Our latest blog posts
A visit to Tiwi Islands with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation
Emily Harms, our head of Marketing and Communications, was recently invited on a field trip to the Tiwi Islands to see the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) in action. She reports back here.
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) has been doing incredible work since it was founded in 2004 by Riverbend Bookshop owner Suzy Wilson, with the aim of improving literacy levels in remote indigenous communities. The response from the Australian book industry was overwhelming, leading to The Foundation raising $25,000…
Finalists announced for the Melbourne Prize for Literature and Awards 2015
The finalists for the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2015 and Awards have been announced.
The Melbourne Prize runs on a three-year awards cycle, alternating between literature, music and urban sculpture. This year, the focus returns once more to books, and includes an exciting new $20,000 prize for an essay.
The $60,000 Melbourne Prize for Literature 2015 is awarded to a Victorian published author whose body of published work has made an outstanding contribution to Australian literature, as well as to…
Cook your way through Rush Oh!
by Shirley BarrettWe’re thrilled to be hosting a free event with Shirley Barrett (filmmaker and now author) this Friday 4 September. Barrett will be in conversation with critic Rebecca Harkins-Cross. Find out more here.
Here, Barrett shares some recipes and housekeeping tips which are referenced in her debut novel, Rush Oh!.
One of the pleasures of writing domestic fiction in a historical setting is the opportunity it presents to waste hours of precious writing time poring over ancient recipe books…
Mark's Say, September 2015
Last month I went to an event at our Hawthorn shop to celebrate the publication of The Hush Treasure Book. The book is a collection of original writings and illustrations by some of Australia’s leading children’s authors, and lots of the contributors came to read their stories to a huge crowd. The book comes out of the Hush Music Foundation which was established by physician Dr Catherine Crock. While working with young cancer patients at the Royal Children’s Hospital…
Our top ten bestsellers of the week
The Mindfulness Colouring Book: Anti-Stress Art Therapy for Busy People by Emma Farrarons
Prick with a Fork: The World’s Worst Waitress Spills the Beans by Larissa Dubecki
The Girl in the Spider’s Web by David Lagercrantz (translated by George Goulding)
Make Me by Lee Child
Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
A Guide to Berlin by Gail Jones
Gut: the Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Under-Rated Organ by Giulia…
Dear Reader, September 2015
September in Melbourne is usually associated with a certain feverish state, namely Footy Finals Fever. It may not be surprising to hear that this common ailment does not affect me, but this year I don’t feel so left out because bookish fevers of other kinds give one plenty of reason to cheer and swoon.
This is the month we celebrate the release of Fever of Animals, our Book of the Month, and the seriously wonderful debut novel from our…
A mid-festival update from the Melbourne Writers Festival
Our staff have been enjoying the Melbourne Writers Festival over the past week. As the final weekend of the festival looms, here’s what we’ve loved so far, and what we’re still looking forward to.
Stella Charls has seen almost everything
I’ve been helping out at the Writers Festival, and was lucky enough to park myself in the Deakin Edge theatre for pretty much the entirety of the first weekend. My bookmarked international guest right from the moment the program launched…
What we're reading: Fiona Wood, Ron Rash and Elena Ferrante
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on or the music we’re loving.
Emily Gale is reading Cloudwish by Fiona Wood
This week it was my pleasure to read Fiona Wood’s young adult novel, Cloudwish, the third in a series of connected stories that can be read completely independently of each other or as a set. Six Impossible Things introduces us to some characters in…
Our top ten bestsellers of the week
Two Futures: Australia at a Critical Moment by Clare O'Neil and Tim Watts
The Mindfulness Colouring Book: Anti-Stress Art Therapy for Busy People by Emma Farrarons
Solomon’s Noose: The True Story of Her Majesty’s Hangman of Hobart by Steve Harris
A Guide to Berlin by Gail Jones
Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee
St Gill & His Audiences by Sasha Grishin
Catch and Kill: The Politics of Power by Joel Deane
Millie Marotta’s Animal Kingdom by Millie Marotta
All…
The Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction 2015 shortlist
We’re delighted to announce the 2015 shortlist for The Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction! Established in 2014, this prize supports published Australian authors working in fiction, and recognises exciting and exceptional new contributions to local literature.
The six shortlisted books are:
The Other Side of the World by Stephanie Bishop
Last Day in the Dynamite Factory by Annah Faulkner
In the Quiet by Eliza Henry-Jones
Arms Race by Nic Low
Hot Little Hands by Abigail Ulman
Heat and Light…
Browse our blog by category
