Just by chance one afternoon I came across a wonderful website which I can recommend. The readers review many book genres from Australia and overseas on Queensland Reviewers Collective.
They also list current awards, the Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, Ned Kelly Awards and more. They offer reviews for various categories from crime to historical and literary as well as children’s books. Plus there is a Readers Choice which was a landslide win for Emily Maguire – ‘Rapture’ (Allen & Unwin)
Prime Minister’s Literary Awards2025
Writing Australia announced the winners of the 2025 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards. Two of the winning titles, chosen by an independent panel of judges from shortlists announced in August are:
The awards were presented at a special event, which was live streamed, at the National Library of Australia in Canberra on Monday, 29 September 2025. More information is available on the Creative Australia website.
Ned Kelly Awards 2025
The Australian Crime Writers Association has announced the 2025 Ned Kelly Award winners. The winning works in each category, chosen from shortlists announced in August are:
Best crime fiction – ‘The Creeper’ (Margaret Hickey, Penguin)
Best international crime fiction – ‘A Case of Matricide’ (Graeme Macrae Burnet, Text)
The winners were announced via a live-streamed video on the Australian Crime Writers Association website on Thursday, 26 September 2025. More information about the Ned Kelly Award Winners is available on the Australian Crime Writers Association website.
Great ideas for Aussie book club reads and also visit Sisters In Crime Australia. Now all I need to do is track down copies of each book then read and review on (whisper)Goodreads. Whatever you read, enjoy your reading!
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 CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION! LAUNCH OF SISTERS IN CRIME’S 30TH SCARLET STILETTO AWARDS 2023
The idea for a national award for short stories, written by Australian women and featuring a strong female protagonist, was cooked up over a few glasses of wine in 1994 at a convenors’ meeting in St Kilda, Victoria. The purpose was to support and unearth new talent. This has been achieved in spades!
Get in quick for an historic (and enjoyable) occasion – the launch of Sisters in Crime’s 30th Scarlet Stiletto Awards hosted by Angela Savage.
Susanna Lobez and Leigh Redhead will read the winning ‘Body in the Library’ stories from 2021 and 2022.
Date of launch Friday 2nd June 2023 Time 5.30pm (for 6.00pm) until 7.30pm Venue Melbourne Athenaeum Library Level 1, 188 Collins Street Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia+ Google Map
Of course, this event is to get writers warmed up for the writing of their own crime short story!
Competition entry details for 2023 will be posted when they come to hand… stay tuned…
Thoughts Become Words 