During the month of October our Readings bookseller and resident horror fiction aficionado, Joe Murray, is sharing his picks for the very best horror short fiction to get you in the mood for Halloween. You might have seen his recommendations on our socials during the month, but here's part one of his in-depth round up of why you need to read these masterful works of horror.

In these tales, horror comes from the strange, frayed edges of the normal world…

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There's a slew of new cookbooks coming out at the moment, with enough baked goods and tasy treats to stock a patisserie! So here's a handy guide to find the right book to satisfy all your cravings, and help you take your desserts to the next level.

Experience the romance of baking

Love Crumbs by Nadine Ingram

Nadine Ingram’s latest book features 50 utterly original, natural and romantic cakes that belong at the heart of every celebration.

To be a…

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In this day and age, it's hard to teach kids about the natural world without coming up against the tricky topic of climate change and the importance of sustainability. Fortunately, these incredible picture books are designed to make explaining the state of our world a little easier, and to help inspire little ones to do what they can to care for the planet. 🌱

Now for the Good News by Planet Ark

Showcasing fantastically positive environmental advances, initiatives and inventions…

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Each week our wonderful staff share the books that they've been enjoying.

Rosalind is reading Australian Gospel by Lech Blaine

Australian Gospel is outstanding. Blaine paints such a vivid picture of place, situation and character that it is difficult to believe that he wasn't present for each scene of this book. With an assured and charmingly ocker voice, Blaine takes us through his noteworthy family history. The genetic child of Tom and Lenore Blaine, he has four permanent foster siblings…

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We are proud and excited to announce Gary Lonesborough as the winner of The Readings Young Adult Prize 2024 for his coming-of-age novel, We Didn't Think It Through, about a sixteen-year-old boy finding his future and navigating the challenges of racism, family and friendship in a small Australian town.

We asked Gary about the inspiration for his work, the creative process, his perfect reader, favourite writing advice, and what he hopes readers take away from his book.

What was…

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The winners of the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize have been announced! The annual prize recognise the outstanding literary talents of Australian novelists who explore stories of the past, to illuminate our present and future.

The prize is one of the richest literary prizes in Australia, with a prize pool of $150,000 split between the winners and shortlisted authors in the two categories. Read more about the winning books and the judges' comments below.

Adult category winner

Edenglassie by Melissa…

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Spring has finally sprung here in Australia, so it's time to pull out your gardening gloves and your trowel! Whether you're a seasoned gardener, brushing off your green thumb or have never held a bulb before, you'll find a book for you in this helpful guide full of all things GARDENS.

For the newbies . . .

RHS How to Garden When You’re New to Gardening

Have you never touched a trowel before? Is the only bulb you know how…

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We are proud and excited to announce author Tylissa Elisara as this year's winner of The Readings Children's Prize for Wurrtoo, a unique middle-grade novel about friendship, adventure and facing your fears, illustrated by Dylan Finney.

We've asked Tylissa about the inspiration for her work, her pathway to publication, the creative process, her favourite writing advice, and more.

What was the initial inspiration for this story?

I was inspired to write this story after witnessing an act of overt…

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For anyone with a creepy kid in their lives, or for anyone young and ghoulish at heart, here are my favourite titles, from the slightly spooky to the hair-raisingly horrifying, for you to pick up this Halloween season.

Packed with menacing middle grades, ghoulish graphic novels, and knee-nobbling non-fiction, you’ll be able to find the perfect read for any Halloween loving child. These titles are recommended for ages eight to eight-hundred and eighty!

A Girl Called Corpse by Reese Carter

…

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We are proud and excited to announce Emma Darragh as this year's winner of The Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction, for her unflinching, tender and darkly funny debut novel Thanks for Having Me, which explores what we give to our families and what we take from them – whether we mean to or not.

We've asked Emma about the inspiration for her work, the creative process, her perfect reader, favourite writing advice and what she hopes readers take…

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