#LoveOzYA Throwback Thursday (#11)
Throwback Thursday #LoveOzYA
edition is our way of spreading the love of backlist Aussie books that
you might have missed. We'll hopefully be posting a new book each
week, and we'd love you to join us!
chiara's pick
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Released: April 1st 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Add it to Goodreads
What if a microchip could identify your perfect match?
What if it could be used against you and the ones you love?
Eight years ago, Mercer Corporation’s M-Bands became mandatory. An evolution of the smartphone, the bracelets promised an easier life. Instead, they have come to control it.
Two years ago, Maggie Stevens watched helplessly as one of the people she loves most was taken from her, shattering her world as she knew it.
Now, Maggie is ready. And Quentin Mercer – heir to the M-Corp empire – has become key to Maggie’s plan. But as the pieces of her dangerous design fall into place, could Quentin’s involvement destroy everything she’s fought for?
In a world full of broken promises, the ones Maggie must keep could be the most heartbreaking.
why i chose it
1) The main character, Maggie, is totally badass and doesn't take crap from anyone. I loved this about her so much.
2) She has a best friend who's a guy and they're just there for each other. No romance here.
3) The ship is kind of hate to love, and it's awesome seeing Quentin grow so much over the course of the book.
4) The plotline and the way it's written are very engaging, and there was not one moment in this entire book where I was bored or uninterested.
5) It's an Australian dystopian! Which is rare, but it's also incredible so go now and read it if you haven't already!
Follow Chiara at Books for a Delicate Eternity, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads
What's your pick for this week? Share on your blog, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, or in the comments below! Make sure you tag your posts with #AusYABloggers so we can share the love.
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT – HELEN SCHEUERER Q&A
We
are so excited to have the Lovely Helen Scheuerer, as our guest this month.
Helen took time out of her busy writing schedule to answer a few questions for
us. Helen
is the author of Heart
of Mist and the founding editor
at Writers Edit.
HEART OF MIST WAS PUBLISHED ON THE 31ST OF AUGUST, CONGRATULATIONS! IF YOU COULD GO BACK PRE-PUBLICATION DAY AND GIVE YOURSELF ANY ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Thank
you! Hmmm… That’s a great question. I think I’d tell myself: Everything’s going to be okay! I was a
massive stress case before the release of Heart
of Mist, and in the end, the book’s success surpassed all my expectations!
WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR PUBLISHING JOURNEY SO FAR?
So
far, I’d say hitting #1 on Amazon in under 24 hours of the book’s release. That
was an incredibly surreal moment for me. I had worked myself into the ground
trying to get Heart of Mist into the
right hands, and it showed that hard work pays off.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BECOME WRITERS?
Write
what you love. Don’t write for a trend or what you think is expected of you.
You’ll never be able to sustain writing something you’re not in love with. I
learnt that the hard way!
HAVE YOU FOUND THAT YOUR WRITING PROCESS HAS CHANGED AT ALL NOW THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON BOOK NUMBER TWO?
My
writing process itself hasn’t changed much, but I’ve found it much harder to
balance writing alongside the marketing of Book I. A book is a living thing,
even after it’s been released - it need nurturing and promoting constantly,
especially in the first few months of its life. And that makes it hard to
create something new at the same time!
CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT BOOK NUMBER TWO IN THE OREMERE CHRONICLES?
Book
II will see all the main players from Book I return. We’ll get to explore the
realm on a much broader scale, and a number of big secrets from Heart of Mist will be revealed...
WHAT ARE YOU READING AT THE MOMENT (OR WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ)?
My
reading has varied quite a lot over the last few months! I’m slowly working my
way through Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and am currently on The Fiery Cross. I’ve also read First Year: The Black Mage Apprentice by
Rachel E. Carter.
WE ARE ALL ABOUT PROMOTING BOTH AUSSIE AND NZ AUTHORS - CAN YOU SHARE WITH US ANY FAVOURITES YOU HAVE?
I’ve
recently discovered Gabrielle Tozer and her book Remind Me How This Ends, which I loved! Then I’ve got my classic
faves like Isobelle Carmody and Melina Marchetta.
Thank you so much to Helen for taking the time to answer our questions! I'm sure we're all looking forward to reading Heart of Mist, if we haven’t already!
#LoveOZYA Throwback Thursday (#10)
Kelly's #LOVEOZYA Throwback Thursday
Written by Tara June Winch
Published by UQP
Add to Goodreads
In 2006, Tara June Winch’s startling debut Swallow the Air was published to acclaim. Its poetic yet visceral style announced the arrival afresh and exciting new talent. This 10th anniversary edition celebrates its important contribution to Australian literature.
When May’s mother dies suddenly, she and her brother Billy are taken in by Aunty. However, their loss leaves them both searching for their place in a world that doesn’t seem to want them. While Billy takes his own destructive path, May sets out to find her father and her Aboriginal identity. Her journey leads her from the Australian east coast to the far north, but it is the people she meets, not the destinations, that teach her what it is to belong.
Swallow the Air is an unforgettable story of living in a torn world and finding the thread to help sew it back together.
May is a young indigenous girl who lost her mother at a tender age, displaced and leaves the City of Wollongong to travel to far Northern Australia in search of her ancestral family. May was a character representative of aspects of our broken country, where Aboriginal communities are left behind while white society moves forward. One of the realities May also faces is how Indigenous Australians can be treated by our police, authorities and our communities. May's life isn't a stereotype, she's a young woman that society as a whole has neglected, representing our traditional land owners that have been overlooked.
Swallow The Air by indigenous author Tara June Winch is compelling. Please support indigenous Australian authors. This is reading diversely. Reading beyond your knowledge and experience and support the Indigenous arts.
You can find Kelly via Diva Booknerd Twitter Instagram and Goodreads
READER SPOTLIGHT: INTERVIEW WITH BEC
Name &/or Nickname.
Bec.
Where do you live (State or vague area).
SE QLD.
Where do you wish you lived (e.g. Narnia, Fantasia, etc.).
Any fantasy land honestly. I love the feel of Wendlyn and Terrasen (basically anything that’s as pretty as the South Island of New Zealand and Scottish highlands)
Top Three favourite #LoveOzYA reads of all time.
• Heart’s Blood by Juliet Marillier
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• The Lotus War trilogy by Jay Kristoff
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• The Lotus War trilogy by Jay Kristoff
Top Three YA Series of all time (worldwide).
I know I’m going to miss some of my all time favourites, but three that first come to mind:
• Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
• Study series by Maria V Snyder
• Witches of Eileanan and Rhiannon’s Ride (a second series counts because it’s the sequel series!) by Kate Forsyth
• Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
• Study series by Maria V Snyder
• Witches of Eileanan and Rhiannon’s Ride (a second series counts because it’s the sequel series!) by Kate Forsyth
Who or what got you into reading.
My friend lent me the Unicorns of Balinor and Phantom Stallion series waaaayyy back in primary school, but I wasn’t a full on bookworm until I started high school. I didn’t have many friends so read a lot of Nancy Drew and whatever else I could get my hands on.
Preferred Genres.
Fantasy, Sci Fi, Historical, Steampunk.
Have you ever met any famous authors (it's ok to brag in this instance). If not who would you love to meet.
I’ve met a fair few surprisingly! Maggie Stiefvater, Maria V Snyder, Jay Kristoff (I have dropped things in front of him both times I’ve met him), Amie Kaufman, Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, Juliet Marillier, and Sarah J Maas. I’d love to meet them all again, plus Kate Forsyth, Leigh Bardugo, Susan Dennard, Meagan Spooner, and many many more!
If you could spend a day with any YA protagonist who would it be and why.
I’d love to spend a day talking to Tessa Grey about books! I’m happy to talk to anyone about books really
Where can we find you online.
Goodreads: BecBooktineus
Tumblr: booktineus
Hi there. Do you want to be apart of our Reader Spotlights? We are giving our Readers the choice to share their bookish experiences in the form of either an interview or by writing a guest post. You can join in on the fun by signing up HERE.
#LoveOzYA Throwback Thursday (#9)
Throwback Thursday #LoveOzYA
edition is our way of spreading the love of backlist Aussie books that
you might have missed. We'll hopefully be posting a new book each
week, and we'd love you to join us!
chiara's pick
Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Released: December 1st 2013
Publisher: Allen and Unwin
Add it to Goodreads
It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets to the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.
Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they're worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.
Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other's arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder - would they be better off staying in this place forever?
Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won't be the same people who landed on it.
The first in a sweeping science fiction trilogy, These Broken Stars is a timeless love story about hope and survival in the face of unthinkable odds.
why i chose it
Before any other reason: that cover! Which I know is a super shallow reason to want to read a novel BUT it is what inspired me to read this book in the first place, along with the fact that it was being promoted as a YA sci-fi version of Titanic.Another reason to read this novel is Tarver. Half the book is from his perspective and I adore him. No other character in this trilogy came close to Tarver. He is just precious and incredibly lovable.
I read These Broken Stars in one day, with only small breaks in between sittings. It was that addictive. I was immersed in the story from page one, and I shipped the ship from the moment the two met. There is so much to enjoy about this book which is why it's my pick for this week's Throwback Thursday!
Follow Chiara at Books for a Delicate Eternity, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads
What's your pick for this week? Share on your blog, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, or in the comments below! Make sure you tag your posts with #AusYABloggers so we can share the love.
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