Australian Women Writers Challenge discussion

Recommend your favourite books here - tell us why we should read them!

Wings of Fear and Shattered Sky both by Helene Young, with a new one out mid 2012....fabulous books, both of them:) So worth reading! I can't wait for her new one!

Also Jaye Ford's Beyond Fear is totally amazing!

Favel Parrett's Past the Shallows and Charlotte Wood's Animal People were two of my favourite reads this year. Past the Shallows is a heartbreaker and Animal People is all about people you know - the observations of Australian urban life are acute, funny and painful in equal measure. You don't need to have read The Children first (I read it after) but is has the same characters. The voice in AP is far better, I felt. Highly recommend both.

Hi Readingjay, I agree with Past the Shallowsbeautifully written and yet heartbreaking story. It’s one of my favourites too

If you enjoy fantasy, I can highly recommend anything by Juliet Marillier. I've enjoyed every book of hers I've ever read, but I especially enjoyed Wolfskin and Heart's Blood. Marillier's fantasy is based on folklore and fairy tales and her magic is very subtle. Her characterisations are brilliant. Be warned though, that if you read one of her books that's part of a series, you won't be able to stop until you've read them all!

If you are into speculative fiction, can I recommend the Twelve Planets series from Twelfth Planet Press? All Australian women authors, and the three I've read so far have been excellent. I've reviewed these three on Goodreads if you want to see a more detailed description than "they're excellent".

- Nightsiders
- Love and Romanpunk
- Thief of Lives

The fourth in the series has just come out (Bad Power), which will be one of my first books for the challenge.

-m

Hi Mark

I am intending to read Thief of Lives and Bad Power for the challenge as well!

Highly, highly recommend Love and Romanpunk and liked Nightsiders a lot too.

Are each of the books short stories?

Marg wrote: "Hi Mark..."
Sally906 wrote: "Are each of the books short stories?"

Hi Marg,

It's been a very impressive series so far hasn't it? I'm in the process of tracking down some more of the stories of each of the authors - starting with Power and Majesty.

Hi Sally,

Each book in the series has four shorter stories, sometimes related (e.g. Love and Romanpunk) and sometimes not (e.g. Thief of Lives).

-m

Mark wrote: "Marg wrote: "Hi Mark..."
Sally906 wrote: "Are each of the books short stories?"

Hi Marg,

It's been a very impressive series so far hasn't it? I'm in the process of tracking down some more of the ..."

I have Power and Majesty here. Just need to read it now.

Sally, if you are interested in trying theme, Twelve Planet Press has a special discount for those participating in the challenge, and I think that they are also on sale until December 31 from memory.

I would be interested. How do I let Twelve Planet Press know I am participating in the challenge?

Will get the first two for now, and then collect the rest gradually.

Sally906 wrote: "I would be interested. How do I let Twelve Planet Press know I am participating in the challenge?

Will get the first two for now, and then collect the rest gradually."

Hi Sally,

The details of the Twelfth Planet Press offer is here (towards the bottom of the post). They also have a December sale going on at the moment.

-m

Marg wrote: "Hi Mark

I am intending to read Thief of Lives and Bad Power for the challenge as well!

Highly, highly recommend Love and Romanpunk and liked Nightsiders a lot too."

Bad Power
Thief of Lives

Nightsiders
Love and Romanpunk

Marg wrote: "Mark wrote: "Marg wrote: "Hi Mark..."
Sally906 wrote: "Are each of the books short stories?"

Hi Marg,

It's been a very impressive series so far hasn't it? I'm in the process of tracking down some..."

Power and Majesty

Mark wrote: "The details of the Twelfth Planet Press offer is here (towards the bottom of the post). They also have a December sale going on at the moment.
..."

Thanks for that - have just ordered Love and Romanpunk and Nightsiders.

Marg I hope you realise I am holding you totally responsible for this purchase - I have had these on my "check them out" list since mid year when you reviewed them - the recommendations here jogged my ailing memory :)

Oh the pressure! I hope you enjoy them!

I am sure I shall we do seem to share a lot of reading DNA :)

Jessica Bell's 'String Bridge'. I have reviewed on my blog. How often do you come across a great book with a soundtrack?
http://cathypowellblog.blogspot.com/2...

String Bridge

I am extremely impressed with the very quick service I ordered Nightsiders and Love and Romanpunk on 30/12/11 and they were in the mailbox today!!!

Who did you order them from Sally?

Brenda wrote: "Who did you order them from Sally?"

Direct from Twelfth Planet Press - http://www.twelfthplanetpress.com

Sally906 wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Who did you order them from Sally?"

Direct from Twelfth Planet Press - http://www.twelfthplanetpress.com"

Thanks Sally:)

Don't forget to visit the reviews of participants for some great recommendations!
There are already more than a dozen listed http://www.australianwomenwriters.com...