The Booktopia Book Guru asks Brian Panowich author of Bull Mountain Ten Terrifying Questions ____________ 1. To begin with why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled? I’m a military brat, so although I was born in Ft. Dix New Jersey, I spent most of my childhood traveling around the country, and the world, until my father finally settled us i... Read more

People often ask me if it was weird to grow up in Manhattan, to take the subway to school, to trade in backyards and bicycles for sidewalks and Razor scooters. It wasn’t weird. It was the only thing I knew—growing up in New York felt like the only way anyone could grow up. I couldn’t imagine driving to the grocery store, or driving anywhere for that matter—I still don’t know how to drive. Or ri... Read more

The Booktopia Book Guru asks Lisa Joy author of Yes, Chef!  Ten Terrifying Questions ____________ 1. To begin with why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled? Born in Sydney, I spent a good deal of my childhood at dance class. At 21, deciding I wasn’t cut out for the famished life of a ballerina, I moved to London where I lived for seven year... Read more

The Booktopia Book Guru asks Steve Strevens author of The Jungle Dark Ten Terrifying Questions ____________ 1. To begin with why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled? I was born in England, in Ely near Cambridge. Emigrated as a family to rural South Australia. A year later moved to Swan Hill in Victoria where I spent a couple of (very bad) ... Read more

The Booktopia Book Guru asks Rachael Johns author of The Road to Hope and many more… Nine Naughty Questions ———————————- 1. I wonder, is a Romance writer born or made? Please tell us a little about your life before publication. I was made from heartache mixed with a liberal dose of teenage dramatics. I’d never been a huge r... Read more

The Booktopia Book Guru asks Helene Young author of Northern Heat and more… Nine Naughty Questions ———————————- 1. I wonder, is a Romance writer born or made? Please tell us a little about your life before publication. I think a romance writer is probably born. According to my mum I was always an optimistic little soul who ... Read more

Writing is a socially accepted form of schizophrenia.—E.L. Doctorow Some people say life is the thing, but I prefer reading.—Logan Pearsall Smith It is essential when writing fiction to enter the world of your characters. But what if they begin to enter yours? The first time this happened was with Guillermo Garcia, Jude’s sculpture teacher in I’ll Give You the Sun. Guillermo is a tall, imposing... Read more

I owe books much more than they owe me. I spend every day trying to repay that debt. Booktopia’s Andrew Cattanach was recently named a finalist for the ABA Penguin Random House Australia Young Bookseller of the Year Award. The award recognises and rewards the excellence of a bookseller 35 or under, and promotes bookselling as a career choice for young people. We chatted to him about his l... Read more

The Booktopia Book Guru asks Sally Gardner author of The Door That Lead to Where Ten Terrifying Questions ____________ 1. To begin with why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled? I was born in Birmingham, raised in London and went to quite a few schools due to the fact I was dyslexic. It’s one part of life I have no regrets about leaving. I ... Read more

The Booktopia Book Guru asks John Larkin author of The Pause Ten Terrifying Questions ____________ 1. To begin with why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled? I was born in Yorkshire England (1963). My family emigrated to Sydney when I was six years old. We were ten pound poms. I happily and proudly call myself a boat person. I grew up in th... Read more