After finishing the day job early yesterday i was straight into the car for a quick trip up to Avid Book Reader bookshop located in West End, Brisbane. After a couple of reds we were entertained by John Birmingham and Tony Maniaty in conversation, with the crew of ABC filming.

Tony Maniaty is the author of a number of works but he talked to us last night about his book Shooting Balibo and the experiences that he went through that motivated the story that he has told.

I must admit I’m not a real fan of the geo-political type of writing, however Tony did keep me interested talking about the experiences that led to the murder of his peers in Timor and his timely escape from the country and the evasion of his own execution.

All to often it is easy to view in hindsight how different actions could have altered the way things happen in life, but i guess thats why they say hindsight is 20/20. I was surprised in some ways to learn that the journalist and crew that were murdered could have avoided thier fate by heeding Tony’s simple words to stay out of the sector. I guess these journalist were following their passion which was to write and report cutting edge news, i cannot hold that against them, but i do wonder in general why we sometimes make these decisions in life.

I intendt to get a copy of Shooting Balibo and do a complete book review of it, but would also appreciate any feedback on this story from anybody else that has had the opportunity to read it. Im interested to see what thoughts it has provoked in everybody else. 

Thanks again to the Avid Bookreader for making available these meet the author sessions – it is about supporting the Art and not the profit margin so it is well appreaciated – if you are in West End please make time to drop in the shop and buy a book to help support the arts yourself.

David Hibbins – Bookblog

US Author Marilyn Robinson has won the Orange Prize for fiction with her book “Home”. She picked up a nice cheque for 30,000 pound – not too shabby. Extraordinary work from a wonderful writer.

Remember to submit your book reviews on bookblog – even if you simply want to make a comment on your current book or recommend any books that you would like to see reviewed.

Cash prizes are avaible for any reviews of your own – just submit them to be in the running – you may also pick up a spot prize.

Any reviews on David Pelzer books i would love to read them.

David Hibbins – BookBlog

On the weekend I was lucky enough to be involved in the Gold Coast Literatti, an event created by the Gold Coast libraries and Gold Coast City Council. The purpose of the weekend is to allow writers and readers an opportunity to communicate with each other with a view of encouraging both the author, new writer and reader in there particular endeavours.

Aside from the obvious benefits l was lucky to learn in observation that when you do become a published author it is very important not to become so full of yourself that you estrange yourself from your readers. 

I was very happy to talk with some authors, but distubred by the one or two that considered themselves to be well above the ordinary reader.

We always need to remain grounded no matter who we are and what we do in life – a lesson I observed hopefully can be shared with all.

Remember while you are on bookblog, think about your review so that you can have the chnace to get a cash prize and share your own reading and writing passion.

David Hibbins – Good Times

Borders says it’s trying to boost its sales

Borders Group Inc. reported an 11.6% decline in revenue for the first quarter, but its chief executive told analysts on a call Wednesday that it is taking action to reverse the slide.Ron Marshall said that the differences would be evident in stores soon with better book inventory and more urgency in generating sales. Borders also plans more creative promotions.”We employ people who are absolutely passionate about books,” he said. “It is about making that personal connection with the customer and then making that connection for the customer.”The Ann Arbor-based bookseller reported a net loss of $86 million, or a loss of $1.44 a share, for the three months ended May 2 after the market closed Tuesday. That compares with a net loss of $31.7 million, or a loss of 50 cents a share, for the same period a year ago.Revenues registered at $650.2 million for the quarter, compared with $735.8 million in the same period of 2008.Excluding onetime charges of $70.1 million, Borders had a loss of 27 cents a share, beating analyst expectations of a 50-cent-a-share loss. The analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had expected revenue of $637.3 million.Marshall said that by the end of June, Borders stores should be stocked with more titles that customers want. Last year, the bookseller, faced with liquidity issues, dramatically reduced inventory, he said.”It has taken a long time to recover, but we hope to see top-line improvement as we fill these gaps,” he said.As Borders reduces its inventory of CDs and DVDs, it will boost space for children’s books, health and wellness, cooking and other items.Borders reduced its debt at the end of the first quarter by $266 million to $325.9 million, or 45% less than a year ago.Sales at Borders superstores open at least a year fell by 13.5% and by 5.5% at Waldenbooks. Borders had 376 Waldenbooks locations at the end of the quarter compared with 476 a year ago. It operates 515 Borders stores.BY GRETA GUEST

 

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The clock is ticking now as we approach June , the excitement is mounting, a new month full of new books by some of my favourite authors:

The Bourne Deception – Robert Ludlum, Relentless – Dean Koontz, Finger Lickin Fifteen – Janet Evanovich, Swimsuit – James Patterson. Medusa – Clive Cussler, Undead & Unwelcome – Mary Janice Davidson, Matters of the Heart – Danielle Steel

Some new authors for me to experience as well are due out in June

The Strain – Del Toro & Hogan, My Fathers Tears – John Updike, The Story Sisters – Alice Hoffman, Skin Trader – Hamilton, The Angels Game – Carlos Ruiz Zafo, Dune Road – Jane Green

What a month to have my job, swine flu and economic downturn aside I am loving life and loving my work.

Please remember to recommend bookblog.com.au to all of your friends and remember to submit your reviews for judging to win the cash prizes and have your work published on the website.

Working my way through China Cuckoo by Mark Kitto, actually it is not work at all it is a great book – stand by for the book review.

Thanks – Good Times

Dave Hibbins

I am currently working on two manuscripts, one is loosely about the story of grief and my experiences losing my brother and then my son and the ripple effect that it had on my family, friends and co-workers. The other is a thriller based around the exploits of my character Alex Pearson in a race against time through a number of countries in an effort to save not the world but something eve more precious to us all, free will and free choice. 

That aside it was devastating to come back to my day work yesterday and find that one of Western Australia’s most lovable rouges had passed away over the weekend. Glen Bridge, winner of Western Australia’s funniest joke telling competition and an all round Aussie guy. I will miss our occasional talks and remember fondly the times we had too much to drink, the nudie dances on the boat, the laughter that you brought too so many people. I will not forget that it is “mint”. Good luck in the next chapter mate, love ya.

For everyone that does read my blog I can’t stress enough the importance of being and doing what you want to do in life, don’t let anything hold you back because every corner in this world does hold something different for us, not always good but always a new experience and part of the learning journey. Embrace life with all that you have and hold it dear, and make sure you tell those people that you love.

Currently reading China Cukoo by Mark Kitto – anybody who has read it send me your comments – love to hear what you think.

Good Times

After 3 great days at the writers festival and a few dollars contributed to the local bookshops its back to the day job. Thank you for all the emails of support everyone I do appreciate your comments – and yes I did pick up on the spelling and grammatical error – again my impatience (to get the site up before the festival) made its impact.

Great writers at the festival – if you get a chance to listen Emmanuel Jals story about growing up with the Sudan civil war and onwards to becoming a rap star – definitely take it. The line of people snaked around the auditorium for quite some time after the completion of his talk with all waiting patiently to get a copy of Emmanuel’s book signed. During the day I had been talking to another Author and she was very happy to have sold and signed 6 books, using her as a yardstick, Emmanuel would be pleased with the number of people he reached.

In life we can be lucky to come across people that encourage and motivate you, I now add Emmanuel to that list of people, not in so much as the way people like Tony Park have inspired me as a writer but more in a way that his story encourages me that wherever we are in life we should never give up. This is equally applicable in struggling for your very life as Emmanuel was and being faced with the challenges that come into all of our lives. Thank you to all those that take the time to share, encourage and motivate you truly have an important role in the universe, more of the same.

I picked up some great books from the festival which I will be diligently reviewing over the next couple of weeks:

China Cuckoo – Mark Kitto, The Lost Sky – Alice Nelson, Deep Water – Peter Corris, War Child – Emmanuel Jal

Don’t forget to try for the cash prizes and submit reviews of your own.

My sights are now on this week’s Literati on the Gold Coast, some outstanding authors are going to be present – Tony Park, Peter Watt, Sydney Bauer, Katherine Howell, Kim Wilkins – to name a few – great stuff.

Day 2, first up on my program was the Happiness Principle – with a seminar like that how could i go wrong, well 20 minutes before and still missed out on the line up – need to be early on the weekends. No matter though joined another lecture about research , really good even if it is normally a dry sounding topic – all the same i have spent perilous hours on research (and enjoyed it too much) – or is that procrastinating ?lol.

Sat in on a lecture with Kate Grenville, Amanda Curtin, Nava Semel and Alan Gold. All truly enteraining authors and a great time.

Few hours later and the flu and sleepiness exerted the pressure and decided to head back to Swisotel – what a place to recover. Could not hang round long though the lure of the local pub – Lowenbrau – was calling me. I was not dissappointed, mango biers, frauleins and good company what a way to finish the day – recommend that next time you are in the Rocks.