Bestsellers this week

July 2nd, 2009

It’s great to see a book from a relatively small publisher get top spot in the charts. IAD Press’ Living Alongside the Animals Anangu Way is this week’s ‘highest new entry’. It’s a children’s book that contains stories from Aboriginal elders about fauna. On a completely different tack, WWE Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to World Wrestling Entertainment comes second. The ‘fastest mover’ this week is the Miles Franklin Award-winning Breath by Tim Winton and Stephenie Meyer retains her stronghold in the Bestsellers.

Source: http://www.booksellerandpublisher.com.au/articles/2009/06/12434/

This article from Thorpe Bowker’s Weekly Book Newsletter and Media Extra is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2009, Thorpe-Bowker

Bookmark and Share

Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children’s Literature 2009 announced

July 2nd, 2009

True Green Kids: 100 Things You Can Do to Save the Planet (Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin, ABC Books) and Tuart Dwellers (Jan Ramage, illus. Ellen Hickman, WA Dept of Environment and Conservation) have been announced as joint winners of the 2009 Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children’s Literature.

The Wilderness Society commended True Green Kids for ‘the fun and easy ways the book shows kids how to make a difference to our environment such as planting an organic garden and calculating a family’s/ school’s carbon footprint’. And of Tuart Dwellers the society noted: ‘This thoughtful pictorial celebrates the diversity, colour and ingenuity of the natural world.’
The awards were established by the Wilderness Society in 1993. To be eligible for the award a book must encourage caring for the natural environment.

Source: http://www.booksellerandpublisher.com.au/articles/2009/06/12415/

This article from Thorpe Bowker’s Weekly Book Newsletter and Media Extra is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2009, Thorpe-Bowker

Bookmark and Share

July Book Giveaway

July 1st, 2009

Another month, another giveaway. July’s is Ashes-tinged and filled to the brim for cricket fans and avid readers alike, so be sure to register HERE for your chance to win copies of:

Cricket Kings by William McInnes  SIGNED
Step into the lives of a team of regular middle-aged men who meet each week to play cricket in their local park. With these characters William will make us laugh and cry. And never again will we think that someone is just a regular bloke - everyone can be a king or a queen in their own suburb.

 

Glenn McGrath: Line and Strength by Glen McGrath SIGNED
From working the land in Narromine to winning cricket’s World Cup three times, Glenn McGrath has always faced life with fierce determination and an unerring will to succeed despite the odds. Now, following his retirement from international cricket, McGrath shares the story of his life - in cricket and off the field.
 

The Cricket War by Gideon Haigh SIGNED
It was the end of cricket as we knew it - and the beginning of cricket as we know it. In May 1977, the cricket world woke to discover that a businessman called Kerry Packer had signed 35 elite international players for his own televised World Series Cricket. The Cricket War is the definitive account of the split that changed the game on the field and on the screen. In helmets, under lights, with white balls, and in coloured clothes, the outlaw armies of Ian Chappell, Toney Greig and Clive Lloyd fought a daily battle of survival. In boardrooms and courtrooms Packer and cricket’s rulers fought a bitter war of nerves. A compelling account of the top-class sporting life, The Cricket War also gives a unique insight into the motives and methods of Australia’s richest man.

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas SIGNED
A novel about the relationships between children and adults, and the new Australian multicultural middle-class from the controversial cult author of Loaded and Dead Europe.

 

 

 

Starting An Online Business For Dummies by Melissa Norfolk
Turn your dreams into profitable reality with this straightforward guide to setting up and running an online business. Including strategies to help you identify your market, set up a website and promote your business online.

 
Just Macbeth by Andy Griffiths
Take one Shakespearean tragedy: Macbeth, add Andy, Danny and Lisa the Just trio, whose madcap exploits have already delighted hundreds of thousands of readers for the last ten years. Mix them all together to create one of the most hilarious, most dramatic, moving stories of love, Whizz Fizz, witches, murder and madness. Ages 9+.

 

Brief Encounters: Literary travellers in Australia 1836-1939 by Susannah Fullerton
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, countless distinguished writers made the long and arduous voyage across the seas to Australia. They came on lecture tours and to make money, to sort out difficult children sent here to be out of the way for health, for science, to escape demanding spouses back home, or simply to satisfy a sense of adventure. In 1890, for example, Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife, Fanny, arrived at Circular Quay after a dramatic sea voyage only to be refused entry at the Victoria, one of Sydney’s most elegant hotels. Stevenson threw a tantrum, but was forced to go to a cheaper, less fussy establishment. Next day, the Victoria’s manager, recognising the famous author from a picture in the paper, rushed to find Stevenson and beg him to return. He did not. In Brief Encounters, Susannah Fullerton examines a diverse array of writers, including Charles Darwin, Rudyard Kipling, Stevenson, Anthony Trollope, Mark Twain, Arthur Conan Doyle, DH Lawrence, Joseph Conrad, HG Wells, Agatha Christie and Jack London, to discover what they did when they got here, what their opinion was of Australia and Australians, how the public and media reacted to them, and how their future works were shaped or influenced by this country.

Good Night & God Bless: Volume One by Trish Clark
This is the modern traveller’s bible. Travellers and pilgrims seeking a unique experience can now uncover the ancient secrets of convents and monasteries around Europe. We reveal these atmospheric and affordable places that accommodate tourists or those pursuing a pilgrimage or spiritual retreat. Convents, monasteries and abbeys have always been places which generously welcome weary travellers. That tradition continues today and Goodnight & God Bless takes you on a tour of religious hideaways offering tourist and pilgrimage accommodation throughout Europe. Suitable for the traveller, the pious and the curious alike, this user-friendly travel guide provides invaluable information, travel tit-bits and anecdotes against a fascinating backdrop of history and religion.

Nemesis and the Fairy of Pure Heart by Ashley Du Toit SIGNED
Enchanted by Bella, the Fairy of Pure Heart, Prince Arthur follows her into the immortal world. Angered by this, the powerful dragon Nemesis captures Arthur. To rescue her prince, Bella must complete the Great Dragon’s Hunt, and collect five magical tokens. As Bella and her butterfly friend Teague carry out her quest, they meet many mystical creatures, including a witch and a werewolf, elfins and leprechauns, and two very forgetful goblins.

A big thanks to our friends at Allen and Unwin, Pan Macmillan, Hachette, Random House, Melbourne University Press, John Wiley & Sons, Dragon Publishing and Paratus Press for supporting our monthly giveaway.

To go into the draw to win this month’s prize, complete the entry form HERE. Entries close 31 July, 2009. Don’t forget, it’s a monthly giveaway, so be sure to favourite that link and keep visiting every month. Please note, entrants will be automatically subscribed to our fortnightly Boomerang Books Bulletin e-newsletter.

… A bonus for our Facebook Friends

Need an incentive to join one of Australia’s largest book group on Facebook? Well, we have a great pack of books to give away to one of our Facebook Group members this month, which includes copies of Nemesis and the Fairy of Pure Heart by Ashley Du Toit (SIGNED), Mascot Madness! by Andy Griffiths and Good Night & God Bless: Volume One by Trish Clark.

Bookmark and Share

What’s Hot in the Media 30th June 2009

June 30th, 2009

In the face of work pressure and family commitments, sleep is usually the first aspect of adult life to suffer. So it’s nice timing on Michael McGirr’s part to write a book entitled The Lost Art of Sleep. In it, he describes the many benefits of sleep as well as its decline in modern life. He refers to the great sleepers (and wakers) of the past, including Homer, Florence Nightingale and Peter Pan, and comes to the conclusion that a good night’s sleep can help nearly any difficult situation

Most mentioned in the Media this week

1 Lost Art of Sleep, The by Michael McGirr
2 This Is How, by M J Hyland
3 My Driver, by Maggie Gee
4 Wildflower: An Extraordinary Life and Untimely Death in Africa, by Mark Seal
5 Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel

Source: http://www.booksellerandpublisher.com.au/articles/2009/06/12380/

This article from Thorpe Bowker’s Weekly Book Newsletter and Media Extra is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2009, Thorpe-Bowker.

Bookmark and Share

Exclusive: KATE FORSYTH reviews THE PRIESTESS AND THE SLAVE

June 27th, 2009

The Priestess and the Slave by Jenny Blackford is a small yet intense glimpse of what life must have been like 7,000 years ago in Ancient Greece. It tells the story of two women – the priestess and slave of the title – who never meet each other, yet whose tales reflect and enrich each other.

Thrasulla is a Pythia, one of three priestesses presiding over the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi. She is a witness to the bribery of one of the other priestesses by the mad king of Sparta, Kleomenes, and its terrible aftermath. As a Pythia, Thrasulla is one of the few women to hold any power or prestige in a male-dominated world.

Her story is contrasted with that of Harmonia, a slave, who must nurse the members of the family who own her through the dreadful plague of Athens, despite her own fears for herself and her twin sister.

Replete with evocative details of food and clothing and manners and morals, The Priestess and the Slave is simply and elegantly told, with the clear ring of truth that comes from absolute control over one’s material. Jenny Blackford won a First Class Honours degree in Classics, so she really knows this world well and, with this novel, reveals it to us.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Kate Forsyth is the internationally bestselling author of numerous books for children and adults. Her latest release is The Puzzle Ring. In it, thirteen-year-old Hannah discovers her family was cursed long ago. The only way to break the curse is to find the four lost quarters of the mysterious puzzle ring… To do this, Hannah must go back in time to the last tumultuous days of Mary, Queen of Scots, a time when witches were burnt, queens were betrayed and wild magic still stalked the land… Check out our interview with Kate here.

Bookmark and Share

Bestsellers this week

June 24th, 2009

What is it about people these days and their obsession with vampires? As well as Stephenie Meyer claiming her usual top positions in the Bestseller charts this week, Claudia Gray’s Stargazer takes number one spot in the Fastest Movers chart–‘Bianca returns to Evernight … she now understands the dark, centuries-old feud between vampires and hunters that prevents her and Lucas from ever being together.’ The Highest New Entries chart is somewhat vampire-free with Robert Ludlum’s ‘The Bourne Deception’ at number one, Eagle Day by Robert Muchamore at number two and Special Kev by Chris McKimmie at number three.

Source: http://www.booksellerandpublisher.com.au/articles/2009/06/12345/

This article from Thorpe Bowker’s Weekly Book Newsletter and Media Extra is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2009, Thorpe-Bowker

Bookmark and Share

Beattie to film John Marsden’s ‘Tomorrow’ series

June 24th, 2009

 Stuart Beattie, co-writer of the epic Australia, will make his directorial debut with John Marsden’s Tomorrow, When the War Began, first published by Pan in 1994 and aimed at young adults.

Beattie told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘It’s coming of age in a war zone’. He is attempting to have the film made produced and shot in Australia.

Claire Craig, children’s publisher at Pan Macmillan Australia, told WBN: ‘John Marsden and the “Tomorrow” series have an enduring place in Australian children’s literature. We are thrilled that John’s brilliant storytelling will reach new audiences, and delight his existing readers, with the film debut of the Australian classic, Tomorrow, When the War Began.’
The plan is to make a trilogy out of the first three books and if those are successful, the following four will be made into a spin-off series.

Source: http://www.booksellerandpublisher.com.au/articles/2009/06/12307/

This article from Thorpe Bowker’s Weekly Book Newsletter and Media Extra is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2009, Thorpe-Bowker

Bookmark and Share

The Slap’ wins booksellers’ choice award

June 24th, 2009

Christos Tsiolkas was announced on Monday night as the winner of the Nielsen BookData 2009 Booksellers’ Choice Award for his multiple prize-winning novel The Slap (A&U).

Tsiolkas, whose book signing session at the Australian Booksellers Association national conference trade exhibition (pictured) drew a steady stream of delegates to the signing table, has seen the industry from a bookselling perspective.

‘I’ve been on all sides: a writer, a reader and I’ve been a bookseller,’ he told WBN. ‘I’d like to thank booksellers for their amazing support, especially with The Slap, but throughout my career,’ he said of the win.’ You can’t build a culture around books without that support.’

ABA president Fiona Stager said it was pleasing to see the award go to ‘one of our own’, referring to Tsiolkas’ bookselling history. ‘We’re thrilled such a fantastic author who has given so much to booksellers has won and that we have a chance to give something back,’ said ABA CEO Malcolm Neil.

Tsiolkas’ novel beat the Miles Franklin winner Breath (Tim Winton, Penguin), Nam Le’s The Boat (Penguin), Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury (Penguin) and stablemate authors Kate Morton (The Forgotten Garden) and Shaun Tan (Tales from Outer Suburbia).

In accepting his award, Tsiolkas paid tribute to Albert Ullin, founder of The Little Bookroom, who received a lifetime achievement award on the same night. Tsiolkas said he remembered being taken to The Little Bookroom by his parents ‘and being astounded by the range of books there’.

The Slap has won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and has been optioned to be adapted for television. It also won the best literary book section, and book of the year, at last night’s Australian Book Industry Awards.

Last year’s Nielsen BookData Booksellers’ Choice Award winner was Girl Stuff by Kaz Cooke (Viking).

Source: http://www.booksellerandpublisher.com.au/articles/2009/06/12371/

This article from Thorpe Bowker’s Weekly Book Newsletter and Media Extra is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2009, Thorpe-Bowker

Bookmark and Share

2009 ABIA Awards announced

June 24th, 2009

The 2009 Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) were presented last night, Tuesday 23 June, at a gala event at Sydney’s Sofitel, hosted by Tara Moss.

The 20 awards honour and recognise authors, booksellers and publishers and are chosen by an academy of booksellers and publishers.

Penguin took out the ‘publisher of the year’ prize for the second year in a row, while Christos Tsiolkias continued his award-winning run, taking out both the literary fiction book of the year and the overall book of the year awards for The Slap (A&U). This follows his acceptance on Monday night of the 2009 Nielsen BookData Booksellers’ Choice Award.

Gleebooks co-owner David Gaunt was presented with this year’s Lloyd O’Neil Award for outstanding service to the Australian book industry in recognition both of his contribution as a bookseller and as president of the Indigenous Literacy Project.

Former Lothian publisher Helen Chamberlin (pictured with Shaun Tan) was this year’s recipient of the Pixie O’Harris Award for distinguished and dedicated service to the development and reputation of Australian children’s books.

Readings Books, Music and Film in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton took out the award for independent bookseller of the year, and was also awarded ‘bookseller marketing event of the year’ for The Boat (Nam Le, Penguin)–Readings reportedly sold 25% of the book’s initial print run.

The other ABIA winners were:

    * Chain Bookseller of the Year (sponsored by PacStream [Thorpe-Bowker & The ECN Group]): Hill of Content
    * Small Publisher of the Year (sponsored by Midland Typesetters): Black Inc.
    * Distributor of the Year (sponsored by VISTA Computer Systems): United Book Distributors
    * Specialist Bookseller of the Year: Boffins Bookshop, Perth
    * Marketing Campaign of the Year (sponsored by Random House Australia in memory of John Cody): Penguin Australia, for Popular Penguins
    * International Success Award (sponsored by Activair): Penguin Australia, for various titles written by Sonya Hartnett
    * Newcomer of the Year: The Boat (Nam Le, Penguin)
    * Illustrated Book of the Year: Tales from Outer Suburbia (Shaun Tan, A&U)
    * Book of the Year for Younger Children: Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes (Mem Fox, illus. Helen Oxenbury, Penguin)
    * Book of the Year for Older Children: Finnikin of the Rock (Melina Marchetta, Penguin)
    * Biography of the Year: The Lucy Family Alphabet (Judith Lucy, Penguin)
    * General Non-Fiction Book of the Year: The Tall Man (Chloe Hooper, Penguin)
    * General Fiction Book of the Year: The Forgotten Garden (Kate Morton, A&U).

Source: http://www.booksellerandpublisher.com.au/articles/2009/06/12309/

This article from Thorpe Bowker’s Weekly Book Newsletter and Media Extra is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2009, Thorpe-Bowker

Bookmark and Share

What’s Hot in the Media 23rd June 2009

June 23rd, 2009

News of Tim Winton’s Miles Franklin Award win for his novel Breath was strewn all over Australia’s book pages and beyond at the weekend. Winton is now the first person to have won the Award four times in his own right (Thea Astley also won it four times but was a joint winner twice). Winton has expressed his strong support for the current territorial copyright rules.

Most mentioned in the Media this week

1 Breath, by Tim Winton
2 Celebrity: How Entertainers Took over the World and Why We Need an Exit Strategy, by Marina Hyde
3 Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin
4 Last Bed on Earth, by Teri Louise Kelly
5 Midsummer Nights, by Jeanette Winterson

Source:http://www.booksellerandpublisher.com.au/articles/2009/06/12302/

This article from Thorpe Bowker’s Weekly Book Newsletter and Media Extra is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2009, Thorpe-Bowker

Bookmark and Share