Crack open a stubbie, grab a lammie, and pass around the Tim Tams, Australia Day is approaching once more. The time of year where we all become slightly more Australian than usual, celebrate this amazing country, and fill ourselves up with BBQ’d meats such as lamb, snags, or some other variety.
Along with the usual festivities, I’m also participating for the first time in the Australia Day Book Giveaway Blog Hop hosted by Shellyrae at Book’d Out. This is a wonderful event that helps to celebrate not only Aussie bloggers but Aussie authors as well. I wanted to join last year but lacked the confidence to dive in, this year I’m sticking my toes in and joining in on the fun. I’ve been a watcher for a while on other people’s blogs but one of my goals this year is to participate more on other blogs so this is a great start.
If you would like to visit other participants in the blog hop you can check out the list on Book’d Out. There are a range of giveaways running for a bunch of great prizes and you get a chance to discover or maybe even rediscover some awesome Aussie blogs and bloggers. And you never know, you may win some amazing prizes while you’re there!
On to the giveaway! Because it’s Australia Day it’s only right to give away a book by an Aussie, and an Aussie gal at that. I am offering up a paperback copy of Saving Francesca by the delightful Melina Marchetta. This is open to Australian residents only.
Francesca battles her mother, Mia, constantly over what’s best for her. All Francesca wants is her old friends and her old school, but instead Mia sends her to St. Sebastian’s, an all-boys’ school that has just opened its doors to girls. Now Francesca’s surrounded by hundreds of boys, with only a few other girls for company. All of them weirdos, or worse.
Then one day, Mia is too depressed to get out of bed. One day turns into months, and as her family begins to fall apart, Francesca realises that without her mother’s high spirits, she hardly knows who she is. But she doesn’t yet realise that she’s more like Mia than she thinks. With a little unlikely help from St. Sebastian’s, she just might be able to save her family, her friends, and – especially- herself.
ENTRIES CLOSED
To enter: Comment on this post with your favourite Aussie author or book and why you love them/it so much. It’s that simple!
Entries close at midnight AEDT on Wednesday 27th January and the winners will be announced within 7 days via email and on the blog.
Good luck!
Lost in a Good Book 
Jan 27, 2016 @ 23:02:30
My current favourite is Mem Fox – the only reading I get to do at the moment is reading to my baby boy!
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Jan 27, 2016 @ 16:22:48
I have many, many favourite Aussie authors I can’t just choose one so I’ll mention a book that I not so long ago read, this book gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling, that book was Fairway to Heaven by Lily Malone. The characters are sweet, the hero, Brayden, is delectable, and the ending was just gorgeous, magic, it took my breath away. A beautiful feel good book.
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Jan 27, 2016 @ 09:27:14
My favourite Aussie author is Liane Moriarty. I have read all of her books and every single one has captivated me. They make you think, question, wonder and cry. In my opinion all the qualities that make great reading. Can’t wait for her next book.
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Jan 27, 2016 @ 13:20:34
I have three of her books but I haven’t read them yet. I best get onto it if they are that great!
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Jan 26, 2016 @ 21:43:26
“The Happiest Refugee” by Anh Do is a great read .. so real .. so inspiring.. with sprinkles of humor along the read.
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Jan 27, 2016 @ 13:21:25
It’s great when people can tell moving stories but include a bit of humour.
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Jan 26, 2016 @ 19:30:52
Rachael Johns’ Man Drought would have to be a favourite of mine. As well as being a fantastic read, it was the first Aussie Rural Romance I read – and opened up a whole new genre for me.
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Jan 27, 2016 @ 13:22:55
I have heard so many great things about rural romance as well as Rachel Johns. I plan on reading her books this year so I might start with Man Drought.
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Jan 26, 2016 @ 17:11:46
There are so many great Aussie Authors, it feels wrong trying to narrow it down. If I had to, I would say Liane Moriarty, because she can get across a serious message and use humour in the same book. I also love Jaye Ford for something fast paced and curious.
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Jan 26, 2016 @ 17:11:34
Growing up I was obsessed with all things horsey, so a book that holds so much memory for me would be The Silver Brumby…of course closely followed by John Marsden books…
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Jan 27, 2016 @ 13:30:59
My sister had a lot of horse books, so we had the Silver Brumby. But I love John Marsden. I discovered him when I was about 13 and have been a massive fan ever since.
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Jan 26, 2016 @ 16:31:41
So many wonderful Aussie authors. I do love Jenn J McLeod’s books. They are wonderfully crafted stories using our beautiful country as a backdrop to some laugh along, cry with moments.
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Jan 26, 2016 @ 16:04:24
John Marsden’s books will always hold a special place for me! He taught me a lot growing up and I wouldn’t be the same without his books.
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Jan 27, 2016 @ 13:32:18
I so agree! He was so much a part of my teenage years and he still is, his books have been a true gift.
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Jan 26, 2016 @ 10:30:36
I love Jennie Jones rural romance – the quirkiness of her writing appeals to me. Juanita Kees wrote a lovely rural story, Home To Bindarra Creek this year – that’s great too. For emotional/gut-wrenching realism in contemporary romance, I can’t go past Ainslie Paton. Those are three favourites but I also have to add in Kylie Kaden, Rhyll Biest and Georgina Penney too. All Australian authors with wonderful writing skills. Nice to see you in Shelleyrae’s blog this year – I love owls – you won with me with your website! 🙂
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Jan 26, 2016 @ 00:36:41
Thanks so much for the great giveaway 🙂
One Aussie book that really stood out to me last year was Laurinda by Alice Pung. I’m now listening to her earlier book, Her Father’s Daughter, and Pung is quickly becoming one of my top Australian authors. She has a wonderfully fresh voice.
Happy Australia Day!
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Jan 27, 2016 @ 13:34:51
I learnt about Alice Pung from a literary lunch I attended with John Marsden where he said if Jane Austen were writing now she would be writing like Alice Pung, which is a huge compliment in my book!
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Jan 25, 2016 @ 17:46:09
Thanks for the opportunity with your part in the hop! I have trouble choosing a favourite Aussie author as I read so many, but the one book which has stayed with me for a long time is Ronan’s Echo, a historical fiction blended with the current day by Aussie author Joanne van Os. A brilliant portrayal of Australians at war, Fromelles, and current day Sydney. Well worth the read, and highly recommended by myself 🙂
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Jan 25, 2016 @ 16:05:33
Matilda is Missing by Caroline Overington. I love all of Caroline’s books, but this one just brought out so much emotion. Caroline writes characters that are relateable, and that’s the best thing an author can do in my opinion.
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Jan 25, 2016 @ 12:31:55
My favourite books at the moment are rural romance and my recent favourite read was The Wild One by Janet Gover
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Jan 24, 2016 @ 23:04:32
Happy Australia Day and thank you for the giveaway. My favoruite Aussie book is actually a fairly recent book I read last year, Palace of Tears by Julian Leatherdale. I loved the setting of the blue mountains so much that it is on top of my bucket list of places i would loved to visit 🙂
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Jan 24, 2016 @ 19:40:31
Hi Amy, great to see you on the blog hop this year, my favourite Aussie book is Cloudstreet by Tim Winton because the ending made my chest ache and I’ll never forget it. (Thanks for including my blog in your blog roll too 🙂 )
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Jan 24, 2016 @ 16:35:12
Hi,
my favourite at the moment ha to be THE DAUGHTERS OF MARS by Tom Keneally. Beautifully written. A real eye opener as to the Australian involvement in WWI.
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Jan 24, 2016 @ 14:27:48
Oh, so hard to choose! I’ll go with a childhood favourite of mine – Mary Grant Bruce wrote “A Little Bush Maid” in 1910, & I reckon it’s one of the first Aussie YA books out there – Norah is a feisty kid who rides headlong across her family’s enormous sheep station and handles all sorts of disasters in her own tough but sensitive way. When you consider it was set before WW1, that’s something! Thanks for your giveaway opportunity 🙂
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Jan 24, 2016 @ 15:44:38
That sounds awesome! I’m definitely going to have to read that. Thanks for dropping by!
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Jan 24, 2016 @ 14:24:16
YAY! So glad you decided to be part of this 🙂
It’s like Sophie’s choice trying to choose one aussie author I love so much… I’m going to go with one I constantly re-read though but isn’t a great household name now (she’s still known, but as she is a classic and not contemporary, she’s often forgotten): Ethel Turner. I first read her books when I was younger (like 12 I think) and they just really resonated with me. Despite being from a different era. I love the romance elements to the books with Meg, but the family aspect is pretty special especially the bond all those kids have. Their heartbreak became my heartbreak and their joy mine as well. I think it’s probably time I re-read them actually. I usually do every year and I didn’t last yet 😮
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Jan 24, 2016 @ 14:45:37
Jess, that’s so funny – two of us choosing authors from the turn of the last century within minutes of each other! 😀
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Jan 24, 2016 @ 15:48:38
There are some amazing Aussie classics that deserve some love. I remember reading Seven Little Australians for Uni, it was a beautiful story, and you’re right, it resonates even now.
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Jan 24, 2016 @ 13:05:53
Thanks for the chance with the giveaway! One of my favourite Aussie authors is Lauren K McKellar, her books are YA contemporary and they all take me on an emotional roller coaster everytime with real characters in real situations. 🙂
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Jan 24, 2016 @ 15:51:13
Thanks for stopping by Sue. I love books that have real characters, some of my favourite books have real characters that pull you in with their everyday situations and problems. I will have to read some of McKellar’s work 🙂
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