SIGNING 30th of DEC at 1pm - Brenton Ragless - 2011 Almanac

Brenton will be instore signing copies at 1pm on Thursday 30/12/10

Brenton Ragless Channel 9
Almanac 2011

ISBN 9781921601255 

Presented by Channel 9 weatherman Brenton Ragless, the 26th South Australian Almanac captures South Australia's events, projects, gardening tips, tide times and lots more. In full colour!

Come meet Brenton and get your almanac signed!!

Things I love about books

Books, what is it about them that draws us to them. Is it their covers? is it the authors? The plot is a must, that is a given; but what is it about books that is magical?

To me I love the smell of a new book, when you open up the pages and that smell rises from the pages. It is the excitment of a thrilling new adventure that is going to take place just as soon as I settle down and start reading.

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende captured that feeling, a good book should draw you into its life and will not let you go until you have tasted every drop of story you can from it. Over the years I have found many great authors that do this, they create a world where you can imagine yourself in and be it fantasy, crime or general fiction the end result is the same. You come away from the experience with a smile on your face. I have also read many horrible books as well and have come away wanting to.... cover your ears my books.....throw the book at the wall (I never have) 

I love books that make me laugh and cry, that is one way I judge a book. Cecila Ahern can make me cry in every book she writes, so I continue to read them. Paul Carter makes me laugh in his hilierous biographys so I will eagerly wait for the next one. A good book captures the emotions and leaves us wanting more. 

Tamora Pierce is a classic fantasy author who I started to read when I was 12, I am now 27 and each time a new book comes out I quickly grab it before its even out of the box (I love working in a bookstore, though my bank doesn't)

What is it that drives you my readers to buy and read the books you do?

Michael Ende - Neverending Story

Paul Carter - Don't tell Mum I work on the rigs, she thinks I am a piano player in a whorehouse

Ceceila Ahern - Book of Tomorrow, P.S I Love you, and more

Tamora Pierce - Song of the Lioness Quartet, Immortals Quartet, and more

Kryon Series Review - by Aaron

Today we have a customer review about a series of metaphysical books called 'Kryon' by Lee Carroll.

The books I'm reviewing are called KRYON, they are about an entity who is channelled by Lee Carroll. This being wants the human race to achieve its potential and is filled with love for everyone. In these books, there are many parables - these are used to explain things metaphorically with fictitious characters. There is one that I really enjoyed and I will explain why.

Aaron, the main character in this particular parable, was a very spiritual man and also very wealthy. In his fourtieth year he became distressed as he saw he was aging and would soon pass over into the spirit world. He went on a great quest in search of the Fountain of Youth, long he searched to no avail. Finally he was told of a thing called the Globe of Essence that would help his search. He travelled to the Wise Man, the Shaman and anywhere he could find information about the Globe of Essence. The day came when he stopped searching as he was out of ideas on where to find this item. He had searched high and low to become disappointed and in despair cried out to God,

"Why can't I find the Globe of Essence?"

Then with all his family and friends around him, Aaron died and passed into the spirital realms. When he 'woke' up he saw God standing before him and he realised that he was himself, the Globe of Essence. 

The point of this parable is to show us that we each have our own unique special place in ourselves. Aaron is a great character as he now is truly self aware through his lifes hardships. To reach this high level of self mastery one needs to show respect and desire to learn the teachings of many.

The point of these books is to help us understand and wake up to the possiblity of self awareness of our place in the world.  

 

 Thank you Aaron for your review. If anybody is interested in learning more then go to the Kryon website

Stock

 

From loyal moggies to courageous life-saving kitten heroes and extraordinary survivors, Wonder Cats is overflowing with heart-warming and moving tales that demonstrate the astonishing powers of remarkable felines.

Description

Scarlett, the brave mother cat who went into a burning building five times to rescue her kittens.
Oscar, the nursing-home cat who senses when residents are about to die and comforts them in their final hours.
Felix, the resourceful feline who survived an epic journey trapped in a shipping container.
How much do you really know about the abilities of domestic cats? Whether they're using up one of their nine lives to make a lucky escape or demonstrating unusual talents, cats are full of surprises. From loyal moggies to courageous life-saving kitty heroes and extraordinary survivors, Wonder Cats contains heart-warming and moving tales that demonstrate the astonishing powers of remarkable felines.

Brotherhood

'I WILL JOURNEY TO THE BLACK HEART OF A CORRUPT EMPIRE TO ROOT OUT MY FOES, BUT ROME WASN'T BUILT IN A DAY AND IT WON'T BE RESTORED BY A LONE ASSASSIN. I AM EZIO AUDITORE DA FIRENZE.THIS IS MY BROTHERHOOD.

Rome, once mighty, lies in ruins. The city swarms with suffering and degradation, her citizens living in the shadow of the ruthless Borgia family. Only one man can free the people from the Borgia tyranny – Ezio Auditore, the Master Assassin.Ezio's quest will test him to his limits. Cesare Borgia, a man more villainous and dangerous than his father the Pope, will not rest until he has conquered Italy. And in such treacherous times, conspiracy is everywhere, even within the ranks of the brotherhood itself . . .Based on Ubisoft's bestselling games,ASSASSIN'S CREED

 

Inheriting a priceless vintage collection sounds like every woman′s dream come true.

But when Charlotte Smith discovered that her American godmother, Doris Darnell, had made her custodian of more than three thousand pieces dating from 1790 to 1995, including originals by Chanel and Dior, she was more than a little daunted.

From the moment Charlotte uncovered her first treasure, an exquisite 1920s evening dress, she was enchanted. But when she found her godmother′s book of stories, the true value of her inheritance hit home. This wasn′t a mere collection of beautiful things, it was a precious collection of women′s lives. Tiny glimpses of our joys and disappointments, our entrances and exits, triumphant and tragic.

In DREAMING OF DIOR, Charlotte shared some of her treasures and the stories of the women who wore them for the first time.

Now, in DREAMING OF CHANEL with special appearances by Chanel, Vivienne Westwood, Zandra Rhodes, Pucci, Akira and many more, Charlotte offers another unforgettable glimpse inside the magic wardrobe every woman would love to own.

Christmas is over...wow its a New Years competition!

Well I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas!! Did everyone enjoy their time off?

Not much to report, we had a great Christmas and a lovely holiday!! Well whats next? I do believe its New Years Eve!!

What is everyone's New Year resolutions?

Please respond with a comment to win a mystery book!

Competition open to Aussies only (sorry) and closes New Years Eve (Friday 31 at 5:30pm) 

Merry Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas everybody!! We wish you all have a fantastic holiday and a happy New Year!!!!

Windup Girl

The winner of an extraordinary five of 2010’s major international SF awards, and named by Time Magazine as one of the top ten novels of 2009, Orbit are extremely excited to be publishing the UK edition of The Windup Girl.  Both a heart-stopping dystopian thriller and a razor-sharp vision of our near future, The Windup Girl is Paolo Baciagalupi’s debut novel and has garnered him incredible critical acclaim and comparisons to William Gibson.

‘The Windup Girl embodies what SF does best of all: it remakes reality in compelling, absorbing and thought-provoking ways, and it lives on vividly in the mind.’

- Adam Roberts, The Guardian main review section, Sat 18^th Dec 2010

‘Pitch-perfect writing… It’s science fiction as warnings of the future, as social commentary, and as just  bloody good storytelling – SF at its very best.’

- SFX, 12^th Jan 2011 (online now)

‘Bacigalupi is a worthy successor to William Gibson: this is cyberpunk without computers’

- Time Magazine

‘Clearly one of the finest science fiction novels of the year’

- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Character Building - Kim Falconer

The awesome Kim Falconer has written a blog post on how to create hard characters without them becoming unlikable.

If you are a writer, reader or even just curious about the writing craft, then you should definatly read it. Kim has collaberated with many other wonderful authors and part 2 will be posted soon.

So if you are stuck in your writing - go check it out here

Coming Soon Updated!

Our Coming Soon page has been updated

Author Signings - Help

AUTHORS

We are looking for authors to come sign for us in the New Year. If anyone is in Adelaide next year, drop me a line at arbooks@hotmail.co.uk or ring (08)8277-8857. We would love to have you instore, even if its just for a chat.

REVIEW Iron Duke - Meljean Brook

'Seductive danger and steampunk adventure abound in the gritty world of the Iron Seas, where nanotech is fused with Victorian sensibilities—and steam.

After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power — and fear — of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession.

Mina can’t afford his interest, however. Horde blood runs through her veins, and despite the nanotech enhancing her body, she barely scratches out a living in London society. Becoming Rhys’s lover would destroy both her career and her family, yet the investigation prevents her from avoiding him…and the Iron Duke’s ruthless pursuit makes him difficult to resist.

But when Mina uncovers the victim’s identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. To save them, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans — and Mina discovers the danger is not only to her countrymen as she finds herself tempted to give up everything to the Iron Duke.'

When I picked up this book i was like, wow look at that cover :D Then I read the blurb and thought that it sounded like a good book to read....I was wrong.....

It was a FANTASTIC book to read. 

It has adventure, emotion and airships! It is classically steampunk and has a great plot. The story starts off with a body being thrown out of an airship. It was a little bit confusing at first because of where it started. I believe that Meljean could quite easily write about the days before the Iron Duke defeated the Horde and come up with a few books out of it. 
The characters have depth and spirit, I love Mina's character, she is hesitant to commit to feelings, becuase she was brought up never being allowed to feel emotions. It was such a good idea and one I haven't seen much in other books. 
 The Iron Duke is definatly an Alpha Male, but you get to see the side of him that makes you itch not to slap him, but to understand and comfort him.

Both main characters have well written histories and dialouge. The supporting characters are well written and have depth to them as well. 

All in all a very good read, and I would recommend it to anybody who likes steampunk and adventure.

Tarran 

REVIEW Dream of Asarlai #2 Power Unbound - Nicole Murphy

Dream of Asarlai #2 Power Unbound

By Nicole Murphy

ISBN: 9780732291624

$22.99

In stock now

For centuries, the gadda have worked to keep their identity secret from the rapidly expanding human race. All this is now at risk - the most terrible of gadda teachings, the Forbidden Texts, have been stolen and the race is on to find them.
Ione Gorton may have got her best friend back from Australia, but Maggie′s elevation to the ranks of the guardians means that she′s not around as much.
And when Stephen O′Malley, almost the youngest (and definitely the hottest) ever candidate for the sixth-order test, needs a place to stay after still more strange violence hits Sclossin, Ione is all too happy to lend a hand ...
But Ione, like Maggie before her, is soon a target for the forces behind the theft of the Forbidden Texts, and the now-urgent search for the artefact will change life for gadda and human alike.

This book picks up where ‘Secret Ones’ left off.  We still don’t know who Asarlai is, but we know she is bad trouble. The gadda are desperately trying to find out who stole the Forbidden Texts and chaos is breaking out.

Monica McInerney - At Home with the Templetons

Monica McInerney has done it again! 

'At Home with the Templetons' is another bestseller and we have it on special for $21.41 - that is a saving of $12.96 until the 24th of December.

If you like Di Morrisey, Maeve Binchy, Ceceila Ahern - then you will love Monica McInerney!!

The Templeton family and their stately manor home, in rural Victoria have long been the focus of local gossip. The family's sudden arrival from the UK in the late 1980's to reclaim the run-down colonial property was the talk of the town, as they turned the house into a living museum of the gold rush era and a successful tourist attraction, keeping the locals entertained and often shocked with their constant family dramas.

Their closest neighbours, Nina Donovan, a young widow and artist, and her son Tom, initially keep their distance but soon find themselves drawn into life at the Hall. Both Anita and Tom slowly fall for the allure of the charismatic Henry, his wife Eleanor, her troubled sister Hope and the four Templeton children - Charlotte, Audrey, Gracie and Spencer - until the Templetons leave the Hall to return to England under sudden, unexplained circumstances.

Christmas Wishlist

What is on everyone's Christmas Wishlists this year?

New Manga

All new art book of the popular Manga 'Bleach'

Growing up in the late 16th century Sengoku era Japan, Shinmen Takezo is shunned by the local villagers as a devil child due to his wild and violent nature. Running away from home with a fellow boy at age 17, Takezo joins the Toyotomi army to fight the Tokugawa clan at the battle of Sekigahara. However, the Tokugawa win a crushing victory, leading to nearly three hundred years of Shogunate rule. Takezo and his friend manage to survive the battle, and afterwards swear to do great things with their lives. But after their paths separate, Takezo becomes a wanted criminal, and must change his name and his nature in order to escape an ignoble death. Based on the book "Musashi" by Eiji Yoshikawa, Vagabond is a fictional retelling of the life of Miyamoto Musashi, often referred to as the "Sword Saint" - perhaps the most famous and successful of Japan's sword fighters.

From Aussie Creator Queenie Chan!

When twin sisters Amber and Jeanie are accepted into an exclusive Australian boarding school, their future looks bright. But the school's halls harbor a terrible secret: students have been known to wander into the surrounding bushlands and vanish...without a trace!

Pinquo - Colin Thiele

Pinquo

By Colin Thiele

Pinquo is a fairy penguin, who can swim, skip and dive faster than the blink of an eye.
When Pinquo is wounded, the children Kirsty and Tim take him to Dr Piper, and they all look after Pinquo until he is ready to go to sea.
Later the penguin with the droopy walk and kinky flipper comes back into their lives, with his new family.
When disaster strikes Sickle Bay, Pinquo leads a mad stampede of a thousand frenzied penguins, to save the townspeople.

Little Pinquo is a hero. 

This book has to be one of my favourite childrens junior novels. I must have re read this book too many times to count and each time I read it, I gain something from it. In almost all cases it makes me cry, Pinquo is the most heroic little penguin with a heart of gold. 

If you haven't read this book, then I suggest you do! People of all ages will find this book a wonderful addition to their libraries!!!

Recently re printed, don't miss out on a wonderful tale of love, friendship and survial.

Tarran 

Hugo Award winning novel 'Windup Girl' - Paolo Bacigalupi

Science fiction about the environment can get preachy, so Paolo Bacigalupi's hard SF novel The Windup Girl is a welcome change. Set in Thailand's future, the book follows scientist spies hunting good genomes in a world ruined by GMO diseases.

The Windup Girl is set in the 23rd century: Global Warming has raised the levels of world's oceans, carbon fuel sources have become depleted, and manually wound springs are used as energy storage devices. Biotechnology is dominant and mega corporations like AgriGen, PurCal and RedStar (called calorie companies) control food production through 'genehacked' seeds, and use bioterrorism, private armies and economic hitmen to create markets for their products. Frequent catastrophes, such as deadly and widespread plagues and illness, caused by genetically modified crops and mutant pests, ravage entire populations. The natural genetic seed stock of the world's plants has been almost completely supplanted by those that are genetically engineered to be sterile.
The current monarch of Thailand is a child queen. The capital city is below sea level and is protected from flooding by levees and pumps. The three most powerful men in Thailand are the Somdet Chaopraya (regent for the child queen), the chief of the Environment Ministry General Pracha, and the chief of the Trade Ministry Akkarat.

A highly recommended read and it is in store now!!

Interview with Cheyenne McCray

Today we have Cheyenne McCray answering some interview questions for us. 

A&R: Can you please explain your world and the premise of your novel! 

My next novel, Vampires Not Invited, is due in stores November 30th. Nyx goes up against Volod, a Master Vampire who does not want to see Vampires suppressed any longer. Paranorms have controlled Vampire kind for over a hundred years. Paranorm strength and powerful magic has been able to enforce laws to stop Vampire attacks.

Vampires have tired of drinking synthetic blood and not being able to add to their ranks. They desire their freedom. Volod not only manages to gain information regarding every paranorm race’s known weakness, but he also obtained a highly contagious virus deadly to all paranorms , the serum thought to have been previously destroyed. If Volod is successful, the paranorm enforcers will be gone and a frenzied feeding feast, suppressed for so long, will be on.

A&R: Ever dispatched someone and then regretted it? 

Not lately . . . Oh, you must be talking about in my books.

I can’t recall killing off a character that I later regretted. Although, the great thing about paranormal and fantasy novels is that if I do kill off someone, I can use magic and bring them back. For those of you who remember Dallas, if JR can be written back into the story from the dead, I would have no trouble doing that with magic in my fantasy books… Unlike real life, humpty dumpty can always be put together again.

A&R: Do you feel any of your heroes or villains could possibly exist in the real world? 

In my contemporary suspense novels, yes. With my paranormal or urban fantasy novels it might be harder to find a Vampire with… Actually, even a Vampire has aspects of greed and evil that are human villain qualities, too. In my latest, Vampires Not Invited, the villain has a lust for power. The heroine has needs to be cared for, loved. She’s also brave and desires to help others. So yes, many of my characters could exist, save for the paranormal aspects. All of my characters’ personalities and emotional makeups are very realistic.

A&R: What led you into a writing career? 

I wanted to be an author from the time I was in kindergarten. I was always a voracious reader and I would imagine myself creating worlds that readers could get lost in, like I would get lost in my favorite books. It was something I always aspired to do and I feel so fortunate to have made my dream a reality.

A&R: What adventures will be next for your characters?

Nyx and the other Night Trackers go up against Zombies in Zombies Sold Separately. An evil and very powerful Sorcerer has the desire to find a replacement world for his own dying world. He comes to Earth with a plan he has executed successfully in another world to take over its people. It is a book full of imaginative magic and unique fun characters.

A&R: Are the names of your characters important? And what do they mean? 

Most of the time I do look at name meanings and name each character something that relates to their personality or what they do. Also names that are from the geographical area that their race

originally comes from. Like the Werewolves from the Czech Republic have Slavic names. Characters form Otherworld mostly have Celtic, Irish, Gaelic, names, etc. I try doing research to come up with them. Also, I look for names which reflect the character of that person. I have trouble even writing an initial synopsis without having a character’s specific name, as opposed to calling them the heroine for example.

A&R: What did you do before you became a published author? 

I was in the mortgage business for several years and then was in sales for 10 years. I went to college to be a journalist but ended up far from what I wanted to do for a long time. I started writing for publication in the year 2000.

A&R: Can you explain why you chose this theme for your book? 

My theme has been the suppression of evil in the paranormal world and the need to stop an ominous enemy who is fighting that suppression. I wanted to create someone so dark, so evil and so cunning in a character that readers would feel the suspense and the emotion of wanting to see it destroyed. I wanted something different and unique in Vampires Not Invited, and I think I accomplished that goal. It still revolves around good vs. evil but I think there are creative aspects in how the evil plays out. I am excited to see how it is received. 

A&R: Has the dog ever eaten your manuscript? 

 

Only once… But coffee, dirt, errant markers, always seem to find it.

A&R: Are there any occupational hazards to being a novelist? 

Wearing a hole in my jammies from sitting in my writing chair too long, forgetting how to talk to real people who aren’t in my head, lamenting that I can’t use transference in real life when I have to be somewhere quick, when it is so easy in a book. People wondering when is this person who sits at Starbucks day after day going to find a job.

Seriously, it can be a lonely profession for some. It is just the writer and her mind creating characters and story plots. I have been fortunate to have writing partners and a group of writers who get together to discuss their current work and have the group brainstorm. These times are always fun. But most times, it is just me alone writing. There is a discipline required to get the work done; of knowing there is no time clock to punch. You have work to do and no one is there saying anything if you take a day off and another day and another day. A person must have a combination of love of their work and self motivation.

A&R: What was the name of your first typewriter/computer? 

I still have the portable electric typewriter my parents bought me when I was in high school. It’s here somewhere—can’t remember the name of it. As far as our first computer, I think we had an IBM. I think it is sitting on top of my 8-track tape and my record players

A&R: What d'you want to be when you grow up? 

An author. Never dreamed of anything but being an author when I was young. I was fortunate to have a mom and dad who impressed on me that I had the talent to pursue my dreams. I have heard of other people with mentors or parents who discouraged writing saying that “you can’t

make money doing that. You need a profession you can make a living at.” My mom and dad encouraged me to believe that writing didn’t have to be a fantasy profession. No pun intended.

A&R: Do you think that fiction brings something to peoples’ lives? 

Absolutely. It provides a means to stretch the imagination, to think of things they wouldn’t have before, to believe in new possibilities, and an escape from everyday reality. Either a fun escape to your own Neverland, or reading about a character with problems that make your own seem like a walk in the park. I think readers like to put themselves in these books. Think of what they would do and imagine themselves being able to fly, or use magic just as a child would think reading the book. I like to think of someone reading my books and finding a respite from the reality of their own challenging world.

A&R: Who would you most like to be trapped somewhere with? 

Jason Bourne. He’d be handy to have around, and the adventure!

A&R: What adventures will be next for your characters? 

The Night Trackers must stop a Sorcerer who targets the Earth world for new host bodies for the people from his dying world, turning the old, discarded bodies into Zombies. I think you will find it intriguing when you read Zombies Sold Separately coming in June 2011. Following that more Vampires in Vampires Dead Ahead, due out Fall 2011.

Readers can find me at: My shiny new website: http://cheyennemccray.com Cheyenne McCray’s Place on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheyenne-McCrays-Place/183525008980

And Twitter: @CheyenneMcCray

Thanks so much for having me!

Chey

Dr Karl - Curious & Curiouser

Our day with Dr Karl

Our day with Dr Karl.

All week we had been getting calls asking about the Dr Karl signing. Our customers were very excited to be meeting the man they watch on Sleek Geeks and who they listen to on the radio. We had been selling copies of 'Curious & Curiouser' and 'Dinosaurs aren't Dead' and putting them aside for the people who couldn't make it. 

 

On the day customers started to come into the store a few hours early to grab their books and it was a good thing they did. By 11:45 we had a long line of people all excited and filled with energy. We got them to line up near our new releases wall so we weren't blocking the other shops and I ran around like a headless chicken with a clipboard trying to get things under way. Only thing missing was....Dr Karl.

The man himself was running a few minutes late as he had a busy schedule but everybody was fine about waiting, after all they were getting to meet the great Dr Karl!!

A few minutes after 12, Dr Karl and his publicist arrived and the signing started. He was wearing a fantastic blue and white polka dot shirt (the same one as on the cover of Curious & Curiouser) and had a name tag that was an LCD sidescroller.

He was a very tall man... and he made jokes about how he was taller than what people expected. It was a fun day, people were asking science questions, one man was interviewing Dr Karl and filming it.

A lot of Christmas presents got purchased that day!! Myself included got signed a copy of 'Dinosaurs aren't Dead'.

A very energetic man, Dr Karl signed away and posed in many different poses for the camera. I(Tarran) of course was the photographer and took as many pictures as I could before the batteries ran out. We went through 3 pairs of batteries that day....

All in all it was a fantastic day and we loved meeting Dr Karl!!!

If you want more information about Dr Karl, then visit his website 

 

 

An Hour's The Limit - 'Fast' Ed Halmagyi Recipe

This is a great recipe from Random House blog:

Feeding The Kids by Ed Halmagyi

 If your kids are anything like mine, then dinnertime can be a real challenge. As parents we’re flat out trying to provide our little ones with a balanced and nutritious meal, and yet all too often they won’t have a bar of it. I have come to realise that there are two missing elements in so much of what we offer to kids: texture and fun. Kids love the crunchy, sloppy, chewy and foamy feel of dinner – it goes beyond the look and taste. As for the fun part, well, it’s all in how you sell it to them!

 

KARATE-CHOP PORK CUTLETS

Bursting with savoury fl avours, these pork cutlets can be as kung-fu as your kids like. Feeling like a black-belt? Add the wasabi. If your martial artists are a little more ‘Grasshopper’, maybe go without.

Serves 4 kids
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes

4 x 170g pork cutlets, French-trimmed
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp pickled ginger, chopped very
fi nely
¼ tsp wasabi paste (optional)
4 cups (1 litre) chicken stock
180g dried soba noodles
2 tsp sesame oil
1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
2 shallots, sliced very fi nely
1 lime, juiced

1. Drizzle the pork with vegetable oil, then sear in a large frying pan set over a high heat. Cook for 3 minutes each side until well browned, then turn the heat to medium and pour in the soy, honey, ginger and wasabi (optional). Continue cooking, turning often, until the soy forms a lacquer on the meat, then set aside.
2. Meanwhile, bring the chicken stock to a boil in a saucepan, then stir in the soba noodles. Cook for 8 minutes, until tender, then drain and toss with the sesame oil, sesame seeds, shallots and lime juice. Serve topped with a pork cutlet.

Dr Karl Signing - Friday 3rd Dec at 12pm

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki

Will be signing copies of his new book

Curious & Curiouser

At Angus & Robertson Edwardstown

On Friday 3^rd December at 12.00 noon

Please see in store for more information

Angus & Robertson Edwardstown

Shop T54 Castle Plaza Shopping Centre

992 South Road Edwardstown

Phone: 08 8277 8857

Game Guides

 We have in stock these great game guides!

Every secret, every side-quest, every mini-game, every bonus, every Achievement
and every Trophy revealed and explained in a dedicated Extras chapter

•Dedicated walkthrough charts the most rewarding path through this epic adventure

•Strategy & Analysis chapter exposes hidden mechanics, advanced battle
tactics and techniques for obtaining optimal rewards

•All-encompassing Inventory and Bestiary chapters feature exhaustive 

•Complete step-by-step mission analyses, illustrated with maps and screenshots.

•All hidden items and secret missions are exposed, with tips for completing strenuous side challenges.

•Complete lists of bonus modes, attack combos, and other extras.

•Full charts explore the mission ranking system, giving players the details and the exact scores needed to get the highest rank.

The highly anticipated Devil May Cry 4 immerses gamers in a gothic supernatural world, where a new protagonist clashes with series mainstay Dante. As new leading man Nero, players will be able to unleash incredibly powerful and stylish attacks as well as nonstop combos using a combination of the Devil Bringer arm and the Exceed system, both of which are new gameplay mechanics for the series. Fans of Dante won't be disappointed, as he too will be playable during the course of the game.

Trent Jamieson Signed Bookplates

 

To celebrate the release of Trent Jamieson's Managing Death, we have signed bookplates for everyone who buys a copy of his books. Only while stocks last!

Trent Jamieson Interview

Trent Jamieson is the author of the Death Works series. Set in Australia we follow the Pomp (Pomp is short for Psychopomp) Steven de Selby in his second book Managing Death which is in store now. 

It's not easy being Death. For starters, people keep dying. And then, they keep getting up again.

Steven de Selby got promoted. This makes the increasing number of stirrers (and the disturbing rumors of a zombie god rising sometime soon) his problem. That time management seminar he keeps meaning to take would also remind him that he's got a Death Moot to plan, a Christmas party to organize, and an end-of-the-world thing to avert.

Steven must start managing Death, before Death starts managing him, or this time the Apocalypse will be more than Regional.

A&R: Can you please explain your world and the premise of your novel! 

The world of the Death Works books is modern Australia, mainly Brisbane. It’s our world with a few twists.
Steven de Selby is a Pomp, an employee of Australia’s Death. He helps souls cross over into the afterlife and stops Stirrers from inhabiting the bodies. It’s a job that sounds more exciting than it is, and a family trade. He’s been doing it all his life, and, to be honest, he’s a bit over it.
But when he meets a mysterious dead girl, and someone starts killing Pomps, his friends and family, he has to run for his life. What he uncovers will change his life forever.

A&R: Are the names of your characters are important? And what do they mean?

They’re always important. Some are nods to characters in Death Mythology. Neti, Charon, and Morrigan. Others are nods to other books about the Afterlife de Selby is the name of a philosopher who features in The Third Policeman by Flann O’brien.I spend a lot of time working on names, and quite often change them, I think the most important thing is that they fit the character, and sometimes that’s more of a feeling than a conscious choice, you can’t explain why a name works, just that it does. 

 

A&R:How do you react to a bad review of one of your books?

Alastair Reynolds told me this, I can’t remember who he was quoting because, well, I was talking to Alastair Reynolds! But he said a bad review should only spoil your breakfast not your dinner. And I reckon that’s fair enough.
As much as you’d like everyone to love you, that’s not even remotely reasonable. We all have different tastes and different expectations of a book.
Thing about most people, me included, it doesn’t matter how many good reviews you get, it’s the bad stuff you zone in on. Still I seem to enjoy my dinner most of the time, so maybe I’m getting better.

A&R:Are there any occupational hazards to being a novelist?

Too much sitting around tap-tap-tapping at a keyboard isn’t very healthy. It hasn’t bothered me too much because I’m always getting up and down from my desk.

You really need to make sure you exercise, or you can put on weight in a flash! Walking’s a great one to clear your head, but you have to make sure you’re concentrating on where you’re going or you can get into trouble, I’ve nearly been run over several times.

And it can be a lonely business at times. Having another job can be really good for your sanity.

A&R:Can you describe your desk or office/writing area. Also, do you write at a certain time of day?

My desk is pretty small, not much room for more than a computer. And I have a lot of bookcases filled with all sorts of books, dictionaries, histories, and books of poetry as well as fiction. I love having books around me, comes from working for years in bookstores, too.

I write best in the morning, and late at night. But sometimes you just have to write when you can.

A&R: What excites you about writing?

Writing is just so much fun. I love playing around with words, I love making up worlds, and my characters really entertain me. There’s just something so satisfying about writing, I’ve found it exciting since the very first time I tried to write a story.

A&R: How do you start for the day?

COFFEE!!!! Then I make my wife’s lunch, and when she heads off for work I go down to my desk and get a start on. Some days are more productive than others, but that’s the usual way it begins.

A&R: Can you explain why you chose this theme for your book?

Death (and the Afterlife) is a bit of an obsession of mine. So I don’t know if I chose the theme or if it chose me.

A&R:Ever dispatched someone and then regretted it?

No, because I’m an extremely mean person! But I try not to waste a good death scene.Doesn’t mean I don’t feel sad about it. A couple of scenes in these books actually make me choke up. I don’t want to say which because I’ll give too much away!

A&R:Who would play you in a film of your life?

Buster Keaton

A&R:What are books for?

Mind reading. Stephen King said that literature is the closest thing we have to mind reading. When you open a book you enter someone else’s head. That’s kinda exciting.

A&R:Which character was the hardest to write? Which one was the easiest? Are any of your characters based on people you know or purely imaginative?

Steven’s the hardest and the easiest character to write, because all of the Death Works books are written from his perspective. Everything you see is how Steve sees things, and often he just sees things wrong. I love writing scenes with him and Lissa together, and I love writing scenes with Wal in them. Aunt Neti, who is introduced in Managing Death is one of my favourites.
Ah, I love writing them all!

A&R:If you could invite 3 famous people (living, dead, fictional) to a dinner party who would they be and why?

Gandalf (though he’d have to smoke his pipe outside). Hope Mirrlees, because she wrote the best fantasy novel ever (Lud-in-the-Mist), and Ricky Gervais. because I think he’s funny and bright and has an infectious laugh (much, much better than an infectious cough).
Yeah, it’d be a bit of an odd party, but we’d bumble our way through.

A&R: Do you think that fiction brings something to peoples lives?

If I didn’t I don’t think I’d write. Well, I’d still write because I think it’s so much fun. Fiction’s important because it helps you imagine other people’s perspectives. Empathy is something we could all do with a lot more of and good stories are always about empathy. 

SF writer and Silent Motion Picture Actor, Trent Jamieson should be 107 years old, but is only 37 on account of TEMPORAL RADIATION. He lives in Brisbane with his wife, Diana. He is currently writing a series of novels called Death Works. The first Death Most Definite was released in August 2010, the second, Managing Death, is due for release in December 2010. The third, The Business of Death, is due for release in April 2010. They’re about Death – you know, the Grim Reaper.

Trent can be contacted at teacupthrenody at hotmail dot com or check out his blog here

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