BOOKS E t MAGAZINE
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MAR 2020
BOOKS E t MAGAZINE
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Cover photo credit: @bookbookowl Copyright Š 2020 by Books Etc Magazine All rights reserved, material in Books Etc Magazine is protected under the Commonwealth Copyright Act 1968. No material may be reproduced in part thereof or in whole without written consent from the copyright holders. Copyright responsibility for supplied material rests with the provider. The opinions expressed in Books Etc Magazine are those of individual contributors and not necessarily those of its editors and publishers. Every attempt is made for accuracy, however information and figures contained in this magazine have been provided to us by the advertisers and their sources. No warranty is given by Books Etc Magazine as to the accuracy of any figures or information contained in this magazine. Perspective purchases are urged to rely on their own enquiries. Books Etc Magazine instagram.com/@booksetc_mag nicky@booksetmag.com.au www.booksetcmag.com.au
> Content We are so excited to show you what we have in store for our very first issue. Be sure to check out our interview with Astrid Scholtes and learn more about her brand new standalone book, The Vanishing Deep. Make sure you check out our spotlight on Spark + Sparrow and how you can go into the running to win one of our awesome S + S giveaway!
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Book expos, fairs and events on in Australia, US and the UK.
Disney’s The Beast Within written by Serena Valentino.
We sat down with popular YA author Astrid Scholte.
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FEATURE ARTICLE
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
tamikas review
Twilight; fifteen years a look at how the popular series stand up now.
We sit down with Maddi from Spark + Sparrow and find out more about her.
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Blue from @bluefairytales_ answers your questions!
Review of Cross Her Heart written by Melinda Leigh.
We look at the best lighting to use for Bookstagram photos.
BOOK EVENTS
YA REVIEW
ASK BLUE
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FICTION REVIEW Review of Truths I Never Told You written by Kelly Rimmer.
BOOKS ETC MAGAZINE MARCH 2020 EDITION INSTAGRAM @booksetc_mag FACEBOOK facebook.com/booksetcmagazine
MIDDLE SCHOOL REVIEW
THRILLER REVIEW
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
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TECH REVIEW
A letter from the Editor Welcome to the first issue of Books Etc Magazine! I can’t believe it’s finally here. This has been a dream project of mine since I was a teenager spread out on my bedroom floor reading Dolly and Girlfriend magazines with my best friends. Books are my passion (some might even call it an obsession!) and some of you might know me from when I ran a book subscription box, Cre8ive Inspir8ions. I love chatting about books and bookish goodies and I am always forwarding and recommending good companies on to other book lovers. So, I thought it was high time to put all that information and knowledge to good use and publish it so that others may share in all the wonderful books and bookish things out there.
I of course could not have done this without the help of some amazingly talented writers, reviewers and bookstagrammers. The bookish community is incredible when it comes to support and encourgement and I’m so proud to be apart of it. I really appreciate everyones time and effort in helping me bring this dream to life. Included in this magazine you’ll find book reviews, tips and of course PRIZES! I hope you love our first edition of Books Etc Magazine and that you’ll subscribe and enjoy future editions. I look forward to seeing you all online (feel free to drop me a DM anytime!). Until next time, happy reading!
- Nicky K
Editor and Creator
W W W. B O O K S E TC M A G A Z I N E . CO M . AU
Bo o k i s h E v e n t s
US A 6th - North Texas Tenn Book Fest 6th NYC Book Fair 7th - Fine Press Book Fair 7th - Whirlikids Book Fest, NC 12th - Southeasten YA book Fest 14th - Tucson Festival of books 14th - Book Fair, NY 16th - Edible Book Festival 18th - Virginia Fest of books 20th - Southern Kentucky Book Fest 27th - Bristol Bookfest 2020 28th - Spring Antiquarian Book Fair
UK 5th - World Book Day 8th - Bloomsbury Book Fair 10th - 12th The London Book Fair 2020 12th Aye Write Glasgow’s Book Festival 13th - An evening with Sarah J Maas 14th - Black Book Festival 15th - Essex Book Festival 19th - 29th - Huddersfield Literature Festival 19th - Daunt Books Spring Festival 21st- The Northern YA Lit Festival 28th - Stamford Book Fair
AUS 6th-17th - Aus Romance Readers Romantic Rendezvous 13th - Scone Lit Festival 10th - Future Women & Penguin RH 14th - New order 22nd - Leading Edge Books Conference 22nd - Afternoon Tea with our stars, WA
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"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten." - Neil Gaimen
REVIEW - MIDDLE GRADE
THE BEAST WITHIN
BY SERENA VALENTINO SYNOPSIS: A cursed prince sits alone in a secluded castle. Few have seen him, but those who claim they have say his hair is wild and nails are sharp--like a beast's! But how did this prince, once jovial and beloved by the people, come to be a reclusive and bitter monster? And is it possible that he can ever find true love and break the curse that has been placed upon him?
BY NICKY ( @C RE8 I VE.NI C KY )
Have you ever wanted to read Beauty & the Beast from the Prince/Beast’s point of view? Or perhaps you wanted to know more about the curse that the witch cast over the kingdom and its inhabitants? Well Disney’s and scholastic have you covered with, The Beast Within; A tale of Beauty’s Prince. This is the second book in the Villain’s series and having read Fairest of All; A tale of the wicked Queen, I was expecting great things. I wasn’t disappointed. I am a massive fan of Beauty and the Beast and I have read just about every recreation of the fairy tale, but never have I read anything from the Beast’s side of things. Needless to say, I was thrilled when I was given this book. The majority of the story revolves around the life the prince lead pre curse when he was vain and conceited. We meet Gaston and learn all about his soon to be wife and what role Gaston plays in the Prince’s life.
witches in the story who torment the Beast while he is cursed. I also really enjoyed seeing the evolution of the Beast’s character from the arrogant Prince to the gentle Beast we came to love in the movie. I would have loved seeing more Belle feature in the story, but understand this book is more about the Beast’s character development rather than just a retelling of how he and belle fell in love. The story is perfect for middle school grade readers and fans of Disney movies and young adult readers. Be sure to grab a copy of all seven of Villain novels that are out now! /5 Other titles by this series:
Personally, I loved the use of the three cruel BOOKS ETC MAGAZINE
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AUTHOR INTERVIEW:
Astrid Scholte We were lucky enough to catch up with with popular YA author and talented artist, Astrid Scholte, to ask about what inspires her and find out some details about her much anticipated new book release before she heads out on her book tour for THE VANISHING DEEP ....
This led me to the watery world of The Vanishing Deep where only fifty islands remain after the Great Waves struck and ended modern civilisation.
What character/s came to life and introduced them
I was lucky that I wrote the first draft of The Vanishing Deep back in 2017, before Four Dead Queens was released, so I wasn’t influenced by reviews, but my audience was still something I thought about. Would this book be something that readers of Four Dead Queens would enjoy? Ultimately, I wrote the book that made the most sense narratively and I can only hope readers will like it as they did Four Dead Queens!
selves to you first, and what were some of the first characteristics that took shape? Usually, my books start with a general concept or a what if? For The Vanishing Deep, the concept was ‘what if you could bring your loved one back from the dead for 24 hours?’ The idea initially came to me after watching an episode of The Real Housewives of New York City, when one of the housewives said she wished she could spend one more day with her late husband. I always knew I wanted the story to centre around two sisters. I have an older sister and I’ve always enjoyed reading or watching stories about sisterhood. Therefore, it made the most dramatic sense to have one sister as the character who would be revived. Next, I started working on the world; I wanted something that was unique. I knew it needed to be more scientifically advanced than our world to be able to revive the dead. I also wanted to create a world which was essential dead itself.
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What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing The Vanishing Deep? That writing a book under contract is very different from writing a book to get an agent or to sign with a publisher. Once you have a contract, and a known audience, it’s difficult not to consider what a reader might think of your work, and whether they’ll like it.
What does an average writing day look like for you? Do you have any special routines? My average writing day begins with emails, checking social media and attending any meetings. My agent in based in NYC and I’m published by Penguin Random House in the USA and I need to make the most of the crossover time in the morning to address any of their questions or concerns. At lunchtime, I’ll go for a swim or run. Exercise helps my mind wander and I use the time to brainstorm new projects or work through plot issues. After lunch, I’ll sit down and start writing.
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...my audience was still something I thought about. Would this book be something that readers of Four Dead Queens would enjoy?�
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I’m most productive from 4:30pm-10pm because I’m used to working after my day job ends. The only thing I require when writing is complete silence! If it’s noisy outside, then I’ll put on some background noise like the sound of the sea crashing against the shore, which worked perfectly for The Vanishing Deep! What was the writing experience like for The Vanishing Deep compared to Four Dead Queens? Where there any specific challenges for this book compared to the last one? Four Dead Queens had already gone through revisions in the online Pitch Wars competition and then with my agent before I went out on submission with publishers. Whereas, The Vanishing Deep went straight to my editor at Penguin Random House. It was quite nerve-racking sending an early draft! I’m a pantser, so I don’t plan or outline my books, which means my first drafts are often very messy and require many rounds of revisions. I ended up handing in a third draft of The Vanishing Deep to my editor and through various revisions, I completely restructured the novel and rewrote the entire last ¼. They were much more intensive than the revisions I did for Four Dead Queens!
What do you do to fill up your creative tank? Is there any one thing or person that inspires you? This is such an important question as it’s easy to wear yourself down, especially as a debut author. I said yes to every interview, article, event and opportunity that I could last year, and it was too much! This year, I’m taking a more balanced approach as it’s impossible to be creative when you’re exhausted. Watching movies, tv shows, reading a great book, travelling and dreaming are all things that inspire me. Lately, looking at different aesthetics on Pinterest has helped me get a hold on the feel of a world or story that I’m trying to create. Be sure to grab yourself a copy of THE VANISHING DEEP from all good bookstores and online booksllers. RRP: $19.99 (paperback AUS/NZ) Other titles by this author:
WIN A COPY OF THE VANISHING DEEP! To go into the running to win a paperback copy of The Vanishing Deep simply click HERE and tell us who you would bring back from the dead for 24hrs?
Two sisters. One dangerous secret. Twenty-four hours to uncover the truth. Seventeen-year-old Tempest was born into a world of water. The most skilled diver on the Equinox Reef, she searches drowned cities with her older sister Elysea, seeking out old world treasures to trade for Notes. After Elysea mysteriously drowns, Tempest scavenges the ruins alone, driven to collect enough Notes to buy her sister's life for 24 hours, and to finally learn the secret she had kept until her last breath. However, once revived, Elysea convinces Tempest to break her out of the Palindromena research facility and they embark on a dangerous journey to discover the truth about their parents' death. But they're pursued by two Palindromena employees desperate to find them before Elysea's time is up, and to prevent them from uncovering the secrets behind the revival process and the true cost of restored lives. Dead or living, everyone must pay the price. pg.10
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H o me - made A u s s i e b o o k i s h pr odu cts to mak e y o u r b oo k- l o v i ng h e ar t s f i l l with gl ee!
www.ohsewbookish.com.au
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Scrunchies Bookmarks Book Sleeves Sleeve Packs Mug Rugs Coasters
“... a great start to what is sure to be a magical and suspenseful series ...” HAVENFALL BY SARA HOLLAND SYNOPSIS: From the New York Times bestselling author of Everless comes a thrilling contemporary fantasy series about the safe haven between worlds – and the girl sworn to protect it. Maddie loves spending summers at her uncle's Inn at Havenfall. But the Inn is much more than a Maddie's safe haven, and life in Havenfall isn't without its secrets. Beneath the beautiful, sprawling manor in Colorado lie hidden gateways to other worlds, some long-sealed by ancient magic. BOOKS ETC MAGAZINE
When a body is found on the grounds, the volatile peace brokered between these worlds is irrevocably compromised. What's worse is that Maddie's friend Brekken stands accused of the murder. With everything she loves at stake, Maddie must confront shocking truths about the dangers lurking beneath Havenfall – and discover who she really is. This sweeping new series, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Melissa Albert and Holly Black, is sure to enthral readers old and new.
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BY TAMIK A (PAPERBACK ANDFLICKCHICK )
This reader likes to acknowledge all the different talent it takes to make a book come to fruition and therefore I can’t go any further without pointing out how incredibly stunning this cover is! When I first received my Solarian ARC I thought it was so stunning in its full metallic glory! But then I received this finished copy and was absolutely blown away! The metallic detailing, the hidden face and all the little details are incredible. I honestly think this might be one of the most stunning covers to grace our shelves this year! Anyway, now that that’s off my chest lets get on to reviewing the story and writing by Sarah Holland that is Havenfall. I was hooked and intrigued by this book from before the story itself even began thanks to the “preface” consisting of descriptions of the different worlds and realms. I thought each world sounded so unique and full of wonder and potential that I couldn’t wait to read on and see how the worlds and their people were involved in the story to come. The writing was just as beautiful throughout the story and from the get-go to finish Holland’s writing style is incredibly descriptive, no detail is left untouched, even the most unimaginative of people will not have an issue picturing the world Holland has created. Because the descriptive writing may be considered to some as flowery this is something to consider for readers who despise flowery writing and would much prefer some details left to the imagination. For the same reasons the first 60 odd pages of this book may be considered slow to some as Holland really takes her time with the world building and setting the scene before getting into any high stakes action. Luckily for me I love me some descriptive, flowery, immaculate world building! However, because I am an absolute drama queen and thrive off the tension I also would not have complained if Holland had upped the intrigue and drama sooner than she did. BOOKS ETC MAGAZINE
REVIEW - YA I also thought this book included diversity and important representation as well as addressing important social topics. This book included LGTB+ representation both in main and side characters which I am so glad Holland included as its important for all YA readers to be able to find themselves represented in stories. However, as I am not an LGTB+ individual myself I can not comment on how effectively this was done other than I was happy to see it included. I also thought that by the main character being a victim of bullying that Holland brought this important social issue and its lasting mental and emotional effects to light. As a person who was also a victim of bullying in her adolesce, I thought this was done well and is something we should see more of. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and think it’s a great start to what is sure to be a magical and suspenseful series. This book has all the makings of an enthralling magical YA read: representation, dynamic characters and plenty of mystery, magic and intrigue. Release Date: 3rd March, 2020
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Other titles by this author:
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Photo Credit: @readthewriteact
Twilight;
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his year marks the fifteenth anniversary of Twilight, the first book in the world-wide phenomenon that is the Twilight Saga. The book series by American born author Stephenie Meyer sparked a reading frenzy like nothing we’ve seen before. With over 2 million copies and the novels being translated into numerous different languages and nearly 4 million in earnings for the film franchise. What is it that made this series explode? What were the themes that grabbed audiences fifteen years ago which are still relevant now? And what makes people still excited about this series all these years later? Let’s go on an adventure and discover this series once more. BOOKS ETC MAGAZINE
If you have no idea what Twilight is about, oh my gosh, where have you been? When Bella Swan relocates to Forks, Washington, to live with her father, she meets a mysterious Edward Cullen to whom she finds herself drawn. Later, she discovers that he is a vampire. After this discovery events unfold which will either bring them together or tear their world apart. It was 2005 and I had just completed high school. As an eighteen-year-old I hadn’t enjoyed reading since I was a kid, school made reading a chore. Twilight was released that year and turned my world upside down. From the get-go, I was hooked, drawn into the world of Bella and Edward.
I can still remember the music I was listening to as I read the book. I saw a job opening as a librarian at the town library and by February I was working. In the first year I noticed something, young people in our library. The trend? Twilight. This book brought people out in droves. I saw it everywhere. I knew SO many people who were reading it. This book reignited not only my love of reading but the same happened for hundreds and thousands of people. To celebrate the fifteenth anniversary a group of Bookstagrammers (people who use instagram to talk about books) organised a buddy re-read of the series. 25 people all PG.05
agreed to re-read the series and oh my gosh, the feelings are still there. There has been loads of gushing, remembering such good times and all the love still remains for this series. When promoting the re-read, people were really interested and so many people approached saying it was such a great idea. This shows that the reading community remembers this series fondly even fifteen years later.
ten. The book definitely feels more in depth, the character of Bella is much less whingy, Edwards hair is described as auburn, so many things. Read it again!!! Seriously, you’ll see there’s SO much that has been changed.
when I last read it and realised that it had a lot more depth to it than I remembered. The movies probably didn't help with this. I am excited to keep reading the series with everyone. I am still firmly Team Edward.� @thegingerpageturner
Now Its time to hear from some of the members of our re-read group. These wonderful people have sent me their thoughts and it would be great if you’d follow them on
“Rereading Twilight has been the most positive experience I could have wished for. It had been over ten years since the last time I’d picked it up and I honestly loved it just as much this time around as I did all those years ago, maybe even more so. There were so many aspects that I had completely forgotten about (or that I’d confused with the films) that were such a joy to read. Revisiting the immense love between Edward and Bella really brought me back to my teen years when I thought it was just the epitome of romance. What also made this such a great experience was being able to read along with so many of my book friends (and making new friends along the way). We were able to bounce our shared love of certain lines or scenes with each other and just Fangirl over the whole story all over again.� @fromthelibraryofkate
BITE SIZED FACTS: • Twilight has sold over 100 million copies. • It has been translated into 37 different languages. • The book was originally titled, “Forksâ€?. • The first movie adaptation grossed over $190 million in the US alone despite only taking 2 months to film. After reading the first book again and then comparing it to the film, which I’ve watched numerous times. The differences between the book and films is actually astounding. A number of our reading group had forgotten certain things about the book and were surprised that huge chunks were left out of the film which we had completely forgot
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instagram. “I was super excited to start rereading Twilight with some fellow bookstagrammers, it has been many years since reading the series and I was keen to read it again. It has been fun to reread it alongside others who fangirl over this series as much as me. I found that I loved it as much as I did
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Photo Credit: @booksaboutem
“T o h a ve t h i s e x p e r i e n c e all o ver agai ni s truly won derful. T h i s b ook t o u ched i n s o m any w ay s ...“
“So the Twilight re-read was my first ever buddy read on Insta/Bookstagram and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing quotes, comparing movies and just fangirling in general with other book lovers. There is something special when you revisit an old favourite and no one but other book lovers quite understand why we do it.” @ebookenthusiast “I originally read this book over ten years ago, and only recently I decided to re-read it again with a big group of bookstagrammers and it was everything, we conversed about our thoughts and what we felt, it was/ is a safe place. To have this experience all over again is truly wonderful. This book touched me in so many ways. Once again so involved with everything that was happening. I couldn’t believe at how over the years I had forgotten do much, that’s because in the last ten years I have watched the movie more times then read the book now, so the movie imprinted on me, if that makes sense. But now after re reading I fell in love with the characters and the world all over again. It’s simply beautiful, and sweet. Honestly, I am not even sure why I love it so much, but I do. It was just as addictive as it was over a decade ago and I was here for it all.” @pnrbookloverreviews Now that we have finished Twilight, we will be moving on to New Moon. We are all excited to see what changes have been made in this film, and what experiences we will share in the next instalment. For now, ciao. Jayse Smith
@itsmejayse Writer, Reviewer, Photographer, Bookstagram Influencer
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“ Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.” - Groucho Marx
Photo Credit: @laurabookish
Spark +
SPARROW
We caught up with the lovely Madi, the owner of the popular Spark + Sparrow, and grilled her on all things bookstagram and what it takes to run such a successful small business ... Q. What inspired you to start your business? I’ve always loved candles - I used to spend a small fortune in Dusk every other week because I was obsessed. So when it can time to organise favours for our wedding I decided I would give it a crack and make them for our guests. People loved them so I slowly began expanding and experimenting from then. Almost two years later the team at Dymocks Joondalup reached out and commissioned some Harry Potter themed candles - I was blown away because a) I’d never even considered the idea that people would
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want candles based on books, and b) the response was phenomenal. Within six months we had a growing collection of bookish candles and we even launched our first ever bookish candle box in late 2018. This business was always a bit of a pipe dream, it started out as more of a hobby but the incredible support from the bookish community has inspired me more than anything to keep going and growing and evolving! Q. What are some of your favourite products to create? Our candle collection definitely! There are so many variables which allow me to be as creative as I want plus it is what got us started so it’s a little sentimental! Although curating our boxes is an experience that I relish. Working and collaborating with other bookish small businesses is such an amazing process and I have ‘met’ so many amazing likeminded people, many of whom I now consider friends!
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Q. As a creator, how do you tap into inspiration? Honestly, it changes constantly! When it comes to creating new candles based on books it is so much easier when the author constantly references scents within their work (Sarah J Maas is a prime example). When authors reference scents it allows us to create the most accurate scent depictions and also takes a lot of the guess work out of it. But most of the time when I’m reading I’ll get a solid sense of a character and associate a scent with them based on their personality (if you’ve got a handsome, confident male lead then hands down you need some sandalwood and probably a herb of some kind). My brain also tends to run at a million miles an hour constantly, and it’s not always relevant to what I’m doing which tends to lead me on creative tangents. I have a ‘new ideas’ note saved on my phone so whenever I have a thought I jot it down and then when it comes time to release a new candle line or finalise a box theme I go back to my notes and hash them out a bit more. Q. What do you love about the bookstagram community? Honestly, everything! It sounds terribly cliche but the support and genuine positivity that this community provides is phenomenal. I can say with absolute certainty that our business would not be where it is today without the Bookstagram community.
“... when I’m reading I’ll get a solid sense of a character and associate a scent with them based on their personality... ” Q What is something you are looking to explore and develop in your personal life and your business in 2020? Well, considering we are due with baby number two later in the year it’s definitely going to impact the way we go about day to day life as well as how we manage the business. Time management in general is not one of my strengths so I’m definitely hoping to develop a more sound routine for the business (and our toddler) over the next five months to hopefully ease the transition into being a family of four and all that entails. Professionally, I would also love to branch out and explore wholesale opportunities more. Plus, explore more box options and any potential new products! Q. 2019 was a year of challenges for many people. What were some of the challenges you faced and overcame in 2019? 2019 was the biggest year yet for S+S, we experienced growth I didn’t think was possible and it was also the
year that we were able to make the decision to pursue the business full time (or as full time as you can with a toddler). However, in amongst all that we also struggled a lot with our time and how to manage both my husband and I working full time and running a blossoming business as well as raising a very imaginative toddler! It was difficult and we struggled at times to balance it all but it was also a very valuable learning curve for us as a family and as a business. Q. What does a typical day look like for you business wise? I don’t think there is a typical day for us! At the moment I am constantly chasing my tail to try and catch up with outstanding orders and custom requests and our daughter starting kindy part time. My goal is to have a set routine in place within the next month or so where I have dedicated days for making candles, packing orders, doing the books etc. pg.20
Q. What are your favourite thing to do on you aren’t working? Well I’m a total bookworm (obviously) so whenever I’m not creating, or chasing a toddler around, you’ll probably find me curled up with a book or watching Bones and One Tree Hill re-runs. I feel like I’m always working in some respect (brainstorming, designing labels, prepping tins etc) so when I stop I just let myself check out of it all, I let my brain relax. 2020 for me is all about balance so I’m definitely hoping to be able to set more boundaries for myself so that I can spend more time with my family as well as doing things I love! I’d love to get back into music and playing piano and guitar but baby steps! Q. What has been the biggest thing you’ve learnt about yourself as a business owner? I think I’ve learnt more about myself as a person than anything. I’ve learnt that it’s okay to put yourself first, to say no sometimes and that my time management is god awful! Last year I would say yes to pretty much any opportunity that came out way, events, wholesale orders etc because I thought that is what we had to do to succeed but I only ended burning myself out multiple times. I spent so many late nights up making candles and stressing about deadlines and it definitely took its toll. So we’ve learnt from that and this year we are pacing ourselves, capping our wholesale orders and only taking on event opportunities we are genuinely excited about. I’m also hoping this will help us with our time management and to improve on that aspect of myself and the business. BOOKS ETC MAGAZINE
Q. What is your favourite scent? I get asked this question more than any other and my answer never changes - Lara Jean’s Love Letters. The combination of cherry blossom, moscato and violets is just divine. I’m a sucker for a fruity scent - and LJLL is sweet without being sickly sweet, and fruity without it smelling like someone’s high fives your face with oranges and it has this subtle freshness that just gives you that little pep in your step! It is by no means our most popular scent but it will forever be my favourite! You can find all of Madi’s amazing products on her website:
www.sparkandsparrow.com.au
G i vea w a y! We are giving away a $10 gift voucher to one lucky winner this month to shop at Spark + Sparrow! To go in the running to win this prize, simply click HERE and tell us who your favourite literary character is and what scent/s you would use to capture their essence. pg.21
“Reading was my escape and my comfort, my consolation, my stimulant of choice: reading for the pure pleasure of it, for the beautiful stillness that surrounds you when you hear an author's words reverberating in your head.� - Paul Auster
Ask
Blue ...
Blue from @bluefairytales_ is well known on bookstagram for her jaw dropping beautiful book library, hilarious (but on point) rants and no nonsense book reviews. She funny, sweet, obsessed with dinosaurs and always up for a chat about books. You can find more of her reviews on her blog; www.bluefairytales.com.au
Q. What do you do when you are in a book slump? I reread Harry Potter of course!!! It always get's me through everything! Q. Any tips on how to connect with publishers to review books for them? It seems secretive business maybe because its competitive? I hope that people don't see review books as a competitive market, it shouldn't be so secretive and I would be more than happy to help. The best place to start is by setting up a blog/YouTube or any place that you feel comfortable talking about books and start reviewing your own books. When you hit around 1k followers on Instagram is the best time to start emailing publishers and letting them know a bit about yourself and ask if you can review books. If you need more help or details please feel free to email or DM me, I am always happy to help.
Q. What do you do when the book is awful but you've been asked to review it by the author? Regardless if I liked it or not my review will go on Goodreads. I usually will email the author and let them know that I wasn't a fan. Sometimes their reaction will determine if I post it on my blog or Instagram .
Q. Are there any books that are considered terrible but are your secret pleasure? Hmmm I don't think I have any guilty pleasures. I'm pretty open and honest about the books I read on Instagram, so if I love a book I'm going to wave it around for everyone to see. And I generally don't follow people's opinions of books, I like to make my own Do you have a question for Blue? Simply email her at: submissions@booksetcmag.com.au pg.23
“... a strong kick ass heroine, a great mystery that makes you think everyone is the killer...” CROSS HER HEART BY MELINDA LEIGH SYNOPSIS: A homicide detective’s violent family history repeats itself in #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh’s novel of murder, secrets, and retribution. For more than twenty-five years, Philadelphia homicide detective Bree Taggert has tucked away the nightmarish childhood memories of her parents’ murder-suicide…Until her younger sister, Erin, is killed in a crime that echoes that tragic night: innocent witnesses and a stormy marriage that ended in gunfire. BOOKS ETC MAGAZINE
There’s just one chilling difference. Erin’s husband, Justin, has vanished. Bree knows how explosive the line between love and hate can be, yet the evidence against her troubled brother-in-law isn’t adding up. Teaming up with Justin’s old friend, former sheriff’s investigator and K-9 handler Matt Flynn, Bree vows to uncover the secrets of her sister’s life and death, as she promised Erin’s children. But as her investigation unfolds, the danger hits close to home. Once again, Bree’s family is caught in a death grip. And this time, it could be fatal for her. pg.14
BY A NG ( P NR B O O K LOV E R R E V I E WS)
I love it when a favourite author creates a new series in an already established world. If you have read Melinda’s other series called the Morgan Dane series you will like this just as much, for me I liked it, but I was not wowed by it. I wanted more romance more then what we were given, this is categorized as romantic suspense there was NO romance like in at all. I know from previous books that there will be some slow burn romance eventually, but at least gives us a bit more then what we got. OK so now that my only complain is out of the way, lets talk about this new series. Bree Taggert is an exciting new character to read about she is a homicide detective living in Philadelphia, until she gets a phone call from her sister Erin who leaves her a message saying that she is in trouble. But by the time she gets to her hometown Grey’s Hallow, Which I think is in the town Scarlet Falls as we already know from the Morgan Dane series the sheriff is an acting deputy sheriff. Anyway, she gets there to late as Erin has been shot and killed, discovered by her (Erin) husbands Justin’s, best friend Matt who is an ex K-9 investigator. Bree and her siblings come from an awful situation, where their Father killed their Mum. So, when she gets a call from her sister, she immediately thinks the husband did it, and brings her past into the mix. As this is the first book in the series, sometimes things are written way for you to either love it or hate it , I guess like for example in this book we are really focused on the murder, missing person investigation and then the romance between Bree and Matt is on the back burner you know it’s there and going to happen but it never does.
REVIEW - THRILLER She has a formula that I personally really enjoy, a strong kick ass heroine, a great mystery that makes you think everyone is the killer, a supporting cast that consists of a close knit family and in this story we have Erin’s children Luke and Kayla. Then Bree’s brother Adam, and Bree’s retired police partner who comes and helps with everything. The murder mystery is neatly done, and the reader will be able to follow each step and question the possibility of who done it. I really did enjoy that Bree was able to investigate her sisters murder, I think personally it added a special touch. Overall Cross Her Heart is going to be a great new series to read and get excited about. Especially knowing what is to come with Bree and the future, I hope we see some other characters from her other series sprinkled throughout the books to come. I was/am so grateful for my arc copy that was generously provided to me by the publishers. When you do check this novel out, it will be available with kindle unlimited and I highly recommend that subscription, as you can get to read it for free but what I love most is that with all her titles on KU you can read and listen for free. Defiantly check that out, I have read most of her work like that. I look forward to the next one, I love that this a new series in a world I love. Release Date: 17th March, 2020
/5 Other titles by this author:
In saying that I didn’t hate this book, I really did enjoy the story and how it was written, the way Melinda writes is fantastic. BOOKS ETC MAGAZINE
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Illumination;
ave you ever wondered how H some of your favourite Booksta-
grammers have the most amazing photos and yet yours looks too dark, flat and wierdly coloured? Is it luck, the weather, expensive equipment or did they hire a television crew? We pull back the curtain on some of instagram biggest secrets and show you some of the best lighting equipment available that you can buy to get your bookstagram pics looking as sleek and professional as any high ranking influencer.
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ONE RING TO RULE THEM ALL Nowadays smart photos have all the technology you need to start take amazing photos that would normally cost you over a grand with a digital camera. However, while in built apps can combat dark photos, you are often at the mercy of the weather and the lighting indoors. With a ring light you can attach it to your camera and it’s like having your own personal lighting studio. Here are some of our favs ranging from low cost to high end...
Celly Click Light Pro Clip on top of any smart photo and start snapping away. $25 pg.26
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Double Selfie Ring Perfect for lighting all angles of a book stack and reducing shadows. USB powered. Great for insta live vids. $29.99
Abeststudio Softbox Photo Kit Perfect for softer lighting and reducing glare off shiny bookcovers or props. Typically it helps to have two of these (one of each side of you). $39.99
Neewer dimmable Light Attached to your digital camera and recieve continious light with adjustable settings on brightness. $59.99
Neewer 10inch Ring light pack Includes cold, regular and warm lighting rings. Perfect for photos indoor/outdoor and youtube videos and tripod. $49.99
HOT TIP! You don’t have to spend big buying stuido quality backdrops. Head to your local Spotlight or material craft store for a metre of white cotton or cardboard. If you want the wood grain backdrop head to your local hardware store and ask for offcuts of floating floorboard panel/lino or tile. There is even wood contact paper! Neewer 2pk Dimmable Bi-Colour Pack Adjustable light settings, colour balance technology and stands. Better suited for indoor use to give you extra control. Tip: avoid touching the globes as the oil on your fingers can heat up and cause bulbs to explode! $179.99
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“Kelly Rimmer has done her research... [it] is heartbreaking, uplifting at times..” TRUTHS I NEVER TOLD YOU BY KELLY RIMMER SYNOPSIS: From the bestselling author of The Things We Cannot Say comes a poignant novel about the fault in memories and the lies that can bond a family together—or tear it apart. With her father recently moved to a care facility for his worsening dementia, Beth Walsh volunteers to clear out the family home and is surprised to discover the door to her childhood playroom padlocked. She’s even more shocked at what’s behind it—a hoarder’s mess of her father’s paintings, mounds of discarded papers and miscellaneous junk in the otherwise fastidiously tidy house. As she picks through the clutter, she finds a loose journal entry in what appears to be her late mother’s handwriting. Beth and her siblings grew up believing their mother
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died in a car accident when they were little more than toddlers, but this note suggests something much darker. Beth soon pieces together a disturbing portrait of a woman suffering from postpartum depression and a husband who bears little resemblance to the loving father Beth and her siblings know. With a newborn of her own and struggling with motherhood, Beth finds there may be more tying her and her mother together than she ever suspected. Exploring the expectations society places on women of every generation, Kelly Rimmer explores the profound struggles two women unwittingly share across the decades set within an engrossing family mystery that may unravel everything they believed to be true.
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BY ANG ( PN RBOOKLOVERRE VI E WS )
Hello there, I must admit going into this story I was feeling a lot of pressure, I think I do that to myself a lot of the time, knowing I should or have to love a New Release title. To kick this review into gear, I was not a fan of this story unfortunately it rubbed me the wrong way I don’t know why, but after the first few chapters I was not enjoying it as much as I was hoping I would. The premise and sale pitch to this was so good, though I must admit again the women’s fiction is not my thing, I do, or I have been trying to read outside of my box. Truths I Never Told You is a domestic mystery that is told in 3 POV A Mother, a Sister and a Daughter. Beth, Maryanne and Grace. In the 90’s Beth’s father is suffering from dementia, an illness on its own is terrible. Beth is in the process of cleaning out her Dad’s home, when she gets into the attic, there she finds secrets that have been held tight for decades. These secrets effect what she believed about her Mum and us as readers go on a mystery with Beth to discover family secrets that could ruin them forever. I thought the beginning of this book was good, I enjoyed Beth’s POV she is a mother too now, and a wife and she too has secrets about how she feels about being a mum, life in general. When she finds her mums letters, she is shook. These letters that were written by her mother, but how? She remembers a mother reading to her at bedtime, cuddling her when she hurt, how could she remember these things when according to the dates on these letters… This is when she knows something is wrong, her mum was a married in the 1950’s also feels the same way she does. I did feel for both ladies, as I too am a mother, and have been married for 17 years so I can relate to a lot of the feelings both women feel and the thoughts they have. Parental wise. I found myself asking question after question, I enjoyed the letters from Grace. BOOKS ETC MAGAZINE
REVIEW - FIC TION Without going into spoilers, I think the ending was a little disappointing, not with the secrets of the truths that were revealed but with the characters I don’t know how to explain it. I almost felt cheated I wanted a little more, possibly it was the lacking romance that I was wishing for. Postpartum depression can strike anymore, at any time. You can’t know what it feels like until it hits you. Be blessed that you haven’t been struck down with depression, its rough.it is rough. Kelly Rimmer has done her research you can tell, treatment now in this day in age is much further advanced as it was back in the 50’s 60’s as this was shown. Truths I Never Told, is heartbreaking, uplifting at times. Do I recommend this title, Yes for sure if you like women’s fiction and that is set over a couple of decades, told on 3 povs. I do not think this book is for everyone, did I get anything out of it other then feeling sad and a little shookish with the great big reveal on what actual happened… No unfortunately I did not. Some readers like myself might find that there just was not enough to this one. Overall, I give it 3 stars on good reads and amazon because that is what I can give it, but really It for me is 2.5 stars. Oh boy! But now knowing what actually happened to the mum give me the heebie geebies. Release Date: 25th February, 2020
/5 Other titles by this author:
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Until Next Time ... So this is where I leave you. I hope you enjoyed our very first issue of Books Etc Magazine. It’s been so much fun and a fantastic learning curve and something I am so proud of. Next month we will be featuring some more fantastic new release titles as well as more giveaways, an author interview and some more great bookstagram tips. In the mean time if you have any thoughts, suggestions or feedback on how we can improve the magazine please drop me a line at nicky@booksetcmag.com.au OR if you would like to join our talented team simply contact us at submissions@booksetcmag.com.au. Thank you for joining me on this journey and I can’t wait to bring you next months issue. Happy reading!
- Nicky K
Editor and Creator
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