Rogue Blog Tour


Pan Macmillan Australia, together with the #AusYABloggers are celebrating the release of Rogue by Australian author A.J.Betts. On tour, you will find bloggers, reviewers and Instagrammers from Australia sharing their thoughts on Rogue, beginning on July 1st until July 5th 2019.
Tour Schedule

Monday 1 July
Aka Bookblogger
Hungry Thesaurus
Things Lucy Reads
Novel Tea Corner
The Bibliosmaniac

Tuesday 2 July
Bookish Bron
Dani and The Books
Lost in Literature
The Secret World of a Book Blog
Bookish Universee

Wednesday 3 July
Inside a Dog
Seventy Eight Sundays
Gilly Reads
Pretty Nerdy 3
Jessie Hulks Books


Thursday 4 July
Elysian Words
Bookish Intoxication
Kitster Cronk
Shelle Reads Books
The Rest Is Still Unwritten


Friday 5 July
Shannon A Jade Books
Reading Sumpton
Days of lost reading 89
Clare Snow
Sarah Says




About the book
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Rogue (Hive #2) by A.J. Betts
Published by Pan Macmillan
ISBN 9781760556440
Published June 25th 2019
Add to Goodreads
RRP $16.99
There was no going back; there was no choice, anymore. I'd chosen out and this was it: hot-cold, dry-wet, bright-dark and lonely.

Hayley has gone rogue.

She's left everything she's ever known - her friends, her bees, her whole world - because her curiosity was too big to fit within the walls of her underwater home.

But what is this new world she's come to? Has Hayley finally found somewhere she can belong?

Or will she have to keep running?

The thrilling conclusion to Hive from award-winning, internationally bestselling author A. J. Betts


PRAISE AND AWARDS FOR HIVE

"A striking dystopian world: Hive carves out a niche through intriguing and original world-building [with] enough imaginative vitamin to tease readers into anticipating the second and final volume in the series." Sydney Morning Herald

Shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards 2019
Shortlisted for the Indie Book Awards 2019
Children's Book Council of Australia Notable Book 2019
About the author
A. J. Betts is an Australian author, speaker, teacher and cyclist, and has a PhD on the topic of wonder, in life and in reading. She has written five novels for young adults. Her third novel, Zac & Mia, won the 2012 Text Prize, the 2014 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, and the 2014 Ethel Turner prize for young adults at the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, was shortlisted for the 2014 Queensland Literary Award, and is available in 14 countries. It was adapted for American television by AwesomenessTV, and will soon be available globally. Her fourth novel, Hive, was shortlisted for the 2019 Indie Book Awards and is a notable book in the Children's Book Council of Australia awards. A. J. is originally from Queensland but has lived in Fremantle since 2004.

Find Anna via Goodreads  Twitter  and  Instagram

All That Impossible Space Tour!


Hachette Australia, together with the #AusYABloggers are celebrating the release of All That Impossible Space by Australian debut author Anna Morgan. On tour, you will find bloggers, reviewers and Instagrammers from Australia sharing their thoughts on All That Impossible Space, beginning on June 24th until June 28th 2019.

Follow the tour below



About the book
All That Impossible Space
Published by Hachette Australia
ISBN 9780734419637
Published June 25th 2019
Add to Goodreads
RRP $19.99
Amelia Westlake meets My Favorite Murder in this debut from a terrific new voice in Australian YA. Combines a realistic story about high school drama and toxic friendship with true crime - the endlessly fascinating Somerton Man or Taman Shud mystery.

15-year-old Lara Laylor feels like supporting character in her own life. She's Ashley's best friend, she's Hannah's sister-she's never just Lara.

When new history teacher Mr. Grant gives her an unusual assignment: investigating the mystery of the Somerton Man. Found dead in on an Adelaide beach in 1948, a half-smoked cigarette still in his mouth and the labels cut out of his clothes, the Somerton Man has intrigued people for years. Was he a spy? A criminal? Year 10 has plenty of mysteries of its own: boys, drama queen friends, and enigmatic new students. When they seem just as unsolvable as a 60-year-old cold case, Lara finds herself spending more and more time on the assignment. But Mr Grant himself may be the biggest mystery of all...
About the author
Anna was born in Sydney, but spent most of her childhood surrounded by mountains in Nepal and Tibet while her parents were part of an international community of health professionals. Navigating this cross-cultural life made her a curious observer of people, although most of her time was spent reading Enid Blyton and dreaming of going to boarding school. This did not cushion the shock of shifting from home-school in Tibet to an all-girls high school in Melbourne when her family returned to Australia.

Anna completed a MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University in 2015, and now lives in Melbourne with her husband. She works as a bookseller.

Find Anna via Goodreads  Twitter  and  Instagram

Blog Tour: Kindred: 12 Queer Stories #Loveozya - Guest Review and Interview from Amy


We are opening up our blog today from a Guest Review and Interview from Amy. Hope you enjoy her thoughts- Tash

Hey! I am super grateful to be a part of this tour with the release of Kindred: 12 Queer #LoveOzYA Stories and I’d like to start off by saying a massive massive thank you to Walker Books Australia and AusYABloggers for sending me a copy of the book and allowing me to share my thoughts. I’ve also had the delightful privilege of interviewing Erin Gough, which you can find after my review. 


Abouthbook...

43197387What does it mean to be queer? What does it mean to be human? In this powerful #LoveOzYA collection, twelve of Australia’s finest writers from the LGBTQ+ community explore the stories of family, friends, lovers and strangers – the connections that form us.

This inclusive and intersectional #OwnVoices anthology for teen readers features work from writers of diverse genders, sexualities and identities, including writers who identify as First Nations, people of colour or disabled. With short stories by bestsellers, award winners and newcomers to young adult fiction including Jax Jacki Brown, Claire G Coleman, Michael Earp, Alison Evans, Erin Gough, Benjamin Law, Omar Sakr, Christos Tsiolkas, Ellen van Neerven, Marlee Jane Ward, Jen Wilde and Nevo Zisin.


Includes a foreword by anthology editor Michael Earp, resources for queer teens, contributor bios and information about the #LoveOzYA movement.


View Kindred on Goodreads | Walker Books Australia


PurchasLinks 

If you purchase Kindred from The Little Bookroom you can have it signed By Michael Earp. All You have to do is mention in the order notes that you followed the Kindred Tour and would like your copy signed by Michael.

For people looking to find a bookshop near them: Find A Bookshop.

Amy's Review

This is a book for queer youth to know that they are not alone in their experiences, that these incredible and diverse set of authors have lived these queer lives and understand themselves and their experiences so much so that they are able to articulate this understanding beautifully and capture it in stories such as the twelve wonderful short stories in this anthology. We read to know we are not alone, and to read a book like this instantly validates experiences outside of the usual cishet bubble. As lovely as this tour it, I really hope that this book finds itself in the hands of the kids who need it and for them to know that it’s okay.

This book was wonderfully diverse and not just with a variety of queer identities, but also featured disabled and First Nations authors and characters. In the same way I feel validated by reading about the gay stuff, I know that this extra level of inclusivity will mean worlds for the young people in those situations.

I enjoyed certain stories more than others, which I think is fair when reading an anthology like this with such a diverse set of very unique and really very quite different stories. From dystopian worlds to first interactions with crushes, relationships with family to magical quests, there is a story in here for everyone. I think my personal favourites would have to be Jen Wilde’s “Waiting”, Marlee Jane Ward’s “Rats”, Michael Earp’s “Bitter Draught” and of course, Erin Gough’s “In Case of Emergency, Break Glass”.

Please make sure to check out the other stops on this tour with plenty more in depth reviews and interviews by going here!



Interview with Erin Gough 

Without further ado, I’d like to share my interview with the every lovely Erin Gough. I am absolutely obsessed with her second novel, Amelia Westlake, and adore her works, so this interview was particularly exciting.

This interview was completed before I had received the book, however I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Erin at the Kindred launch in Melbourne to say hello. Even as I got stuck behind the tables and had to rush off quickly afterwards – heaven forbid we miss our train home (spoiler: we didn’t) – she was very kind and welcoming.


Before I get too into it, I thought I’d start off with some simpler easy questions first just to let you warm up a little.

Yes or no - Pineapple on pizza?

Yes. Bring it.

Do you have a favourite word?

‘Agile’ is my current favourite. I am definitely overusing it in my writing at the moment.

If you could only ever listen to one artist for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Nina Simone.

Alright too easy (I hope?). I think that's enough of a warm up, here's some questions that perhaps may require a bit more brainpower.

Exploring and defining your identity can be a difficult process on its own without the extra hurdles that can come along with being queer - such as potential mental and internal struggles, or challenges from the world around you. How did you navigate (or perhaps still are navigating) this process of exploring your queer identity?

It was hard. It’s still hard at times, but it’s a lot easier than it was when I was a teen. I was in denial for a long time about my sexuality. I didn’t know any lesbians. I grew up in a fairly religious community and being gay was not a legitimate identity in that community. Even though I suspected I was a lesbian, I told myself it was just that I hadn’t met the right boy yet. I decided I had to date a few boys to be sure, which I did. Then I kissed a girl. It changed everything. I was at university and living out of home by then, which made it a lot easier to explore who I was. I don’t think I could have done that had I been living with my parents.

And to follow on from that, how do you identify?

As a cis lesbian.

And of course, queer identities also generally have the extra element of them with regards to coming out. How was your coming out experience?

It was pretty hard. I was 24. I waited until I was living overseas to phone my parents. They were really upset and said some hurtful things. When I came home a few months later I had a hard time adjusting to being out. My friends were amazing, which helped. Some of them knew already. My girlfriend and her family were incredibly supportive. I also had some counselling, which was exactly what I needed. And I took up kickboxing, which was awesome! I pounded a lot of anger into those punching bags.

What (or who?) inspired the short story you contributed to Kindred?

The story is partly inspired by my own experience of dating boys when I was in my late teens and early twenties and trying to make it work. And then meeting someone who changed everything. That’s what my protagonist, Amy, experiences. She meets this girl – in a hall cupboard, of all places – and it is so life changing that the dead rise up, the world floods, and people start speaking in rhyme. These surreal elements of the story are a departure from my usual approach. I wanted to convey how incredible it is to finally be with someone you’re attracted to, after denying that part of yourself for so long.

Apart from your own story, which is your favourite story from Kindred and why?

Marlee Jane Ward’s ‘Rats’ is amazing. The voices of her characters are so strong, the language she uses to tell her story is poetry, and her narrative had me on the edge of my seat. 

And finally, do you have any words of wisdom for young queer Aussie teens?

Be proud of who you are, because you ought to be.


I’d like to thank Erin again for being a good sport and for her excellent words. I think those are nice words to finish on – be proud of who you are, because you ought to be.

Kindred Tour




Walker Books Australia, together with Michael Earp and the #AusYABloggers are celebrating the release of the Kindred: 12 Queer #LoveOzYA Stories anthology. This is an #ownvoices tour featuring queer creators, bloggers, instagrammers, reviewers and youtubers from Australia and New Zealand, celebrating pride month with the release of Kindred. 
Follow The Tour Below

10th June
Nerd in The Library
Things Lucy Reads
Taryn and Her Books
Totally Bookss

11th June
Lost in Literature
Jay's Bookshelves
Raathi Chota
Little Miss Star

12th June
Wild Heart Reads
Elysian Words
Written Word Worlds
Noveltea Corner

13th June
Amy Zuell
Brooklyn the Bookworm
Reading Rah
Doddy About Books

14th June
Are There Lesbians
Books on Pointe
Pretty and Pretentious
Axie Jade Reads

15th June
Chrissy G Likes Books
Jessica's Bookworld
Book Frenzy
Sarah Says

16th June
Delicate Eternity
Flaming Serotonin
Romance and Dragons
Shay's Pages
17th June
Amy's Books and Brushes
Khaki Pants of Sex
Dusk Angel Reads
Read3rz Revu Blog



About the book...

43197387What does it mean to be queer? What does it mean to be human? In this powerful #LoveOzYA collection, twelve of Australia’s finest writers from the LGBTQ+ community explore the stories of family, friends, lovers and strangers – the connections that form us.

This inclusive and intersectional #OwnVoices anthology for teen readers features work from writers of diverse genders, sexualities and identities, including writers who identify as First Nations, people of colour or disabled. With short stories by bestsellers, award winners and newcomers to young adult fiction including Jax Jacki Brown, Claire G Coleman, Michael Earp, Alison Evans, Erin Gough, Benjamin Law, Omar Sakr, Christos Tsiolkas, Ellen van Neerven, Marlee Jane Ward, Jen Wilde and Nevo Zisin.


Includes a foreword by anthology editor Michael Earp, resources for queer teens, contributor bios and information about the #LoveOzYA movement.




PurchasLinks 

If you purchase Kindred from The Little Bookroom you can have it signed By Michael Earp. All You have to do is mention in the order notes that you followed the Kindred Tour and would like your copy signed by Michael.

For people looking to find a bookshop near them: Find A Bookshop.

Hashtags to check out and keep an eye on even after the tour is over:
 #KindredStories #AusYaBloggers #AusQueerYA #LoveOZYA #OwnVoices

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