The Rabbits by Sophie Overett

Released: 2 July 2021

Published by: Penguin Australia

Genre: Australian Contemporary/Magical Realism

Source: Purchased

Pages: 336

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Booktopia | QBD | Goodreads

From the winner of the Penguin Literary Prize and the Kathleen Mitchell Award. A multigenerational family story with a dose of magical realism. It is about family secrets, art, very mild superpowers, loneliness and the strange connections we make in the places we least expect.

How do you make sense of the loss of those you love most? Delia Rabbit has asked herself this question over and over again since the disappearance of her older sister, Bo. Crippled by grief, Delia and her mother became dysfunctional, parting ways not long after Delia turned eighteen. Now an art teacher at a Queensland college, Delia has managed to build a new life for herself and to create a family of her own. Only more and more that life is slipping: her partner, Ed, has gone, her daughter, Olive, is distancing herself, and, all of a sudden, in the middle of a blinding heatwave, her sixteen-year-old son, Charlie, disappears too. Suddenly what was buried feels close to the surface, and the Rabbits are faced not only with each other, but also with themselves. The Rabbits is a multigenerational family story with a dose of magical realism. It is about family secrets, art, very mild superpowers, loneliness and the strange connections we make in the places we least expect.

There is magic to be found in a story that is written with such a pointed and achingly real depiction of what it means to be part of a family, to experience a loss, and to know how to rediscover an identity you thought was long gone. The Rabbits encapsulates so much in its blisteringly honest characters. Each member of the family has their own insecurities, a need to be connected to something and mend relationships that have been broken either by losing a person's physical presence, or simply the absence of any true substance even when someone is standing right next to you. Set against the sweltering heat of a Queensland summer and with an original, well-executed twist of magical realism, Overett draws you in from the very first scene and from there it's very hard to let go as the pages fly by. 

You're no good at this, a voice tells her, and no, Delia thinks, she's not. She wants to tell him she's done this before. That she's been Benjamin and she's been Olive. That she's desperately searched, and been bitterly angry, but none of it brings back someone who won't be found, and sometimes the not knowing is better than the truth, because at least it means there's a chance. Her chest tightens, constricts to such a degree that she feels light-headed, and she leans back, putting her hand on the kitchen island to steady herself. 

While the string of missing people in the Rabbits' family life is a central aspect of the novel, what makes this book such a success is the way every character is invested in equally. From Delia's voice as a mother, reflecting on the disappearance of her sister Bo all those years ago, to her mother now slipping away with dementia and old age, Olive rebelling in the early phases of adulthood, and Ben navigating all the drama as a ten year old, every character's voice is portrayed in so much detail. It's rare to find a book that has this combination of both adult and child shifts in perspective which is achieved so seamlessly. You feel as though you've stepped right into the lives of the Rabbits where each secret is ripped open with tender prose that is a pleasure to read. 

There is something to be said also about the creativity of including even the slightest hint of something supernatural in the story. While some works may try too hard or stray beyond into fantasy where it doesn't quite hit the mark, Overett here uses these twists of magical realism to add even more interest and make it just to the threshold of being conceivable. I won't put any spoilers here, but just know that it's clever and done well!

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Rabbits is as creative as it is addictive to read. Fiction by Australian authors has always been promising for me, and I'm so glad that I picked this one up. The Rabbits is full of mystery, insights on troubled family ties and with a satisfying end, making Sophie Overett one to watch!

About the author

Sophie Overett is an award-winning writer, editor, podcaster and cultural producer. Her stories have been published in Griffith Review,Going Down Swinging,Overland,The Sleepers Almanac,and elsewhere. She won the 2018 AAWP Short Story Prize, and her work has been shortlisted for multiple awards, including the Text Prize and the Richell Prize. She’s passionate about storytelling in all of its forms, but particularly stories for the page and the screen. She writes across genres and formats, with a focus on magical realism, literary fiction and horror. The Rabbits, her debut novel, is the winner of the 2020 Penguin Literary Prize, and her first screenplay, All the Little Fishes,has been optioned by Cathartic Pictures. For more information, visit sophieoverett.com.

Review: The Golden Book by Kate Ryan

The Golden Book by Kate Ryan

Released: 3 August 2021

Published by: Scribe Publications

Genre: Australian Contemporary

Source: Purchased

Pages: 244

Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Booktopia | Angus & Robertson | Goodreads

Jessie had said they should go at midnight. 'It’s the gods’ time,' she said, narrowing her eyes dramatically. 'Anything could happen.’ It’s the 1980s, and in their small coastal town, Ali and her best friend, Jessie, are on the cusp. With ‘The Golden Book’, a journal of incantation and risk taking as their record, they begin to chafe at the restrictions put on them by teachers, parents, each other. Then Jessie suffers a devastating accident, and both their lives are forever changed. When Ali is an adult, with a young daughter herself, the news of Jessie’s death brings back the intensity of that summer, forcing her to reckon with her own role in what happened to Jessie so many years ago. As this stunning debut moves back and forth in time, and Ali’s secrets are forced into the light, Kate Ryan asks profound questions about responsibility and blame, and, ultimately, about love.

The complexities of friendships while on the cusp of coming-of-age are brought into stark focus in Kate Ryan's dreamlike novel The Golden Book. Capturing the haze of nostalgia as the main character Ali reflects on the reckless stages of growing up with bohemian and risk-taking best friend Jessie, this is a story which explores the adventurous spirit of adolescence, blurred lines between responsibility and blame and what it means to move past events with shocking consequences. 

How could she say any of it? If only she hadn't suggested it in the first place. If only she had been clearer, stronger, braver, less envious of Jessie. If only Jessie had learnt to read. She was tortured by the idea of the Golden Book, that Jessie's family would read her looping writing, her meanness, her fury, her way with words. Her mind would circle over and over these things, and it seemed that even in sleep she was trying to work out what to do. How had it happened?

While the shifting timeframes between Ali's present state as a mother and writer and her past escapades with Jessie were sometimes jolting in the plot, there is something to be said about Ryan's mesmerising turns of phrase. The golden haze of the 1980s in all its carefree modes of upbringing, kids riding bikes in the street and reckless energy, are so effortlessly depicted. Each line feels deliberate and ebbs slowly towards the bigger revelations of just what happened to Jessie in the time before her death. Ali's memories and the attention given to the pair's competitive yet magnetic friendship, tainted with the knowledge that a power imbalance would always exist, are deftly examined. It's an interesting element to see Ali herself reflecting in her writing class about what she and Jessie would get up to, the wild adventures and dares, alongside the darker undercurrent that slowly began to permeate their bond. At times the pace of the novel may have lagged, but you can't help but be immersed once more by the desire to know what led to Jessie's fate and discover how not only Ali, but also Jessie's family, had reacted.

Maybe she could fix it all, get the real Jessie back from wherever she had gone. She thought of stealing the book, and planning this allowed her to sleep. Sometimes the repetitive thoughts were like voices, coming from a place that was part of her and Jessie too. She had began to wonder whether she had done it on purpose, after all, had really wanted to hurt her. And in the morning, drugged with pure exhaustion, she knew nothing could be done. 

Another interesting element of The Golden Book is the thread that ties past experiences of childhood into how we then choose to raise our own children. Ali's rawness in reflecting on her friendship with Jessie that influences her behaviours now as a woman in a new relationship, with her school-aged daughter Tam, adds another layer of depth to the story. There are some thoughtful points raised about how past trauma and guilt can still linger years after an event, the realisation that one day every child will stretch further from the ties of their parents, and that time while a great healer, can often shift back into memories which one would rather leave behind.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Imbued with nostalgia and exploring some deep themes on what happens when childhood friendships shift into reckless territory, The Golden Book is definitely worth a read. Though at times it may feel as though the shifting in time between the past and the present becomes blurred, Kate Ryan is one to watch for her mesmerising writing style and sharp eye for examining the relationships that shape us.

Author Interview with singer-songwriter Ziggy Alberts: Brainwaves

Brainwaves by Ziggy Alberts

Released: 3 February 2021

Published by: Commonfolk Publishing

Genre: Poetry

Pages: 88

Booktopia | Angus&Robertson | Ziggy Alberts Website

A debut collection of poetry from platinum ARIA accredited artist Ziggy Alberts, 'brainwaves', explores life's experiences and emotions, inwards and out. Deeply personal, frank, insightful yet relatable, Alberts uncovers his introspective thoughts and lessons learned in conscious and intentional living. Differentiating from his lyrical work, readers can discover some of Alberts' most personal realisations from life at home and on the road. Divided into 4 chapters, each poem entices the next train of thought. Alberts masterfully draws observations of the natural environment to paint his experience of introspective moments. He contemplates modern-day dilemmas, timeless topics of purpose, trust, stillness, and love.

I've long been a fan of Ziggy Alberts' music, with the lyrics that sing homage to nature, love and appreciating small moments of stillness bringing so much joy to listen to - especially on the open road driving down the coast! In Brainwaves, there's a thought-provoking exploration of these same themes, with even deeper insights through poems that demonstrate the talent of one of Australia's best independent artists.

Author Interview Ziggy Alberts

What were some of the best and most challenging moments during your time bringing Brainwaves together?

The best time was holding the first copy I had printed and collated myself while I was on tour - that was beautiful. The most challenging part was rising above the burnout I had a couple of years ago that inspired the beginning of this project.

Did your writing process for Brainwaves coordinate in any way with writing for your Searching for Freedom album? How does the creative process differ between lyrics for a song and a stand-alone poem?

There are some small crossovers you will find in the book - I hope you like them :) Largely they are stand-alone projects, with very few lyrics found in the poetry book. Poetry wells up largely from mindfulness, whereas lyrics are written with a message in mind! That is the best way I can describe the difference in the creative process. 

What I've noticed in a lot of your songs and this poetry collection is the recurring theme of the healing and peace afforded through a connection to the ocean. Was there a specific moment in your life that helped you reach this realisation?

There have already been many important moments in my life where nature has provided me with much-needed peace - it's an ongoing realisation for me. 

The phrase "The things I am most gravely frightened of is not experiencing life as beautifully as I can express it in words" is a powerful statement in the book. In Brainwaves you seem to reflect on some deeply personal experiences, heartbreak and finding beauty in the quiet moments in life. What inspired you to share these in the open with your readers?

Through sharing my songs, my life has been a wonderful adventure. With that in mind, I wondered if sharing my poetry could do the same, and perhaps even more!

Searching for Freedom, Bright Lights, Simple Things and the reminder that it's simply being 'guided by the warmth against your skin' from Brainwaves (p. 86) celebrate embracing the release of time pressures, societal expectation and being guided by more than just the usual 'formula' of life. What advice would you give to people aiming to live simply?

I don't know if I can give advice on that topic; I'm still learning (haha) - but I would like to encourage people to value themselves enough to be fulfilled in their work. If you can find something that does that, it will be amazing for yourself and many others.

What is your favourite aspect of performing on stage? I'm pretty sure there are many fans looking forward to attending readings of Brainwaves too when we can! Could you give us a sneak peek at what you might be working on next?

My favourite part is the connection with the crowd and musician, writer and reader. Doing these poetry nights has been unreal so far - I look forward to doing more. I can't give a sneak peek, but we continue to have exciting releases in the following months so keep your eyes and ears peeled! :) 

About the author

Ziggy Alberts is an Australian singer-songwriter and author, whose genuine grassroots story and captivating live performances have built his career as one of Australia’s leading independent artists. When it came to making his musical vision a reality, Ziggy Alberts was always intent on establishing himself as an independent artist. In 2015 Ziggy’s older sister Anneka began managing him. In 2018, Ziggy alongside his sister and father, co-founded Commonfolk Records and soon after in 2020, his independent publishing house, Commonfolk Publishing. Alongside the release of brainwaves, Ziggy’s new album searching for freedom celebrates the next chapter in the evolution of Ziggy Alberts. The 12-track record promises to be an exploration into some of humanity’s most heartfelt and complex emotions, translated into beautiful simplicity by Ziggy’s capable hands. In his own words, the album is “an expression of an adventure that I’ve realised will last a lifetime”  

Twitter | Spotify | Instagram

Author Interview with Sophie Cunningham: Wonder - 175 Years of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Wonder: 175 Years of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria by Sophie Cunningham and Peter Wilmoth

Released: 29 September 2021

Published by: Hardie Grant Books

Genre: Non-fiction, Gardening

Pages: 264

Booktopia | QBD | Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

They sit in the physical and emotional heart of our city, and have done so for 175 years. Most of us have spent time there, and they mean different things to each of us. The Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne have been a place of calm, a site for reflection, creative inspiration, discovery, romance and even refuge. Anyone who has visited has a story. Now a range of these stories from Victorians from many fields is gathered in the lavish publication Wonder: 175 Years of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Told through conversations with writers Sophie Cunningham and Peter Wilmoth, there are stories of Nick Cave conceiving the first lines of a novel there, of actor and writer Michael Veitch being taught the classics on its lawns, of a marriage that took place just days before COVID-19 began its grim sweep across the world, closing sites such as the Gardens for the first time in history. Boonwurrung Elder Aunty Carolyn Briggs tells stories of Country that reach back through millennia, while Landscape Architect Andrew Laidlaw shares the inspiration for some of the Gardens’ more recent landscapes. Horticulturalist Gemma Cotterell tells us about her work on the Australian Forest Walk; architect Kerstin Thompson reminds us of the secrets the Gardens hold and the way those secrets transform landscape into dreamscape; and botanist Neville Walsh shares his excitement on the discovery of a new species of wattle.

The important matters of plant extinction and climate change (including water usage) are also addressed, reminding the reader of the critical role played by our public gardens in securing the future of the planet through its science, irreplaceable collections and conservation action.

With superb photography by Leigh Henningham, the book is about the people’s gardens, and these stories will resonate with readers who cherish their own experiences there.

Some 'coffee-table' books will sit on the mantelpiece or be discarded among the ornaments, scented candles and long-lost scented candles. Others, like Wonder draw you into their pages with personal stories that celebrate the beauty of nature and importance of green spaces in our everyday lives. This is a collection which specifically focuses on the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, but also reaches further in exploring what it means to look up at the trees, breathe in the fresh air and get lost among the paths of shrubs and flowerbeds to find your own hidden oasis. Read on below for my interview with one of the authors, Sophie Cunningham!

Author Interview Sophie Cunningham

One of the really interesting elements of this book is told as exploring "secrets the Gardens hold and the way those secrets transform landscape into dreamscape". What does this mean to you?

I love the way that public spaces can have private and personal meanings. As a child I always loved playing in gardens that I imagined to be jungles, and places of adventure. One of my favourite books was 'The Secret Garden'. But the point is, I suppose, that most people feel like that. It was lovely to be able to talk to people about their emotional responses to the RBGV.

What are some of your own favourite memories and experiences in the gardens?

I really love walking around the bottom of the gardens, where you can find traces of the Yarra's original path, and walk around the lakes that were once part of the wetlands in the area. There are some very special river red gum down there as well. The lion head tree is probably my favourite in the gardens. I also love the Oaks that have been planted throughout Melbourne's Botanic Gardens. Sitting under them is good for the soul.

How did the writing process for this book differ from some of your other works?

The book was interview led - it gives voice to other people's voices and experiences. I did write a book about Cyclone Tracy which also took this approach. I enjoy working this way. Other people's stories always strike me as more interesting than my own.

In collating these stories, was there one in particular which especially resonated with you?

To be honest I have trouble picking a favourite. I loved hearing from Senior Conservation Botanist Neville Walsh - I’m particularly interested in the research and conservation work that the RBGV does. Horticulturalist Gemma Cotterell is doing great things with the Australian Forest Walk. I had a very nice time hanging out with the Manager of Arboriculture, Charlie Carroll, and talking about trees. My interview with Dean Stewart, about the pre-white settlement life of the RBGV landscape, and setting up the Aboriginal Heritage Walks in 1998 were fascinating. Stewart is a great story teller and historian.

How do you feel that being immersed in nature through both the wilderness and in structured landscapes such as botanic gardens can improve and add value to our everyday lives?

I think that having access to natural spaces - designed or not - is as essential to us as breathing. (Indeed, if you want to draw a long bow - trees help us breathe). 

After bringing this book together, what would be your top recommendations of sites to see for people visiting for the first time?

I’m not sure I can or should make recommendations - everyone will be looking for a different private moment, to get back to your first question. As Den Fisher said when I interviewed Dennis Fisher, who has led Aboriginal heritage walks for more than ten years, picking a favourite section of the gardens would be like picking a favourite niece or nephew. Impossible!

 

What would be the top three things you've opened your eyes to after penning these experiences and stories of the Gardens?

1. The extraordinary leadership work of the RGBV particularly with the development of its Landscape Succession Plan, and founding of the Climate Change Alliance

2. The work of the Victorian Conservation Seedbank

3. Being allowed to see some of the early collections that are held by the RGBV, which includes a banksia collected by Joseph Banks

About the author

Sophie Cunningham AM is the author of six books, including City of Trees – Essays on life, death and the need for a forest; Warning – The story of Cyclone Tracy; Melbourne; Bird; and Geography. She is also editor of the collection Fire, Flood, Plague: Australian writers respond to 2020. Sophie’s former roles include as a book publisher and editor, chair of the Literature Board of the Australia Council, editor of the literary journal Meanjin, and co-founder of The Stella Prize celebrating women’s writing. She is now an adjunct professor at RMIT University’s non/fiction Lab. In 2019, Sophie was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her contributions to literature.

Review: Thursdays at Orange Blossom House by Sophie Green - A vibrant celebration of friendship and belonging

Thursdays at Orange Blossom House by Sophie Green

Released: 28 July 2021

Published by: Hachette Australia

Genre: Australian Contemporary

Source: Publisher

Pages: 410

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

QBD | Booktopia | Goodreads

From the author of beloved Top Ten bestsellers The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club and The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle comes a delightful new novel about friendship, love and finding yourself.

Far North Queensland, 1993: At 74, former cane farmer Grace Maud is feeling her age, and her isolation, and thinks the best of life may be behind her. Elsewhere in town, high school teacher Patricia has given up on her dreams of travel and adventure and has moved back home to look after her ageing parents, while cafe owner Dorothy is struggling to accept that she may never have the baby she and her husband so desperately want. Each woman has an unspoken need: reconnection. And that's how they find themselves at Orange Blossom House, surrounded by perfumed rainforest, being cajoled and encouraged by their yoga teacher, the lively Sandrine. Together, they will find courage and strength - and discover that life has much more to offer than they ever expected.

Set amid the lush beauty of tropical Queensland, Thursdays at Orange Blossom House is a heartwarming story of friendship and family, of chances missed and taken, and the eternal power of love.

Thank you to Hachette Australia for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

A layered and smoothly woven story of the bonds between three women who are brought together in unlikely circumstances, Thursdays at Orange Blossom House sings to the tune of an afternoon breeze and time to ponder what our expectations of our identities in life are and the people we want to become. Sophie Green has already showcased her ability to write well in the genre with The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club and The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle. In this book she brings to life the cane fields in Cairns in the 1990's and sense of place as forming a home, the longing for motherhood, quest for self-discovery as an adult and how old age doesn't preclude the making of new friends. 

What might happen if women really succumb to their pain? To the anguish of not getting what they really want, either because they've been told they can't have it, or because nature is conspiring against them? Or sometimes because life just seems so hard that what they see is an unscalable peak, always in sight yet beyond their reach.

At the beginning of the story we're introduced to Grace Maud, whose life has been one on the fields but her son is beginning to have his own new ideas on how the farm should run. Toughened by her experiences, it takes more than a little persuading to get her to Sandrine's yoga class at Orange Blossom House which is the central point for all three characters meeting. Patricia's plight caring for her ailing parents, unmarried and teaching but given up most of her dreams is next, followed by Dorothy; cafe-owner with her husband and has been trying for years to have a child but with no success. These descriptions don't do the depth of these three women justice - Green's ability to add so much detail to their lives, ideas, thoughts and fears feel so realistic and are issues that many readers could relate to. The real spark comes through when little by little the barriers begin to break down and conversations are had, where each of the trio start to open up to each other and from there solutions can be found to the problems they are facing. This idea of women leaning on each other and being able to bring down the facade of being so capable, strong and perpetually self-sacrificing, is brought to the fore with nuance and heart. A healthy dose of good humour and some laughs throughout add to the light and shade within the plot, making for a read which is just as comforting as a cup of tea on a breezy spring day.

FINAL THOUGHTS

In lockdown I find myself drifting towards the kind of reads that are thoughtful but end on a high note, with a view to capturing not only our sense of place in this beautiful country but also how we find homes in the connections built among the kindness of strangers we meet in life. Thursdays at Orange Blossom House is one example of this, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Sophie Green next!

About the author

Sophie Green is an author and publisher who lives in Sydney. She has written several fiction and non-fiction books, some under other names. In her spare time she writes about country music on her blog, Sunburnt Country Music. She has been practising yoga since 1993 and teaching since 2002. Sophie's debut novel, THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FAIRVALE LADIES BOOK CLUB, a Top Ten bestseller, was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards for General Fiction Book of the Year 2018, and longlisted for both the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year 2018 and the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018. THE SHELLY BAY LADIES SWIMMING CIRCLE was also a Top Ten bestseller.

Author Interview: Catch Us the Foxes by Nicola West

Catch Us the Foxes by Nicola West

Released: 7 July 2021

Published by: Simon and Schuster Australia

Genre: Crime thriller

Pages: 384

Booktopia | QBD | Goodreads

The hotly contested novel about a small town's killer cult secret by a debut author destined to become Australia's next thriller-writing superstar. Ambitious young journalist Marlowe ‘Lo’ Robertson would do anything to escape the suffocating confines of her small home town. While begrudgingly covering the annual show for the local paper, Lo is horrified to discover the mutilated corpse of Lily Williams, the reigning showgirl and Lo’s best friend. Seven strange symbols have been carved into Lily’s back. But when Lo reports her grisly find to the town’s police chief, he makes her promise not to tell anyone about the symbols. Lo obliges, though it’s not like she has much of a choice – after all, he is also her father. When Lily’s murder makes headlines around the country, Lo seizes the opportunity to track down the killer and make a name for herself by breaking the biggest story of her life. What Lo uncovers is that her sleepy home town has been harbouring a deadly secret, one so shocking that it will captivate the entire nation. Lo’s story will change the course of her life forever, but in a way she could never have dreamed of.

An Aussie-small-town-thriller with grit and shocking twists, Nicola West has made her debut with an electrifying plot. 

Author Interview with Nicola West

Firstly, congratulations on publishing your first book! What were the best and most challenging aspects of writing Catch Us The Foxes?

Thank you! The most challenging part for me was actually the six months prior to starting Catch Us the Foxes when I was struggling to write a memoir about my experience of having to fight for my right to receive a medically necessary hysterectomy as a teenager.

The second I allowed myself to work on what I was actually passionate about (a twisty psychological thriller set in my hometown), the writing process completely transformed and went from something akin to pulling teeth to something that felt effortless. Every single sentence of Catch Us the Foxes was an absolute joy to write.

Was there a particular 'this is what I'm going to write about moment!' that came to you before penning your debut?

Stuck back in the tiny coastal town I grew up in after my Sydney apartment flooded, one of my only forms of escape was the phenomenal third season of my favourite TV show – Twin Peaks. Revisiting both the fictional town and my own former hometown made me realise what a perfect setting the latter would make for a crime novel. I immediately began Twin Peaks-ifying Kiama and went searching for my own Laura Palmer. As an Australian, she couldn’t be a prom queen, but she could definitely be a showgirl. That single character (and her death) became the catalyst for the entire book.

The 'small town' setting definitely makes this book all the more suspenseful as secrets become uncovered, what were some of your influences in making the action take place this way?

Twin Peaks was definitely the biggest influence on the setting (along with my own small-town upbringing). However, I also wanted to incorporate a cult element into the book as they are something I’ve always been fascinated with (ever since my mum told me I would join one as a child). The original Wicker Man undeniably does ‘small-town cult’ best, but I also really loved the way the first season of True Detective created such strong iconography for its own cult. Combining the two left me with mysterious symbols carved in flesh, people in animal masks, flower crowns, and ritual sacrifice.

Without giving too much away, is there a particular moment in the story or character that was especially meaningful to you as you wrote this book?

Exploring Marlowe’s detachment (particularly when it comes to relationships) was something that was significant to me as it not only reflected my own experiences growing up but is also something that is seldom portrayed in fiction. It was interesting to be able to capture Marlowe from the perspective of the male gaze while simultaneously granting her the agency to be open about her feelings (or lack thereof). To this day, reading the scenes with Owen makes my skin crawl.

If there's one piece of advice you'd give to other aspiring authors out there, what would it be?

It sounds incredibly cheesy, but you really have to find what makes your heart sing. I took a non-fiction writing course when I was writing my memoir and a guest author said that the writing process had to feel like a compulsion – like something you couldn’t live without. I remember being frustrated by that comment because it was so contrary to my own experience. But when I finally ditched the memoir and switched to the novel, I suddenly understood what she meant. Don’t be afraid to change things up and experiment with genres/styles until you find the one that resonates with you most.

After an impressive first novel, could you give us a hint at what you may want to work on next?

I’m severely immunocompromised and have only left my apartment complex twice in the past sixteen months (to get both vaccine shots). So, until Australia gets its act together and a larger proportion of the country is fully vaccinated, I foresee a lot more time spent in these same four walls.

 

Thankfully, I was able to take advantage of my newfound free time and completed two new novels during the pandemic – the sequel to Catch Us the Foxes and a new standalone thriller. I’m also looking forward to a bevy of Zoom events over the coming months. So please come and say ‘hi’ – I really need the human interaction!

About the author

Nicola West is the daughter of a third-generation police officer and grew up in a bucolic coastal town in New South Wales. After moving to Sydney to pursue a career in journalism, she vowed to be as far removed from both her hometown and her father’s profession as possible—that is until she found herself writing a novel about both topics.

Nicola was initially writing a memoir about her decades-long medical journey that saw her undergo 40 surgeries, 71 lumbar punctures and experimental neurosurgery. But, inspired by her love of all things crime, cult, and the local urban legends of her hometown, she pivoted to thriller writing and found it far more therapeutic. Catch Us the Foxes is her first novel.

Twitter | Author website

Author Interview: The Unflinching Ash by Angela Armstrong

The Unflinching Ash by Angela Armstrong

Released: 12 July 2021

Published by: Norsou Books

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 353

Amazon | Author Website | Goodreads

In a world like ours, Mystics once ruled the night. Well, so long as they were men. On Ash’s day of naming, she chose the Mystic path nonetheless. The same illusions that garner gasps of awe from the lamp-lit crowds earn her scorn from the basilica. There is only one way forward: a perilous quest – earn the Queen’s Seal, a badge of honour, and immunity. She’ll simply have to avoid being hanged, burned or drowned first.                                                                                                   

When one of my favourite authors of all time, Rachael Craw, put this book on my radar I knew it must be something special! It's clear that Angela Armstrong knows how to pull together a YA-crossover-fantastical story with a strong female lead, healthy dose of humour and key message echoed below that "there isn't one right way to forge a brave path". Read on for more!

Author Interview with Angela Armstrong

Firstly, a big congratulations on publishing The Unflinching Ash! How did the experience of writing this book compare with the novelettes you have released in the past?

The writing experiences for the Gen2K novel and novelettes and The Unflinching Ash had a surprising amount in common. Both were written in answer to disappointment, and then asking, “What if..?”. The Gen2K stories were born of my own infertility crisis, and the discovery of little-known consequences for undertaking IVF treatment.  I then asked, “What if after millions undertook this treatment, the worst happened?” For The Unflinching Ash, I left an international magic show with my three daughters, frustrated by their uncertainty about whether they could aspire to be a magician or only a magician’s assistant. I then asked, “What if there were more renowned female Illusionists?”

While the impetus for writing in both worlds was similar, my approach for each was very different. The Unflinching Ash was written for a long time with an excellent editor from one of the big houses giving me feedback – it was always intended as my chief commercial debut. The Gen2K pieces were what I wrote while I waited. As most people know, busy editors don’t always reply right away. So I could giddily send 15K words of new Ash materia and watch my Inbox, but it would be some time before the editor would come back with notes on what had become a new version of a 100K manuscript. So I filled my back catalogue, did next to nothing to promote it, and waited for the next set of directives for Ash. This allowed me to always be writing, and hopefully offers any keen readers who devour Ash the pleasant surprise of finding more by this author, if they go looking.

What drove you to write in the genre of YA fantasy and what's it like as an author coming up with worldbuilding elements as well as portraying characters which readers can relate to?

A double-barrel! Like a fair share of other writers, I was once a High School English teacher.  I also reviewed screeds of YA ARCs and interviewed YA authors for publishers such as Walker and Hachette for a decade. So I know a little about this age group, the YA market, and the coming-of-age characters populating it. I love YA. While it’s never too late to discover the magic of reading, so many life-long readers’ devotion is earned during those crucial years, and that’s something I want to be a part of. There is a lot of discussion right now about YA no longer being for YA. I lament if this is true!  I hope that instead of striving to push any adults who are reading YA out, we do our best to reclaim any young adults no longer in. For me, one of the most beautiful things about strong YA, is that those stories appeal beyond the young adult years. How incredible if a book keeps being good, as you grow older? Thus, I hope bookstores will file The Unflinching Ash as Cross-over Fiction – great for ages 15+, or confident younger readers. I’m hoping adults will read Ash alongside the young people in their lives. 

You also might find it in the Alternative History, Historical Fiction or YA sections.  Ash is often dubbed as Fantasy, but strictly speaking, I’m not sure it’s fantastical. This is a story about the magic and mystique drawn from within, rather than the magic a mage might conjure with a wand. It’s about illusions, mentalism and showmanship rather than spells.  I hope in it you’ll find a world like ours, but different, with a sassy heroine worth rooting for.  I thrilled in re-imagining our dark ages a little brighter for having Ash in it.

What are some of your favourite and also most challenging aspects of writing that people may not always recognise or talk about?

One of my favourite things about writing is re-reading my own stuff after I’ve set it aside for a while to work on something else. It’s a treat to return to something with fresh eyes and have you sneak up on you. 

I have always backed myself – I know I can write.  But self-promotion is hard. I want readers to know I can write, but I’m no peacock. Finding a way to say, “Do you see my feathers?” without fanning them out is proving difficult.  

Without giving too much away, is there a particular quote or moment in the book which is particularly meaningful to you?

This quote comes from when we meet Ash’s sister, Grete:

Grete wore caution like a crown.  Although Ash and Grete were both born from the same Mapa and Papal, the sisters were antipodean enchantresses.  To Ash the Mysteries had dealt passion, grit and tireless intent, which she carried like a loaded quiver on her strong, lithe frame.  Grete’s appeal was no less, but instead came by way of caution, calm and censure – an attractive safe harbour expressed in her soft edges and soft speech.  Both young women had thick dark hair and the blessing of symmetry on their side.  Both could sneak.

This quote is particularly meaningful to me because it introduces an essential paradigm for the story – these two are both strong, impressive women, but they have responded to trauma and plotted their course in very different ways, and that’s okay – there isn’t one right way to forge a brave path.

If there were three key messages you'd hope readers would be able to take away from The Unflinching Ash and bring into our world, what would they be?

1) There isn’t one right way to forge a brave path. Find yours and take it, allows others to choose their own. 

2) Don’t let the haters get you down.

3) Confidence does not make a woman a b*tch. 

Can I say that?

After this impressive release, could you give us a hint at what you're working on next?

Kind. I'm already elbows deep in a contemporary middle grade magical realism novel set in New Zealand.

About the author

Before writing books, Angela studied English and Film at the University of Otago, taught full-time in schools, owned an art gallery, and reviewed books for trade publishers. She lives with her husband Haki in Northland, New Zealand, where she devotes her non-writing hours to home-schooling three chatty daughters who have inherited a fierce love of words from their mother.

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Review & Author Interview: Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker

Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker

Released: 1 March 2021

Published by: Allen and Unwin

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Source: Publisher

Pages: 396

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

QBD | Booktopia | Goodreads

What if Juliet Capulet met someone who made her doubt true love? What if Wuthering Heights was a message to a time traveller? A cosmic reimagining of Romeo and Juliet and homage to two literary classics in a compelling novel about fate, love and time travel from an award-winning author. YEAR: 2083. LOCATION: LONDON. MISSION: WAKE ROMEO. It's the end of the world. Literally. Time travel is possible, but only forwards. And only a handful of families choose to remain in the 'now', living off the scraps that were left behind. Among these are eighteen-year-old Juliet and the love of her life, Romeo. But things are far from rosy for Jules. Romeo is in a coma and she's estranged from her friends and family, dealing with the very real fallout of their wild romance. Then a handsome time traveller, Ellis, arrives with an important mission that makes Jules question everything she knows about life and love. Can Jules wake Romeo and rewrite her future? A highly original mashup that delights as it disorients ... and asks what would have happened if two great literary love stories were somehow intertwined. 

Six years ago I read an amazing book by a debut Aussie Author - In the Skin of a Monster. This year Kathryn Barker is back with another equally captivating read, and wow did it deliver. I'm calling it - Waking Romeo is the most unique book I'm going to read this year! Full of mind-bending twists, super clever links to classic literature and a message on love and life that is both delicately and fiercely told, all I can say is...read it. You won't be disappointed.

Author Interview with Kathryn Barker

Firstly, congratulations on another stunning release. In the Skin of a Monster has still stuck with me 6 years after reading it and Waking Romeo is just as captivating! How did the idea for this new book come about and what were your biggest motivators to release a second book?

Thanks so much for your kind words - I’m trilled that In the Skin of a Monster and Waking Romeo resonated with you! As for where the idea for Waking Romeo came from… I suppose it was from contemplating love stories and the romantic ideal. I read both Romeo & Juliet and Wuthering Heights when I was in high school, and (as a hopeless romantic) I was captivated by the love stories. But when I got older, I realised that the examples they set weren’t exactly healthy - especially when it came to the women. I wanted to deconstruct those two classics and imagine a story where the girl had more agency. 

As for my biggest motivators to release a second book… the simple truth is, I love writing. I also find that it helps me understand my truths, the world and my own experiences. 

Was there a particular person or influence in your life at the time of writing Waking Romeo which made a special contribution to your writing process for the book in any way?

Waking Romeo was written at a time when I was reconfiguring what love meant to me, and who I was as my own person. That experience clearly reflected in the book...so perhaps the 'significant influence' was my own personal growth and revolution.

As a time travel novel, there are so many different plot points and significant moments which you've woven so cleverly together - what was it like writing a book with such an interconnected storyline that makes use of bending timelines?

It was a challenge! Getting the plot right was enormously tricky, especially since I didn’t want it to detract from the characterisation. Having said that the Universe is full of beautiful coincidences, and so often connections would just land in my lap. When that happened, it reinforced the feeling that I was on the right track, which was wonderful.

The characters in this book were so vividly portrayed, and I especially enjoyed how the classic literary references had influence in a way I've never seen before. What were some of the most challenging/enjoyable aspects of mixing genres in this way?

Thank you so much! I suppose the biggest challenge was finding the right balance between respecting the source text/ characterisation, while giving myself permission to explore something new without feeling constrained. The most enjoyable aspect was definitely getting to dip into Shakespeare and Bronte! Getting to incorporate some of their incredible words/ worlds/ characters into my story was such a gift. 

Without giving too much away, is there a particular quote or moment from the book which means a lot to you personally?

The final page of the book is my favourite, because it encapsulates both Jules' truth and my own.

For young and older readers alike picking up Waking Romeo, is there a particular message to think about you hope they can gain from it? For me, it was definitely the focus on living each moment fully and appreciating the present, while also gaining insights on how to build on a better future.

Yes - investing in the ’now’ (rather than focusing on the past or on the future) is a big one for me too, as is caring for our environment. However, I think one of the core themes that underpins Waking Romeo is the idea of challenging romantic ideals and our concept of what love is. I hope to give readers the space to consider the ‘epic romances’ in stories like Romeo & Juliet and Wuthering Heights and think about how that stacks up against more modern ideals. 

Is there anything you can share with us on what you're currently working on/doing outside of writing?

With Waking Romeo, I really enjoyed delving into classic works of literature and then finding an angle for a modern retelling. I’m working on a new story which explores that territory again…  but the threads haven’t woven themselves together enough yet for me to explain it coherently! 

As for what I’m doing outside of writing… I’m planning a camping trip, because I want to sleep under the stars!

 

About the author

Kathryn Barker was born in Canberra, started primary school in Tokyo and finished high school in the woods outside Olympia, Washington State. In the years that followed she went to university, became a lawyer, completed her masters in film production and worked in television. She currently lives in Sydney with her family. Kathryn's first novel, In the Skin of a Monster, was published to high acclaim and won the Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Novel, was short-listed for two Davitt Awards and was a CBCA Notable Book. Waking Romeo is her second novel.