Warm, witty, fun and clever, author Monica McInerney would be a great best friend to have. How nice to be able to turn to Monica for advice about family, love, life and friendship whenever we needed it! She is so heart smart! Alas, we can’t all have Monica in our life. Thank goodness we have her novels. They are the next best thing to having a 24hr on call Monica… and they have sold... Read more
Search results for author: John Purcell
About John Purcell
While still in his twenties, John Purcell opened a second-hand bookshop in Mosman, Sydney, in which he sat for ten years reading, ranting and writing. Since then he has written, under a pseudonym, a series of very successful novels, interviewed hundreds of writers about their work, appeared at writers’ festivals, on TV (most bizarrely in comedian Luke McGregor’s documentary Luke Warm Sex) and has been featured in prominent newspapers and magazines. Now, as the Director of Books at booktopia.com.au, Australia’s largest online bookseller, he supports Australian writing in all its forms. He lives in Sydney with his wife, two children, three dogs, five cats, unnumbered gold fish and his overlarge book collection. His novel, The Girl on the Page, was published by HarperCollins Australia in October, 2018.
Rabia Siddique, author of Equal Justice, answers Ten Terrifying Questions
The Booktopia Book Guru asks Rabia Siddique author of Equal Justice 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 am a first generation Australian. My father is a Muslim Indian, my mother a British/Scottish Australian. I spent my early years in India and we immigrated to Perth in the late... Read more
Trish Morey, author of Stone Castles, answers Ten Terrifying Questions
The Booktopia Book Guru asks Trish Morey author of Stone Castles, Fiancee for One Night, The Heir from Nowhere and many more… 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 Adelaide, South Australia, and grew up in Elizabeth, a so-called satellite city about 20 miles nort... Read more
Cecelia Ahern, author of The Year I Met You, answers Ten Terrifying Questions
10. What advice do you give aspiring writers? I’ve done many events where aspiring writers hang on to every word looking for the clue, the thing that will help them to finally do it, or unlock the mystery. There is no secret thing that authors know that you do not know. There is no secret way of writing, of trying to get published. You just sit down, get a pen and paper and write the story tha... Read more
Simon Griffiths, author of Shed, answers Ten Terrifying Questions
The Booktopia Book Guru asks Simon Griffiths author of Shed and Shack 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 Fern Tree Gully in Victoria and went to the local school, Monbulk High School. 2. What did you want to be when you were twelve, eighteen and thirty? And why? At ... Read more
Patrick Holland, author of Navigatio, answers Ten Terrifying Questions
The Booktopia Book Guru asks Patrick Holland author of Navigatio 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 Rockhampton, raised and schooled in Roma in Southwest Queensland. 2. What did you want to be when you were twelve, eighteen and thirty? And why? 12: A bull rider. My ... Read more
Signed Copies Make Great Gifts – Part 1 of our signed book bonanza!
We love to give books as gifts. All booklovers do. But when we can give a book which is signed by the author, well, that is perfect. Tell someone how much you love them by giving them something that’ll go ‘straight to the poolroom!’ But hurry as stock will not last! Scorpion Mountain: Brotherband Series : Book 5 by John Flanagan When the worlds of Ranger’s Apprentice and... Read more
Signed Copies! Fault in Our Stars, Hello from the Gillespies and more!
This was the year of John Green. I mean we’ve had Harry Potter, Hunger Games and that moment when the whole world went mad, Fifty Shades of Grey, but this year was the year for ‘feels’. So, so many ‘feels’. And if your daughter (or son) lost their minds over The Fault in Our Stars, then you’ll want them to have what few in Australia have and that is a signed ... Read more
PHOTOS: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at the première of ‘Unbroken’
Big thanks to HarperCollins Australia for the invitations to the première of Angelina Jolie’s new film Unbroken. In particular Kelly Fagan and Kate Mayes. The film is based on the book, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand which is an account of the life of Louis Zamperini – Olympian, bombardier, castaway, prisoner of war and inspiration. Angelina Jolie directed and produced Unbroken which... Read more
Why do I always forget to mention Thomas Hardy?
John Purcell reflects on the frustrations of drowning in honey. It occurs to me that I never mention Thomas Hardy. When I rattle off the authors I love, my mind runs to George Eliot, George Meredith, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens quite easily and then I realise I have mentioned only nineteenth English authors and I quickly add Christina Stead, Willa Cather and I may if I have time throw in Thoma... Read more