime Europe to modern day Australia, The Deceptions is a powerful story of old transgressions, unexpected revelations and the legacy of lives built on lies and deceit. Prague, 1943. Taken from her … Continue reading #BlogTour #BookReview: The Deceptions by Suzanne Leal
Book Review: Budgerigar by Sarah Harris & Don Baker
Budgerigar: How a brave, chatty and colourful little Aussie bird stole the world's heart... About the Book: A curiosity of everything you ever wanted to know (or realised you never knew) about budgies. Budgies, budgies, budgies. Beautiful and cheeky, delightful and enchanting, wild or tamed budgerigars are Australia's gift to the bird world. They sing … Continue reading Book Review: Budgerigar by Sarah Harris & Don Baker
