Fiction Archives

 The Booktopia Book Guru asks Hannah Kent author of Burial Rites 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 the first baby born in Adelaide on the Easter Sunday of 1985. My parents raised me and my little sister amid... Read more

The 19th century British philosopher John Stuart Mill once remarked, “The amount of eccentricity in a society has generally been proportional to the amount of genius, mental vigor, and moral courage it contained. That so few now dare to be eccentric marks the chief danger of the time.” The world of writing is filled with just the eccentric folk Mill was talking about. We’ve pi... Read more

The Booktopia Book Guru asks Natasha Walker the Australian author of the bestselling Secret Lives of Emma series… Six Sharp Questions _______ 1. Congratulations, on completing your new book. What is it about and what does it mean to you? Thanks. Unmasked is the final book in The Secret Lives of Emma trilogy. At the end of book two, Distractions, I was a bit mean and left readers hanging r... Read more

The shortlist for this year’s Miles Franklin Literary Award features five books by Australian women, with this year’s winner due to receive $60,000, up from $50,000 last year. Last year’s award was presented to Anna Funder for All That I Am. This year’s shortlist features three debut novels—Floundering by Romy Ash, The Beloved by Annah Faulkner and The Mountain by Drusilla Modjeska—and one prev... Read more

The Booktopia Book Guru asks Gayle Forman author of Just One Day Ten Terrifying Questions ——————————- 1.    To begin with why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled? To begin with why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled? I am wh... Read more

One of Booktopia’s favourite authors, Kylie Ladd, has proven to be a deft hand at exploring uncomfortable terrain. Her wonderful upcoming novel Into My Arms is no exception. In keeping with the theme of challenging yet brilliant reads, (and on the birthday of Vladimir Nabokov, author of Lolita) Kylie was kind enough to share her five favourite books that make us explore the darker corners... Read more

The Rosie Project has been a publishing phenomenon, melting the hearts of readers everywhere with its unconventional love story. Benison O’Reilly, the co-author of The Australian Autism Handbook, casts an informed eye over the bestseller from Graeme Simsion. The Rosie Project — a debut novel sold to over 30 countries and welcomed with seemingly universal glowing reviews. We could hardly f... Read more

The awards news just keeps on coming, with the shortlist for the 2013 Women’s Prize for Fiction announced. For those that like a familiar face, this is a party you’ll enjoy. Literary juggernaut Hilary Mantel is joined by multiple award-winners Zadie Smith and Barbara Kingsolver. There’s also some new blood, with the author of the brilliant Life After Life Kate Atkinson getting... Read more

Carrie Tiffany, author of the acclaimed Mateship With Birds, has been awarded the inaugural Stella Prize for women writers. Named after one of Australia’s most important female authors, Stella Maria Miles Franklin, the Stella Prize is worth $50,000, and both fiction and non-fiction books are eligible. The Melbourne based writer said after her win she would share part of her prizemoney with the ... Read more

The shortlists for this year’s Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards have been announced. Already with a few awards this year, Margo Lanagan joins other award-winning authors like Jackie French, Morris Gleitzman and Margaret Wild in a wonderful field of authors and illustrators. Older Readers The Ink Bridge by Neil Grant A remarkable and gripping story about one re... Read more