We’re thrilled that the Melbourne Writers Festival is here! And we’ve picked out an event for you for to attend every single evening of the festival.

Thursday, 20 August: Rob Thomas – Veronica Mars to iZombie

Rob Thomas is the creator of TV cult classics Veronica Mars, Party Down, and the new series iZombie. He’ll talk about it all, including pintsize PI Veronica’s journey from TV to film (and now books) – kickstarted by the most successful…

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Our head book buyer Alison Huber recommends six terrific non-fiction books about music.

How to Write About Music: Excerpts from the 33 1/3 Series, Magazines, Books and Blogs with Advice from Industry-Leading Writers edited by Marc Woodworth and Ally Jane Grossan

This is an invaluable text for all those who have ever dreamed of getting their music writing published and a pleasure for everyone who loves to read about music. Selections from the critically-acclaimed 33 1/3 series appear alongside new…

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If your book club is looking for inspiration on what to read next, we’re here to help.

Nina Kenwood recommends…

If you’re looking for an interesting, well-written novel that’s funny and filled with topics ripe for discussion, then you can’t go wrong with Dietland by Sarai Walker. It covers feminism, body weight issues, media, violence, terrorism, the diet industry, fashion and much more. The author is American, and she’s coming to Australia very soon (we’re holding an event with her…

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We’re loving Kate Beaton’s new picture book, The Princess and the Pony. We asked her some questions about writing the book, which you can find here. And below is a sneak peek inside.

Image credit: Excerpt from The Princess and The Pony by Kate Beaton, published by Walker Books.

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Kate Beaton is an award-winning Canadian comics artist, and creator of the much-loved comic strip Hark! A Vagrant. Here, Bronte Coates talks to her about writing and illustrating her first picture book, The Princess and the Pony.

The first time I ever met the fat pony of your book (on your popular comic website Hark! A Vagrant) I was immediately smitten – and I’m obviously not alone! Can you talk a bit about this character’s origins?

It…

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We chatted to Alison Huber, our new head book buyer, about books, reading, and the strangest thing to ever happen to her in a bookshop.

Describe your taste in books.

Taste: such a loaded term! So personal, yet ultimately made real by the judgment of others. Consequently, describing my own taste makes me feel rather exposed. And like everyone’s, my tastes change, go through phases, and sometimes, become unrecognisable to my older self.

Reflecting on how I might answer this…

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Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee

The Mindfulness Colouring Book: Anti-Stress Art Therapy for Busy People by Emma Farrarons

Gut: the Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Under-Rated Organ by Giulia Enders

The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna

St Gill & His Audiences by Sasha Grishin

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Girl With the Dogs by Anna Funder

The Other Side of the World by Stephanie Bishop

The Unbroken Line by Alex Hammond

The…

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Earlier this week we hosted a lively discussion about the current state of Australian young adult fiction (or, OzYA) at our Hawthorn shop.

Panellists included editor Marisa Pintado (commissioning YA editor for Hardie Grant Egmont), author Melissa Keil (inaugural Ampersand Project-winning author of Life in Outer Space), librarian Susan La Marca (Head of Library and Information Services at Genazzano FCJ College) and blogger Danielle Binks (reviewer and blogger at Alpha Reader). The discussion was chaired by bookseller…

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With everything from excellent illustrated stories for encouraging new readers, to bold debuts for teens, it’s just as well it’s much too cold to do anything but snuggle inside with one of these superb new books.

Both of my picture book recommendations for the month take the reader on an important journey of self-discovery, but in markedly different ways.

In Mr Huff, Anna Walker’s subtle, detailed ink and pencil artwork is both beautiful and emotive. A little boy who…

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Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on or the music we’re loving.

Alan Vaarwerk is reading Melbourne literary journal Kill Your Darlings

I really should be used to it by now, but I’m constantly blown away by the breadth and quality of writing on display in Kill Your Darlings.

In their most recent issue, Gillian Terzis’ exploration of online grief and hashtag activism…

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