We are lucky to have so many talented writers and artists in the Yass Valley and wider Canberra region. Sam Vincent has just been shortlisted for the PM's Literary Award for his book My Father and Other Animals - a great Christmas gift idea.
Karen Waldman had a piece accepted for the Sunday Story Time at the Mill Theatre on 12th November. It will be an extract from her book Sidnie Meets Uncle Sam.
Well Christmas is well and truly looming and we have Christmas cards, wrap, crackers, decorations and gifts. 2024 calendars and diaries are arriving and this year we have the cutest advent calenders (traditional ones without chocolate) and advent calendar cards.
Each year there seem to be more amazing books out at this time. It does help with gifts but can be tough on the wallet. Book club is still happening, with November book Limberlost by Robbie Arnold and a Hercule Poirot in December. We don't have any other events planned for the rest of the year but I will be selling books at Library events in Goulburn, Crookwell and Gunning.
Events
11 November - Goulburn Library
The joy of creative writing and author talk by Ashley Kalagian Blunt
23 November - Goulburn Library
Author event - Richard Glover on his new book Best Wishes
Crookwell and Gunning libraries also have author talks by Richard Glover and Chris Hammer
Awards
Australian Political Book of the Year 2023 winner
The Award recognises the vital part political books play in better understanding Australian politics and public policy. This year’s winning book is Bulldozed by Niki Savva.
Prime Minister's Literary Award 2023 shortlist
Creative Australia announced the 2023 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards shortlists, which recognise and celebrate the outstanding literary talents of established and emerging Australian writers, illustrators, poets, and historians.
Fiction
The Sun Walks Down by Fiona McFarlane
Losing Face by George Haddad
Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au
Other Houses by Paddy O'Reilly
Lovers by Yumna Kassab
Children's Literature
The Dunggiirr Brother and the Caring Song of the Whale by Aunty Shaa Smith
Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the Moon by Gabrielle Wang
Open Your Heart to Country by Jasmine Seymour
11 Words for Love by Randa Abdel-Fattah & Maxine Beneba Clark
My Strange, Shrinking Parents by Zeno Sworder
Non-Fiction
Shirley Hazzard: A Writing Life by Brigitta Olubus
We Come With This Place by Deb Dank
Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong by Louisa Lim
My Father and Other Animals by Sam Vincent - Yass Valley local!!
A World in a Shell: Snail Stories for a Time of Extinctions by Thom van Dooren
Australian History
Elizabeth and John: The Macarthurs of Elizabeth Farm by Alan Atkinson
Justice in Kelly Country: The Story of the Cop Who Hunted Australia's Most Notorious Bushrangers by Lachlan Strahan
Saving the Reef by Rohan Lloyd
Black Lives, White Law: Locked Up and Locked Out in Australia by Russell Marks
Unmaking Angas Downs: Myth and History on a Central Australian Pastoral Station by Shannyn Palmer
Poetry
At the Altar of Touch by Gavin Yuan Gao
Harvest Lingo by Lionel Fogarty
Exactly As I Am by Rae White
The Jaguar by Sarah Holland-Batt
Clean by Scott-Patrick Mitchell
Summer Reading Guides
The summer reading guides are out.
The Kid's reading guide has loads of great kids books from baby to young adult.
The Summer Reading Guide has the best fiction, non-fiction and children's books released over the past few months.
What's hot
So many great books out now.
Bright Shining - Julia Baird
Question 7 - Richard Flanagan
The In-Between - Christos Tsiolkas
The Secret - the new Jack reacher book
It's the Menopause - Kaz Cooke
Storm Warning (Family Disasters #2) - Nathan Luff
Silver Linings - Katrina Nannestad
Flinders - Grantlee Kieza
Good Life Growing - Hannah Moloney from Gardening Australia
and heaps more...
For non-book related hot stuff - Jubly-Umph pins are selling like hotcakes, Calico Bubble purses and bags in gorgeous Japanese fabrics are popular and the NZ felt Christmas decorations are so cute!
Website updates
I have added a page for Audiobooks and eBooks with loads of info on how to get started. Both of these sellers offer gift cards, an easy gift for avid readers at Christmas.
You can now purchase The Yass Book Store gift vouchers from our website. The vouchers can be emailed, posted or held in the shop for the recipient.
2023 Wrap up
This may be the last email from us this year. It has been a tough one for different reasons and I am looking forward to a bit of Christmas cheer, time with family, a bit of a break, our first grandbaby and a fresh start in 2024.
Helen and Cecelia will be in the shop during the week, Meridyn and I will around, keeping the shop stocked and we will be open on Thursday evenings till 7pm very soon.
Thanks for all of your support and we hope to see you in the shop before the end of the year. Have a great silly season and take a break!!
Jo
xx