Shelley Parker-Chan’s debut historical-fantasy novel, She Who Became the Sun, is a queer reimagining of the inception of the Ming Dynasty in China.
Category: Blog
There’s a Market for New Adult – Just Not as It Is
Laura Franks discusses the history and pitfalls of the New Adult genre.
BOOK REVIEW: Hysteria by Katerina Bryant
Hysteria, Katerina Bryant’s debut memoir, is an exceptional and intimate portrayal of mental illness.
I Hate Kindles (or: the Appropriate Ever-growing Popularity of Retro Media)
Joseph Carbone ponders the resurgence of retro media and why we remain attached to its traditional, physical origins.
BOOK REVIEW: Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
Nine Perfect Strangers is the eighth novel from Australian author Liane Moriarty, widely known for her bestseller Big Little Lies and its wildly popular HBO adaptation starring Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern.
Opening Up Literary Prizes: What Do They Really Stand For?
Lily Miniken discusses the capital and influence of literary prizes, and how these help to uphold traditional power structures in the publishing industry.
A Writer’s Guide to Dealing with Rejection
Rebecca Fletcher discusses dealing with rejection as a new writer, and how it can also be a positive learning experience.
BOOK REVIEW: Growing Up Disabled in Australia, edited by Carly Findlay
Growing Up Disabled in Australia is a collection of true stories edited by writer and disability activist Carly Findlay. This compilation consists of non-fiction accounts from more than forty writers, including Paralympian Isis Holt, Senator Jordon Steele-John, Todd Winther, Eliza Hull and Patrick Gunsekera (among others), who discuss their experiences of growing with disabilities or chronic illnesses in Australia.
Diagnosis: Bandwagon Syndrome
By Taylor Hay In 2012, it seemed as though you couldn’t walk past a bookshop without seeing one cover in particular – a shiny bright blue paperback with clouds on it. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Needless to say, it was a big deal. The book (TFIOS) was wildly successful, and people … Continue reading Diagnosis: Bandwagon Syndrome
BOOK REVIEW: Smart Ovens for Lonely People by Elizabeth Tan
Smart Ovens for Lonely People is an anthology of 20 short stories. Published in June 2020, it is Elizabeth Tan’s second book. This is a contemporary work that draws from trends, issues and themes in today’s society, including the growing global discussion of the sensory phenomenon known as ASMR, of suicide and of technologically utopian futures. However, each story – some seemingly frivolous and random – work as a commentary on a deeper level.