Book Review by Kelly McLean

This book answered a few questions about my Australian heritage. I had wondered about the relationships between the aboriginal people and the convicts and how that sat in with the social scale in a new country. I wondered how the aboriginal people felt when the aboriginal policy by a white man’s government was basically genocide. I thought there had to be a few decent blokes out there on the aboriginal side and it seems that George was one. It answered questions that I had in relation to what drove members of the convict population to be bushrangers. There were lots of new learnings about my Australian heritage, I really enjoyed this.

The book is obviously very well researched and based on events of the time. It starts with a depiction of life as it was in England, the conditions that drove George to the stealing of the watch, his sentencing to death and subsequent pardon and sentencing to convict life in Australia, the journey and then his life in Australia – post transportation.

Very well written- a strong point of the book was in the characterization of George. He comes across as a down to earth guy of a rather dour countenance who just wants to survive in the new world. George works his way through his life until he owns a good portion of the country town of Dubbo. The novel ends with a depiction of his untimely death being thrown from a buggy and goes on to tell you a little bit about what happens to his family from there.

I really did enjoy it. It was a pleasure to read, a historical novel of an excellent quality.

Thank you Terry for sending your novel through for me to review. It was a distinct pleasure.

http://australianwritersrock.com/book/transported/

Book Review by Kelly McLean

What I really did like about this book is realising that whilst clutter can be heaven to some people, it is my worst enemy and now I am working desperately to remove it. With the books help and Debra’s help, I now look at all “Things” that clutter and ask myself – “is having this here really beneficial to who I am and where I am and where I want to go?” If the answer is no, it is removed and something new and fresh that invigorates and refreshes is put in it’s place.

I gave the book to my sister-in-law Lena McLean to read and her living space in her house is now a sanctuary, a peaceful, well presented example of a house that is at peace and lovely to enter. This is what she had to say about Debra’s book.

“Very easy and informative to read and I have implemented some of the suggestions into my home as well.”

I suggest that if you are curious or have an interest in Feng Shui – read the book but have a pen and a book beside you and be ready to make lists, notes and have a really big think about where you live. I will be reading again and trying for a deeper understanding because ABC of Feng Shui has definately opened my eyes to improvements that I can make in my home and life with Feng Shui.

Thank you Debra for the opportunity to review your book. I will certainly be reccommending it to those with an interest in Feng Shui.

http://australianwritersrock.com/book/abc-of-feng-shui/

A Big Life by Jenny Kee

Book Review by Linda McNamara

Jenny quickly found herself on the frontline as a starry eyed nineteen year old, she was working for Biba and was greatly influenced by the look of Mary Quant & Zandra Rhodes.

Pretty much anyone who mattered walked through the door; Yoko Ono, Marianne Faithfull, LuLu, Twiggy and George Harrison’s wife Patti Boyd. Traditional costumes from every possible stop on the hippie trail now mingled on the streets of London, giving birth to the ‘Sheherazade on Acid’ look. At The Chelsea Markets, Jenny rubbed shoulders with the likes of Grace Coddington, Gaultier, Issey Mayake, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Anita Pallenberg.

In 1972 Jenny returned to Australia and opened a fashion Boutique, FLAMINGO PARK and together with Linda Jackson formed a partnership to create bright and colourful, pure Australian wool jumpers.

Her creativity was strong, spontaneous, bold and optimistic – and she has written her autobiography to match. With absolute honesty she lays bare her private life, her very human insecurities, the highs and lows of her marriage to a gifted painter, Michael Ramsden, her dysfunctional family and her relationship with the very much younger Danton Hughes, son of Jenny’s then friend Robert Hughes. Danton Hughes was a senstive young man, a fellow creative; and he was battling depression. He became the love of Jenny’s life, but sadly, he took his own.

Through this tragedy Jenny found solace in Tibetan Buddhism. “It was a healing time and out of it came the realisation that I wasn’t trying to get anywhere anymore. All that matters is being real and honest with yourself.” She stopped worrying about success, image and keeping up. She had found hearth, home and family.

Thank you Jenny Kee for laying your soul bare. I too entered the Bardo with you.

I challenge all readers to read this story and not be touched on a very deep level.

http://australianwritersrock.com/book/a-big-life/

FATAL FLAW by Sandy Curtis

Reviewer -  Kelly McLean

Based in Brisbane Queensland the story starts with a murder, a cold calculated murder, a baby held as hostage, threatened with death and a grandfather that dies protecting his grandson. Already the questions start stacking up in your mind. Enter our hero and heroine Mark and Julie. Mark son of the deceased and Julie good friend from school days. Each have their secrets, each have their demons to deal with. The murderer is introduced and you quiver to find… maybe I would be giving too much away.

Julie and Mark work together to build a complicated relationship, between Julie’s teenage son, Mark’s demanding career, a murderer bent on revenge and a terrorist attack in Brisbane. Well, easy to say, I couldn’t put it down.

Sandy, I am first in line for the other five! This one blew me away! Well built characters, the romantic suspense was well done and… LOVE THE ENDING!!!

Not a big follower of romantic suspense, Helene Young is my only other favourite, I think you guys have converted me to a good read.

Thanks Sandy for the opportunity to review your book. I know why you have had six published! A great read!

http://australianwritersrock.com/book/fatal-flaw

•  From the desk of Kelly McLean

Today I found the most amazing little website dedicated to Australian Romantic Suspense.

Tight, informative and very well written.

You can find out more about the works of  Helene Young, Sandy Curtis and other Australian Romantic Suspense writers on this site.

It has been added to my list of must visit blogs!

Here is the link -

http://australianromanticsuspense.com

Smashwords Censored by Paypal

Though Smashwords is not an Australian eBook publishing site, it gives indie authors worldwide great exposure; many Australian self published authors and publishers, myself included, use Smashwords.

Over the past week, this champion if the indie writer, has been targeted by Paypal to remove from sale or download, any books published under the erotica category that have the following themes in the storyline, to quote:

“Books for which rape, bestiality and incest are the major theme. If rape, bestiality and incest are incidental plot points, then that content might be allowable.”

Indie authors are the most prolific writers of erotica. Whilst Smashwords does have terms of service regarding these issues, Paypal has ordered that Smashwords remove offending material or risk having their financial services cut off.

This raises some potentially explosive and ugly propositions:

• that a financial institution can in fact act as the gatekeeper, censor, judge and jury.
• the broader and much more complex issue of censorship in general.
• who will finally judge which subjects are taboo; where will the line be drawn; and by whom?

Paypal has stated it is merely implementing the requirements of the credit card companies, banks and credit unions! Possibly, in the near future, as a flow on effect, these same requirements will eventually be issued by every other payment processor.

This issue goes way beyond Paypal, will they also go after other major eBook retailers who also sell erotica? Amazon or iBooks for example?

You may not want to read this type of literature yourself, but think long and hard about the issues it is raising and bringing to the fore.

If you are at all concerned about this development, please spread the word. 

This is the second book in the Chronicles of Estelliana trilogy. As in the first book the world Kate has created is tangibly real and the friendships forged real and deep. The reader cannot help but be drawn into the plight of the friends, who become close and special to the readers as their parents did in the earlier volume. As in any ‘fantasy’ book, the world, the prophecy, the characters within, are complex and delightfully detailed. The Phophecy seems to be an unsolvable riddle, and with each perilous turn of events, the meaning of the words becomes clear.

An eloquent speaker, who admits getting nervous before each speaking opportunity, Kate shares her writing craft well. At Somerset Literary Festival this year, she shared her determination to present the very best, thoroughly edited and prepared version to her editor then publisher. Her work ethic and travels for research, intrinsic in her creation of her worlds.

If you wish to start enjoying Chronicles of Estelliana, the first is ‘The Starthorn Tree’, this is the second. Having Kate hand pick these books for me at Somerset Literary Festival, I’m sure she realized that, I would naturally need to purchase the third book in the series ‘The Starkin Crown’, upon completing these. I look forward to that eagerly. You may wish to join me in being thoroughly entranced by her stories.

The Prophecy

Three times a babe shall be born,

between star-crowned and iron-bound,

first, the sower of seeds, the soothsayer,

though lame, he must travel far.

Next shall be the king-breaker, the king-maker,

though broken himself he shall be.

Last, the smallest and the greatest –

in him, the blood of wise and wild,

farseeing ones and starseeing ones.

Though he must be lost before he can find,

though, before he sees, he must be blind,

if he can find and if he can see,

the true king of all shall be.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Go to the AWR listing: Caught In The Crossfire

Click here to view the embedded video.

At AWR (Australian Writers Rock) we get asked all the time what  makes a writer Australian. We have determined that easiest way to determine this is by residency or if not resident in Oz to those who hold an Australian passport.

You are an Australian Writer if:

1. You live in Australia permanently
1. Or have permanent residency.
2. You have an Australian passport.