I can’t conclude my 2015 inspirations without mentioning this talented bunch of WA writers. I feel privileged to know them, and it’s always great when we get together to share words, ideas and support one another. I have read all their latest releases and they are all bloody brilliant, so do go and grab copies for your stockings if you‘ve missed any of them. They are: Annabel Smith – Author, THE ARK (and don’t miss WHISKY CHARLIE FOXTROT, published in the US in 2015 as WHISKEY & CHARLIE); Amanda Curtin – Author, ELEMENTAL (shortlisted for the Premier’s book awards, and to be published in the UK in 2016); Dawn Barker – author, LET HER GO (which followed her acclaimed debut FRACTURED); Natasha Lester – Author, IF I SHOULD LOSE YOU (and new book A KISS FOR MR FITZGERALD coming in April 2016); Yvette Walker, LETTERS TO THE END OF LOVE (winner of the WA Premier’s Emerging Writers Award); and Emma Chapman – Author, HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE (new book THE LAST PHOTOGRAPH coming in 2016).col-md-2
I have been telling you about all the books I have loved this year, but the most loved book in our house by far is the 65-Storey Treehouse (and the others in the series) – read umpteen times by our 6yo and taken everywhere with us. (My 2yo takes The Green Sheep by Mem Fox.) I get such a kick out of watching them fall in love with books and stories – I think it was The Faraway Tree for me at a similar age.col-md-2
There’s nothing more exciting for a reader than discovering a writer whose words are your soulfood. In 2015 I had the joy of discovering Wendell Berry’s poem ‘The Peace of Wild Things’, and on doing some research I discovered more and more gems, such as this one. Visit Wendell’s website at http://www.wendellberrybooks.com and discover him for yourself.
Here’s another great read of 2015. Elizabeth Gilbert’s latest release had a pretty big bandwagon before it was even published, and I’m very happy to join it. This book is full of down-to-earth advice and insight for creative types. If you want to release your inner artist in 2016, I highly recommend reading Big Magic (if you haven’t already!) and keeping it by your desk for those moments you need a pep talk. I’ll be doing the same.col-md-2
One of the joys of my studies this year has been coming across so many brilliant books that might otherwise be out of my usual reading range. Australian author Claire Zorn’s YA book The Sky So Heavy is one of these. Fin is just a regular kid at school, getting by in class and trying to suss out how to get the hottest girl in school to notice him. Then missiles are detonated thousands of miles away, and a nuclear winter descends on Australia. Fin’s father and stepmother go out and never come back, leaving Fin and his brother to try to cope as their world slowly disintegrates around them. Never mind the teenagers, I loved it! If you’re still looking for Christmas gifts for the younger generation, Claire also has a new book, The Protected.col-md-2
My favourite book character of 2015 comes from Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey. Maud might be losing her mind, but she is sure that her friend is missing, and she’s determined to find out what has happened to her. This is such a bittersweet, intimate portrayal of dementia, and Maud and her tins of peach slices will stay with me for a long time.col-md-2
