I’ve adored making YouTube videos (or should I say BookTube) 🎥
When it starts to cool off here, my mood reading seriously kicks in and I just KNOW I need a variety of books on my shelves to help battle the indecisiveness of what to read.
I’m so very grateful to Rhianna King with Affirm Press, and Joel McKerrow for generously sending me their brand-new books!
If you love a reading palette of romance, fantasy, crime fiction and historical fiction – this book haul is for you 📖
I cannot fathom that this little idea I thought up around 2 years ago is now a ACTUAL REAL THING!
Like legit, it is real – it’s happening in less than 2 months and I think I’m still on the high of excitement and not in the pits of nervousness.
I cannot predict what emotions I’ll be feeling in a months time, or even in 2 weeks out from the event but what I can say is that right now – things are on track and somehow, I don’t know why, but I feel settled in this feeling that people will turn up and it will all be okay. A bit like when we were in the thick of applying for grants and I just had this gut feeling, we’d be okay.
I think one of the main things keeping me feeling centred and focused is that I’ve had such a positive experience working within a team of strong, intelligent and generous women. For these women to surround me, encourage me and propel me forward has been hands down, one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. And they’re all volunteering their time to do this! I get emotional thinking about it – the weight of that encompassing belief of “you can do it” and “we believe in you”.
It feels like we’re just putting the finishing touches on now and creating a run-sheet of what our team has had running over and over in our minds for the past 6 months.
So two months out and my day-to-day looks like – planning our social media content, trying to post 3 times per week with paid promotions behind some posts. Myself and the team are distributing promotional posters, bookmark and bits and bobs around the region. We’re organising media interviews and I’m getting calls from newspapers.
The sense of community excitement is creeping in and it’s a wonderful feeling that is hard to describe. Maybe on the day of the festival, I’ll find the words.
Birds of a Feather is Rhianna King’s debut novel and by gosh, will it blow your socks off!
Rhianna is a professional communicator in State Government environmental agencies and has worked within an Aboriginal-led not-for-profit organisation as well. She’s also a graphic designer, having launched her own freelance business in 2015. How dynamic and talented is this woman who now adds ‘author’ to her resume as well!
I cannot thank Rhianna’s wonderful Affirm Press team for reaching out to me, gifting me Birds of a Feather to honestly read and review + have this opportunity to chat with Rhianna herself 🎙
Welcome to the blog Rhianna! 💖
Rhianna, how does it feel to be a debut Aussie author? Can you speak to the experience of being signed with Affirm Press and how the journey has been so far?
Being a debut Aussie author has been more wonderful than I could have possibly imagined (and I spent a lot of time imaging it!). I was lucky enough that Kelly Doust saw a place for Birds of a Feather in Affirm Press’s incredible collection of commercial women’s fiction and I have loved every second of working with the Affirm Press team. They have guided and advised me at every step, with respect for my vision, and the wisdom of experience.
Stepping behind the curtain of the publishing industry has made me fully appreciate how many people it takes to get a book published and in readers’ hands – the editors, cover designers, type setters, printers, marketing and publicity gurus, voice-over artists, those who get the books on the shelves and those who sell them. The experience has also shown me how much support there is out there for authors. Australia has such a wonderful community of people who love books, write them, enjoy talking about them, and are happy to spread the word about books they’ve enjoyed through their social and online platforms. Connecting with other authors and book lovers has been one of the best parts of this journey.
Birds of a Feather is being absolutely DEVOURED in my household! I’m reading on my lunch break, as soon as I get home and right before bed. When did you know that Beth and Elsie’s story was a keeper? – Thank you! 😊
I started writing the book during 2020, after Zoom trivia and puzzles had lost their novelty, because I wanted somewhere to escape to. I grew to love Beth and all her quirks, and I adored Elise’s character, so, once I started, I kept writing because I genuinely wanted to spend time with them. Being in lock-down gave me a whole new appreciation for being able to spend time with friends and family and in the natural environment so, I guess, it was a love letter to all the things I was missing from my life at the time. I also wanted to write a story that was different to anything I’d read before and I was keen to make a contribution, however small, to increasing representation of diversity in commercial fiction.
Beth’s winnings certainly throw her stickler budget and tightened nature out the window. I really enjoy watching her unfold and let in the world around her. Did you always know where Beth’s story started and where it ended? Or were you just along for the ride with her?!
I did have a pretty structured plan for the book before I started writing it, which I guess is ironic since the story centred around encouraging Beth’s character to be more open to going with the flow!
Much of Beth’s rigidity was in response to her family’s complete lack of structure – she enjoyed order while they preferred spontaneity, she liked well-made plans, where they took a laissez-faire approach to life. But I wanted her to see that it doesn’t have to be one or the other; if you open your heart (even a little) and are prepared to step out of your comfort zone, you can still be in the driver’s seat of your life but also find unexpected joy along the way.
I adore the passages where we watch, feel and listen to Elsie and Beth spend precious time together. Is there anyone in your life or from life experiences that influenced the loving, kind and special familial relationship these two have?
I was so blessed with two incredible grandmothers. Both were remarkable women and, incidentally, both were writers. Spending time with them was such a gift and, even though they’ve both been gone for many years, I still miss them.
I think the relationship between grandparents and their grandkids is so special because in many cases it’s all love, no responsibility. For Beth, Elise was the one person who she felt ‘got’ her when she didn’t feel like she belonged in her immediate family, and the two were bonded by their love of the natural environment. I think that having someone in your life who you trust, and with whom you share a common interest, means you always have someone to feel at home with.
Rhianna – thank you so much for your time and generosity in sharing your answers with us on Mel Reviews Her Books 💖
You can find Rhianna and I on Instagram Live this morning at 10am 🎥
Hi book friends!
It’s been little while since I dedicated some personal time to writing on my blog … and I’ve missed it SO MUCH!
I think a big part of me not making the time to write, debrief and escape is because this is a place where a big portion of my life hasn’t been shared before. And in turn, I haven’t really made space for it before on here either.
So that’s about to change!
I wanted to give you an update of where things are up to at the moment in the life of Mel Reviews Her Books and what you can expect to see going forward. Here goes:
🤓 I have been reading so many books – I think I’m at a total of 20 already this year – but I’ve been debriefing them in a Reading Journal. I’ve really enjoyed this process and would like to maybe share bits and pieces of that more on here. I think I’d also like to run a local and/or regional workshops for this as well sometime soon! I find the downtime, away from a screen and listening to F.R.I.E.N.D.S on the tv in the background, incredibly relaxing.
🎥 I still ADORE planning and filming Author Talks on here as a long-form written interview and also via Instagram Live. This is something I’ve dedicated to hosting once a month, with predominately debut Aussie Authors to help bring light to their wonderful work and celebrate this new exciting path they’re on. You’ll still find me doing this on the ‘Author Talks’ tab and on my Instagram –> here
💙 I have been creating, forming, planning and am now 2 months away from delivering a book festival, called the Riverina Readers Festival. This has been over a year in the making. Our Festival is set to take place in the Riverina, NSW on Saturday 13 July.
To say my life has been consumed by this epic endeavour is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s been an absolute dream come true to work on morphing this younger Mel idea into fruition. It’s real and it’s happening – I don’t think that has really sunk in yet.
I cannot believe the excitement already building and anticipation in the air. So in saying this, I want to share a little more about what the journey and experience has been like in creating a Book Festival. The hows, whens, oh no’s’, and ‘oh my god this is happening’ moments. Right now, you can find us at www.riverinareadersfestival.org.au
📧 I did have all good intentions of producing and delivering an email into your inbox once a month – it was a new years goal. But you know, sometimes new years goals don’t work out the way you expect and instead, I now create newsletters for the Riverina Readers Festival! So if you’d like to hear from me in newsletter form, click here –> sign up
📖 I also had good intentions of running an online bookclub, however that has now transitioned into planning and coordinating a book club for the Riverina Readers Festival following our one-day book festival! So if you’re interested in a book club that highlights Aussie talent and meets only a few times a year, click here –> sign up to book club news
So in essence, I’m well and run off my feet + filling with nervous excitement as time inches closer to the Riverina Readers Festival 💙 I can’t wait to start sharing some bits and pieces with you and changing up this webpage a little.
👀 Keep your eyes peeled!
Mel xx
There is no doubt that Maxine knows her words! She has written for MamaMia in Australia and Mummypages in the UK. With a BA in Communication and Art History from the University of East London, it’s an absolute given that her debut novel ‘Everything is Perfect’ would be incredible!
Welcome Max, to Mel Reviews Her Books 💖
Congratulations Maxine on your debut novel Everything Is Perfect published with Penguin Australia! How does it feel to be an official author and can you describe to us your first pinch me moment?
Thanks Mel! After a decade of attending courses, writing my first novel, pitching it again and again and again, receiving rejection after rejection (crying in my car more than a few times reading the first line of those emails that start something like, ’thank you for sending us your manuscript, even though we liked it we can’t take it further on this occasion’) then starting another book and then getting signed by PRH, it feels surreal but I’m also proud of myself that I kept going.
That’s the hardest thing, with no guarantee of anything, the drive to keep putting your bum on the chair and carrying on.
The first pinch me moment was seeing it on the shelf in Big W, and signing a copy for a lovely lady called Barbara who had picked it up to buy.
Your main character Cassie, has a number of secrets piling up and at some point everything is bound to explode and some people will become hurt by the consequences. What inspired you to write about a woman who has a seemingly happy, content and fulfilled life on the outside, but on the inside, she’s not the person she truly wants to be?
I was half way through my forties when I started Everything is Perfect and couldn’t have written Cassie at any other time. I had been journalling about my own feelings to do with ageing, peri menopause, my own identity and how I felt about no longer being seen.
Her wry voice came to me one morning as I was sitting in my local cafe having coffee (which is why ‘Black Honey’ coffee shop features in the book) and I wanted to explore the experiences of a midlife woman who seems to have it all but underneath is hiding everything.
Something I’ve chatted about with my own friends.
Going through the process, understanding and accepting how some children struggle in an educational setting is also a strong theme throughout your novel. I really appreciated that you shared this aspect and awareness! Was this always an initial thread in your novel or did it develop over time?
Having had my boys go through Primary school, I did want the struggles some children face to be an integral part of Everything is Perfect. There are so many parents doing an outstanding job of advocating for their kids but finding it extremely difficult to be heard in the school system.
I wasn’t writing to point any blame as the teacher’s my boys had – they were all outstanding! – but there were moments when the system wouldn’t bend to accomodate a child who may need something different and this was very frustrating.
Max – what does your day-to-day life look like now as a published writer? Is the second novel underway and does the process of writing look different the second time around?
If it works – stick to it is my motto! So I’m trying to do exactly the same thing as the first time around.
Some mornings I journal, others I get an idea and jump straight in. My writing time is generally 9.30am – 11.00am. Monday – Friday.
I’m also having to remind myself what it’s like to return to the beginning and make peace with the messy draft that emerges before any editing can be done. I’ve learnt to love editing and shaping a story from an idea.
Max, it’s been an absolute pleasure chatting with you here and also in person (virtually 😉) on Instagram! I cannot wait to read your next novel and celebrate with you again!
Sometimes, I think we have moments where we need to be present and let our body and brain catch up from the experiences you may have just rushed through or placed at the forefront of your brain, leaving behind the other not as important things.
I guess that’s prioritising, but sometimes prioritising quickly and in the moment can jolt your body and brain unexpectedly.
I think it’s important to have patience when the come down happens. The come down from the rush. The come down from the quick thinking and immediate decision making.
‘be where your feet are’ is certainly a good idea when you’re resetting into the calm, the present and your routines. Being present is one of the most valuable perspectives for me this week – it may just be for you too 💫
After the small snippet reviews I’d seen and heard about Powerless by Lauren Roberts, I knew that the experience of reading this novel would be one I wanted to vlog. I hope you enjoy ⭐️
Someone needs to hold me back because I’m about to YELL all over this review about how FANTASTIC this read was!
Imagine Throne of Glass + The Hunger Games + a Sarah Adam’s romance novel angst and pining = Powerless by Lauren Roberts
Here are a good few reasons as to why you should pick up this book RIGHT NOW or slide it up to the top of your TBR pile:
✅ Actual enemies to lovers: Paedyn (love this name) and Malakai aka Prince Kai, are from different sides of the track and have very different loyalties.
Paedyn is an Ordinary hidden in plain sight. This means she was not born with any magical, mind bending or magnificent power such as morphing into animals, mind reading or mind silencing, invisibility or time warping. Those that do have these powers certainly show it and they are called the Elites.
The current King, who is an Elite, has poisoned society into believing that Ordinary’s actually make Elite’s sick and it is crucial that Ordinary’s are removed from society – ie. Paedyn. However, she is much more clever than most, as was her Father when training her, because she is posing as an Elite who has Psychic abilities.
Every year the annual Trials come around, which involve the most powerful Elites showing off their powers in a range of life-threatening and vengeful situations. Some people are naturally selected due to their status (ie. Prince Kai) and some are selected by society (ie. Paedyn). All are voted on and viewed by Ilya – determining the winner and ‘most powerful’ of the year.
✅ The fighting scenes are FANTASTIC and I was personally so pleased with the balance of angst and weaponry.
For Paedyn to survive in Loot (the poorest part of Ilya) she thieves coins and belongings. Prince Kai comes along, unbeknown to her of who he is. To Paedyn, he just looked like a well off guy holding a fat stack of coins. Drama and death tends to follow Prince Kai as he is the ‘Enforcer’ for the King, while also being his second son. Paedyn robs Prince Kai and walks away feeling chuffed, until a Mind Silencer starts attacking him.
Paedyn is triggered by a past event in her life when watching Prince Kai being attacked and she cannot stop herself from stepping in to save him. This action tumble-rolls Paedyn’s future. She is selected by Ilya to participate in the Trials as she is seen as strong, but in actual fact, she is physically strong and trained in conflict yet actual magical power? Zlitch.
✅ Angst was at an all time high!
The back and forward banter, love to hate relationship between Pae and Kai was incredibly entertaining. Him pulling down his walls around her because of his either genuine concern or curiosity + her desire to be around him yet knowing that he is in fact the worst person for her to befriend … or more.
Admittedly, there was a time there when I was starting to get a little over the back and forward without any consequence happening. They became so close at one stage that you would think the end of the scene was inevitable – but then it simmered again. I do believe that if their relationship had developed a little more, then the ending, Payden’s choices and Kai perspective would be heavier and more emotional.
In saying that, I think the reveal of Paedyn’s political actions and her powerless power in the final chapters was great. I wouldn’t say the final chapters were unpredictable (one element of the final challenge was), or that the outcome – couldn’t be guessed – but you know what, I still read and loved each and every page anyways!
Sometimes it’s not about the guessing game of a novel, it’s about connecting with the characters and just letting the story be told the way the author wants us to see it. And this novel certainly ticked all those boxes for me!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
It may be blurry and it may be chopped up not just right, but you know what – it’s there and we did it!
And it’s recommending you 4 new books to help get you out of those pesky book slumps 💫
Enjoy my book friends 💖
Last night I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing bestselling Australian rural fiction author, Fleur McDonald, at One Book One Temora.
This annual book event is held at the Temora Shire Library and the beautiful community of Temora comes out to spend an evening listening to an Aussie author, of whom they’ve all read one of the authors’ books for their book clubs.
Fleur is incredibly warm, kind, open and willing to share her knowledge about the book industry and writing fiction for over 15 years. She publishes two novels a year while still running a farm over in Western Australia. She is very involved in her small town community and gives back when she has time off everything books. This truly shows in her passionate discussions about the importance of community and connection.
And in talking about community and connection, one rural town that does it so well is Temora. The Temora Shire Library is a hub of chatter, regular borrowers and weekly program goers. The team there are not only approachable, full of life and generous, but they also represent a pivotal consistent hub in the small country town.
The wonderful Wendy handmade this super special Peachy 🐱 bookmark for me in thanks and I’m OBSESSED! How special and what a talent! Thank you Wendy, in more ways than one!
Writing this bookish experience and enjoying a delicious Eggs Benedict, I can’t help but smile and feel gratitude for meeting such wonderful people again this year. Being invited back to 2024’s One Book One Temora is an absolute privilege 💖
Mel Reviews Her Books 