ABR Top Ten Australian Novels

The Australian Book Review has today announced the results of its reader poll of favourite Australian novels, releasing the list of the top twenty, as voted by readers. You can read the annotated list here. Youc an also see a full list of the 290 novels nominated here

How many of the top ten have you read?

Aurealis Award Winners and New reviews on Aussiereviews

The annual Aurealis awards ceremony was held last night in Brisbane. These awards honour the best Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror offerings for the previous twelve months.

The winners are as follows. Wherever possible I have linked the publication titles to reviews, on Aussiereviews, or elsewhere.

best science fiction novel

Andrew McGahan, Wonders of a Godless World, Allen & Unwin


best science fiction short story

Peter M. Ball, ‘Clockwork, Patchwork and Ravens’, Apex Magazine May 2009

best fantasy novel

Trudi Canavan, Magician's Apprentice, Orbit

best fantasy short story - Joint winners

Christopher Green, ‘Father’s Kill’, Beneath Ceaseless Skies #24

Ian McHugh, 'Once a Month, On a Sunday’, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #40, Andromeda Spaceways Publishing Co-operative Ltd

best horror novel

Honey Brown, Red Queen, Penguin Australia

best horror short story - Joint winners

Paul Haines, 'Wives', X6, Coeur de Lion Publishing

Paul Haines, 'Slice of Life - A Spot of Liver', Slice of Life, The Mayne Press

best anthology

Jonathan Strahan (editor), Eclipse 3, Night Shade Books

best collection

Greg Egan, Oceanic, Gollancz

best illustrated book/graphic novel

Nathan Jurevicius, Scarygirl, Allen & Unwin

best young adult novel

Scott Westerfeld, Leviathan Trilogy: Book One, Penguin

best young adult short story

Cat Sparks, ‘Seventeen’, Masques, CSFG

best children’s (8-12 years) novel

Gabrielle Wang, A Ghost in My Suitcase, Puffin Books

best children’s (8-12 years)
short fiction/illustrated work/picture book

Pamela Freeman (author), Kim Gamble (illustrator), Victor's Challenge, Walker Books Australia


Also, in the past week I have uploaded a swag of new reviews to Aussiereveiws - 23 in total. You can access the following reveiws from the hhome page at Aussiereviews.

The Wicked War on Planet Whimsy, by L. M. Moriarty
The Hollow Tree, by Jacob G. Rosenberg
Spirit of Hope, by Bob Graham
Howzat! by Brett Lee & Michael Panckridge
Fifteen Love, by R. M. Corbett
Australia at the Beach, by Max Fatchen
How to be the Perfect Princess
The ABC Book of Dinosaurs
A Letter From Luisa, by Rowena Mohr
Gamers' Quest, by George Ivanoff
Come By Chance, by Madeline Winch
A History of Cricket, by Catherine Chambers
Anzac Heroes, edited by George Low
The Borgia Ring, by Michael White
100 Ways to Happy Children, by Dr Timothy J. Sharp
The Pony Patch Collection, by Bernadette Kelly
Crocodile River, by Diana Lawrenson
Sharp Shooter, by Marianne Delacourt
Wildlife in Australia, by Louise Egerton
Halloween in Christmas Hills, by Karen Tayleur
Hush, Hush! by Margaret Wild & Bridget Strevens-Marzo
The Wheels on the Bus, illustrated by Mandy Foot
The Dangerous Book of Heroes, by Conn Iggulden & David Iggulden

Enjoy!

Nine New Reviews Posted

Happy new year! I have started off the new year by adding nine new reviews to Aussiereviews. Personal favourites were the two children's books - Tensy Farlow and The Whisperer. Both superb offerings.

YA Book Review: Time of Trial, by Michael Pryor
Reviewed by Tom Murphy
The fourth title in the Laws of Magic series.
YA Book Review: Fill Out This Application and Wait Over There, by Ruth Starke
Reviewed by Sally Murphy
A funny diary format story.
YA Book Review: My Private Pectus, by Shane Thamm
Reviewed by Sally Murphy
Footy, cars and a caved-in chest.
Nonfiction Book Review: Kickstart My Heart, by Lana Penrose
Reviewed by Sally Murphy
A carnival of dating disasters.
Children's Book Review: Tensy Farlow and the Home for Mislaid Children, by Jen Storer
Reviewed by Sally Murphy
A wonderful gothic novel.
Book Review: Transported - A Pioneer’s Story, by Terry Spring
Reviewed by Kathryn Duncan
An inspirational story.
YA Book Review: The Old Kingdom Chronicles, by Garth Nix
Reviewed by Sally Murphy
Acclaimed trilogy - Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen.
YA Book Review: Posse, by Kate Welshman
Reviewed by Sally Murphy
A novel with bite.
Children's Book Review: The Whisperer, by Fiona McIntosh
Reviewed by Sally Murphy
Riveting.

Check back often for lots more reviews in 2010.

I have uploaded five new reviews to Aussiereviews tonight:

Picture Book Review: Sheep, Goat and the Creaking Gate, by Claire Saxby & Judith Rossell

Nonfiction Book Review: The Sisters Antipodes, by Jane Allison

Book Review: The Sea Bed, by Marele Day

YA Book Review: Swerve, by Phillip Gwynne

Picture Book Review: The Lamington Man, by Kel Richardson & Glen Singleton



Enjoy!

Snowy's Christmas Blog Tour Week 9

Time for another stop on the Snowy's Christmas blog tour. This week I am visiting with the lovely Sandy Fussell, at Stories are Light, talking about Christmas stories, and what makes them special. We'd love to see you there.

If you’ve missed any of the other tour stops, you can find them at:
Week One: 4 October Deescribe Writing Blog
Week Two: 11 October Write and Read With Dale
Week three: 18 October Alphabet Soup Blog
Week Four: 25 October Let’s Have Words
Week Five: 1 November Sally Murphy’s Writing for Children Blog (you’re here)
Week Six: 8 November Aussiereviews Blog
Week Seven: 15 November Samantha Hughes’ Blog
Week Eight: 22 November Robyn Opie’s Writing Children’s Books Blog
Week Nine: 29 November Stories are Light
Week Ten: 6 December The Aussie Christmas Blog
Week Eleven: 13 December Tales I Tell

Snowy's Christmas Blog Tour: Week Seven

It's Sunday, which means another stop on the Snowy's Christmas blog tour. Today I'm breakfasting with my friend, talented WA illustrator Samantha Hughes. Drop by for some bacon and eggs at this link.


If you’ve missed the start of the tour, you can follow it at:
Week One: 4 October Deescribe Writing Blog
Week Two: 11 October Write and Read With Dale
Week three: 18 October Alphabet Soup Blog
Week Four: 25 October Let’s Have Words
Week Five: 1 November Sally Murphy’s Writing for Children Blog (you’re here)
Week Six: 8 November Aussiereviews Blog
Week Seven: 15 November Samantha Hughes’ Blog
Week Eight: 22 November Robyn Opie’s Writing Children’s Books Blog
Week Nine: 29 November Stories are Light
Week Ten: 6 December The Aussie Christmas Blog
Week Eleven: 13 December Tales I Tell

Great News

Wonderful wonderful news today – especially if you are an Australian author, illustrator or publisher. The Australian government has decided NOT to alter the rules regarding Parallel Importation restrictions (PIR) for books. The minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs, Craig Emerson, this morning issued a press release announcing this decision – you can read the release here.


You can also read more about the celebrations on the Saving Aussie Books blog – and, if you’ve hiding under a rock for the past year and don’t know about this debate, you can browse the same blog for loads of information.

Or, you can simply join me in celebrating a victory for commonsense. One great way to celebrate is to go to your local bookstore and buy an Aussie book. Let’s support the bookstores and ensure their longevity. Independent bookstores, especially, would have been adversely affected by these changes – yet they are the bookstores which seem to actually know about, and support Australian books.

So, what are you waiting for? Start partying – and reading. Aussie Aussie Aussie!