Wait until you see the design, Austin Designworks have come up with for this site revamp. I LOVE it! We’ll be going live on the new site, all going well, in about a month. If you have any suggestions for things you’d like to see on the site, now is the time to speak up! Aust D have created some memorable sits but my two favourites are Keri Arthur’s and Diana Peterfreund’s.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sisters in Crime Australia, we are hosting, in October 2011, the second ever Women’s Crime & Mystery Convention

The first SheKilda Convention in 2001 was not only the first ever crime and mystery convention or conference held in Australia, but the first ever women’s crime convention held anywhere in the world.

A decade later and SheKilda Again is the second of its kind anywhere in the world. The weekend of crime fiction, mystery and true crime for writers and fans of womens’ crime will be held in Melbourne from 21 to 23 October 2011.

My Marianne de Pierres site has had a major overhaul by Austin Designworks. And the good news is that this one will shortly follow. Can’t wait for Tara Sharp to get her own dedicated look! I think Mona will have to be in the banner and maybe the birds. What do you think?

My latest Golden Oldie is a book every person should have in their library, right next to Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. In fact Kerouac is said to have inspired Thompson’s road trip and novel.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream is a novel by Hunter S. Thompson, illustrated by Ralph Steadman. The book is a roman à clef, rooted in autobiographical incidents. The story follows its protagonist, Raoul Duke, and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo, as they descend on Las Vegas to chase the American Dream through a drug-induced haze.

Get in touch with your inner hedonist.

The manager of my YA site, Bec Stafford, has been running a series of interviews called Big 4 Interviews4 questions asked of YA authors we love. The latest one is with Margo Lanagan, but previous interviews are archived. They make fascinating reading.

And speaking of interviews don’t forget to watch out for Tara Moss’s upcoming short interview series with known authors in crime fiction on Foxtel’s 13th street.

I’ve just put the SIC logo in the sidebar. What are great organisation they are! If you’re an Aussie crime writer, you’re crazy not to join. I’m posting my membership today.

Walker of the Worlds

Walker of the Worlds is my favourite SF blog. Mark balances reviews with opinion pieces and news from the SF world. He also gives great cover round ups of new books, which makes great browsing. The blogroll in his sidebar provides excellent links.

Best first fiction
Kaaron Warren, Slights best fiction
Maria Quinnn, The Gene Thieves
Karen Taylor, Hostage
Rhonda Roberts, Gladiatrix
Antoinette Eklund, Steel River
Stephen M Irwin, The Dead Path
Mark Dapin, King of the Cross
Marianne Delacourt, Sharp Shooter
Andrew Croome, Document Z
Bruce Mutard, The Silence
Justine Larbalestier, Liar
Colin McLaren, ON The Run
Brett Hoffman, The Contract
Adair Robin, Death & the Running Patterer
Emma Boling, Riding High

Best Fiction
Andy Semple, Eden Prime
Lenny Bartulin, The Black Russian
Barry Ward, The Nelson Conspiracy
Alex Palmer, Labyrinth of Drowning
Tara Moss, Siren
Wendy James, Why She Loves Him
Wendy James, Where Have You Been?
Peter Temple, Truth
Garry Disher, Wyatt
Garry Disher, Blood Moon
Michael Robotham, Bleed For Me
Philip McLaren, Murder In Utopia
Fiona McIntosh, Beautiful Death
David Owen, No Weather For a Burial
Steven Lang, 88 Lines about 44 Women
Bruce Pascoe, Bloke
Barry Maitland, Dark Mirror
Karry Greenwood, Forbidden Fruit
Peter Corris, Torn Apart
Catherine Jinks, The Reformed Vampire Support Group
Sydney Baur, Trust of the Matter
Kathryn Fox, Blood Born
Katherine Howell, Cold Justice

Best True crime
Peter Doyle, Crooks Like Us
Robert Wainwright & Paola Totaro, Born or Bred?
Tony Reeves, Getting away With Murder
Tony Reeves, Two Political Murders
Paula Hunt, Outlaw Son: The Story of Ned Kelly
Jack Marx, Australian Tragic
Kathy Marks, Pitcairn Paradise Lost
Esther McKay, Forensic investigator
John Kerr, Hit Men
Clive Small & Tom Gilling, Blood Money
Robert M. Kaplan, Medical Murder
Adrian Tame, Deadlier Than The Male
Mick Gatto & Tom Noble, I, Mick Gatto
Colin McLaren, Infiltration

Victorian Ombudsman, George Brouwer, Investigations into the Alleged
Improper Conduct of Councillors at Brimbank City Council

What a wonderful, sinister, eerie, involving read this novel is. Go get yourself a copy, if you haven’t read it. Some say it is better that Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.

Yes, I’ve changed theme again. I’m currently getting a custom made site designed and until that happens I’ll keep experimenting with free templates. The custom header feature drives me crazy though. It never seems to work!

Over at my YA site there’s a frabjuous new interview up with Australian author, Kate Forsyth. Don’t miss Kate’s thoughts on the compulsion/obsessive nature of writing.

I’ve just finished my proposals for Tara Sharp books 3&4, so finger crossed everybody likes them.

Now… tell me what sorts of things you’d like to hear me blogging about to make this site worthwhile for you to visit.

Happy Friday!