Need an escape to the country? Magpie's Bend, Bottlebrush Creek and Wildflower Ridge are all reader-voted top reads! Find them in your favourite book shop or via the links above. And as always, you can pre-order your copy of Paperbark Hill HERE. 

Better Reading Top 100

Well, it’s always lovely to be the bearer of good news! Thanks to you fabulous folks, Magpie’s Bend came in at #24 in the Better Reading Top 100. I really appreciate all your help voting in this contest, it’s no mean feat to make this list three years running. Here’s a few cool facts:

-Almost 10,000 votes were cast in this year’s contest

-57% authors in the Top 100 were Australian

-71 of the Top 100 books were written by women

I’ve read 40 of the titles on the list, and I have another handful sitting on my TBR pile. I'd love to know which ones you've read and are keen to read.

Get ready to celebrate!

Are you excited about welcoming Diana and Ned’s story into the world on May 31? I hope so! Keep your eyes peeled for an advance giveaway of Paperbark Hill and a set of my hand-collected seeds later this month. Want to hear about it in person? I'd love your company at the below launch events. Contact the venues below to book your seat.

Friday June 3

Millicent Library and Art Gallery, SA

Tuesday June 21

Mount Gambier Library, SA

Monday June 27

Bunjil Place Library, Narre Warren, Vic

Wednesday August 10

Koorliny Arts Centre, WA

Other ways to show your support

Supporting an author by buying their books is wonderful, and I'm ever so grateful to everyone who purchases my novel, but there are plenty of ways to support your favourite authors for free!

- Ask your library to purchase a copy (once an author has more than 50 copies of their book in library branches across Australia, they receive a small annual fee, thanks to an initiative called the public lending rights scheme)

- Recommend the book to your friends, hairdressers, workmates and rellies

- Choose it for your book group or recommend it to another book club

- Write a kind review on Good Reads/Amazon/Booktopia to help new readers find it (even a line with one reason why you liked the book is super helpful)

- Share a photo of the book on social media (don't forget to tag the author)

- Repost an Instagram or Facebook post about the book, an event or giveaway on your social media

- Attend a book event (online or in person)

- Encourage your local book shop to stock it

- Sign up for the author's email list

If your budget runs to buying books, please don't be shy in pre-ordering! Ask your local book shop to order it today or pre-order online HERE.

The Nurses' War - Casterton May 4

Got a hankering to hear about historical war heroes and heroines? Yep, me too! Join Victoria Purman and I at the Casterton Library on Wednesday (May 4) for a LIVE event about her fab new novel, The Nurses’ War.  

Mini-me Magpie's Bend out next week

The smaller, B-Format copies of Magpie's Bend are out in the world next week. Same great story, just a smaller size with a smaller price tag and the first chapter of Paperbark Hill. You'll find them in all good book stores from May 3 - perfect for Mother's Day - or online HERE! 

News from around the property...

Gardening - The dahlias have mostly packed up their petals and bunkered down for the season, giving me oodles of seeds on their way out, as have the zinnias and cosmos. A highlight of April was donating a boot-load of blooms to be made into wreaths for ANZAC Day festivities. Their cheerful colours really brighten up a solemn occasion.

Seems the tomatoes got wind of my disdain in last month’s newsletter and provided a small but enthusiastic burst of fruit this month. If you’re after spring colour, now’s the time to pop your ranunculas in the ground.

Baking - I loved this new hot cross bun recipe; a fussy process but well worth the effort. I'm also finding a few gems in the Fitwaffle ‘Baking It Easy’ Cookbook (more pre-made ingredients than I usually use but ideal if you’re time-poor, like 3-ingredient peanut butter bikkies). I've just got my hands on The Nutmeg Trail too, and while I haven't made anything from it yet, I've been so impressed with the divine photos and illustrations.

Writing – I had the immense pleasure of visiting Sydney's Allen & Unwin offices in April. What a joy to put faces to names and see everything going on behind the scenes in Australia’s top publishing house. I’ve dreamed of such a trip since signing contracts in 2018, and barely stopped smiling the entire visit. It was also a fab chance to meet writing pals for dinner (we could have talked about books and writing all night. In fact, the cleaners started mopping around our table!). Back at my desk, I’m close to finishing my 2023 manuscript. My first drafts are often a slow, meandering process, but I’m 70,000 words in and finally feel like I know where the story is going! Fingers crossed I can write ‘The End’ before next newsletter.

Sydney writers catch up (L-R) Vanessa McCausland, Emma Babbington, Cassie Hamer, Claudine Tinellis, Kelly Rigby, me, Petronella McGovern, Penelope Janu, Pamela Cook & Ali Lowe.

May author spotlight & giveaway

If you need a good ol’ belly laugh, you’re in the right spot with this month’s author spotlight and giveaway! Head to the blog to hear all about two highly entertaining new releases Cassie Hamer’s The Truth About Faking It and Katherine Collette’s The Competition.

Loving the Library Lovers vibe

I had loads of fun again on Library Lovers last month, talking writing with Fleur McDonald, audiobooks with WaveSound Australia and libraries with Vicki from Blue Mountains. A replay is now up on YouTube if you missed it. I’ve got Tassie cookbook author, Sally Wise on next month’s show, along with a guest from Money Magazine and Riverina Libraries. You can register for the free online event HERE and get a reminder emailed to you before the event. 

Fresh from the readers' mailbag

So great to see three happy booklovers this month! Nicole and Toni, both from Queensland, were the lucky contest winners from previous newsetters. Also great to hear from Maureen in Victoria, who loved Magpie's Bend. Please keep the photos coming, they really do make me smile!

That’s it for me this month. Stay well and warm, folks and I'll have the next newsletter out for you early to celebrate release day on May 31. Love, Maya

Until next month...