After reading Hugh McGinlay’s first book “Jinx” I snapped up a copy of “Silks” from Clan Destine Press with many thanks for such a great read set in the southern city of my birth.
An entertaining author and musician, Hugh McGinlay says he’s surprised that readers accept his imaginary friends. Imaginary or not, I was right there with them every step of the way. This is book four about intermittent milliner (hat-maker) PI Catherine Kint and her offsider barman Boris Shakhovskoy. They witness the death of aerial circus performer, Silver, during her silks (or ribbon/tissu) performance but was it accidental or murder?
Vespa-riding Catherine “felt cold and sad and couldn’t stop thinking about the sound.” Boris felt the same, and he’s shaping up to be my favourite character, right from the start showing his multi-talented skills. I am not really sure I like Catherine calling him “dear” because she sounds like a mother-in-law. But between examining leads and serious allegations their dialogue is often laugh out loud; and this time Boris has two romantic interests.
Experience palpable tension walking home after the late shift, Boris continually looking over his shoulder, checking corners, concerned about being followed by the bad guys seemingly as interested in Silver’s death as the police. And naturally it involves her missing mobile phone. At one point Catherine and Boris escape detection by literally hanging by their finger tips. Later Boris hangs around as Catherine is lured into a life-threatening encounter.
Earlier, Silver’s distraught father Anthony Barwick says to Catherine “You don’t have many rules, and you’re smart. That’s what I’ve been told.” He wants her to investigate his daughter’s death. Can he be trusted? Silver, or Mia, by all accounts was an enigmatic wildchild. A family in crisis, a culture of secrecy and this plot kept me reading far into the night.
The location is again firmly set in Brunswick, Melbourne (Australia) with rainy day scenes and several digs at the cold weather.
“The rain might be cold, but I only notice because I’m living.”
Ciara Beretta Silks chapter 2 page 13
Author Hugh McGinlay writes believable crime fiction and pragmatic lead characters with unexpected traits, edgy yet loveable, cool yet kind. Remaining true to its roots, this series can be habit-forming for crime readers.
Carolyn Martinez, Director of Hawkeye Publishing says ‘A cleverly crafted short story is not only enjoyable to read, but is also an excellent strategic step for a writer’s career. A shortlisted story shows publishers that you have unique and creative ideas, know how to draw readers in, and understand how to wield words to their maximum effect.’
The writing group Brisbane Scribes, said ‘Deciding on forty titles to be published in an anthology was problematic enough, but distilling that list to a shortlist stimulated much debate amongst the judges with some passionate advocacy of individual selections. As would be expected, all on the list are well-written explorations of the competition theme and vary markedly in style and subject matter.’
Entrants should be extremely proud of the story they’ve produced and pre-orders are now open.
If you would like to read more about what Hawkeye looks for in short stories, check out Winning Short Story Competitions info below. Each order of this fantastic book includes a previous year’s anthology (while stocks last).
Looking to enter next year?
The 2024 Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Competition theme is: ‘The Look That Said It All’.
Hawkeye Publishing can’t wait to read your take on this theme!
The competition opens on the 1st of January 2024. For more information click here.
The Ten Penners have created an anthology of magical creatures and mysterious moments. Young humans took me on their humorous and enlightening adventures involving broomstick riding, crystal balls, a backyard concert, a magic mirror, intrepid Pixie P.I. Dandelia Oakleaf, frogs, friendships and more—read on!
The Ten Penners latest anthology Backyard Beasts and Curious Capers contains imaginative reading for that age group of children who love a good giggle at preposterous things. Or are they preposterous?
✨BOOK LAUNCH✨
Book launch at BOOKS ETC, Paradise Centre, Surfers Paradise Saturday 21st October 2023 – 11.00am to 2.00pm “Come and have your book signed by a Witch called Floriece, a Pixie, and Jeremy the Spaceman.”
BLOG TOUR & BOGGLE COLOUR-IN COMPETITION DETAILS BELOW
Perhaps making a rocket is not such a strange idea?
‘Jeremy Albatross’ by Marion Martineer highlights the delight and disaster of making a backyard 🚀 rocket. This story is both funny and a health and safety warning during an action-packed BBQ for Dad’s birthday.
‘The Trees are Alive!’ by Jill Smith (of Poo Boom Cat fame) is a tale about Maggie and Caleb who get ‘a cubby house and a living garden’ during the school holidays when they rejuvenate an old tree 🌳 and receive benefits in return. Part awareness, part ecological, a story of nurturing and working with nature.
‘Wizardo’s Spell’ by Jennifer Scicluna involves Simon digging in the backyard with his father. Or not digging in the backyard with his father “Who wants to plant boring 🌸 begonias?” Simon relents and with a whack of his spade he falls through the earth into Muderoon where he meets irascible Agrim Kateus.
Only a quick glimpse at three Ten Penner author tales but you can discover a brave cat, a sensitive tree, a blue Quoggle and a fright night sleepover. In fact, twenty inventive short stories for young readers. Here’s the list:
Ten Penners, twenty stories! Always imaginative and highly readable, their newest anthology Backyard Beasts and Curious Capers contains fantasy and fun with cool character illustrations, kooky critters and silly stuff which appealed to me. Apologies if I’ve left out your favourite. There’s much more including a wakeboarding octopus and an old fairytale reimagined. Ideal for 8-12 year old readers and group reading. Story length would also suit reading before bedtime, or reading in your favourite tree. Just don’t laugh too hard!
Saturday 21st October—BOOKS ETC. Paradise Centre Surfers Paradise 11 am to 2 pm. Saturday 28th October—Big B Books 10 am to 12 noon outside the shop. Saturday 4th November—The Ten Penners monthly meeting (near Melbourne Cup) Saturday 18th November—Gold Coast Writers book launch/promotion 15 mins confirmed. Saturday 2nd December—Upper Coomera Library 1 hour 10 am to 11 am (then their Christmas Party lunch at the café) Saturday 9th December-—Bookness, Mudgeeraba (to be confirmed) Draw the Quoggle colour-in competition winner! NOTE: The PrizeActivity Packwill include more of their characters to colour-in. A badge. A Word Search. A copy of Backyard Beasts & Curious Capers, signed by the authors, and more. Please send your entry via email tothetenpenners@gmail.com Or hand them to The Ten Penners at their presentation. CONTACT: The Ten Penners look forward to your feedback on their new book so please visit their WIX site, become a member and make a comment: https://thetenpenners.wixsite.com/the-ten-penners/blog
A person reaches an age where they long for an ordinary sandwich. In this case I asked for an avocado and fetta toastie. This delicious tasting yet very difficult to eat deconstructed sandwich on a slice of toasted rye bread contained half an avocado, chunks of fetta, a whole tomato halved, and rocket garnish on top. It was drizzled with a type of balsamic vinaigrette and had a wedge of lemon to add for zest. It was difficult to eat by hand so I attacked it with a knife and fork. Although a delicious flavour, it was quite a battle to get it to do what I wanted, e.g. stay together long enough so that I could eat it!
HERE ARE THE OFFICIAL INGREDIENTS:
THREE GIRLS SKIPPING—Avo on Toast—Lunch Menu “Avocado on seeded sourdough with thyme roasted tomatoes, Persian feta and chimichurri.”
Yes, fetta and feta are different. The correct spelling for fetta depends on the type of cheese being referred to and the country of origin of the cheese in question. There is Cow’s Milk Fetta and Buffalo Milk Feta. You can also get local Camel Milk Persian Feta. Nevertheless, I am not exactly sure the chimichurri lived up to expectations but at least my taste buds were made aware of a new flavour.
Visit info@threegirlsskipping.com.au in Graceville Brisbane if you are feeling hungry 🙂 and their soy latte was delicious.
❤ Gretchen Bernet-Ward
Entirely unrelated but terrifically tasty from Brumby’s Bakery Sherwood Brisbane—
A.Top left to right: Butterfly Cream Cupcake, Iced Fairy Cupcake B.Middle left to right: Cream Bun, Custard Tart, Mini Lemon Meringue Pie, Apple & Custard Tart, Passionfruit Tart. C.Bottom left to right: Iced Fairy Cupcake, immortal Vanilla Slice, Carmel Slice ChocTop, out of shot Cherry Ripe Slice. Buon appetito, sweet treat connoisseurs!
“The Australian Indigenous Voice Referendum will be held on Saturday 14 October 2023. Every Australian voter will be asked to approve an alteration to the Australian Constitution that would recognise Indigenous Australians, the original custodians.”
Indigenous Australians have, for thousands of years, understood the land, nurtured and worked with nature, followed the seasons, and left no gaping holes in the landscape. Just because we cannot see exactly what is happening with mining in Australia doesn’t mean it’s right for the future. For every tree, rock and animal habitat destroyed we lose something special, something that can never be replaced. Do you know the story of the Dodo? Yes, it was a real bird living in the woods on the coastal areas of Mauritius, minding its own business until someone thought its eggs were tasty on toast and then they decided to eat the Dodo birds until none were left. The world lost a species before future generations got to see it. This is happening every day in Australia when wildlife areas are bulldozed. We have reached an important milestone in our brutal history. Support Indigenous leaders, work together for everyone’s benefit to create a more cohesive society and enhance the stability of our future. The very least we can do is give Indigenous Australians a Voice in Parliament to explain a few things that a succession of political leaders have overlooked.
UPDATE: Sunday 15/10/23: The Voice Referendum 2023 results are in and although it is all cut and dried it still appears to be uppermost in Australian minds. I won’t go into an analysis, or all the hocus-pocus, but suffice to say if anyone reads my blog post they will know how I voted. I have yet to ask whether or not this result was against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese or that our colonial past is alive and well. GBW.
Henry Van Dyke (born 10 November 1852, Germantown, Pennsylvania, USA, and died 10 April 1933, Princeton, New Jersey USA) He was a Presbyterian minister, short-story writer, poet and essayist popular in the early decades of the 20th century. Van Dyke married Ellen Reid in 1891 and they had nine children.
A leading writer of his age, Henry van Dyke wrote profusely in the fields of religion, literature, diplomacy, education, nature and public service. He was an admirer of Alfred, Lord Tennyson and met him while overseas.
Van Dyke’s great love of the outdoors was a crucial part of his Christianity, and in the early twentieth century he became a conservationist speaking out for the preservation of Yellowstone. His belief in nature and religion drove his literary criticism and other writings throughout his life.
Bibliophiles and books rejoice in a heritage-listed building in the heart of Brisbane CBD. Archives Fine Books is the largest second-hand and antiquarian bookstore in Queensland, a book mine where a bit of fossicking reveals literary gold. Read their suggested online resources, browse their extensive categories, it is like an Aladdin’s cave of amazing volumes but so much better in person. Now they are adding an Australian first.
Before I begin, let me tell you a tale. When I originally discovered Archives Fine Books, the old floorboards were uneven and creaked, books were crammed on shelving which ran into the gloom and rose to the roof like canyons of dark wood. Dull lightbulbs showed thousands of dusty spines and the air felt heavy with—what? Knowledge, books jostling, words waiting? A beam of light spearing through a grimy windowpane. A flash of something around the corner.
I must visit again to see what has changed, if anything has changed. It was the kind of atmosphere where I felt I was not alone. I felt other people around me but nobody was there. I also had to buy something. As I walked through a myriad categories soaring high above my buzzing head, I acknowledged the need to stop and inspect a particular section. A book drew my gaze and I prised it out, knowing I would buy it. Why? Not sure, not sure to this very day, but I knew that book wanted me and I wanted it. It was purchased, slid into a paper bag, the cash register yielded my change and I swiftly exited down the stone steps to the street.
Several forays followed but soon e-books impinged my reading time. Fast forward to 2023 and I have come to my senses. I am planning to revisit, older and creakier like the floorboards of 40 Charlotte Street. I am sure a book is waiting for me. I can hear the pages rustling.
Meanwhile, have you heard of their unique book collection prize? Read on—
WRITE AN ESSAY | CREATE A BIBLIOGRAPHY | SHARE YOUR WISH LIST
The Archives Fine Book Collecting Prize is an occasional prize with a combined value of over $1,000 awarded for an outstanding book collection conceived of and built by a young Australian collector. The purpose of the Archives Fine Book Collecting Prize is to unearth and celebrate current book collecting passions and practices among young Australians so that every young and curious collector can play their part in invigorating existing traditions whilst they develop knowledge and build expertise.
The first national book collecting prize has a combined value of more than $1,000 and includes:
A domestic return air-fare to EITHER the Melbourne Rare Books Fair (July 2024) OR The Sydney Rare Book Fair (October 2024);
A $250 voucher to spend at the Fair;
A $250 Archives Fine Books Voucher;
A one-year subscription to the Bibliographic Society of Australia and New Zealand (BSANZ);
A two-year membership with The Book Collectors’ Society of Australia (BCSA).
Why young people?
This year Archives Fine Books (Queensland) has expanded the geographical scope of their prize to be open to ALL young Australian collectors.
The impulse to celebrate young Australian collectors emerges from Archives Fine Books desire to see the whole book collecting scene in Australia grow and be invigorated. They know book collecting is usually a solitary pastime. By establishing the national prize, they hope to introduce young collectors to the existing community for inspiration and information.
Originally launched as a local prize in 2020 the inaugural Archives Fine Book Collecting Prize was awarded to
To the best of their knowledge this in the first and only Australian Book Collecting Prize. They are seeking those curious young Australians who are already hunting and uncovering things they sense may have something interesting or new to tell us about ourselves and our world; and who, by their collecting foci, are preserving books and ephemeral items into the future.
Note: Entry deadline is 31st December 2023 and the prize-winning collection will be announced in March 2024.
The best audio crime book I have listened to for some time. Plot, setting and narration come together in an absorbing story which I couldn’t stop listening to. Every spare moment I had, I would tune in and be transported to Adelaide, South Australia, with DCI Jack Hawksworth as he investigates a crime scam which originally involved one of his London university students. He is an attractive character, a man with charisma and morals and, according to the women he meets, sex appeal. Flirtation certainly makes a nice change from grumpy Inspector John Rebus or grouchy private investigator Cormoran Strike.
The premise revolves around illegal trafficking of women’s oocyte (eggs) for IVF and shows three sides; the financial greed, the sadness of childless women, and the unethical way the ovum is obtained and unlawfully shipped around the world. At times I was hoping the details were not too gruesome because I find audio books can seem a bit more graphic when listening to the flow of words. Reading text I can avert eye-danger and skip ahead. Happily this was not the case and I enjoyed listening due to clever scene setting (often tourism info) and Jerome Pride’s skilful dialogue interpretations.
As some reviewers may know, I am against writers writing their novels (no matter what genre) as though they were a film script. Obviously chasing that lucrative yet elusive screenplay offer. They tend to skip over finer details, the ambiance is lost in a blur of speech and hand gestures. In Dead Tide, author Fiona McIntosh has managed to get all senses into play here. She deftly writes the sight, sound, smell, touch, taste (coffee flat white) atmosphere and tense inner monologues which bring together fallout for a courier, pain for a donor, an instable marriage, murder and the many evils of human manipulation.
❤ Gretchen Bernet-Ward
And the flirtation you ask? See book for details 😉 The coastline setting of South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula and Wallaroo shine. The Wallaroo Jetty is real, as is a ‘dead tide’—see image below.
In my Goodreads reviews, I often add a small quotation which takes my fancy while reading. I always find this difficult with an audio book! Therefore this is an observation not a quotation—I was amused by Jack Hawksworth sitting with a lovely woman as he explained the meaning of the Medieval term ‘short shrift’ (I heard you yawn).
In the audio book, the term ‘short shrift’ is not exactly unknown today but rarely used. I recall my elderly aunt grumbling ‘I’m giving you short shrift, out of my kitchen until dinner time!’ So it means little sympathy and scant attention. I know this because I went to the bookshelves, took down the big old family dictionary and looked it up. I inherited this dictionary, and its frayed spine is held together with aged tape. But, oh, the wonders inside, the little treasures which have been pressed between its pages for over ninety years. Each section, the start of each letter of the alphabet, is embossed on a small indented leather pad to make it easy to find.
There will be no word relics from the 21st century generation. It is hard to muse over an obsolete, battery-dead, glass screened plastic/metallic sender/receiver information disseminator. The ever-changing WWW, internet, wi-fi, digital converters-and-containers of more false and ethereal information than ever recorded in the entire evolution of human history. (See, I just gave modern technology short shrift!) GBW.
Emily Dickinson (10 December 1830 – 15 May 1886) was a prolific American poet. Though she wrote more than 1,800 poems by some estimates, only a few were published during her lifetime. She is still something of a mystery, which fuels the continued fascination with her work and life.
A novel of far-reaching ideas and future prediction which looks from our careless past to a positive future where climate-change has radically reshaped the way people, animals and plants of the world live and thrive. I smiled at the concept of share cars, a great idea but I think it will be another century before it catches on.
Described as Solarpunk genre (see below) so much is lost yet so much is gained in the way of solidarity, community and compassion. Hard work, healthy food, clean water, fresh air, caring and sharing and generally making-do. All shaped through dire necessity due to past global pollution, neglectful land care and disregard for consequences, although the story has no recriminatory tone and looks to future sustainability.
Young Wren is a boy of the mountains, living with mentor Old Man and learning the ways of Nature until it is time for him to leave on a quest. Kee, his totem black cockatoo follows him. Young Hannah and old Libby have to leave the Street in the City in which Hannah was born and raised; a necessary yet bitter-sweet time for all three characters as they begin the prospect of a new stage in their lives.
On arrival at South Hills Pod, Hannah walks into her new shared bedroom noticing posters on the wall “photos from Before” a time we currently take for granted, like Libby’s jam-making skills. Unfortunately Melanie, the other occupant of the room, is rude and unwelcoming. Settling in becomes a challenge for Hannah, she likes art and does her school work online while longing for her old home and friends. South Hills homes are built partially underground (think Hobbit) cooler and not as claustrophobic as it sounds.
“I took a snapshot of the book opened out because the vivid art work continues the theme so well on the back cover” GBW 2023
Around Hannah and Libby’s new share home there are ponds and hectares of covered produce gardens with shade sails and monthly market days at the Gathering-Place. “Like the home-garth, the garden was in a huge amphitheatre terraced out of the hillside facing north.”
Page 67 ‘Starberries and Kee’ Cate Whittle 2023
Meanwhile, wild-child Wren is also having a rough time. He cannot understand the strange things he sees and the weird food he sneaks from the food growing domes. He calls Hannah’s new place “wombat-people’s camp”. Suddenly their two paths collide, there is a secret pledge, and a heart-racing life-threatening drama unfolds.
Author Cate Whittle has written a speculative fiction novel for middle grade/YA readers which is approachable and relatable. My preconceived idea of Wren was cleverly altered. He has bush knowledge and yet clear speech for someone raised in rugged mountains. Perhaps a story untold? Adults are kept to a minimum, friendships are made and broken, personalities clash, and families struggle to find a happy medium when mean Melanie adds to Hannah’s homesickness.
The environmental concept is outstanding and the setting is brilliantly realised including chapter 18 and the wonderful cameo when Kee is revealed to a crowd which brought happy tears to my eyes. Living in South Hills Pod would be hard work, but when past duties are shirked that’s what is needed in the future. Also tall trees for wild birds and a safe environment for every family!
SOLARPUNK EXPLAINED—A serious yet optimistic explanation—“Solarpunk is a subgenre of speculative fiction and a collectivistic social movement that envisions the progression of technology alongside the environment. While the ‘solar’ prefix signifies the term’s relation to solar or renewable energy, the ‘punk’ suffix groups it with other aesthetic sci-fi subgenres like cyberpunk, dieselpunk and steampunk.” I think Cate Whittle’s book has “The solarpunk aesthetic which depicts…a society where the climate crisis has been resolved or is being approached with camaraderie.” From Brennan Whitfield, 05 January 2023 https://builtin.com/greentech/solarpunk
P.S. I will let you find out the meaning of Starberries and Kee 😉 GBW.
Thoughts Become Words 