Crooked Little Heart by Anne Lamott review...

Synopsis:
Crooked Little Heart is about many things, mother and daughters together, tennis, growing up from being a girl into being an adult...
Rosie is a tennis obsessive, she plays and seeks attention- she knows she's good, older players than herself, those whom she'd think to look up to, look up to her, come watch her and her friend play and she loves it- the feeling of knowing that she's doing something that makes people notice her, makes her stand out- and after all, that's something she needs, her mother having a new husband but grieving for her lost one.
But there's a man, he comes to every public match that the team holds and watches the girls wack the ball across the court, he watches them, and though they think it's kind of funny, it's not right, but no one can do anything about it.
But in this world of tennis and public attention, coaches who like the girls a little more than is thought right and who come out with crude and awful, sexual comments, is there more than being in the spotlight? And what happens when the floodlights are switched.
Off...?

Thank you to the publiching company for this review copy!

What I thought:
This book unverved me- it made my skin crawl in an unpleasant way and I found it unsettling, uncomforatble, from the coach who was horridly awful, to the creepy man who came to "watch" the girls.
I couldn't like this book, because it was too, oh what? Too creepy, too scary, too much like real life?
I don't think the last one, but maybe it was just a mixture... whatever it was, it made me feel like it was wrong, in a weird way... it made me churn and feel uncomfortable, and I don't want to have that feeling again.

More reviews soon!
Romi.x

The End of Everything by Megan Abbott review...

Synopsis:
Lizzie and Evie are best friends, forever friends, more than the best of sisters... or so it seems... because though Lizzie believes that they share everything and always have, always will, when Evie is strangely abducted questions are left open and hanging, getting stale and leaving bad tastes to linger over.
And when Lizzie finally allowes herself to ask these strange and awful questions, she can never be prepaired for what some people will answer her.
Was Evie taken by a crazy, awful man who believed he loved her, who watched her bedroom window for nights on end, or did she go with him by choice...

Thank you to Macmillan for this review copy!

What I thought:
To read a book in which one of the main characters, or feature of the story, is about a person being abducted, murdered or used, is something you have to be prepaired for and this being my first book about abduction, I don't know if I can say that I was fully prepaired.

The End of Everything is a excedingly well written book, the storyline is very well written and has no faults, it is a devistating, tragic, sad and overall powerful book and it will make you watch your every step, every move... it looks on memories to try and help a child in peril and I can't think of anything else to describe it, Powerful is the word.
The End of Everything is a very Deviststing and Powerful book.
One day that very quote will be on the back cover, I declaire it!
It's not a book to read before bed though, because it's a little bit creepyish...

Romi.xxx

The Invention of Hugo Caberet by Brian Selznick review...

Synopsis:
Hugo has lived with his father, a clockmaker, for his whole life, and when his father finds an old automaton in the museum (which his father works at) attic, they both become obsessed with fixing it and figuring out what it may do when finished.
But then there's a fire, and all Hugo knows is blown away with the ashes, and he is taken to the Parisian train station in which his uncle works at (as a clock keeper in timer) and starts his new life, behind the walls.
But everything changes when Hugo really meets the old man who sells toys, a strange girl and a boy with an eye patch and Hugo's life in in for a ride like never before...

What I thought:
I'd read The Invention of Hugo Caberet when it first came out, and luckily I got my own copy, but being in a slump for books I picked it up and began to read.
It's a really one in a never any more book- partly told with amazing, hand crafted pictures, partly with the written word.
Everything is is perfect equalness and it couldn't be a more wonderful book.
The story isn't at all complicated and it's brilliant being able to design your own story with reading the pictures... it's a brilliant story, being made into a movie as well!
And I truly and undefyably (new word!) want you all to read it.
Please do, because it's worth it a hundred fold.

Romi.x

My Driver by Maggie Gee review...

Synopsis:
My Driver is a story divided into the stories of the different characters, though that doesn't make sense does it?
For example, chapter one is about one person, chapter two goes to another... get it?
Well, it's about some people with amazing stories to tell- Mary, who has come from being a on the low scale of cleaning jobs to being the exectutive cleaner at the grand Sheraton Hotel, but she has fears, because her son is missing, and other strange things are happening too.
Vanessa is a writer, oming from London to Uganda, where Mary now works, for a confrence, but she also plans to catch up with her friend Mary, whom she knows from a while ago when she used to clean or her.
But things aren't going to plan for these two, especially when Vanessa's Ex-husband get's involved, and he does- that's Mary's fault.
But though all this, questions lie beneth the surface, and can they be answered?

Thanks to the amazing people at UWAP for supplying this!

What I thought:
I didn't click with this novel, sadly, because I loved the sound and idea of it, and the cover is something truly amazing!
But I didn't like the writing, the way the author did bractets on most every page making her point... or the characters, and I just couldn't get into the story as I need to.
Though it would be many peoples ideal book, it wasn't mine.

ROmi.xxx

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan review... (And Giveaway winner announced)

Synopsis:

Kieran And Waverly were two of the first to be born in space, on a journey to new earth, a place free of the awful heat and tragic pain and fighting that took over the first earth, a place to begin again and make the perfect race.

They've never seen the clear blue of the sky.

And they think, that they are in a deep, undefiable, love.

But they're in a giant, red mudish nebula, and it seems as if it'll never end.

They've been in it for years, and have years to go... that means the radars on board their ship can't find anything, if someone were to attack their ship, they couldn't do anything- wouldn't find out until it were too late.

And that's just what happens.

A ship, a fellow ship called the New Hoirozen heading for New Earth, attacks them and takes every single girl abord, kills most of the adults and leaves all the boys.

But they're not going to let them go without a fight... and abord the New Hoirozen the girls aren't exactly   being easy to cope with, especially Waverly.

They're all fighting for they'relives, upon both ships.

Thank you to Macmillan for this review copy! You are awesom!

What I thought:

I wasn't 100 percent sure of Glow, I liked the sound of it, but as with all books, it had the posibility of being a dissapointment.

But I wasn't disappointed. (wow, I found two ways of spelling that in one review!)

In fact, my dear friends, I was very un-disappointed!

It was a very well written, action filled book, with a marvalously written storyline and fantastic characters; there was such feeling to the writing, heart rendering pain transfered though to me and I was very pleased with it!

And the cover, I loved that from the start and only when half way through did I feel the different texture on the different parts- it was awesome!

It is a easy and hard read- easy to go along with and read, but a very sad storyline, especially with all the deaths and seperations of familys...

A great and fantastical read!

Now, no wait---- ok, now, (I needed a different font, see?) the giveaway.. dun dun dun......!
Well after thinking very very slowly and hard, I have decided that... no, maybe... or, of what about... but I really like what she said about... no... it's got to be... (oh, how much fun am I having teasing you guys? A lot!)
Well, I got two lovely entries, one from Brittany and one from Naomie... and I made the decision to give you both a copy, because you're so lovely and both seemed to want a copy each so much!
Email me at: contact (dot) romif (at) gmail (dot) com and let me know your postal addresses and I'll post the magazines off asap!
Yaysies! Great turnout, no?

And another thing, because I'm happy dappy (and an extreme seller who has as of yet sold nothing, nil) I've got a discount code on my etsy store.
Use the code BIRDS and get a dicount on all on items! YAY!

Lots of love and inspiration,

Romi.x

Cargo by Jessica Au review...

Synopsis:
Cargo revolves around the live of three similar aged teenagers over the course of one Summer.
There's Frankie who's friends have started talking behind her back and moving into different circles from her and who's mother has just announced that she's having a baby, after 15 years of having a single child.
Gilly, or Gillian, who was in a horiffic accident only the year before and lost her leg, but is again swimming and setting her hopes high, and who believes that she is in love, though he isn't treating her right at all.
And Jacob, over shined all his life by his older brother, he's finally making something of himself, and is enjoying the limelight he's always yearned for.
These three teenagers have tragic, beautiful, awful and unbelieveable but true seeming stories to tell.
Just listen.

Thank you to Macmillian for this review copy!

What I thought:
I thought this book was heartbreaking- both boldly told and truthfully told.
It was a beautifullr crafted piece of work, some of the themes were difficult to come to terms with, especially with the age of the characters, one of the youngest having a relationship with a persom much older than herself because it's what she feels will make him love her.
But it leaves unanswered questions at the same time, what happened to them? Did she get pregnant? Did she move away? What did he do with life? Did she swim across the oceans???
It's part of the story though, I think, because the reader must decide.

I loved the idea of this, though not all of it specifically suited my favourite sorts of books to read/themes.
But I did enjoy it, it was easy to sink into, but hard at the same time, due to the themes.
It's a lovely book- and the cover, oh wow! I adore that!

Romi.x

GoodReading Post! With Pictures, as Promised! AND 3 Day Giveaway!

Howdi Doodie Poppios,

Today I shall post my GoodReading Magazine Post! YES!
Hope you enjoy it!

The GoodReading Magazine article came out really well- I'm super pleased with it and have already had a few people tell me that they've seen it- wowizers!
It was such an amazing process, long and sometimes hard, but I loved it and am so proud and greatful to both Rowena and Tim at GR for helping me along the way! Make sure you all go and buy a copy of it- I'm on page 43! *And I'm smiling!*

Thre was supposed to be a video here, but it is being annoying and not loading... sorry.

Now, I've got a spare copy of this very GR magazine and am giving it away to one of my lucky and always super awesome readers!
Just comment and tell me why you'd like to read it and I'll draw a winner in 3 days- on the 21st of August! Australian time!
There's also a giveaway on The Dreamy Tree, please go and enter it because it's truly awesome! You can win any print you desire from a truly brilliant shop on etsy!
It's, as per the norm, super easy to enter- so go forth and enter with all your mightiness might.
You have to be a follower of TDT- this is printed in small. Thus classifying as small print.


Romi.xxx

The Perfume River- Writing from Vietnam by Multiple Authors review...(and questions)

Synopsis:
The Perfume is writing, short stories and poems, by authors all around the world, some even in Vietnam.
The writers have written about that Vietnam is to them, the essence of Vietnam in their eyes, and everything in this book is vastly different, some moving, some startling, some purely beautiful.
From when War was still in Vietnam to present day, these writers have made storys that last the passage of time, and go many places in between it.

Thank you to UWAP for this copy!

What I thought:
I loved the sound of this book, but sadly I found as an overall it to be disappointing.
Most of the short stories I read in it weren't for me, they wern't the sort of writing or themes that I enjoy and take a pleasure reading, but then there were a few totally amazing little jems, as you say.
I found maybe 7 to 10 poems and short stories that I truly found to be great and funnily, as I don't tend to read much poetry, or haven't yet, poems got to me more in this book then short stories.
There were 2 I think that really were beautiful, and though as an overall I didn't enjoy this book, maybe these little sparks made up for it.
They were truly inspiring, and who knows, I'm sure you out there will be sure to find many more in this book that you will think "tres inspiring" about.

Romi.x
P.S. I'm in the midst of thinking about my 2012 booklist, what is a good Agatha Christie book to add, if I've got Death On the Nile on already? (preferably a Poirot)
And I'm doing a giveaway over on this blog here.
R.x

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy review...

Synopsis:
Janie lives an idelyic life with her parents in LA, the year being 1952- none of them are wanting for anything at all- everything's just perfect- it seems.
But then she is followed on the way home from school by a dark car, everyway she turns, down secluded alleyways, he car appears at the next street she turns into, until she get's safely home and locks all the doors.
Then she finds out something startling and llife changing, her parents are communists and they have to leave this life, the life she loves, and move to dreary old England.
War torn England.
England, with it's fog and dripping, seeping rain.
But there is only the beginning, soon Janie is flung into a new, magical and mysterious life, and lots of people are after her this time...

Thank you to the Publishers for sending me this review copy!

What I thought:
At first, I didn't wholly like this- I couldn't really work out Janie and didn't like the first little bit where she was in America... but as soon as she started school, met the apothecary, met Benjamin and her life started changing, I was captured.
It took a little bit, but as soon as I was in, I couldn't ever go back out.
The storyline was grasping and thrilling, the characters, well I was in love with them, I felt for Janie and was shocked by something at the end... but then settled into happiness.
And I know from experiance that I kiss scene is quite hard to write, for any characters, but Maile did a fantastic job of making it natural and right.
I've not found that very much, and it was exuberently wonderful!
Read it, review it, and make sure you don't miss it.

It's hard to get a better book that combines all these super things- this one did it all so well and I can't wait to meet these wonderful people again, soon!
Lovingly your friend and fellow person,
Romi.xxx
P.S. I won an award for this here bloggy! Thanks to Brittany for giving it to me! It's pictured below and here is the link to where I recieved it!
Romi.x

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic review...

Synopsis:
Austin Parker has set himself a challenge, this weekend he will, with the help of his best friend and secret crush Kaylee-or more specifically her car, go to many places, people's homes, places that were special to him, but mostly he's going around to make things right, to try and make people see that in life, they can't take anything for granted- that not everyone has the chance to live everyday.
Some people can't waste everyday and it's hard for them to see others doing just that.
People like Austin.
And maybe it's also a quest for Austin to let himself get prepaired for what's coming... and that's something that he needs Kaylee's help with.

Thank you to the lovely author for sending me this proof of NE to review- and the extra's! 

What I thought:
I loved the idea, the storyline and the thought of this novel, I enjoyed reading it and I linked with the characters, especially Kaylee, but there was a lot of swearing and themes that I don't usually read nor enjoy, and a lot more of each in this book then I'd ever read before.
But so even though I enjoyed the story and loved what it was about- I found that the swear words that were used overshadowed the story and the thought behind it- though if there were less, I'd have enjoyed it a lot more.
It was a very sad story theme, one of the hardest things to write and read about, coping with death, and the fact that it was about cancer, an unstoppable thing and powerfully sad... it was very well written and I can't imagine writing about those things myself.
It was a powerful thing.

Romi.

A New Map of The Universe by Annabel Smith review...

Synopsis:
This story is split into four sections, three telling different stories and the fourth coming back to the beginning and continuing on with the main character's own story.
First and last is Grace, a universtity graduate in Architecture who didn't do anything with her degree after something unforgivable happened to her.
Grace's story entwines itself with that of Michael, the man who she has only known for a short time but with who she has instantly fallen in love with, until he leaves to follow his work with a course in Egypt that breaks her heart, and makes Grace feel that he hasn't got one after all.
Next in line are Peter and Madeline, both their stories start when they are children and progress until they meet and marry, becoming Grace's parents.
But bad things happen, more then bad, awful, horrid, things that get blamed when there is no one to blame... things that have consaquences and awful lasting.
Things that could break one in two.
And Grace needs to find the strengh inside her to do something she's always wanted, yearned to do, but hasn't.
No is the right time for her to begin living her life.

Thank you to the publishers for supplying this review copy!

What I thought:
It didn't take me long to connect with this story, I lived beside the characters and was moved by their hopes and tragidy's.
It was a massively moving story, one of love, missing people, hope, tears, saddness and life.
It is such an incredibly moving and devistating story and had a profound effect on me.
I adored it, I adored it, I adored it.
Please read it- it's amazing and difficult to describe, I want you all to describe it for yourselves, like I am attempting to.

Romi.x

Awesome and wholly brilliant Q&A with...

Tessa Kiros, the amazing author of many books, including Apples for Jam, did a Q&A with me! YAY!
Here is is, enjoy!



*Why do you write?
Words are my expression of all that is in my mind - that I have seen, loved, collected.


*What inspires you?
Travel, small details and finishes (anything really), fabrics, colours, flowers, energetic people, passionate people, just people, cultures, children, movies....


*Do you have a favourite book?
Hmmm  So many.  recent is 'The god of small things'. I am reading 'Gullivers travels' again at the moment. I loved 'the story of an African farm' that we read at school. I love Laurie Colwin - Home cooking + more home cooking.


*Do you have a favourite recipe to cook?
Prawns with feta, lemon and piri piri. Gravadlax. Lately I love making pizza. And I adore making ice cream


*Are you writing any more books?
Yes.  I am working on one inspired by Italy, nature, my husbands mother. And I have other books inside me after that


*What is your favourite thing to do?
Travel. With my family.


*In a  movie of your life, who would the main be acted by?
My daughters


*Who do you most look up and aspire to?
I think older people, - who are not grumpy, who have gone towards what they wanted , and see the glass as half full, who love their life


*Where do you one day dream to live?
In a house by the sea but still with some wild garden around it and beautiful view of nature. I want to hear the sea from my bed. And a boat outside. And a village nearby.
Thank you so much Tessa! Your answers were inspirational!
Keep being inspired my friends,
Romi.x

A few Right Thinking Men by Sulari Gentill review...

Synopsis:
The Sinclairs are a well known and wealthy family, living in a rich lifestyle and not having to surpass any luxury... they have no need to consider the poor, and definitely not live with them, but the youngest Sinclair has a wild streak.
An... impulsive nature.
He lives in the family's huge city house, with a few of his poor artist friends and he wouldn't give up his life for anything, everything is just as he wishes it to be and he is perfectly happy with how things are going, untill something dreadfully awful happens.
His uncle, a man by the same name and with quite a few of the same traits, is found dead in his home.
And Rowland isn't going to leave this to the police, he's now got to take matters into his own hands, and that means a lot of things...

Thank you to the author for this copy of AFRTM!

This is one of my favourite parts of the story, page 283 it is a conversation between Rowland and his nephew Ernest, and this is how it goes...

"I'm not really sure, Rowly, Ernie...Shh!.. Oh, all right,  I'll ask... Rowly, would you mind saying hello to Ernie?"
"Sure, put him on."
"Uncle Rowly!" Ernest bellowed into the phone.
"Hello, Ernie. No need to yell, mate. I can hear you."
"Daddy's in camera."
"I heard."
"Daddy's very important."
"I'm sure."
"He's visiting the Pry Minster."

And that's the essence of it, I adore that part...
Now, back to my reviewing...



What I thought:
A few Right Thinking Men is a simply marvalous book! I loved the time setting and the way people spoke, acted, dressed and were complete nutters.
Rowland is a very loveable character, and I have found myself quite attached to the lot, he and his friends, which makes me look forward to the second book even more excitedly!
It was written all as if it had happened then and there, right while I was reading it and I really liked that... it is a very wonderful Australian set and written novel, a novel for young adults and adults alike and I really think you should all go out and get youselves a copy because it's not to be missed!
Now, onto the second!

Romi.x

Theo and Co- The search for the perfect Pizza by Theo Kalogeracos review...(first cookbook!)

Synopsis:
Theo and Co is a cookbook with a story.
It goes through the life and cooking experiances of the writer, Theo Kalogeracos, mixing with how to get a good dough, why certain pizzas in his shop are called what they are (such as the amazing and delicious sounding Eskimo Joe desert pizza- he get's musical inspiration)
The magority of the recipes in this cookbook are ones that I myself would cook, with the expecption of the meat ones.
It has some very Greek pizza's and the author was origonally from Greece, so it's a winner on an extra level for me too, being the Greece obsessive that I am! YAY!

Thank you to UWAP, the publishers, for supplying this review copy.

The marked recipes for cooking and reviewing on this here blog! Watch out for them... I'm venturing out into the world of my sister's general domain! The Kitchen.. my last cooking experiace did't go too well... I vowed never to cook again in fact...

What I thought:
I really liked this cookbook, it was quite unlike any cookbook that I'd ever read/cooked from, because none that I've really used have had stories behind them like this one did, and I rather enjoyed finding out about Theo and his parents, family and friends, reading about the cooking competitions he did ect. and it was also super dooper interesting reading about how to get the best dough, because my family has been a fan of the homemade pizza for quite a while, and cook it regularly, so it was awesome so see how we could improve our dough, and it'll be tres interesting to see how it goes once in the kitchen!
I loved the sound of some of the desert pizza's too, they looked nice...!
I can't wait to start cooking from it, and the pages smelt really nice too, I love a book that has nice smelling pages... *sigh*
I shall be reviewing recipes here soon, hopefully.
Unless my cooking experiances don't go well, but I still will anyway, trust me!

Off I pop!
Romi.x

Goodreading update, guest post and upcoming book reviews...

Hi,

This is a weekendey post, I'm not feeling too well so I won't pre write the book reviews as I was going to, but I'll give you a taste of the book reviews that are coming... and let you in on my recentish news!

I've been writing a lot more lately, which is happy, and after taking a fair old break because I was lacking a bit of writing feeling, I'm going better than ever I feel! Taking it slowly and easily, I'm going at a great pace for me and I love how my story is progressing!

This coming week I'm going to be doing reviews for: a cookbook (never before seen here!), a wonderous novel from 2005 which I have justr read and either Little Lord Fauntleroy or The Invetion of Hugo Caberet.
I've written the last two up, I did ages ago actually, but am going to keep one for emergency lack of post time, so which one would you like me to post this coming week? Hugo of Fauntleroy?

In other news my Good Reading Magazine Article has been published! YAY!
I've got a full page, pictures and it looks very professional and lovely dovely! A few bits and pieces got changed and taken out, but I like it and feel truly honoured to have been able to do it, it was a great experience and I adored it! I'd love to do similar things! (Look out for a picture of me with the article in question later in the next week!)
Make sure you get a copy! The article title is Read 15! Woo! I'm exuberent and happy and excited!

I did a guest post on a blog called Love August (see the John Green Picture?!) and here is the link...
It's lovely and long, longer than all the others so far I think! I'm a writer, aren't I?

And, as I am a shop owner, I shall notify you that there are new items on my etsy shop Willows and Whispers (clicky the name) and also a sale going on... I'm also a promoter, aren't I?
I have thus far not sole anything, but I adore making the things, it's jolly inspirational work!
Sad story, huh? Working day and night, not selling anything but an old apple core... yep, that's me.
I'm not really too hard done by though. *I'm smiling here*
I like the dramatics a little... not too much though.
Bye now my grand friends- (Oh and welcome to the ranks out new friend Kelley! Hi!)

Lovingly always,
Romi.xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Boosha! I'm a classic! YAY!

Brilliant! Another fabbty fabness filled Q&A! But with Whom...?

Hi Poppies,
Remember Days like This? The amazing book I review in my last post? Well the author, Alison Stewart, has done this very brilliant Q&A with me! Thank you Alison! It was great!
Enjoy...




Why do you write?

I love writing. It's like one long discussion with yourself! It's the ultimate indulgence. Also, it's a way of working things out that have been stewing away in your head. Sometimes you're not even aware that you are returning to the same issues. I left my home in South Africa in my twenties because I didn't like apartheid. And though I'm an Australian now and my children were born here, I still find myself writing about "belonging" and its opposite, "alienation". In Days Like This, when Lily's parents stop loving her - this, I think, is the ultimate alienation.

*What is your inspiration?

It probably sounds a bit weird but I think I'm constantly trying to make sense of things! "What if" inspires me. That's why I like dystopian fiction so much - it's the ultimate "what if". It's a way to address fairly confronting things like why people behave the way they do, what motivates them - greed, love, fear, money, passion, peace. It's a way to try and work out what we value about ourselves and our world.

*Who is your favourite  character in Days Like This?

They all have their different qualities. Lily begins cautious but fires up! Daniel is impetuous and cynical from the start. Sal is a total cow. Kieran is sweet and full of integrity but I do love Ingie! She's a minor character but she's super feisty, strong, optimistic and resourceful. Someone you'd want on your side.

*Why did you write, Days like This?

I know you probably shouldn't write fiction with a cause or 'themes' in mind but dystopia is different in that respect. If you look at our world, there's a lot to be worried about - how we're handling climate change, the rise and rise of the super-rich, not all of whom behave responsibly with their power and money, our obsession with staying young, exploitation of the powerless, the use of technology as a negative controlling force. Days Like This incorporates a fair few of these themes because they're issues that concern me. But having said that, the book is primarily a story about how the narrator Lily, her brother Daniel and sister Alice deal with living in an extreme world governed by rules, imprisoned by parents who no longer love them. They are in danger, they have to escape but what is out beyond the Wall that confines them, and will they survive?

*In a film version of it (DLT) who would you picture being Lily and some of the other main characters?

I haven't really thought about this, but if a film ever was made, it would be great if some young Australian actors could take the roles, rather than Hollywood stars. Australia has so much brilliant up-and-coming acting talent; it would be a shame not to use it.

*What tips can you give to upcoming authors?

Write about what you know and what inspires you, rather than trying to write about something unfamiliar to your world like, say, a rip-off of Pride and Prejudice (unless of course that point in time is your absolute passion!). Think about the things in your life that upset, uplift or infuriate you. Use your own environment for your setting. Think about how to maintain tension to drive your narrative - readers might engage with issues like betrayal, relationship upheavals, dangerous or threatening scenarios that need ingenuity to drive plot and develop character. And write as much as you can - don't worry about how it reads initially because editing is fun! Be prepared to edit!  Less is more, they tell me - it doesn't come naturally to me, but I can see the writing is always better when it's skilfully edited (I have have to quickly thank my Penguin editor Jeanmarie Morosin here, as well as Penguin children's publisher and writer herself, Jane Godwin - they're both brilliant and perceptive editors!). Finally, read a lot and take note of how your favourite writers weave their stories.

*Did you always want to be an author?

I wanted to be a journalist first. I used to pretend to be a "foreign correspondent" when I was about 10, writing gory accounts from the frontline of my own bedroom. I tried to leave school at 15 to get a job at the local paper but the editor sensibly sent me away! I eventually did a journalism degree and worked for years as a journalist. I still love journalism but I wanted to explore other kinds of writing. That's when I started writing fiction.

*Would you change anything about Days Like This if you were to re-write it?

Maybe the ending. I see someone on Goodreads wasn't too keen on my ending though they still gave the book 4.5 stars, which I'm grateful for. Endings are hard though and there's always the hope that if the book does well, you might do a sequel!!! So you keep that in mind. It's not a dark ending and maybe that can irritate people, who might have preferred something bleaker and less pat.

*What are your main hopes for DLT? What do you hope it will do for people?

I hope that lots of people will get to read it and maybe like it. I'd be really pleased if it challenged people to think about what's important to them. Despite the confronting disintegration of a familiar world, I hope Days Like This tells us there is room for a compassionate society that values decency and integrity. I really do have a deep-held belief in peoples' essential humanity. And I do hope the book will challenge readers to examine what they really value. Do they value a sense of historic or literal place, the natural environment and the dignity of the individual or would they prefer a world that satisfies them only materially? I think we're an adaptable species so we can cope with whatever is thrown at us. Ultimately, Days Like This is about hope and redemption.

Thank you again Alison!

Romi.x

Days Like This by Alison Stewart review...

Synopsis:
Lily lives with her family on the inside of the wall.
The lucky side, apparently.
They are protected by the comittee from the warming of the world, the terrible things that audibly happen outside and are given pills weekly to protect them from desiese... allegedly.
But when her twin brother goes missing, Lily knows that things are much more sinister, and she also realises that she's going to have to escape, before it's her time to be taken...
So she leaves all she knows and goes into the hot and unsafe world, but soon she begins to realise that outside, things are dangerous, but inside, they're worse...

Thank you to Puffin for this review copy!

What I thought:
I was immediately captured by Days Like This, the thoughtfulness of the writing and storyline were fantastic and I was shocked, disgusted and devistated all together by what happened in this future Sydney.
The possibilitys of the story made me think and I am still thinking about what the effects of things we do may just have... I'm thinking of the world even more.
It was a brilliant and eye opening story that I will never forget... and it was incredibly sad too.


Romi.x

Awesomated very very very exciting Q&A with...

I did a spiffy and super Q&A recently with Leanne Hall, author of amazing This is Shyness! I hope you enjoy reading all her answers to my questions!
Thank you Leanne!

*When did you first start writing?

I started writing on a family holiday in Europe when I was eight. My family hired a campervan and drove all round Europe. I spent a lot of time in the back of that van feeling bored. So I started writing stories in notebooks. I still have some of them; they’re very funny! The characters are all fruit and vegetables, or my soft toys. I haven’t stopped writing since. 

*Did you always want to be a writer, or did it come to you slowly?

I always felt like a writer, because I was always secretly scribbling in journals and notebooks. But I only ever quietly hoped I could be a published writer. I tried to follow so many sensible careers and jobs, but I couldn’t stop writing. It bubbled along in the background, until I had to admit I really wanted to have a novel published. I made a decision to work part-time for many years while I tried to improve my writing. 

*What is your favourite thing about This is Shyness?

It’s a toss up between my characters, and the world. Like choosing between two children! I would have to say Wolfboy and Wildgirl. They’re like friends to me. I feel like they whisper things in my ear, and get up to no good while I’m asleep, and sometimes they’re really annoying and don’t do what I tell them to. 

*What was it like, hearing that you'd won the Text publishing prize and that This is Shyness was being published?

It was very surreal and very exciting. I was just so pleased to even be on the shortlist. I don’t think I can even describe how I felt, it was all so overwhelming. It was a long held dream of mine to have a book published.

*What are you currently reading?

I’m reading Indigo’s Star, a quirky, funny little book by British author Hilary McKay. It’s the second book about the Casson family. I loved the first book, Saffy’s Angel, and so far Indigo’s Star is equally great.  

*In a film version of This is Shyness, who would you cast as Wildgirl and Wolfboy?

Argggh! Difficult question! I have no idea. Suggestions please! 

*Why do you write?

I write because I can’t NOT write. It must be the way I try to understand the world. And I write because I love to read. Reading a good book brings me such pleasure, and I would love to do that for other people through my own writing. 

*Do you have any tips for upcoming writers?

Read and write as much as possible. Read as widely as possible, and then write in every spare moment you can find.  

I do like this text...

More from me soon,

Romi.x

Sizzles is an EXTREMELY clever dog- based on the series by Lauren Child review...

Synopsis:
A board book story containing all the many reasons Lola has for believing Sizzles, the dog, to be so incredibly amazing and fantastic... all are amazing reasons.
Based on the TV series and the L. Child book, this version has a cute beyond cute finger puppet sizzles dog in the centre to go along with the story.
*Note, lots of amazing Lolaish words!

Thank you to Puffin for supplying this review copy!

What I thought:
I've been a good honest Charlie and Lola fan for a good long time now, and this book is simply awesome! I adore the fact that it has a finger puppet sizzles, and it still contains all the brilliant Lolaish that you can be sure to find in any Lauren Child book, and don't fear, Lola is yet again decked out in all her most magnificent clothes imaginable! YAY!
Though be warned, when I got this book in the post and my sister showed it to Edie, she did get quite frightened, but has now warmed to it nicely... though I believe I now have to share it with her, though I'm sure we shall have glorious times reading it together in times to come...!
It's an awesome book!

It's a really cool book this one!

Romi.x