by Allison Tait | Jun 23, 2022 | News
Here’s some news I’ve been sitting on for what feels like forever!
The Maven & Reeve Mysteries are out now in the USA through Kane Miller Books.
In equally exciting news, both books have Kirkus reviews!
The Fire Star (book #1) is described as:
“Smart, lively fun…
“Tait lets an appealing chemistry develop between her dual narrators (who change person and even tense in the alternating chapters) as she pitches them into an investigation that is positively hung about with side challenges…” Full review.
While The Wolf’s Howl (book #2) contains:
“More feudal finagling, with feminist strains running through a round of clever clue gathering…” Full review.
Find more details and buy the books here!
Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of two epic middle-grade adventure series, The Mapmaker Chronicles and The Ateban Cipher, and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries, an ‘almost history’ detective series (for more information and buy links for Australian readers click here).
You can find out more about me here, and more about my books here.
by Allison Tait | Aug 3, 2021 | My books, News, Reading, Writing, Your Kid's Next Read
I’m so thrilled to announce that THE WOLF’S HOWL (A Maven & Reeve Mystery #2) hits bookshops around Australia today.
So thrilled in fact, that I made a little video to celebrate the #dreamvsreality of book release day:
It’s worth a look if you love a feather boa (and my insights into the reality of author life). Follow me on Instagram for more.
Live Zoom book launch event for kids
To celebrate the launch of the new book, I’m holding a one-hour author talk and book launch for kids on Zoom on 10 August, 2021, at 6pm (AEST).
I’ll be talking about THE WOLF’S HOWL, but also sharing the secrets of creating brilliant stories, including:
- where I get my ideas
- how I breathe life into my characters
- the most important question I ask myself as I write
- how I create page-turning plots
- and much more.
Plus, I’ll be answering lots of questions to help kids to do it, too. There’ll even be prizes!
Tickets are just $25 and include
- 1 copy of THE WOLF’S HOWL signed by me (including P&H to any Australian address)
- 1 special signed postcard
- Zoom link to attend the event (parents and siblings welcome!)
I’d love to see you and your kids there!
You can find all the details and tickets here.
Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of two epic middle-grade adventure series, The Mapmaker Chronicles and The Ateban Cipher, and a new ‘almost history’ detective series called the Maven & Reeve Mysteries.
You can find out more about me here, and more about my books here.
by Allison Tait | Feb 24, 2021 | My books, News, Reading, Writing, Your Kid's Next Read
In exciting news, last night the Children’s Book Council of Australia announced its 2021 CBCA Notables list and The Fire Star (A Maven & Reeve Mystery) was named in the Younger Readers category!
The Notables list serves as the longlist for the CBCA’s Children’s Book Of The Year Awards.
You can see all of the 2021 Notables here.
The last A.L. Tait appearance on a Notables list was in 2015, when The Mapmaker Chronicles: Race To The End Of The World had a moment in the sun and I was excited, but so new to children’s books I had to ask my publisher what it all meant.
These days I am fully cognisant of the incredible honour bestowed upon Maven and Reeve, and the brilliant company in which I find myself as an author.
And I am beyond chuffed.
I also know that The Fire Star is the book it is because of the support of my publisher Zoe Walton, my editor Mary Verney and the team at Penguin House Australia, and because of the support of my community of writers, who cheered me on through the writing and editing process, and readers, who took Maven and Reeve to their hearts.
Huge thanks to you all.
Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of two epic middle-grade adventure series, The Mapmaker Chronicles and The Ateban Cipher, and a new ‘almost history’ detective series called the Maven & Reeve Mysteries (you’ll find book #1 THE FIRE STAR here).
You can find out more about me here, and more about my books here.
by Allison Tait | Sep 10, 2020 | News
It’s been a very busy week in my author life, and it’s not over yet. In fact, I’ve got two exciting online events coming up to celebrate the launch of THE FIRE STAR, and I’d love to see you there!
CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS, 11am, 12 September
The first online event is on THIS SATURDAY, 12 September, 11am-12pm, as part of the Australian Writers’ Centre’s Creative Conversations series.
I’m looking forward to chatting to Valerie Khoo, answering her questions about the writing and publishing process, as well as a whole stack of questions from the audience (you can pre-submit your question here if you’re keen).
It’s easy to join the event via any of the Australian Writers’ Centre’s Facebook pages or groups – all the details are here.
#YKNRBOOKLAUNCH, 6.30pm, 17 September
I’m excited to be officially launching THE FIRE STAR in the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook community at 6.30pm on THURSDAY 17 September.
It’s such a thrill to be part of the very first Book Launch event in our community, and I’m looking forward to chatting to Megan Daley about all things Maven & Reeve. You’ll find all the details about the event here.
To celebrate, I’m offering a very special book pack giveaway as part of the launch.
The pack consists of:
1 x signed FIRE STAR poster
1 x signed FIRE STAR bookplate
1 x copy of THE FIRE STAR by A. L. Tait
1 x copy of THE RACE TO THE END OF THE WORLD (The Mapmaker Chronicles #1) by A. L. Tait
1 x copy of THE BOOK OF SECRETS (The Ateban Cipher #1)
You’ll find all the details on how to enter in the post pinned to the top of the Your Kid’s Next Read group here.
And keep an eye out for other prizes during the event!
by Allison Tait | Jul 22, 2019 | News, Reading, Your Kid's Next Read
I confess the heading for this post may be misleading – this month, it’s mostly about the news!
News
Writers love writers’ festivals. We love them. They’re busy and tiring and a little bit crazy for someone like me, who spends most of her time alone with her computer and her dog.
But the joy of them for authors is that, for a few days, you’re part of a team of people who are doing exactly what you’re doing.
Which is why I’ve returned from the Whitsunday Voices Youth Literary Festival tired but with a huge smile on my face. With more than 5000 students taking part over two days, the festival, held in Mackay, is a huge event, but it is so incredibly well organised by the festival team that you feel as though nothing could possibly go wrong.
Sure, behind the scenes, there may have been hiccoughs, but we didn’t see them and I think the students who came to the many and various sessions would agree.
I’m sharing a few pics below so that you can get an idea of the flavour of the event.
Opening night panel with Jeann from Happy Indulgence book blog, Samantha Wheeler, Steven Herrick and me
A lovely drawing from a student.
One of six wonderful sessions.
In the green room. Pic: Michael Gerard Bauer
Shoalhaven Readers’ & Writers’ Festival
Next up for me on the writers’ festival front is the Shoalhaven Readers’ & Writers’ Festival this weekend. As director of the children’s program, I’ll have the pleasure of escorting Jacqueline Harvey to her school visits on Friday, while Jack Heath is looked after by another volunteer, and then introducing the festival on Saturday at Nowra Library (storytime from 10am) before conducting my all-but-soldout writing workshop later that day.
It’s all very exciting!
Other news
In the meantime, however, I have the absolute pleasure tomorrow of launching the MS Readathon in the Illawarra. I’m an author ambassador for the MS Readathon this year and I couldn’t be happier to be part of something that promotes reading in the widest sense of the word whilst also raising funds for a very worthy cause.
You can read more about the MS Readathon here, and I’ll report back on the launch later in the week.
Procrastipup and I are ready for the MS Readathon.
Reviews
So You Want To Be A Writer, my book with my fabulous podcast co-host Valerie Khoo, has been garnering some lovely reviews. Thanks so much to Dianne Bates from BuzzWords for this review:.
“...it should prove to be very popular, in fact (in the words of Pamela Hart, award-winning historical fiction author), ‘it is perfect for the person who wants to write but doesn’t have the confidence or the know-how to start.’”
And to Nicole Melanson from Word Mothers for this one:
“Whether you are merely curious about writing or already well established, I’d wager there are some useful tips for you sprinkled throughout So You Want to Be a Writer.”
Meanwhile, on Amazon, I was thrilled by this review, among others:
Thanks to everyone who’s left reviews! If you’ve read and enjoyed any of my books and you have a minute, please consider leaving a review on your platform of choice. It’s one of the very best gifts you can give any writer.
Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of two epic middle-grade adventure series, The Mapmaker Chronicles and The Ateban Cipher.
You can find out more about me here, and more about my books here.
Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of two epic middle-grade adventure series, The Mapmaker Chronicles and The Ateban Cipher, and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries, an ‘almost history’ detective series (for more information and buy links for Australian readers click here).
