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The collegiality of the Brisbane literary community was on show at Steve MinOn’s debut launch for his autofiction First Name Second Name by UQP. Such a demonstration of strength and support. Look out for more upcoming launches as there are quite a few Queensland authors with new work coming out this year including the fab Laura Elvery with Nightingale. I’m writing again and enjoying immersing myself in words. I hope you are all reading and writing with joy and persistence.

I’m thrilled to return to hosting bookish conversations after a hiatus of almost two years for personal reasons. I adore the privilege and honour of interviewing authors about their work, and I’m excited to chat to old friends and discover new writers. My first event is 27 February at the wonderful Avid Reader (of course!) with the novelist Kirsten Alexander and her third book, AFTER THE FALL. I cannot wait to share this discussion with you all. Please see my previous post – a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me and our family over the past three years. I am so grateful.

It’s been four months since I last posted on my website. Thanks to all of you for your support and love over the past two years as our daughter Kiara struggled with Stage 4 metastatic cancer, and for your outpouring of grief when she died on 23 May this year. It has been a long (and also much too short) two years; exhausting, challenging, devastating and overwhelming. Thank you for carrying us in your arms and holding us tight. Writing is on pause for me as I grieve but I have kept reading (albeit slowly) and will share with you through reviews in the coming weeks the books that have sustained me during this period. Congratulations to everyone who has recently published – what an achievement. And congratulations to everyone who has kept writing words, despite their own challenges and personal difficulties, whether published or not. And thank you readers for continuing to support creatives with buying, borrowing and recommending books. Kiara’s two greatest legacies are her two gorgeous children, and her capacity for kindness in spite of all she endured. The literary community, especially in Brisbane, exhibits this kindness in our inclusive and welcoming way, and I wish for us all to continue this tradition by supporting writers in every genre. Reading = tolerance = kindness. I hope to return to hosting literary events next year. In the meantime, like you, I will keep reading and (eventually) writing again. Books are a joy and a solace.

Who knows what the new year will bring? If I’ve learnt anything in 2023, it’s to expect the unexpected. Let’s all do what we can, when we can, to help each other and make the world a better place, but not beat ourselves up if it doesn’t work out as we hope. Let’s default to kindness and optimism, love and generosity, fun and friendship. Let’s all read more books and share them if we love them. To all the writers, let’s all try and write some good words, but not be despondent or feel overwhelmed if we don’t achieve our own expectations. To those lucky enough to be publishing books in 2024, congratulations and I hope I have the honour of reading your work. Let’s thank our librarians and our booksellers for sharing their knowledge. Let’s honour the work but recognise that life happens and sometimes we need to roll with it. I wish you all a very happy and successful new year, whatever that means for you.

Due to personal circumstances, my involvement in the literary community has necessarily lessened of late. I’m still reading however, although not so prolifically, and will continue to release reviews of the books I’ve read and loved. I won’t host any more events for the remainder of the year, but I hope to be more active in events and launches next year. Never has the escape of books felt more necessary to me. Keep reading, everyone. And hug tight those you love. (Please note that the events listed on my page are all still going ahead, albeit with a different interviewer, and you should definitely check out the great events planned for the coming months.) Also, a huge congratulations to Fiona Stager (and Kev) for their purchase of Riverbend Books…the only people who could possibly replace Suzy Wilson. These two independent bookstores, along with Books@Stones, are my favourites and I urge you to continue to support them by attending events and buying books.

The second half of the year is already upon us and as usual there are some great upcoming events at Avid Reader. The recent literary conversation with Lyn Yeowart and Al Campbell, supported by Frazer Campbell’s unique art exhibition, was a highlight of the year for me. In coming months, I’ll also be in conversation with Jessie Seaborn, Melissa Ashley, Chris Hammer and Bryan Brown. Lots of other exciting evenings including Holly Ringland, Trent Dalton, Mirandi Riwoe, Laura Jean McKay and many more. Book now!

I’m SO EXCITED about this year’s Brisbane Writers Festival at State Library of Queensland 10 – 14 May. Artistic Director Jackie Ryan has curated a brilliant program featuring international authors and thinkers (The Booker Prizes winner amongst others), a host of Australian icons, and with a strong focus on local Brisbane and Queensland writers. First Nations stories scaffold the entire festival, and diversity of culture, identity and thought are highlighted. Whether you are 2 or 102, there is a story for you. The hum of excitement in the air at the 2023 launch was palpable. Everyone feels that this festival is going to be truly special.

Congrats to all the hardworking, behind-the-scenes team. Get your tickets now for your favourite sessions.

I’m honoured to be moderating four panels with some very cool and talented authors. Check out my events page for details.

OK, I totally made that up but it SHOULD be a thing, right? More books! More words! More manuscripts! More submissions! More reading and writing! I can’t wait to interview one of my favourite crime writers Dinuka McKenzie to discuss her second novel TAKEN. Book now for 9 March and get the price of your ticket as a discount off the book! Or come along the following night to meet author Ben Hobson and discuss his new novel THE DEATH OF JOHN LACEY. Avid Reader has some excellent events upcoming…check their calendar. And why not arrive early, from 5.30pm, to partake in a glass of wine and some literary conversation and socialising with other passionate readers and writers? Check my events page for more upcoming conversations and book news. Happy new year, everyone.

The holiday season is upon us and I wish everyone a safe and peaceful Christmas, a relaxing break, and an enthusiastic start to the new year. Books are the best Christmas presents so my advice, you’re welcome, is to have a small stash of signed books from different genres wrapped and ready for that guest who arrives with an unexpected gift! Instead of searching for an unopened box of chocolates or bottle of wine, you will have a great book gift ready to go. Choose a selection from crime, literary, poetry, romance, YA, picture book, sci-fi or spec-fic, non-fiction, memoir or historical fiction and you will have every possible book lover covered. Check out my recommendations under ‘WHAT AM I READING?’ for some ideas.

Events are coming to a close for the year but do keep checking the Avid Reader website along with other bookshops to see what is happening when. And the new year is sure to be packed full of opportunities to meet your favourite authors and join them in conversation about their work.

I look forward to seeing you soon! Happy reading and writing, everyone. X

I’m diving headfirst into events and launches and could not be happier to be once again involved with the beloved Aussie lit community. The 2022 Queensland Literary Awards was a night filled with enthusiasm and admiration for the winners and shortlisted authors in all categories, and a big cheer for every author who entered a book, fiction or non-fiction.

A host of events to come. Check the events page for details and bookings. Happy writing and reading to everyone for the second half of 2022!

Due to personal circumstances, my events calendar has been empty for several months now. I miss interacting with authors – hosting events and launches, participating in panels and judging awards. My reading has slowed significantly (those of you who follow my reviews will have noticed they are few and far between lately!) But reading remains a great joy, an escape from reality and a chance to walk in the shoes of others. Books are a soothing balm when so much else seems to hurt. Until I regain my mojo, I am relishing in the success of writer friends who are publishing, winning awards, garnering positive reviews and selling books. I’m equally loving stories of writers making progress, finishing projects, reaching personal goals and continuing to engage in the creative pursuit of writing which is often simultaneously immensely frustrating and outrageously, impossibly fun. And I’m enjoying keeping up with all the literary news, gossip, scandals and achievements. Wishing you a brave, hopeful and satisfying year ahead. Whether you are a reader or a writer, thank you for your continued support of the arts, particularly Australian literature.

As we enter 2022, who knows what lies ahead (what could possibly go wrong?!) but at least we can be certain of the steady stream of fabulous books which continue to be published and which currently form a teetering TBR pile beside my bed and probably yours. Books can explain, offer escape or knowledge, provide inspiration through beautiful prose, allow us adventures and take us on emotional journeys. There is a book for everybody at every time. With so much instability surrounding us, books give us the precious gifts of exercising our emotional muscles, increasing tolerance and understanding, and taking us to extraordinary places. I hope that this year brings you much reading pleasure and for the writers, much satisfaction in creating the words and using them to tell new and vibrant stories. Wishing everyone good health, peace and happiness for 2022.