Author Interviews of 2023 🎤

24th Dec 2023 ~ melreviewsherbooks ~ Leave a comment

On my drive back to my family home for Christmas, I had the time to reflect on the year that was 2023 🎄

2023 has been HUGE in terms of Author interviews and they have taken place in many forms. I have conducted over 10 in person, online, written and panel interviews.

I am so incredibly grateful, feel incredibly privileged and in all honesty, speechless when I look at this collection of talented Australian Authors who have given their time, knowledge and enthusiasm on Mel Reviews Her Books (excuse me while I start getting teary writing this).

Thank you; Sulari Gentill; Zoë Coyle; Anita Heiss; Brooke Hill; Karina May; Emma Grey; Clare Fletcher; Michael Thompson; Kate Mildenhall; & Jack Heath.

Additionally, a big thank you to Sandie Docker; for your time spent in Wagga visiting me, sharing your festival knowledge and attending Collins Booksellers after years of connecting online but Covid stepping in our way!

Thank you to the stunning Maya Linnell, for featuring me on her latest novel Kookaburra Cottage! 💫 *honestly a dream come true*

Extra thankfulness to Sulari Gentill – your encouragement, support, strength and belief in me pulling together a book festival for our region. I cannot express my gratitude enough x

And lastly, thank you to all of YOU! Thank you for reading, viewing, liking, commenting, sharing and watching the book content I create and work on each and every week 💖

Now, it’s time to celebrate yourself!! ⭐️ COMMENT BELOW something you’re proud of this year 💬

She’s got BIG BIG NEWS 💥

10th Dec 2023 ~ melreviewsherbooks ~ Leave a comment

Hey you, yes long time reader YOU! I cannot express how grateful I am for the support you’ve shown me since 2021! That’s right, Mel Reviews Her Books is heading into her 4th year – I honestly can’t believe it 💫

I wanted to share a few new things that you’ll see on our little happy book place in the world 🌏

BIG NEWS 1: Every month of 2024, I will be interviewing Australian authors on Instagram Live 🎤

You may notice that these Instagram Live interviews have already been happening and I’d like to keep that consistency going because, 1. Interviewing authors is so much fun for me & 2. I really enjoy bringing attention to the wonderful variety of Australian authors who write magnificent work.

Instagram Live interviews will take place on Saturday mornings, at a time that suits myself and my fellow authors. During this interview we will bring you a conversation around their most recent release, their writing habits and what their writing experiences have been like at different stages of their life.

Keep an eye on here for updates as to when these are taking place & also on my Instagram which you can find by clicking here.

BIG NEWS 2: You can now subscribe to my monthly digital Newsletter 📧🥳

In this monthly digital newsletter, you can expect to find a variety of fresh and exclusive content. There will be behind the curtain interviews with Aussie authors where we will be unpacking the ins and outs of the Australian and worldwide book industry, writing tips and tricks, as well as some of the most pivotal experiences they’ve had in their writing careers. I will also be discussing those spicy scenes that are a bit too hot and heavy to discuss on common public platforms! As well as what I really thought about that book I DNF’d, why it didn’t resonate with me and what I would suggest as an alternative.

By clicking on the top right hand corner of this blog, you can subscribe to the monthly newsletters for $4 per month, or $45 per year. Additionally, you may find that some spoiler book reviews will have limited reading due to a paywall. This will ensure only those who are interested in reading book spoilery content are subscribed and have a deep burning desire to know what happens in those final chapters 😉

So there you have it – TWO brand new updates to Mel Reviews Her Books!

I wouldn’t be able to progress this blog into it’s new stages without your support, of which I’m so grateful for 💖

My Year in Books (2022 edition)

3rd Jan 20234th Jan 2023 ~ melreviewsherbooks ~ 2 Comments

It’s here folks! Here you have it in all its glory – ‘My Year in Books (2022 edition)’ 🥳

2021 was a slow reading year for me. Many life events, challenges and fantastic times came far above and beyond my reading habits which I’m both happy and bummed about. Sometime life happens and that folk, is quite alright 🤗 Yet, in all the messiness …

This year I have:

⭐️ Conducted 5 interviews on my blog with Australia authors whom I admire

⭐️ Interviewed Sulari Gentill in person and organised the book launch for ‘The Woman in the Library’

⭐️ Connected Australian Authors to my book club meetings

⭐️ Started writing my own novel

In 2022 I read a total of 38 books! If you’d like to see my individual ratings for each book, you can jump onto my GoodReads (click here)

The 🔦 TORCH emoji will indicate if these books were part of my Crime Fiction Fanatic Book Club
The 🎨 ART PALETE emoji will indicate if these books were part of my Literature Lovers Book Club
The 🎤 MICROPHONE emoji will indicate if these books have a review on my blog – have a read

‘Devotion’ by Hannah Kent 🎤 (read 2x)

‘The Spanish Love Deception’ by Elena Armes 🎤

‘The Love Hypothesis’ by Ali Hazelwood

‘The Natural Way of Things’ by Charlotte Wood

‘Infinite Country’ by Patricia Engel 🔦

‘The Unhoneymooners’ by Christina Lauren 🎤

‘The Paper Palace’ by Miranda Crowley-Heller 🎤

‘The Woman in the Library’ by Sulari Gentill (read 2x) 🔦

‘It Happened One Summer’ by Tessa Bailey

‘Hook, Line & Sinker’ by Tessa Bailey

‘Only A Monster’ by Vanessa Lin

‘You and Me on Vacation’ by Emily Henry