Recently, the world heard of the sad news that author Iain Banks has only months to live and this piece by author Val McDermid actually brought tears to my eyes. It wasn’t all that long ago that one of Australia’s favourite authors, Bryce Courtenay, died of cancer. It not only got me thinking on how […]
As we are approaching the end of 2012, so too, will be the end of The National Year of Reading in Australia. As a self-confessed bookworm, I have found it difficult to cut back on my reading habits, and on Goodreads, I have almost reached my goal of reading fifty books this year. As part […]
This week, I’m going to talk about my reading addiction. As I’ve mentioned before, with 2012 being the National Year of Reading in Australia, it’s a great incentive to encourage more to take it up. I’ve been encouraged to discover new authors, read books from authors I’ve wanted to try for some time and re-read […]
In Australia, 2012 is the National Year of Reading. It’s a joint initiative of government, local libraries, writers, booksellers, schools and many other interested parties to get the nation reading. It is estimated that a staggering 46% of Australians can’t read. As a writer, reader, and concerned parent, this leaves me wondering what has happened. […]
There has been a fair amount of controversy within recent times regarding the subject matter in young adult novels. Being both a writer and a reader of young adult fiction, I tend to find myself giving it quite a bit of thought. I was probably about eleven when I read the controversial book Go Ask […]
A few weeks ago, in a discussion with my mother, she began talking about e-books. Of-course she believed that the traditional book was ‘dead’, and since many people of her generation listen to talk-back radio, firmly believes that therefore, it must be true. I should have known where this topic was heading; I’ve been there […]
I remember when I was about four or five years old being introduced to my local library. I’m eternally grateful because it was here, more than anywhere else that I was introduced to the world of books. I fell in love with Miffy books and the entire collection of Beatrix Potter. I think it was […]
There has been a fair amount of talk about digital books. I have always firmly planted myself in the ‘traditional books’ camp. Before Christmas, my husband bought himself a Kindle, which aroused my curiosity in digital books. I thought they would come in handy for rare books or out of print books, so I asked […]
2011 is shaping up to be a personal year for me. Events have taken place that I feel compelled to write about them and others throughout my childhood. Writing personal essays has now become a part of my writing agenda. I have been reading books on essays, including Writing from Personal Experience by Nancy Davidoff […]
