Always such a joy to hang out with writer friends. Thank you for organising, Rahnia. 🥰 #brisbanewritingcrew

Always a pleasure to catch up with writing friends at the monthly Write Links meeting. (Pic is of those who could make it to dinner afterwards.)

I had a sneaking suspicion that the long-awaited Silverborn by Jessica Townsend would jump to the top of April’s TBR pile! The one downside of having a family of booklovers is that we all want to read the awesome new books at the same time, particularly when it’s the latest instalment of Nevermoor!

The much-anticipated launch of Nevermoor 4: Silverborn by the wonderful Jessica Townsend (@digressica) did not disappoint! We loved the riveting Q&A with the delightful Megan Daley. Thanks to Jessica for sharing your imagination with us in the form of Nevermoor. We can't wait to read Silverborn!

April and I were thrilled to attend the much-anticipated launch of Nevermoor 4: Silverborn by the wonderful Jessica Townsend (@digressica). Now we can’t wait to read it! Published by Hachette.

Congratulations to Kate Emery for My Family and Other Suspects winning the ABIA John Marsden Book of the Year for Older Children. My daughter April, 12, and I both love My Family and Other Suspects. Highly recommended for fans of YA crime, thriller or mysteries.

Congratulations to the recipients of the Varuna, The National Writers' House Roderick Centre Online Fellowship, including my uber talented writing buddy Bev Goldfarb.

Doesn't the Seven Wherewithal Way series by Samantha Ellen Bound look gorgeous on my daughter April's bookshelf? April said she loves Celeste, Esme and Ferd, the awesome magical world and each story's action-packed adventure. She recommends the series to kids who love fun, fantasy and magic.

Huge congratulations Emma Lord or Anomaly winning the Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Novel. Anomaly deserves its awards. It's a gripping and intriguing novel that kept me glued to the pages until the satisfying conclusion. I recommend it to all fans of YA and I hope there’ll be a sequel.

What an inspiring Q&A session with Liane Moriarty and Natasha Boyd from Borrow Box. ⭐️ Topics included the fabulous Here One Moment and The Last Anniversary TV adaptation. For anyone who missed it, the recording will be on BorrowBox’s YouTube channel soon.

Writing buddies are just the best! 🥰 Had a lovely time hanging out with Write Links friends on the weekend.

Such a gorgeous afternoon at the Write Links’ annual gathering at Mount Coot-Tha. 📚 💕 We celebrated new books, enjoyed inspiring writing prompts and posed for a group pic. Love this community.😍

So great to catch up with Write Links folks after our first meeting of 2025. 🥰 Forgot to take photos so here is yet another flashback pic by Victoria Ellen. 🙏

Have you read Hazel's Treehouse? It's an adorable Australian Winnie-the-Pooh, about nine-year-old Hazel and her animal friends, a pademelon, wombat, honey possum and colour-changing echidna. Featuring charming illustrations, the stories celebrate friendship and creativity. The kids and I love it.

Looking forward to catching up with this talented bunch at the first Write Links meeting of 2025. Pic from last meeting of 2024 – thank you Victoria Ellen.

Has anyone got bookmail recently? So thrilled to receive a copy of the fabulous YA dystopian Anomaly by Emma Lord, published by Affirm Press, which I won in the #debutcrew2024bookgiveaway. (Thanks so much Emma for the book and Sarah Sasson for organising the comp.)

So lovely to catch up with writing friends at the Qld Writers Christmas Party. Charlotte Barkla, Jenny Stubbs @megrowe.bsky.social Pic 2 Michael Battle Pic 3 Congrats @laracaingray.bsky.social on winning the raffle: a course, champagne and chocolates michelleupton.bsky.social @kygarvey.bsky.social

Superstar @nat_amoore is in the bookstore! I’m not sure who fangirled over the surprise guest at @zannilouise s gorgeous launch of Hazel’s Treehouse at @quickbrownfoxbookshop more — my daughter April, or me. Thanks so much Nat for autographing your book, plus the special bookmark just for April. 🙏

The Midwatch by @juderossell deserves the hype. Maggie discovers the Midwatch Institute teaches girls in espionage. The nail-biting adventure, plus quirky survival tips and exquisite illustrations make this the perfect Christmas gift for mystery lovers. We adored it and want more! @hardiegrantkids

A magical launch of the gorgeous Hazel's Treehouse by @zannilouise and @judywatsonart, emceed by the delightful @megandaleybooks at the beautiful @quickbrownfoxbookshop. My daughter April and I loved the lively discussion and chatting with so many inspiring creatives.❤️

A Grown-Up's Guide to Picture Books is a must-read. A stunning A-to-Z guide from A for Animals to Z for Zeitgeist, it provides talking points on endpapers, narrative structure, underlying meanings, xenophobia and more. The perfect gift for the creative person in your life, like you!

BOOK REVIEW A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pet is about a girl persuading families to consider ‘misunderstood creatures’ as pets – like crocodiles, tigers, rhinos and anacondas. Guaranteed to become a family favourite. Ali Rutstein @tommydoyle.bsky.social Albert Street Books