The Booktopia Book Guru asks Meg Cabot author of The Bride Wore Size 12 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, raised, and educated in Bloomington, Indiana, known world wide as the “Gateway to Scenic Southern Indiana.” Read more

When Someday, Someday Maybe landed on my desk, I opened it with apprehension. According to the cover quote from Diane Keaton, the book from the star of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood promised to be “warm and funny, charming and smart”, but a book about a twenty-something wannabe actress trying to make it in the nineties sounded like, at best, a poorly disguised memoir or, at worst, a ... Read more

Luke Nguyen, beloved Australian-Vietnamese chef and author of The Food of Vietnam tells the story of his visit to Vietnam, and shares one of his favourite recipes. Growing up in Australia, food was an intrinsic link to my Vietnamese heritage and culture. Everything ‘Vietnamese’ I’d learnt as a child was passed on to me through the memories and knowledge of my parents, and the other families in ... Read more

Grumpy Cat (a.k.a. Tardar Sauce) captured the world’s attention with her frank appraisal of modern feline existence. Hardie Grant Books were able to grab Tardar Sauce’s attention to ask her and her owner Tabatha few questions. Here are her answers, all the way from Arizona, USA! ———————- Interviewer: Has your newfound fame affected your soci... Read more

Booktopia’s romance specialist Haylee Nash saunters through the visual menagerie that was this year’s romance novel covers, and chooses some of her favourite – worst – covers. This gorgeous midnight blue silhouette reminds me of a Nineties ad for Impulse…or AntzPantz (sick ’em, Rex!) Read more

WEEKLY PRIZE DRAW WINNERS – CONGRATULATIONS TO: Booktopia Weekly Prize Draw : $250 Booktopia Gift Certificate Week 1 Winner: T. Davis, Churchill, VIC Week 2 Winner: A. McKinnon, Penshurst, NSW Week 3 Winner: G, Thomas, Glengarry, VIC Week 4 Winner: R. Courtney,  Wollstonecraft, NSW Allen & Unwin Prize A collection of 20 gorgeous books, including new fiction, non fiction and children’s... Read more

I’d been warned not to expect much. There’s not a lot to see, people told me. Basically just a table. But that’s the point. Jane Austen’s house at Chawton in Hampshire is a modest affair and it’s true that the rooms are few and their furnishings scant. No wonder British Heritage were desperate when American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson outbid Chawton at Sotheby’... Read more

Last week, after a slight (okay, six week) reading hiatus, I guiltily reached for my pile of advanced reading copies, looking for something that would entertain and delight, without asking too much of my poor out-of-use brain. I picked up Monkey Business by Kathryn Ledson, and boy am I glad I did. Much like the hypercolour cover,  Ledson’s latest proved to be the perfect pick-me-up for my... Read more

Booktopia’s Romance Specialist asks Sophie Jordan author of Foreplay Nine Naughty Questions ———————————- 1. I wonder, is a romance writer born or made? Please tell us a little about your life before publication. Well, this romance writer was born when she picked up her first Sweet Valley High novel in the seventh grade. Fro... Read more

Bestselling author of rural romance Mandy Magro writes an open letter about the importance of love, in fiction and in everyday life Let me begin by saying I love writing about love…no, actually, I’m obsessed with it! I write about it, I read about it, I watch it, and I live it! I’m a firm believer in true love, and that there is a soulmate out there for each and every one of us. So if you haven... Read more