Reading highlights – August and September

I have two months worth of books to reflect upon today, because somehow I missed my August post. But I'll try not to go on about all of them and just present the highlights package. (That'll mean ignoring any books I might have happened to re-read... of which there were four.) AUGUST Hindsight - Sarah … Continue reading Reading highlights – August and September

Relaunched — Unwrapped Sky by Rjurik Davidson

I’m reblogging this post I recently wrote for my writing group’s website. It’s always so great to see friends get novels published, and this is a big one from Tor books.

Ellen Gregory's avatarsupernovawriters

More celebrations for Supernova member Rjurik Davidson, whose debut fantasy novel Unwrapped Sky finally got its Melbourne launch last night at Readings bookshop in Carlton. The novel came out globally in April this year, but since Rjurik was based in Europe at the time, the occasion was not suitably marked by family, friends and fans here in Australia. BANG THE DRUM!

rjurik launch2

The book was relaunched by Jeff Sparrow, editor of literary journal Overland, who interviewed Rjurik about themes of politics and revolution in fantasy (which, unsurprisingly, are the themes of Rjurikโ€™s trilogy).

Unwrapped-Sky-195x300Unwrapped Sky

Caeli-Amur: an ancient city perched on white cliffs overlooking the sea; a city ruled by three Houses, fighting internecine wars; a city which harbours ancient technology and hidden mysteries. But things are changing in Caeli-Amur. Ancient minotaurs arrive for the traditional Festival of the Sun. The slightly built New-Men bring their technology from theirโ€ฆ

View original post 117 more words

June reading: more love and mysteries

Still in mourning for Mary Stewart (read my tribute here), I re-read a couple more of her books in June. Set in Provence, France, Madam, will you talk? is the story of Charity, a young English widow, who's on holiday in Avignon when she befriends a young boy, David, whose father, Richard, has recently been … Continue reading June reading: more love and mysteries

Perfections: Interview with author Kirstyn McDermott

Today I am excited to be joined by award-winning horror author Kirstyn McDermott to discuss her fabulous novel, Perfections, which is about to be published by Twelfth Planet Press in paperback and digital. The launch will be held at Continuum X in Melbourne this weekend (details lower down). I feel very close to this novel. … Continue reading Perfections: Interview with author Kirstyn McDermott

May reading: My Brother Michael and more

In honour of English author Mary Stewart, who died earlier this month (see my tribute), I've been re-reading for the umpteenth time, My Brother Michael - one of my favourites. Sipping coffee in Athens and wishing something would happen, Camilla accidentally agrees to drive a hire car to Delphi for someone called Simon. It turns … Continue reading May reading: My Brother Michael and more

Book release: Fallen on good times by Rewan Tremethick

Today I'd like to welcome UK author, Rewan Tremethick, to celebrate the impending launch of his debut novel, FALLEN ON GOOD TIMES, which is released in paperback and on kindle on 31 May via Paddy's Daddy Publishing. Book blurb Fairy tales are warnings. Legend is history. Monsters are real. Paranormal detective Laslo Kane learned this … Continue reading Book release: Fallen on good times by Rewan Tremethick

Tribute to Mary Stewart

Today I learned that Mary Stewart has died. Given she was 97, it shouldn't really be a shock, but emotion surged within me and I found I could not think about anything else. The hours and hours of reading pleasure... The influence of her novels on my travels... The letters we once exchanged... The numerous … Continue reading Tribute to Mary Stewart

April reading: The Salisbury Key and more Harper Fox

After discovering author Harper Fox in March, I spent April working my way through a chunk of her backlist. Seriously, I haven't been able to get enough of her books. It's been a revelation, because the male/male romance genre is not one I usually read in, or indeed expected to like. Were it not for … Continue reading April reading: The Salisbury Key and more Harper Fox

March reading: psychics, farmers and superhumans

My March reading experience has been rather interesting. I kicked it off with a read-through of the messy first draft of mine own work in progress. I ploughed through a good chunk of it during a retreat weekend at the start of the month, then finished it off over the ensuing week. I've already discussed … Continue reading March reading: psychics, farmers and superhumans