Emily Paull

* The Sisters' Song by Louise Allan * Dustfall by Michelle Johnston * You Belong Here by Laurie Steed * The Art of Persuasion by Susan Midalia * Circe by Madeleine Miller * Obsidio by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman * Jane Seymour- The Haunted Queen by Alison Weir * The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin * The Secrets at Ocean's Edge by Kali Napier * The Passengers by Eleanor Limprecht    * The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar * The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin * The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester * Redemption Point by Candice Fox * Transcription by Kate Atkinson     * The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland * You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld * The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer These are in no particular order, and if I have missed any amazing books or you'd like to recommend me a new release (especially if it's yours!) please let me know in the comments section.

The Cottingley Secret Hazel Gaynor Harper Collins, 2017 (I own a copy courtesy of the publisher) Though I watched the movie Fairy Tale: A True Story (1997) many times as a child, it wasn't until the news of this book coming out did I think to check if the story of Frances and Elsie and the Cottingley fairies really was based on a true story.  In 1917, Frances Griffiths and her cousin Elsie Wright stunned the world by photographing themselves in the company of fairies down at the 'beck' (an old word for stream) at the back of Elsie's family home in Cottingley, Yorkshire.  These photographs soon came to the attention of the local Theosophical Society, and were certified as genuine by a Mr Snelling-- an expert in photography.  They also came to the attention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes books, who went on to publish these photographs alongside two articles which he wrote for The Strand , as well as a book called The Coming of the Fairie...

There are still four weeks left in December, so maybe I am jumping the gun by writing this list. Books are funny things.  There are some that you love in the moment, but can't recall the plot of months or even days later.  There are others that frustrate you to no end while you're reading them, but you can still find yourself dwelling on years down the track. And because books have such a profound effect on their readers, every year I like to do a shout out to the books that have moved me over the course of the year. These are in no particular order, and I couldn't limit myself to just ten-- I give you the 17 books I read in 2017 that I would recommend to all of you... The Possessions by Sara Flannery Murphy Portable Curiosities by Julie Koh Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier The Wonder by Emma Donoghue The Weight of a Human Heart by Ryan O'Neill Bloodlines by Nicole Sinclair Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Str...

On writing both novels and short stories, and learning the differences between them Let's be real here.  A short story is not the practice form that you need to master before you can go on and write novels. Sure, there are novelists out there who also write short stories.  And there are short story writers who also try their hands at novels.  Just look at George Saunders.  He's just published his first novel, Lincoln in the Bardo , and it went and won the Man Booker Prize.  Bravo, George, bravo.  (As a side note, it excites me that he's done this, because now maybe people who have discovered him through the prize will go and read his amazing short fiction.)  There are plenty of great writers who write both, and there are plenty of writers who stick to the one form.  But I can't think of a single one who cut their teeth on short stories, then worked up the courage to write a full-length novel and announced to themselves and the world "Okay, ...

It's technically spring at the moment here in Australia, but I think it would be safe to say that summer is here.  It's been above 30 degrees celcius every day this week, and it stays warm and muggy until well after the sun goes down.  It's perfect weather for lazing around under the air conditioning, or outside in the shade with a good book, and that's certainly something I have been trying to do-- I am on track to reach my Goodreads target of 101 books in 2017 with a few extra books up my sleeve, but that's no reason to slow down!  Reading has sort of replaced writing in the last couple of weeks, but I am finding it hard to feel guilty about that.  Since finishing the rewrite of my novel and handing it over to my beta readers, I feel a little bit like a sponge that has been wrung out.  I have no more words for the moment, so I am soaking up other peoples'. Here's what I have been reading lately: Bird Country by Claire Aman-- reviewed here on the AU ...

You may have noticed that this month, I have completely re-branded this website. I loved my old blog, and I loved my pseudonym, but a few people had pointed out to me lately that it was time to move on.  I'm starting to make a bit of headway in the world of writing, and that means time for a real, proper, grown-up author page. I'm not going to say that much more about it, but I do find it interesting that this coincides with the completion of the latest draft of my novel, Between the Sleepers .  While I've been working on this book for what amounts to something like ten years (though there were gaps to work on other projects in between drafts), the draft that I've just completed felt different.  That comes down, in large part, to the fact that I have been working with a local author who has mentored me through this stage of the project.  I had admitted to myself about a year ago that the book wasn't quite there yet, but that I didn't know how to push mys...

We're back! I am still learning this podcasting thing, so tonight's recording chops around a little bit and the sound quality changes. I'm sorry about that. I am good with words, not with technology, but I am learning more and more with every episode I record.  This month, we were reading The Boat by Nam Le, a classic short story collection from 2008. I was surprised by this book, as it wasn't at all what I expected. I was joined at the Centre for Stories by local writer Yvette Diaz and we had a chat about the book and what we took away from it.  Enjoy!  Remember, you can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts now-- Just search for The Short Story Book Club Podcast. If you like it, you can leave a review which will help other listeners find us.  

Marlborough Man Alan Carter Fremantle Press, 2017 (I own a copy, courtesy of the publisher) I don't usually read crime novels but I do love to support WA Authors, so when the opportunity arose for me to interview Alan Carter in November, I said yes please and hopped to the task of reading his latest book.  Alan Carter is originally from the UK, but now lives in Western Australia.  He is the author of the three Cato Kwong novels, Prime Cut, Getting Warmer   and Bad Seed  which examine the fictional seedy underbelly of Perth.  Marlborough Man  is described by Carter in his acknowledgements as a 'temporary conscious uncoupling with Cato'-- it follows Sergeant Nick Chester, originally from Sunderland in the UK but now living in the Marlborough Sounds in New Zealand, after an under cover job he did as part of SOCA (Serious Organised Crime Agency, I think...) put him in the cross hairs with a dangerous crime boss.  Nick lives in one of the most be...

The Last Act of Hattie Hoffman  Mindy Mejia Quercus, 2017  I own a copy courtesy of the publisher In a small town in America, a young woman named Hattie Hoffman is found dead in an abandoned barn.  The Sheriff on duty is Del Goodman-- a Vietnam veteran, and a friend of the Hoffman family.  Del is a good cop, but this case is personal, and his sanity may depend on whether or not he can get justice for Hattie. Told in three voices, The Last Act of Hattie Hoffman  is both a murder mystery and a coming of age novel. Hattie is a chameleon.  She changes her personality to fit in with the people around her, becoming whatever they want most.  The perfect daughter.  The devoted best friend.  The star pupil.  (In some other countries, the novel is titled Everything You Want Me to Be .)  She is a seventeen year old girl, bright but a bit of an introvert, except when it comes to acting.  The night of her murder, she has been on ...

We That are Left Lisa Bigelow Allen and Unwin, 2017 I own a copy courtesy of the publisher The sinking of the HMAS Sydney  was a sobering moment in Australian history.  Mystery and rumour surrounded the loss of the vessel and all 600 + souls on board until the mid-2000s when the wreckage was finally located.  In We That Are Left , the struggles of the loved ones left behind by some of those crew members lost in the tragedy are re-imagined. We That Are Left  is the story of two women.  There is Mae, who is looking forward to her naval engineer husband coming home to spend Christmas with his baby daughter when she hears that his ship, the Sydney  is missing.  The other woman, Grace, is a country girl who has come to Melbourne to becoming a reporter, just like her heroine, the movie character Torchy Blane.   She's in the newsroom when the rumour comes down the wire, and watches as the news media are gagged by the Armed Forces, desp...

Beautiful Messy Love Harper Collins 2017 I own a copy, courtesy of the author/ publisher Earlier this year, I received a parcel at work.  It was wrapped in red paper and tied up with a red and white ribbon.  Inside was a copy of Tess Woods' new book, Beautiful Messy Love -- pre-release-- and a dozen or so red rose petals.  There was also a handwritten card from Tess, which to this day, still sits on my work desk.   I first met Tess Woods late last year when the Bassendean Memorial Library had decided to put on a series of talks called The Literary Lounge, and through the bookstore where I work (which works mostly with libraries), I was brought on board to do the book sales.  Tess's first book, Love at First Flight  was about to be published in physical form for the first time, so it must have been about July or August last year, I think.  I'd been seeing Love at First Flight  absolutely everywhere.  It was all over my Facebook and Tw...

This month, I was joined at the Short Story Book Club by my dear friend, Belinda Hermawan, to talk about Pulse Points .  This collection, by award winning writer Jennifer Down, provided us with lots to talk about, and we discussed the various ways reading a great short story can benefit your own practise as a writer. In other news, you can now subscribe to The Short Story Book Club Podcast on iTunes!  Please leave us a review or a rating if you like what we do, because that will help others find us. Without any further ado, I give you episode 3...

The Mitford Murders  by Jessica Fellowes Sphere, 2017 I own a copy, courtesy of the publisher With the cinematic remake of Murder on the Orient Express  looming, it seems as if Agatha Christie is back in vogue again-- that is, if she were ever out of it, who am I to say?  It's timely, then, that Jessica Fellowes should be launching her new cosy mystery series now.  Set in England in the early 1920s, The Mitford Murders  looks to be the first in a series of books following accidental sleuth Louisa Cannon and sidekick, Nancy Mitford.  This first volume introduces us to Louisa, nineteen years old and living with her mother and her Uncle.  Her mother does laundry for some of their more well-off neighbours, and while Louisa has a loving relationship with her mother, the age gap between them is considerably more than between most mothers and daughters of the time. After the death of Louisa's father, Uncle Stephen comes to live with them.  Uncle St...

Ridgeview Station  by Michael Trant Allen and Unwin, 2017 (I own a copy, courtesy the publisher) From Goodreads:  Many of Peter and Kelsie Dalton's friends thought they were crazy when they bought Ridgeview Station. But five years on, their hard work, help from Kelsie's parents, and record rainfall have them in high spirits as the summer muster approaches. Realising they're going to need more help this season, Peter rings around the neighbouring stations to try and find a good worker. After a glowing recommendation, Alexi arrives to give them a hand - and is not at all what they'd expected ... Everything is going smoothly with the muster before disaster strikes and the Dalton's find themselves battling to save their livestock, their property and their lives. A few thoughts from me:   Ridgeview Station , the debut novel by Michael Trant, is a portrait of life on a sheep station in Western Australia-- for some readers, such as myself, a setting that is entirel...

This week, I caught up with Jennifer Down, author of Pulse Points and the novel Our Magic Hour, via email to talk about her short story collection ahead of the next session of the Short Story Book Club on September the 19th.  Here's what she had to say: Many people would have first come to your writing when you won the ABR/ Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize for your story Aokigahara .  I have a strong memory of reading that story on my lunch break when it was published online, and being unable to keep myself from crying.  What did winning that award mean for you as a writer? Jennifer Down:  Thank you! It was pretty surreal. I’d entered the prize the year before, too, and maybe the year before that. It was certainly validating, because it’s a prize that doesn’t distinguish between emerging and established writers, and it’s open to international entrants, and because some of its past shortlistees and winners are people whose work I greatly admire. But ...

I'm having a good reading year.   I've read about 70 books so far in 2017 , and I am on track to meet my Goodreads target of reading 101 books in the year.  It's the same target I set myself last year, but last year I almost didn't make it because it took me almost three whole weeks to read A Little Life-- yeah, thanks for that Hanya Yanagihara.  (In all seriousness though, that book was a dark masterpiece but it should come with a box of tissues, a hot water bottle and some gin.) This year, though I'm trying to revise Between the Sleepers and therefore writing after work most days, I'm also trying to read a lot more.  I have a lot of books that I 'need' to read, whether it be for Book Club, The Short Story Book Club that I run, for reviews, or for interviews I'm doing.  And because of all that, my TBR pile at the moment looks like this: That's right.  It's pretty much two piles. For those of you who can't see what's on there...

The Woolgrower's Companion by Joy Rhoades Bantam 2017 I borrowed a copy from the library New South Wales, 1945.  Kate Dowd goes with her father to the train station to meet two new workers coming to work on their station, Amiens.   Bought under the soldier-settler scheme, Amiens  is one of the few stations that has been profitable in the area, but with Kate's father seeming to be losing his grip on reality, signs begin to point to that no longer being the case.  Add to this the new workers themselves-- Italian Prisoners of War, Luca and Vittorio.  Kate doesn't trust these newcomers, and worries about being virtually alone with them, many kilometres from help. I expected good things from this novel.  It sounded exactly like the kind of book I love, and in many ways the premise reminded me of one of my favourite books of all time, The Paperbark Shoe by Goldie Goldbloom.  But I got more than I expected, because Joy Rhoades' debut novel is a marve...

It's back!  The Short Story Book Club was on again for August.   This month, it was all about The Love of a Bad Man by Laura Elizabeth Woollett, and I was lucky enough to be joined by two guests, Leonard and Veronica.  We tried extremely hard not to go off on too many tangents, and hey, I think we did a pretty great job, so here it is for your listening pleasure! Remember, you can join us next month (September 19) when we discuss Pulse Points  by Jennifer Down, and you have plenty of time to pick up a copy from your bookstore of choice and get reading.   Just make sure you register here.   The Love of a Bad Man was published in 2016 by Scribe. Thanks to Caroline and Claudia and all of the team at the Centre for Stories.  See you next month! Leonard and Veronica- Episode 2 Guests

So here's a piece of writing wisdom I never expected to pick up: Sometimes, you have to write it like a midday soap opera. I don't mean that your book should read like one.  I'm talking about in your early drafts, or perhaps in your middle-of-the-process revisions. Let me explain. I'm currently working on the eleventh or twelfth iteration of my historical novel, Between the Sleepers .  The last time I rewrote it, I thought it was done.  I thought it was the best that it was ever going to be.  I'd taken it to a residency at the Katharine Susannah Prichard writers centre, where I'd reworked 40000 words in ten days and gone home feeling like a superhero.  I'd had a feeling in my gut that the book was as done as it was ever going to be. And I pitched it to a few agents, some of whom even read the whole thing.  It was close.  But it wasn't getting over the line. Readers, I took a year off from that novel.  It was probably the largest ...

The Short Story Book Club occurs monthly at The Centre for Stories. In July, emerging writer Emily Paull was joined by writer and poet, Melissa Davies, to talk about Australia Day by Melanie Cheng. We then flashed back to the 2017 Perth Writers Festival, where Laurie Steed and Emily Paull caught up with visiting writer, Julie Koh. To find out more about The Short Story Book Club, visit The Centre for Stories online .  You can join us next month, when we discuss The Love of a Bad Man by Laura Elizabeth Woollett. To pre-order Melissa Davies' poetry collection, Pineapples in the Pool, please click here.  

‘After all, she had only looked to Cambodia when the hospitals in Melbourne failed to provide the validation she’d been searching for.  At the idealistic age of eighteen, she had chosen a career in health to make a difference, save lives, change the world, and Cambodia, with its reputation for tragedy, seemed like just the place to do it.’ (page 72) This is part of the story ‘Hotel Cambodia’, one of the stories in the middle of Australia Day by Melanie Cheng.  I caught up with Melanie via email this past weekend to ask her all about this collection, and about the short story as a form.  'Hotel Cambodia' is the story of Melissa, a young Australian woman who goes to Cambodia to ‘make a difference’.  There’s a sort of double awareness in Melissa’s point of view.  On the one level, she’s there to save lives, to help the less fortunate.  But on a deeper level, one which the reader sees through the third person narration, but Melissa doesn’t really sa...

... And I am in it! Front cover image Nina-Marie Thomas, Ten 2017.  I'm so excited to have had a piece accepted by Western Australia's longest running literary journal, and to have my work published in the same issue as amazing writers like Susan Midalia and Caitlin Maling. My piece is called 'Sister Madly Deeply'-- it's about the bond between two sisters, and how they cope with a family tragedy.   You can get a copy from Westerly's website, and I think there are a few bookshops around Perth who stock it as well.

Hachette Australia, 2017 My copy was borrowed from the library Almost overnight, Wimmera  by Mark Brandi became one of the most talked about Australian debuts of 2017.  With comparisons to Jasper Jones  being bandied around, I couldn't help but be curious.   Wimmera  is the story of Ben and Fab, who grow up in a small town in Victoria.  After the suicide of a local girl, a stranger moves in down the road from Ben, and hires Ben to do odd jobs around the house.  Years later, Fab is still living in the town, collecting trolleys at the local supermarket.  When a grisly discovery is made, it draws Fab back into the past and the events of that year, and his friendship with Ben. Part literary novel, part courtroom drama, part mystery, part coming of age tale, Wimmera has a little something for everyone.  Brandi cleverly evokes the obsessions and preoccupations of pre-teen boys, and switches perspectives with a deft hand, as the novel is br...